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Australia
Thunderbird Project

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 Location:
67 km W from Derby, Western Australia, Australia

  Project Contacts:
Level 2, 41 – 47 Colin Street West Perth
Perth
Western Australia, Australia
6005
Phone  ...  Subscription required
Fax+61-8-6555-8787
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  • Overview
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  • Fleet
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  • Filings & News

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Overview

StagePermitting
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Zircon
  • Ilmenite
  • Heavy Minerals
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Processing
  • Spiral concentrator / separator
  • Electrostatic separation
  • Heated leach (HL)
  • Magnetic separation
Mine Life37 years (as of Jan 1, 2019)
Latest NewsSheffield Resources signs mineral sands joint venture agreement with Yansteel     January 6, 2021


Owners

Source: p. 1
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sheffield Resources Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Thunderbird Operations Pty Ltd. 100 % Direct
December 15, 2020 - Sheffield Resources Limited (“Sheffield” or “the Company”) (ASX: SFX) is pleased to advise that proposed joint venture partner YGH Australia Investment Pty Ltd (“Yansteel”) has been advised by the Foreign Investment Review Board (“FIRB”) that the Commonwealth does not object to Yansteel’s planned $130m investment to acquire 50% of the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project (“Joint Venture” or “Thunderbird”).

The positive FIRB decision was subject to minor and customary conditions, agreed between the parties. The favourable outcome from the FIRB process represents a critical milestone for the formation of the Joint Venture and ultimately for the development of Thunderbird. The parties are targeting finalisation of the formal joint venture agreements over the coming weeks after which a final bankable feasibility study will be completed ahead of concluding project finance arrangements before an expected final investment decision (FID) during 2021.

Deposit Type

  • Mineral sands


Summary:

Thunderbird is the first significant mineral sand deposit to be discovered in the Phanerozoic Canning Basin, and is one of the largest and highest grade mineral sands deposits globally, including those currently in production. The Thunderbird deposit formed during an Early Cretaceous marine regression and is hosted by highly weathered Broome Sandstone.

Mineralisation occurs as a thick, broad sheet like body striking northwest, extending from surface to a maximum known depth of 155m over an area at least 11km by 7km. These extents have not been closed off with mineralisation remaining open to the north, south and west. The average depth to top of the main body of mineralisation is 24m and the average mineralised thickness 45m. The deposit is flatlying along the north-eastern flank, but with a dip steepening to 4°along the south-western flank.

Enclosed within the Thunderbird formation is a continuous, very-high grade heavy minerals (>7.5%) zone named the “GT Zone”. This zone is up to 43m thick (average 15m) over an area at least 9km by 7km, strikes approximately north-south, follows the dip of the Thunderbird formation and is open along strike to the south and north.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

Based on the results of the fieldwork studies undertaken to assess excavatability (Sonic core, Bauer drilling and costeans) bulk mining techniques have been chosen for ore mining at the Thunderbird project, incorporating dozer traps and in-pit feed preparation units. Topsoil and overburden will be excavated and transported using truck and excavator. Oversize material rejected from in-pit feed operations will be rehandled by Wheeled Loader to locations within the active mine void. Following excavation and classification, ore will be slurried and pumped to a nearby wet concentration plant. Retaining cells will be constructed in the developed mine void from waste material for the return of process tails for consolidation into backfill. Following consolidation, topsoil will be returned in a continuous rehabilitation process. The mining techniques and equipment proposed are conventional and well tested dry mining techniques employed in existing similar mineral sands operations worldwide.


Crushing and Grinding


Processing

  • Spiral concentrator / separator
  • Electrostatic separation
  • Heated leach (HL)
  • Magnetic separation

Flow Sheet: Subscription required

Summary:

The processing flowsheet uses the application of proven metallurgical processes and standard mineral sand separation techniques (spirals, magnetic and electrostatic separators) to enable production of ceramic grade zircon (Premium Zircon) and high quality ilmenite (LTR Ilmenite) along with valuable coproducts of leucoxene (Hi-Ti88), zircon concentrate and Titano-magnetite.

The HiTi88 recovery circuit has been removed from the process design with the previously separated HiTi88 product, now reporting to the zircon concentrate.

