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ABX GROUP LIMITED — Interim / Quarterly Report 2015
Jan 31, 2016
64283_rns_2016-01-31_3f42f6cb-708b-4398-b202-80a6745c1907.pdf
Interim / Quarterly Report
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Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 1
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ASX: ABX
About Australian Bauxite Limited ASX Code ABX
Australian Bauxite Limited (ABx) has started its first bauxite mine in Tasmania and holds the core of the Eastern Australian Bauxite Province. ABx’s 37 bauxite tenements in Queensland, New South Wales & Tasmania exceed 5,000 km[2] and were rigorously selected for (1) good quality bauxite; (2) near infrastructure connected to export ports; & (3) free of socio-environmental constraints. All tenements are 100% owned, unencumbered & free of third-party royalties.
ABx’s discovery rate is increasing as knowledge, technology & expertise grows.
The Company’s bauxite is high quality gibbsite trihydrate (THA) bauxite & can be processed into alumina at low temperature – the type in shortsupply globally.
ABx has declared large Mineral Resources at Inverell & Guyra in northern NSW, Taralga in southern NSW, Binjour in central QLD & in Tasmania confirming that ABx has discovered significant bauxite deposits including some of outstandingly high quality.
In Tasmania, at Bald Hill, the Company’s first bauxite mine commenced operations on schedule on 9 December 2014 – the first new Australian bauxite mine for more than 35 years.
ABx aspires to identify large bauxite resources in the Eastern Australian Bauxite Province, which is emerging as a globally significant bauxite province. ABx has created significant bauxite developments in 3 states - Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Its bauxite deposits are favourably located for direct shipping of bauxite to both local and export customers.
ABx endorses best practices on agricultural land, strives to leave land and environment better than we find it.
We only operate where welcomed.
Directors / Officers
Paul Lennon Chairman Ian Levy CEO & MD Ken Boundy Director Leon Hawker Chief Operating Officer Rob Williams General Manager Jacob Rebek Chief Geologist Henry Kinstlinger Secretary Julian Rockett Secretary ASX Symbol: ABX Website: http://www.australianbauxite.com.au
QUARTERLY REPORT TO 31 DECEMBER 2015
Quarterly report & activities statement dated 31 January 2016 for 3 months to 31 December 2015
PRINCIPAL POINTS
Corporate
- Group available cash at 31 December 2015 was in the order of $1.5 million
Operations & Exploration
-
Production rates at Bald Hill mine increased during Spring, delivering 40,000 tonnes to Bell Bay export port
-
Maiden bauxite shipment of 40,000 tonnes has been delayed by a sharp downturn in the bauxite market. Negotiations with customers are ongoing. Export approvals are in place for immediate sale
-
Sales of cement grade bauxite have commenced with a 400 tonne parcel after successful bulk sample trials
-
R&D by ABx has discovered an all-weather technology (dubbed “TasTech”) that can produce 3 bauxite product types at good tonnages all year round, namely
-
high grade metallurgical-grade gibbsite bauxite exceeding 45% Al2O3 for the aluminium industry
-
cement-grade bauxite for the production of cement
-
fertiliser-grade bauxite.
Assessment of Binjour Bauxite Project in Queensland
-
Discovery of the high grade Brovinia bauxite plateau near Binjour in Queensland (ASX 7 September 2015) allows ABx to assess the economic potential of this state-significant new bauxite province with potential to become the flagship project for ABx over the next few years.
-
Early assessment results show that resilience against downturns in the bauxite market can be achieved at production rates of about 5 million tonnes per annum.
-
Discussions have begun with companies holding adjacent bauxite-bearing tenements to determine if additional economies of scale are worthwhile.
Bell Bay port stockpile for 1[st] shipment is ready
- TasRail has railed 1,100 tonnes of bauxite product per day to Bell Bay where it is unloaded and stacked by Qube Ports onto the port stockpile which now exceeds 40,000 tonnes.
Tenement status
- All tenements are in good standing & 100% owned.
Bauxite Market
-
Markets for bauxite experienced a correction during December from previous record levels due a flood of cheap Malaysian bauxite during the second half of 2015.
-
Malaysia imposed 3 months export bans due to socioenvironmental damage and corruption charges of officials.
