16 May 2008
e-lodgement
Company Announcements Office
ASX Limited
2 The Esplanade
PERTH
WA 6000
ASX / Media Announcement
AUROX ACCELERATES BALLA BALLA PHOSPHATE
STUDY
- Significant concentrations of phosphate in waste rock
from Balla Balla magnetite project
- Phosphate concentrate price increases from $50 to $400
per tonne
- Major phosphate user within 100 kilometres of Balla
Balla
Pilbara iron ore developer Aurox Resources Limited (ASX: AXO)
is pleased to announce it is progressing studies into the beneficiation and
sales of phosphate from its Balla Balla project.
Potential processing and sale
of a phosphate concentrate could further enhance the already strong Balla Balla
project economics, with the phosphate-rich zone currently scheduled for removal
as waste during magnetite mining.
The phosphate is contained in the
hanging-wall waste rock located immediately above the Balla Balla magnetite ore
(Figure 1) and has a tenor comparable to known economic phosphate rock
operations (Table 1).
Apatite is the rock phosphate mineral
used in the production of phosphoric acid and fertiliser. The sales price of
phosphate concentrate has increased from $US50/tonne to $US400/tonne in the
past 12 months.
From the Balla Balla assay and
geological information currently available, the phosphate mineralisation
appears to extend 10 to 15 metres immediately above the titanomagnetite ore
into the hanging-wall waste rock. The apatite bearing material displays grades of
between 3% and 7% P2O5
over this distance. The target size of the phosphate mineralisation over the 18
kilometre strike of the deposit is estimated to be well over 100 million tonnes.
The project is located within
100km of a major fertilizer producer, which has previously expressed interest
in purchasing phosphate rock concentrate from Balla Balla. Further discussions
with fertilizer and chemical producers are planned once the current technical
and financial review on the Balla Balla phosphate has been completed.
Figure 1
Table 1 - Comparable Phosphate
Rock Deposits
Site Name
|
Location
|
Tonnage (Mt)
|
P2O5 (%)
|
Status
|
Phalaborwa
|
RSA
|
2210
|
7
|
Operating
|
Siilinjarvi
|
Finland
|
465
|
4
|
Operating
|
Jacupiranga
|
Brazil
|
100
|
5
|
Operating
|
Kovdor
|
Russia
|
700
|
7
|
Operating
|
Sept- iles
|
Quebec
|
108
|
6
|
Proposed
|
Source: USGS
Open File Report 2002
In September 2005 Aurox
reported that preliminary beneficiation tests on apatite-bearing hanging-wall
rocks had commenced. A composite sample from two core-holes was compiled, which
assayed 4.1% P2O5.
Bulk magnetic separation of a 25 kg charge ground to P80 of 75 microns at 1200
gauss and 8000 gauss gave a non magnetic fraction containing 5.3% P2O5.
(Note: gauss is a unit of magnetic induction)
The non-magnetic fraction
accounted for 61.5% of the mass, representing an 84% recovery of phosphate to
the non-magnetics. The non-magnetic fraction was subject to rougher and cleaner
flotation to recover apatite. The cleaner flotation concentrate that assayed
30.5% P2O5
was recovered. The phosphate recovery to this stream is approximately 80%,
giving an overall phosphate recovery of approximately 67%.
The cleaner concentrate
produced from the limited testwork thus far is encouraging in terms of
phosphate content. However, further tests will be necessary to reject
contaminants such as silica and iron oxides to provide a saleable product. Diagnostic
mineralogy has been completed and the apatite grains show a lack of inclusions,
and are instead covered by fine dust. The main gangue components appear to be
silicates.
The company will continue to
keep the market informed as the Balla Balla studies advance.
Figure 2
Photomicrograph of liberated apatite from phosphate beneficiation work
For more information contact
About Aurox
Aurox
Resources Limited (ASX: AXO) is a Perth based metals developer, with its
primary asset the 100% owned Balla Balla iron ore concentrate project. The
project is located near the coast west of Port Hedland in the renowned Pilbara
region of Western Australia.
Aurox
is well advanced in the development of Balla Balla, having completed a Bankable
Feasibility Study for six million tonnes of magnetite iron ore production
annually. The Company has in place two 15 year sales contracts for a total of 6
million tonnes per annum increasing to 10 million tonnes per annum concentrate
production in year 5 with major Chinese Steel Companies.
Balla
Balla is based on a large homogenous magnetite ore body, which will be
developed as one of the lowest cost magnetite operations in Australia. The project also has
significant titanium potential, and is located near major ports, gas and grid
power with main highway access.
The new
Balla Balla Bankable Feasibility Study demonstrates strong project economics
with magnetite iron ore shipments to China scheduled to commence in the
second half of 2010.
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