Image Resources (ASX:IMA) has started preliminary works at its Atlas Mineral Sands Project in Western Australia as it advances towards construction.
Preliminary works will include the construction of the Atlas accommodation camp and deconstruction of the wet concentration plant (WCP) at Boonanarring in preparation for transport to Atlas.
The camp is being constructed on Image-owned private land, under an approved development application with the local shire. Deconstruction of the Boonanarring WCP and associated equipment is scheduled to begin this month.
Managing Director Patrick Mutz says Image has an “aggressive” construction schedule, with first heavy mineral concentrate penned in for late in Q4 2024 or early in Q1 2025.
“We continue to advance pre-development activities for Atlas, and it is gratifying to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel leading to the commencement of on-ground construction activities,” he says.
On-ground construction of civils, erection of processing equipment, mining box cut and supporting infrastructure at Atlas are scheduled to start in Q3 2024 once Image has secondary approvals in hand.
This includes the works approval, water abstraction licence, mining proposal and
management plan, as well as Commonwealth approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The Atlas Project, located 170km north of Perth in the North Perth Basin, hosts reserves of 5.5 million tonnes @ 9.2% heavy minerals, including 11.9% zircon, 7.9% rutile, 4.9% leucoxene, 53% ilmenite, and 1.1% monazite.
The mine has an expected mine life of two to three years, with potential for extension with the development of additional resources.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Image Resources