Specifications for ABx’s maiden bauxite cargo are set out in the Appendix
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 2
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Page 2
Portside Production Centre
PR-18 & more
DSO bauxite up to 4m
Closest to Bell Bay Port
Burnie Bell Bay Bridport
Scottsdale
DL-130 Production Centre Bauxite stockpile at Bay Bulk Port
DL-130, Rubble Flat & more
PR-18
Thick bauxite up to 14m DL-130
Close to Bell Bay export port Rubble Flat
Launceston
Campbell Town Prod [n] Centre: Nile Road Project
Fingal Rail Project
Bald Hill, Fingal Rail, Nile Rd
Campbell Town
First mine started at Bald Hill Bald Hill Project
Major road capacity
Rail capacity delivers direct Bell Bay Bulk Port within 100km of all mines
to export port
LEGEND Hobart
ABx Bauxite Lease
Major Export Port
Mines close to existing rail & roads to port
Aluminium Smelter
Coal Mines
Major Roads N
Rail Lines 0 kilometres 100
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Figure 1: location of Bald Hill Project, 3 Bauxite Production Centres (Campbell Town, DL-130 & Portside), development prospects & Tasmanian infrastructure
Mine Operations
Australian Bauxite’s first bauxite mine operations have overcome unseasonably cold-damp weather during Winter to rail a maiden shipment tonnage of good quality bauxite to Bell Bay export port in northern Tasmania. In mid January 2016, operations were suspended until the maiden cargo is sold.
| Project summary: cumulative to date | 6 months to 30 June 2015 To 30 September 2015 |
To 31 December 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Ore mined - all types tonnes ore Screened tonnes ore Produced tonnes bauxite & tonnes stored* Mine stockpile tonnes bauxite Port stockpile tonnes bauxite In transit tonnes bauxite |
115,000 145,000 51,000 88,000 20,000 46,000 17,000 23,900 15,500 13,900 4,000 8,800 0 3,000 |
215,000 165,000 63,300 17,300 5,500 40,500 0 |
- Stored bauxite to be rescreened, mainly in Summer, to customer specifications
Mining – ahead of schedule
Mining remained ahead of schedule, with the ore continuing to be free-diggable as planned. The mining and stockpiling sequence is designed to allow wet ore zones to aerate and dehydrate so as to enhance screening performance and final product grades.
Ore tonnages mined to date are more than sufficient to meet proposed shipping schedule and will continue to be so. The grade of bauxite from pits MB3 was as expected, grades from pit MB6 was below expectation due to higher iron and grades of bauxite from the larger pit MB5 and from MB2 are exceeding expectations. The largest and best grade orebody at Bald Hill, MB4 is performing as expected. Rehabilitation of mined-out areas has begun.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 3
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| Mining summary: cumulative to date | 6 months to 30 June 2015 |
To 30 September 2015 |
To 31 December 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil removed & stored tonnes Overburden relocated tonnes Ore mined - all types tonnes bauxite Transitional & detrital tonnes stored* |
12,000 8,500 115,000 22,000 |
20,000 14,000 145,000 27,300 |
27,000 22,000 215,000 33,500 |
- Stored bauxite to be rescreened, mainly in Summer, to customer specifications
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Figure 2:
Good grade face of bauxite ore, Pit MB4, opened in November 2015 after the unusually harsh and damp winter of 2015
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Figures 3 & 4: Bench mining pit MB3.Feeding dried ore to screen at MB5
Screening – increased production rates during warmer conditions
Since the third week of September, work-in-progress stockpiles have been increasingly rescreened and are producing above-specification product bauxite. Screening is no longer the main constraint on tonnages ready for sale.
| Screening summary (includes some bauxite not requiringscreening) |
6 months to 30 June 2015 |
To 30 September 2015 |
To 31 December 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screened tonnes ore Product produced tonnes ore plus tonnes stored* Mine stockpile tonnes bauxite Port stockpile at Bell Bay tonnes bauxite In transit by train tonnes bauxite |
51,000 20,000 17,000 15,500 4,000 0 |
88,000 46,000 23,900 13,900 8,800 3,000 |
165,000 63,300 17,300 5,500 40,500 0 |
- Stored bauxite to be rescreened, mainly in Summer, to customer specifications
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 4
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Figure 5: “Big Red” & “Li’l Red Tandem Screens
In Summer, the “Big Red” screen could produce acceptable grade bauxite product in a single pass for some of the ore feed and “Li’l Red” screen rescreened stored “work-in-progress” stockpiles to meet grade requirements.
