Tutunup South, Western Australia

Iluka proposes to establish the Tutunup South mineral sands mine approximately 195km south of Perth and 15km south east of the Busselton township.
 
The development of the Tutunup South mine site is a major component of Iluka's mine plans in the South West, being a continuation of mining and production of heavy mineral concentrate as other sites conclude mining.

Resources

1.1 million tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate ("HMC")

Average Grade 10%
Expected Mine Life

4 - 5 years

Planned Production

Production is anticipated to build to 200 tonnes of ore
per hour, producing more 1.1 million tonnes of HMC
during the life of the mine.

Mining and Processing
Procedure

Conventional dry mining methods and wet concentration.
HMC will be trucked to the Capel processing plant for
final processing before being exported from the Port of
Bunbury.

Employment

~30 full time people (either as Iluka personnel or
contractors)


The proposed ore mining method involves excavating the ore and hauling it to the in-pit hopper. The ore is then conveyed to a wet screening plant where oversize material greater than 2.5 mm will be removed. From the screen plant the ore is transported via pumps and pipeline to the wet concentrator where the ore is separated into heavy mineral concentrate, clay fines and sand tails.





*Project

The heavy haulage route from Tutunup South to the Capel processing plant includes the southern end of Ludlow Hithergreen Road, Vasse Highway, Sues Road and onto the Bussell Highway.

Infrastructure will include the establishment of an open cut mine, screen plant, concentrator, workshops, fuel storage areas, solar drying dams, a process water dam, offices and pipelines.

Hours of operation for earthmoving equipment 7am to 7pm 6 days a week (Sundays off), hours of operation for concentrator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mineral sands product

Ilmenite, zircon, rutile and leucoxene

Project status

In November 2009, the company announced its intention to defer the Tutunup South mineral sands project.  Click here to view the Media Release.

Documents
  • Native Fauna Management Plan
  • Flora, Vegetation and Dieback Management Plan
  • Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plan
  • Ground and Surface Water Management Plan
  • Noise Management Plan
  • Preliminary Closure and Rehabilitation Plan
  • Tutunup South Public Environmental Review
  • Transport Plan

 * Project is defined as a site under planning or currently in construction, but not producing mineral/product.