Commissioning of Expansion
Completed
• Commissioning of Leichhardt Project Plant Expansion is Complete
• Ramp-up of additional copper production from a rate of 5,500 tpa to
9,000 tpa is underway
• Excellent metallurgical performance achieved from leach pads
• Mt Watson Stage 2 feasibility activities continue
Commissioning Complete
Matrix Metals Limited (Matrix) is pleased to advise that commissioning of the expanded copper
cathode production plant at the Leichhardt Copper Project (LCP) has now been completed. The
expansion increases LCP production from a rate of 5,500 tpa to 9,000 tpa copper cathode.
Commissioning personnel have now been de-mobilised and Matrix operational personnel are
managing the processing facility.
Leach System Improvements
In addition, during the last six months the company has replaced the plastic lining of the
Pregnant Liquor Solution (“PLS”) / Intermediate Liquor Solution (“ILS”) drainage systems and
the Raffinate, PLS and ILS copper solution ponds. A plastic lining system has also been
installed in the storm water containment system. These improvements mean that in the normal
course of operations there should not be a need for any future relining works.
Ramp–Up to Full Production
The processing facility is now producing copper in excess of the previous production rate of
5,500 tpa and the ramp-up to the new 9,000 tpa rate is in progress. Mining, cartage and crushing
contractors are providing ore to the leach pads at rates to achieve the expanded production
capacity. The speed of the leaching process will now dictate the project’s metal production rate
increase.
1131 Hay Street, West Perth, W.A. 6005 PO Box 1036 West Perth, W.A. 6872
Tel: (08) 9486 7100 Fax: (08) 9486 7300. Website: www.matrixmetals.com.au Email: [email protected]
2
Performance of Mt Watson Ore
The leaching performance of the Mt Watson pit ore, which is used to provide the feed to the
Leichhardt Copper Plant, continues to be excellent. The percolation, liquid flow rates, copper
recovery rate and heap solution outflow tenor have all achieved at or above feasibility study
parameters. The first completed leach pad cell has been sampled, with those samples indicating
that 93% of the total copper was recovered from the ore feed, against a budget of 85%. The
excellent performance of this cell continues to indicate that the ultimate recovery of copper
from Mt Watson Stage 1 will at least achieve, or exceed, the study parameters. These
favourable metallurgical results are positive for the expected outcome of the Mt Watson Stage 2
metallurgical testing (see below).
Mt Watson Stage 2
Mining of the Mt Watson orebody has always been scheduled as a two stage development, with
Stage 1 underway, currently processing the remaining approximately 1.5 million tonnes of ore
reserve (Table 1). This will be followed by Stage 2, which will process the remaining
economically leachable ore from the total Mt Watson deposit. In total the Mt Watson resource
alone could potentially provide a life of 5 years, excluding any further exploration success in
proximity to the Leichhardt Copper Plant.
The conversion of Stage 2 resources to reserves consists of completing metallurgical column
test work on the transitional resource and re-optimising pit designs. Metallurgical column test
work on the Mt Watson transitional resource commenced in May 2008, with results anticipated
to be received by the Company early in the December quarter. Various scenarios will be
considered to select the optimum scenario for detailed review.
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