TasTech Research & Development : Multiple screening generated substantial tonnages of finer fractions that would not be included in the maiden shipment but still contained 3 types of saleable bauxite: (1) metallurgical bauxite, (2) cement-grade bauxite and (3) fertiliser grade bauxite. This material can be separated-out using TasTech methods which are currently in development stage.
Transport – smooth operations by TasRail: ABx bauxite proved ideal for transport
ABx bauxite product is a dry-screened dust-free aggregate, ideal for transport by road, rail and sea. During the 6 months of transport, no ABx bauxite hung up in the trucks, the open rail containers and during handling at the port.
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Loading bauxite into B-Double Trucks Loading onto rail wagons
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Bauxite Train to Bell Bay Port
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Figures 6, 7 & 8: TasRail transport operations have run seamlessly, pit to port
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 5
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Port logistics – efficient stevedoring by QUBE Ports using new technologies
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Tipping from rail into radial stacker at Bell Bay Port
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Figure 9:
Qube’s tipping frame tips 22 tonnes of bauxite from the rail container directly into the feed hopper of the Telestacker ship loader which also does the radial stacker duties.
Note dust suppression shroud device works well but the bauxite is very low in dust
Figure 10:
Long-reach radial stacking allows bauxite to be stacked high and peaked to minimise rain penetration and to optimise port area being occupied by the stockpile.
Note dust suppression shroud device works well. The bauxite creates relatively low levels of dust, handles perfectly and has a high angle of repose, confirming its excellent handling properties
stockpile at Bell Bay Port
Figure 11: Bauxite stockpile at Bell Bay Port on 26 November 2015. The walls of old containers form a wind break & stockpile boundary. Note rail entering into Bell Bay Port is in the foreground and it connects to the rail immediately adjacent to the bauxite stockpile. Ships will berth at the concrete wharf and be loaded by the large Telestacker ship loader at a high rate.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 6
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Bauxite Market to 31 December 2015: China’s bauxite imports rise, prices weaken due to cheap Malaysian bauxite flooding the market prior to Malaysian export bans being imposed.
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Bauxite imports into China
million tonnes per month Indonesian export bans & 50% tax imposed
12 [th] January'14
8
Malaysian
Tonnages
7
Indonesian export partial bans
Malaysia
& 20% tax imposed 20 [th] May'12
6
Other
5 India
Indonesia
4
Australia
3
2
1
0
Jan-05 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16
Million tonnes per month
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Figure 12: Tonnes imported rose to 7.1 million tonnes in December 2015, up 120% on December 2014 mainly due to new tonnages of cheap bauxite from Malaysia (blue tonnage zone in figure)
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Chinese Bauxite Imports: Total tonnes per month & Prices CIF China
$100 20
Peak Prices excluding
Australian Prices refractoy bauxite
$90 18
Indian Prices
$80 16
Malaysian prices
$70 Peak Prices 14
Indian Prices
Indonesian Prices
$60 12
Australian Prices
$50 10
Malaysian Prices
$40 8
Indonesian Prices
$30 6
$20 4
$10 2
$0 0
Jan-05 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16
US$/t CIF China
Million Tonnes Per Month
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Figure 13: Falling prices and increasing tonnages of cheap Malaysian bauxite (blue price line in figure) dragged down average CIF China prices by 16% or US$10/tonne to US$49.77/tonne during 2015.
Indian bauxite prices (ABx’s benchmark) have fallen the least during this market correction, oscillating around the US$59/tonne during all of 2015.
Indian-type gibbsite-trihydrate bauxite is needed to offset negative process effects from cheaper bauxite.
