Written by Andrea Barnard Tuesday, 09 February 2010 13:46
WITH WA’s rich magnetite resources in demand locally and overseas, the expertise of engineering firm Engenium has allowed mining company Atlas Iron to take maximum advantage of the Ridley Magnetite site, 90kms east of Port Hedland.
The iron oxide magnetite is a valuable source of iron ore used in steel production, making it a valuable commercial product.
Having worked with Atlas Iron since its beginnings in 2003, Engenium was engaged in October 2007 to manage and coordinate the development of the two year pre-feasibility study for the Ridley Magnetite project. Its work has seen the creation of a benchmark magnetite project in WA’s Pilbara region.
“What we’ve developed here at Engenium is centered on process engineering smarts,” founding director of Engenium and engineer David Sourbutts says.
“We look at the different ways of testing the mineralisation, working with the local labs and trying various testing regimes and processes. From the results that come out of that we use our engineering background to work out the particular style of operating plant required.
“Magnetite is a relatively new industry, especially here in WA.
“The Chinese, who have shown the most interest in, and are the major purchasers of, magnetite, have helped create a market that did not exist 8 years ago.
“We recognised this and chose strategically to get involved with the industry. There’s not a lot of knowledge out there about the sort of investigative work required at an early stage and some of the test work required to ensure the work you do actually translates into what an operating plant will look like and how it will operate.”
With a resource project typically going through a number of phases before reaching a final definitive study, Engenium business development manager and engineer Wayne Peel says there are a number of factors involved in ensuring that the project is technically and economically viable before working out the final costing, details and engineering to make it work.
The result of Engenium’s study has seen the design of a project that will boost the local economy, provide jobs for site workers and significantly reduce costs in transport due to its logistical 90km distance from Port Hedland’s main centre.
“It’s a technically interesting area to be working in from a processing perspective and provides a lot of opportunity for people interested in that area," Mr Sourbutts says.
“We’d like to see more of that happen here in the state and it will be good to see people like Atlas up and get their projects over the line, it will be good for us and the State in general."
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