Sheffield Resources-owned Kimberly Mineral Sands (KMS) has hit another milestone at its Thunderbird Mineral Sands Mine in WA.
The miner shipped 5100 tonnes (t) of bagged non-magnetic zircon concentrate from the site in the second major shipment for the project.
The shipment was placed directly in the hold of a bulk vessel from the Port of Broome, destined for existing overseas offtake customers.
The project’s maiden voyage of 300t of zircon concentrate was launched from Port Hedland earlier this month.
Further shipments of bagged non-magnetic (zircon) concentrate are scheduled throughout the March quarter.
Sheffield said the Kimberley Port Authority is currently progressing final state regulatory clearances to enable bulk shipments of non-magnetic and magnetic concentrate via the Port of Broome.
“We are encouraged by the significant operational steps and progress at the Thunderbird mine and wish to congratulate our logistics partners and local Kimberley port authorities in delivering this first shipment of product from the Port of Broome,” Sheffield Resources executive chair Bruce Griffin said.
Griffin emphasised operations at Thunderbird are progressing well, with improvement in equipment and plant availability in line with the project’s expectations.
“We look forward to delivering further product shipments throughout this quarter as we ramp up Thunderbird and look forward to a successful 2024,” he said.
The Thunderbird project boasts one of the largest high-grade mineral sands deposits discovered in the last 30 years.
Operations began at the site in October 2023, with the project expected to produce a suite of mineral sands concentrate products.
Kimberley Mineral Sands is a 50:50 joint venture between Sheffield Resources and Chinese investment company Yansteel.
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