In A$ terms , Indian bauxite prices fell 12% from a record A$90.49/tonne in September to A$79.72/tonne in December due to the 4.2% increase in the A$-US$ exchange rate from 70.1 cents in September to 73.1 in December and an 8.2% fall in Indian bauxite prices from US$63.43 to US$58.24/tonne.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 7
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Indian Bauxite Sales Into China: Tonnes & Prices in US$/t & A$ /tCIF China
$100 2,000
A$/tonne
$90 1,800
$80 1,600
$70 1,400
US$/tonne
$60 1,200
$50 1,000
$40 800
$30 600
000 Tonnes
$20 per month 400
$10 200
$0 0
Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16
CIF China
& A$/t
US$/t
Prices:
000 Tonnes Per Month
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Figure 14: Indian bauxite prices in US$/tonne CIF China and A$/tonne CIF China are a product of many factors including the role it pays in the Chinese refineries’ ore blends, the export duties applied by the Indian government, shipping costs (which are at all-time lows), production costs and exchange rates.
West African bauxite supply re-entered the Chinese market at very high prices up to US$84/tonne from Ghana. Supply from Guinea commenced in November. These prices are already high, but will become much higher when shipping costs return to normal. China is diversifying its sources of supply of gibbsite-rich bauxite (see explanation below) but will always be cost-sensitive.
Malaysian bans on bauxite exports
Cheap Malaysian bauxite has been flooding into China in 2015. Chinese refineries need to achieve stable blends of ore to feed into their refineries and consequently, the following factors are significant:
-
Malaysia imposed a 3 month ban on bauxite exports on 15 January 2016 due to socio-environmental problems arising from unregulated exports, highlighting the supply-risks associated with Malaysia;
-
Malaysia’s bauxite area has 2 wet seasons each year – which may affect supply continuity;
-
Malaysian bauxite cargoes can liquify when wet. It caused one ship to sink with the loss of 18 lives;
-
Malaysian bauxite can be wet and difficult to handle. ABx bauxite handles perfectly;
-
Malaysian bauxite can be difficult to transport on rail. ABx bauxite is perfect for rail transport;
-
Malaysian bauxite can have processing problems including poor liquor clarity and slow settling rates. ABx bauxite has strengths for liquor clarity and rapid settling, making it an ideal blend bauxite.
Gibbsite-trihydrate bauxite demand has tightened most – Technical Explanations
Gibbsite-rich trihydrate bauxites (often called THA) like Indian, Malaysian, Gove and ABx bauxite, is premium-priced because it can be processed at “low temperature” around 140C and achieve cost savings. Other bauxite can be ”high-temperature” bauxite, often called MHA or monohydrate bauxite that must be processed at above 245C at higher cost than the low-temperature refineries. Gibbsite is an alumina trihydrate mineral which dissolves at 140C whilst the MHA-monohydrate bauxites contain alumina monohydrate minerals called boehmite or diaspore.
ABx bauxite can also increase its value by lowering its content of SiO2 which consumes caustic soda and has other processing problems. ABx bauxite is “clean” - free of radioactivity, CaO, P2O5 and all deleterious elements. Australian Bauxite Limited plans to ship low temperature, gibbsite bauxite with low SiO2 from its Tasmanian mines and eventually building a very large bauxite project at Binjour in central QLD, 115kms inland from Bundaberg to export exceptionally high quality gibbsite-trihydrate bauxite.
ABx aspires to become one of the largest suppliers of bauxite into China, India, the Middle East and Australia over the next 6 years, specialising in the gibbsite-rich trihydrate bauxite market niche.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 8
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Resource Statement, Definitions and Qualifying Statement
Tabulated below are the Mineral Resources for each ABx Project. The initial ASX disclosure for these Resources is given in the footnotes to the table. Refer to these announcements for full details of resource estimation methodology and attributions. The Mineral Resources have increased since December 2013 following declaration of the Mineral Resources at Campbell Town Area, Tasmania on 24 March 2015.
