Iron Road has announced an update on progress of the Definitive Feasibility Study aimed at advancing the flagship Central Eyre Iron Project.
Mr Andrew Stocks MD of Iron Road said that the company had made significant progress across all operational areas. He added that "Engineering and Design Service activities are now well underway for the CEIP, with significant amounts of desktop, field and laboratory work continuing across all disciplines. We've also of course been hard at work drilling alongside the DFS and expect to be able to provide an update to the CEIP Mineral Resource prior to year end."
Owner's team of over 25 professionals covering areas such as infrastructure, mining, geology, metallurgy and social aspects of the project established in the Iron Road head office in the Adelaide CBD.
Engineering and Design Service providers secured under various contracts for mining, process plant, tailings and infrastructure packages, including several smaller related studies.
Proposals for study services requested for water supply and treatment; airport upgrade and planning commenced for construction camp and operations village.
The DFS continued with investigations and engineering for the mine design, process plant, tailings storage and major infrastructure facilities, including rail line and train systems, stockyards at the mine and potential ports, as well as marine jetty and multi-user ship berth.
Mining studies utilizing preliminary pit shell estimation for the CEIP Mineral Resource and initial bench height analysis was conducted. This will assist in the selection of suitable excavation and hauling fleets.
Over 1,000 meters of large diameter (85mm PQ) drill core delivered to AMDEL-BV, a leading mineral laboratory service provider, for confirmatory metallurgical tests as well as quantitative mineralogical characterization. Initial results suggest that additional opportunities to lower power demand and optimize iron recovery may be available through improved classification around the milling circuits and consideration of gravity based beneficiation processes.
Pilot test of High Pressure Grinding Rolls with the potential to deliver improved energy efficiency of ore breakage, is scheduled for September 2012.
Dynamic simulation of ore treatment and concentrate handling has advanced to confirmation of major equipment sizes to produce 20 million tonnes per annum of concentrate per annum. Results of core testing will be applied to optimization of beneficiation equipment.
Discussion with ElectraNet continued over power transmission options. Conclusion of this procedure will provide direction for investment and ownership of transmission assets which will support the CEIP.
Source - Iron Road
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