Mina Player, contract washing / processing / refining / winning...

Mina Player, contract washing / processing / refining / winning is commonplace in coal, nickel, gold, bauxite, wheat, rice and grains Australia wide. No need to reinvent wheel but it does cost $/tonne and in this instance Mitsubishi has upper hand.

However, witnessing the FMG and the BC Iron battles play-out first hand suggests clearly it's not a given which way it shall conclude (BC Iron first Junior to execute a 3rd party Rail and Port Infrastructure arrangement. So it can be done).

As for stressful, both solutions have their moments


If an estimated Capex for Silica Processing Plant and Ship loader ( in order of $25-$30m & $10-$15m resp), can be offset in early mining lifecycle by contract process & loading arrangements with Mitsubishi, the development of MLM plant and/or loadout facility might be thereafter considered as a revenue stream to undertake 3rd party processing for the likes of DRX (calling themselves neighbors but logistically convoluted)

Commercial arrangements to sell Mitsubishi raw Silica Sand may also be an option for early revenue stream prior to significant CAPEX.

I see the Mitsubishi relationship as priority in assessing feasibility of the tenement as a mining operation.

Either way the figures today are pleasingly solid and subsequent resource upgrade will be welcomed.