The treatment of the zircon-rich (non-magnetic stream) with a mild Hot Acid Leach (HAL) followed by an attritioning process is sufficient to enhance the effectiveness of the primary high tension separation circuit, and remove iron coatings on the zircon grains producing a Premium Zircon product.

The treatment of the Primary ilmenite (conductor magnetic stream) concentrate with a reductant roast gas (Low Temperature ........

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameterAvg. LOM
Zircon Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required
Zircon Head Grade, % 0.86
Zircon Concentrate Grade, %  ......  Subscription required
Ilmenite Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required
Ilmenite Head Grade, % 3.11
Ilmenite Concentrate Grade, %  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Projected Production:

CommodityProductUnitsAvg. Annual
Zircon Mineral kt 92
Zircon Concentrate kt 110
Ilmenite Concentrate kt  ......  Subscription required

Operational Metrics:

Metrics
Stripping / waste ratio  ......  Subscription required
Waste tonnes, LOM  ......  Subscription required
Ore tonnes mined, LOM  ......  Subscription required
* According to 2019 study.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at July 31, 2019:

CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven 219 Mt Zircon 1.02 %
Proven 219 Mt Ilmenite 3.68 %
Proven 219 Mt Heavy Minerals 13.7 % 30 Mt
Probable 529 Mt Zircon 0.79 %
Probable 529 Mt Ilmenite 2.87 %
Probable 529 Mt Heavy Minerals 10.1 % 53.4 Mt
Proven & Probable 748 Mt Zircon 0.86 %
Proven & Probable 748 Mt Ilmenite 3.11 %
Proven & Probable 748 Mt Heavy Minerals 11.2 % 83.8 Mt
Measured 220 Mt Heavy Minerals 14.5 % 32 Mt
Measured 220 Mt Zircon 1.07 %
Measured 220 Mt Ilmenite 3.9 %
Indicated 640 Mt Heavy Minerals 11.8 % 76 Mt
Indicated 640 Mt Zircon 0.9 %
Indicated 640 Mt Ilmenite 3.3 %
Inferred 180 Mt Heavy Minerals 10.8 % 20 Mt
Inferred 180 Mt Zircon 0.87 %
Inferred 180 Mt Ilmenite 3 %
Total Resource 1,050 Mt Heavy Minerals 12.2 % 127 Mt
Total Resource 1,050 Mt Zircon 0.93 %
Total Resource 1,050 Mt Ilmenite 3.3 %

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnitsAverage
Assumed price Zircon USD  ......  Subscription required *
Assumed price Ilmenite USD  ......  Subscription required *
* According to 2019 study / presentation.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operating Costs:

Units2019
OP mining costs ($/t milled) AUD 3.37 *
Processing costs ($/t milled) AUD  ......  Subscription required
Total operating costs ($/t milled) AUD  ......  Subscription required
* According to 2019 study.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

2019 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Sustaining CapEx $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
OP OpEx $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Processing OpEx $M AUD 2,764
G&A costs $M AUD 619
Total OpEx $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Royalty payments $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Gross revenue (LOM) $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Net revenue (LOM) $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
EBITDA (LOM) $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Pre-tax NPV @ 10% $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M AUD  ......  Subscription required
Pre-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscription required
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscription required
Pre-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Proposed Heavy Mobile Equipment as of July 31, 2019:
HME TypeModelSizeQuantity
Bulldozer ....................... Subscription required 6
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 4
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 1
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 1
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 3
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 2
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 1
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 13
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 1
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required 3
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 26, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 26, 2021
Subscription required - Subscription is required.


Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
Feasibility Study Report 2017
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

News:

NewsDate
Sheffield Resources signs mineral sands joint venture agreement with Yansteel January 6, 2021
Yansteel cleared to acquire Thunderbird stake December 16, 2020
Sheffield signs $130m Thunderbird JV with Yansteel August 11, 2020
Sheffield scales back on Thunderbird project February 18, 2020
Sheffield increases high-grade zircon mining to a decade July 10, 2019
Sheffield moves to produce more zircon from Thunderbird June 11, 2019
GR Engineering wins $366m contract at Sheffield mineral sands project November 12, 2018
Sheffield granted WA Government approval for Thunderbird project September 26, 2018

Aerial view:

Subscription required - Subscription is required.

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