Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Eneabba Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeTailings
StageRestarting
Commodities
  • REE
  • Ilmenite
  • Zircon
  • Rutile
  • Monazite
  • Xenotime
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotIluka is building Australia’s first fully integrated refinery for the production of separated rare earth oxides at Eneabba.

Refinery site bulk earth works and ground improvement activities were completed in 2023. The new camp is currently being commissioned with central facilities and the initial 302 rooms. A further 60 room expansion is ready to commence. The upgrade of the main mine access road is complete and water bore and pipework upgrades are underway.

Long lead procurement packages have been awarded including the roasting kiln, solvent exchange agitators, ion exchange system, spiral heat exchangers and boilers. Negotiations are underway on tenders for other major engineered packages and detailed earthworks. Significant tender preparation, delivery and review activity is underway on the balance of procurement and contract packages.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Iluka Resources Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Iluka Rare Earths Pty Ltd holds a sublease of Mining Lease M267SA from Iluka Eneabba Pty Ltd and M70/821 from Iluka Midwest Pty Ltd. Iluka Rare Earths Pty Ltd, Iluka Eneabba Pty Ltd and Iluka Midwest Pty Ltd are wholly owned subsidiaries of Iluka Resources Limited.

Deposit type

  • Tailings

Summary:

The Eneabba Mineral Separation Plant (MSP) By-Product Mineral Resource is located within the Perth Basin however the material is made up of mineral sands by-product from Iluka’s Narngulu MSP. Being a minerals sands stockpile there is no geological structure. The stockpile physically presents as a fine grained sand and is approximately 300m in length, 150 wide and varies from 1 to 15m in thickness. The fine grained, dark brown to black material is easily distinguishable from the yellow clayey sand it resides on.

A half to one meter cap of orange brown, gravelly, clayey sand covers the resource. A mixed zone of the by-product and capping immediately below the capping with high HM grade in combination with elevated slimes and oversize is recognised, being defined in the resource estimation and reporting.

The tailings material comprises a mixture of ilmenite, staurolite, aluminosilicates, zircon and the rare earth bearing mineral ‘monazite’, a naturally-occurring radioactive material (NORM).

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnits20212020Avg. Annual
REE Oxide in concentrate kt 12
Nd2O3+Pr6O11 Oxide in concentrate kt 2.7

Operational metrics

Metrics
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2022 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Total Rare Earth Oxides USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Nd2O3+Pr6O11 USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Total Rare Earth Oxides USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2022 study / presentation.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 15, 2024
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Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2022

Aerial view:

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