Razorback Iron Ore Project – A New Iron District to Meet the Growing Demand of an Iron Hungry World

摘要

The Razorback Iron Ore Project is a high tonnage, low-grade magnetite deposit that defi nes a newrniron ore district in South Australia. Known since the 1960s, the deposit has come into its own asrnthe iron hungry world demands not only larger tonnages, but higher grade and cleaner magnetiternconcentrate ores that counterbalance the increasingly dirty haematite ores that are coming intornproduction.rnRazorback is hosted by the Neoproterozoic Braemar Iron Formation, a tillitic unit that isrnpart of the Adelaidean Geosyncline sedimentary sequence. At Razorback, this formation formsrnthe southern limb of the Pualco Syncline, dipping at 42° to the north and outcropping along arnprominent ridge. The formation consists of a series of alternating bedded tillitic and interbeddedrnmagnetite units that represent cycles of glacial advances and retreats. Seven cycles, resulting inrnseven stratigraphic members, are recognised. Members B, D, and G are the thickest, at 30 - 70 mrneach, and are the target of current investigations. While the bedded magnetite has the highest ironrncontent, typically 35 per cent Fe, the tillitic unit, at typically 26 per cent Fe, has similar iron contentrnin the ground mass but is diluted by the inclusion of iron-poor granite and metasedimentaryrndropstones. The mineralisation forms a simple dipping tabular body with only minor faulting,rnfolding and intrusives. Grades, thickness, dip, and outcropping geometry remain very consistentrnover kilometres of strike, presenting an excellent mining proposition.rnRazorback differentiates itself from other Australian magnetite projects in a number of importantrnways. It is not a banded iron formation (BIF); it will have low crushing and grinding costs; and it isrnlocated in an infrastructure-rich area close to open-access, high capacity rail, to a selection of portsrnand to gas, electricity, labour and engineering services. Royal Resources has announced an InferredrnResource of 277 Mt @ 25.9 per cent Fe. The company is targeting a resource of 500 - 1000 Mtrnto support a 10 Mt per year concentrate production. Davis Tube Recovery work shows that the orernis capable of producing a concentrate of over 68 per cent Fe with very low deleterious elements.rnMetallurgical testing confi rms the ore is soft, and with near-zero initial stripping ratio the projectrnwill have a low opex. With access to existing critical infrastructure, capex will also be low, ensuringrnRazorback will be a highly competitive iron producer in this emergent mining district.