Table 2 : ABx JORC Compliant Resource Estimates
| Region | Resource Category Million Tonnes Thick- ness |
Al2O3 SiO2 A/S Fe2O3 TiO2 LOI |
Al2O3Avl @ 143°C Rx SiO2 Avl/ Rx |
Lab Yield |
O'Bur den Int. Waste |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mt m |
% % ratio % % % |
% % ratio |
% | m m |
|
| CAMPBELL TOWN | Inferred 1.8 3.0 |
42.6 3.5 12 25.4 3.5 24.6 |
36.7 3.0 12 |
50 | 2.1 0.1 |
| AREA TASMANIA7 | Indicated 1.7 3.2 |
42.5 3.2 14 26.4 3.0 24.5 |
36.2 2.8 14 |
55 | 1.8 0.1 |
| Total 3.5 3.1 |
42.5 3.3 13 25.9 3.3 24.5 |
36.5 2.9 13 |
52 | 2.0 0.1 |
|
| DL-130 AREA TAS1 | Inferred 5.7 3.8 |
44.1 4.3 10 22.8 3.1 25.0 |
37.6 3.2 12 |
55 | 1.5 0.1 |
| Total Tas 9.2 3.5 |
43.5 3.9 11 24.0 3.2 24.8 |
37.2 3.1 12 |
54 | 1.7 0.1 |
|
| BINJOUR QLD2 | Inferred 9.0 3.9 |
43.7 4.5 10 22.4 3.6 24.2 |
38.0 3.8 10 |
59 | 8.2 0.3 |
| DSO Indicated 15.5 5.3 |
44.2 3.1 15 23.4 3.7 24.9 |
39.5 2.6 15 |
62 | 9.4 0.3 |
|
| Total 24.5 4.8 |
44.1 3.6 12 23.1 3.7 24.6 |
39.0 3.0 13 |
61 | 8.9 0.3 |
|
| TOONDOONQLD3 | Inferred 3.5 4.9 |
40.2 7.2 6 25.3 4.9 21.7 |
32.8 5.2 6 |
67 | 1.5 0.0 |
| TARALGA S. NSW4 | Inferred 9.9 3.1 |
40.4 5.7 7 24.6 4.1 22.2 |
35.2 1.9 18 |
54 | 0.1 0.2 |
| Indicated 10.2 3.7 |
41.3 5.3 8 25.9 4.0 22.9 |
36.1 1.9 19 |
55 | 0.7 0.4 |
|
| Total 20.1 5.6 |
40.8 5.5 7 25.3 4.0 22.6 |
35.7 1.9 19 |
55 | 0.5 0.3 |
|
| PDM-DSO* Inferred 7.6 2.5 |
37.0 6.0 6 38.4 3.5 13.3 |
22.1* 1.3 17 |
72 | 0.2 0.1 |
|
| Indicated 10.3 3.1 |
37.6 3.9 10 40.4 3.7 13.5 |
22.4* 1.1 20 |
71 | 0.7 0.4 |
|
| Total 17.8 5.8 |
37.3 4.8 8 39.6 3.6 13.5 |
22.3* 1.2 18 |
72 | 0.5 0.3 |
|
| Total Taralga 37.9 5.7 |
39.2 5.2 8 32.0 3.8 18.3 |
35.4 1.6 23 |
63 | 0.5 0.3 |
|
| INVERELL N. NSW5 | Inferred 17.5 4.7 |
39.8 4.8 8 27.7 4.3 22.2 |
31.0 4.2 7 |
61 | 2.3 |
| Indicated 20.5 4.8 |
40.6 4.7 9 26.9 4.1 22.5 |
32.0 4.0 8 |
60 | 2.4 | |
| Total 38.0 4.8 |
40.2 4.7 9 27.3 4.2 22.4 |
31.6 4.1 8 |
61 | 2.4 | |
| GUYRA N. NSW6 | Inferred 2.3 4.2 |
41.4 3.6 12 26.2 3.3 24.6 |
35.0 2.8 13 |
56 | 3.4 |
| Indicated 3.8 5.9 |
43.1 2.6 16 27.3 3.9 24.5 |
37.4 2.0 18 |
61 | 4.4 | |
| Total 6.0 5.3 |
42.5 3.0 14 26.9 3.7 24.5 |
36.5 2.3 16 |
59 | 4.0 | |
| 119.1 * PDM is Al2O3spinel. Al2O3Avl at 225°C is >35% GRAND TOTAL ALL AREAS |
|||||
| Explanations: All resources 100% owned & unencumbered. Resource tonnage estimates are quoted as in-situ, pre mined tonnages. All assaying done at NATA-registered ALS Laboratories, Brisbane. Chemical definitions: Leach conditions to measure available alumina "Al2O3 Avl" & reactive silica "Rx SiO2" is 1g leached in 10ml of 90gpl NaOH at 143°C for 30 minutes. LOI = loss on ignition at 1000°C. "Avl/Rx" ratio is (Al203 Avl)/(Rx SiO2) and "A/S" ratio is Al203/SiO2. Values above 6 are good, above 10 are excellent. Tonnage is for bauxite in-situ. Lab Yield is for drill dust samples screened by ALS lab at 0.26mm. Production yields are not directly related and are typically between 60% and 75%. Tonnages requiring no upgrade will have 100% yield. Resource estimates excludelarge tonnages of potential extensions, overburden & interburden detrital bauxite and underlyingtransitional bauxite mineralisation. Production will clarifythese materials. |
Tabulated Resource numbers have been rounded for reporting purposes. The Company conducts regular reviews of these Resources and Reserve estimates and updates as a result of material changes to input parameters such as geology, drilling data and financial metrics. Global Mineral Resources declared to 24/03/2015 total 119.1 million tonnes. Explanatory notes and prior resource statements are summarised as follows:
