EXPLORATION ROUNDUP — Tiomin Res. boosts reserves at Kwale mineral sands project

Toronto-based junior Tiomin Resources (TIO-T) has increased by 54% its reserve estimate at the Kwale heavy mineral sands project in Kenya.

The project’s three deposits are now estimated to host 200 million tonnes, containing 4.3 million tonnes of ilmenite, 1.1 million tonnes of rutile and 400,000 tonnes of zircon, providing for a project life of 17 years at annual production rates of 12 million tonnes. Previously, reserves were pegged at 130 million tonnes, containing 3.6 million, 900,000 and 400,000 tonnes of ilmenite, rutile and zircon, respectively.

The new reserves are based on 219 holes and a cutoff grade of 1% total heavy minerals.

As part of its ongoing bankable feasibility study, Tiomin is testing a 208-tonne bulk sample in a pilot plant capable of yielding 10 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrates of rutile, zircon and ilmenite. Further processing on commercial-scale magnetic and electrostatic separation equipment will follow as the company endeavors to determine commercial grades of those minerals for marketing and final engineering purposes.

Earlier tests yielded recoveries of 95% for all three minerals using a simple gravity circuit. Metallurgical tests performed on those concentrates suggests grades of 96% titantium dioxide in rutile and 66% zirconium dioxide in zircon.

Tiomin has an 80% interest in the Kwale project, with Pangea Goldfields (PGD-T) holding the remainder on a carried basis.