AusNiCo expects to begin tin production from its Taronga project in NSW, Australia in 2017, it said in a presentation to investors this week. A new review of the planned metallurgical ore processing flowsheet for the project by an independent consultant concluded that production of a medium grade (55% Sn) concentrate with an overall 70% tin recovery could be obtained. Other positive features of the project are a low strip ratio (2:1), the use of heavy media pre-concentration to boost the concentrator feed grade to 0.46% and copper and silver by-product credits.
The metallurgical review will feed into an updated Pre-Feasibility Study, to be followed by a Bankable Feasibility Study and statutory approval processes through 2014-2015. Annual capacity will be some 2,500 tpy of tin-in-concentrate.