Avl Al2O3 = available Al2O3 at 143°C Rx = reactive SiO2, Avl/Rx = available alumina to reactive silica ratio, A/S = alumina/silica ratio, LOI = loss on ignition, OB = overburden, Int W = internal waste, DSO = Direct Shipping Bauxite, PDM = poorly diffracting material (under XRD), Lab Yield = wet screen yield from drill dust The information above relates to Mineral Resources previously reported according to the JORC Code (see Competent Person Statement) as follows:
1 Maiden Tasmania Mineral Resource, 5.7 million tonnes announced on 08/11/2012
2 Binjour Mineral Resource, 24.5 million tonnes announced on 29/06/2012
3 QLD Mining Lease 80126 Maiden Resource, 3.5 million tonnes announced on 03/12/2012
4 Goulburn Taralga Bauxite Resource Increased by 50% to 37.9 million tonnes announced on 31/05/2012 5 Inverell Mineral Resource update, 38.0 million tonnes announced on 08/05/2012
6 Guyra Maiden Mineral Resource, 6.0 million tonnes announced on 15/08/2011
7 Initial resources for 1st Tasmanian mine, 3.5 million tonnes announced on 24/03/2015
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 9
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Governance arrangements and internal controls – Mineral Resources
ABx has ensured that the Mineral Resource estimates quoted above are subject to governance arrangements and internal controls. The resource estimates have been externally derived by an independent consulting organisation whose staff have exposure to best practice in modelling and estimation techniques. Geology models have been generated by ABx staff and have been reviewed by the external resource consultant. The consultant has also carried out reviews of the quality and suitability of the data underlying the Mineral Resource estimate. In turn, ABx management and executives have carried out numerous internal reviews of the Mineral Resource estimate to ensure that it honours the ABx geological model and has been classified and reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2004) and in the case of Tasmania in accordance with the JORC Code (2012).
ABx confirms in this report that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the previously released reports. In the case of estimates of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, the company confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.
Direct Shipping Bauxite or “Direct Shipping “Ore”
All references in this report to direct shipping bauxite or direct shipping ore (DSO) refers to the company’s exploration objective of defining or identifying DSO grade mineralisation.
True Width
The true-width of the deposit is not known and will be determined by further resource definition drilling.
Definitions
DSO bauxite Bauxite that can be exported directly with minimal processing Averaging method Aggregated average grades in the tables are length-weighted averages of each sample’s length & grades.
Qualifying statements
Genera l
The information in this report that relate to Exploration Information and Mineral Resources are based on information compiled by Jacob Rebek and Ian Levy who are members of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Rebek and Mr Levy are qualified geologists and Mr Levy is a director of Australian Bauxite Limited.
Mainland
The information relating to Mineral Resources on the Mainland was prepared and first disclosed under the JORC Code 2004. It has not been updated since to comply with the JORC Code 2012 on the basis that the information has not materially changed since it was last reported.
Mr Rebek and Mr Levy have sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity, which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Rebek and Mr Levy have consented in writing to the inclusion in this report of the Exploration Information in the form and context in which it appears.
