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Mining News - Lithium developer Altura Mining has added two years to the mine life at its Pilgangoora project in the Pilbara after delivering a revised ore reserve and mineral resource estimate.
Altura, which is in the commissioning phase of the Western Australian project, plans to incorporate the increased estimate in its proposed stage two expansion of the operation.
The update follows the completion of a drill program in the Southern Ridge deposit area and increases the company’s overall confidence in the project inventory.
Altura managing director James Brown said the resource and reserve upgrade was “extremely positive” and in line with the company’s strategy of systematically increasing the resource inventory.
“The exploration and development team have delivered some outstanding results that will not only add confidence to the existing operation but underpin the planned stage two expansion to 440,000t per annum production,” Brown said.
“This also comes as we move strongly through the commissioning phase of stage one, with crushed ore stockpiled and ready for processing.
“We remain firmly on track for first lithium concentrate production this quarter and the first customer shipments in July.”
The Pilgangoora’s project’s revised mineral resource estimate comprises 50.5Mt at 1.01 per cent Li 2 O and 512,000t of contained Li 2 O, an increase on the previous resource estimate of 47.5Mt at 1 per cent.
Altura’s new ore reserves estimate of 41.1Mt at 1.05 per cent Li 2 O and 432,000t of contained Li 2 O is a 7.1Mt improvement on the previous ore reserve estimate.