Tasmania
The information relating to Exploration Information and Mineral Resources in Tasmania has been prepared or updated under the JORC Code 2012.
Mr Rebek and Mr Levy have sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity, which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Rebek and Mr Levy have consented in writing to the inclusion in this report of the Exploration Information in the form and context in which it appears.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 10
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Tenement information required under LR 5.3.3.
| Tenement No. | Location |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | |
| EL 6997 | Inverell |
| EL 7361 | Guyra |
| EL 7597 | Merriwa - 2 |
| EL 7950 | Merriwa Extension |
| EL 7858 | Stannifer |
| EL 8097 | Coolah |
| EL 8130 | Old Mill |
| EL 7269 | Windellama |
| EL 7279 | Wingello West |
| EL 8370 | Penrose Forest |
| EL 7357 | Taralga |
| EL 7681 | Taralga Extension |
| EL 7546 | Penrose |
| Queensland | |
| EPM 17790 | Hampton |
| EPM 17830 | Haden |
| EPM 17831 | Hillgrove |
| EPM 18014 | Binjour |
| EPM 18772 | Binjour Extension |
| ML 80126 | Toondoon ML |
| EPM 25146 | Toondoon EPM |
| EPM 19390 | Brovinia |
| EPMA 19427 | Bronvinia 2 |
| EPM 25787 | Harrami |
|---|---|
| Tasmania | |
| EL 4/2010 | Evandale |
| EL 6/2010 | Cleveland |
| EL 7/2010 | Conara |
| EL 9/2010 | Deloraine |
| EL 37/2010 | Westbury |
| EL 3/2012 | Ross |
| EL 12/2012 | Scottsdale |
| EL 16/2012 | Reedy Marsh |
| ML 1961 P/M | Bald Hill Bauxite |
| EL 18/2014 | Prosser’s Road |
Note:
During the quarter, no tenements were granted, acquired or disposed
All tenements are 100% owned and not subject to Farm-in or Farm-out agreements, third-party royalties nor encumbered in any way.
Qualifying statement
The information in this announcement that relate to Exploration Information is based on information compiled by Jacob Rebek and Ian Levy who are members of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Rebek and Mr Levy are qualified geologists and Mr Levy is a director of Australian Bauxite Limited.
Mr Rebek and Mr Levy have sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity, which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Resources. Mr Rebek and Mr Levy have consented to the inclusion in this announcement of the Exploration Information in the form and context in which it appears.
Disclaimer Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This ASX announcement (Announcement) contains various forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties in that they may be affected by a variety of known and unknown risks, variables and factors which could cause actual values or results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the expectations described in such forward-looking statements.
ABx does not give any assurance that the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements will be achieved.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 11
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APPENDIX
Tasmanian Bauxite Product Definition Sheet: Maiden Cargo
Specifications of the current maiden shipment stockpile at Bell Bay port based on ISO-compliant sampling and assaying are as follows:
Tonnage: 40,000 tonnes at port ready for loading Moisture: 8% Sizing: 15mm to 100mm Shipping specification is Group C with all export approvals in place. Loadrate: 10,000 MT pwwd SHINC
Chemistry:
| 42% | |
|---|---|
| Al2O3% | |
| 5.88% | |
| SiO2% | |
| 5.1% | |
| Reactive SiO2% | |
| < 1.5% | |
| Mono-hydrate % | |
| 24.80% | |
| Fe2O3% | |
| 2.90% | |
| TiO2% | |
| 0.05% | |
| CaO % | |
| 0.08% | |
| MgO % | |
| 0.35% | |
| SO3% | |
| 24% | |
| LOI % | |
ABx bauxite has excellent SETTLING performance in the circuit and in the red mud tailings
It can help solve frothing issues when included in the bauxite blend.
It produces excellent refinery liquor clarities (ie. very clean), even at low flocculent dosage rates.
It contains no radioactive components.
It handles very cleanly and is ideal for transportation on land or sea - videos of its rail haulage performance can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqSNioU9gEc.
The bauxite cargo has a high angle of repose (35 to 45 degrees) as evident in the port stockpile photo in Figure 11 above on page 5.
Quarterly Activities Report – December 2015 Page 12
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Figure 15: ABx Project Tenements and Major Infrastructure