Name of the Project
Kookaburra Gully graphite project.

Location
The project is located on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

Client
Lincoln Minerals.

Project Description
A feasibility study has demonstrated a robust business case for the Kookaburra Gully graphite project and has substantially enhanced and derisked the project’s development.

The project has a defined probable ore reserve of 1.34-million tonnes grading 14.6% total graphitic carbon (TGC) at a cutoff grade of 8.5% TGC inclusive within a total measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource of 2.03-million tonnes grading 15.2% TGC (cutoff grade 5% TGC).

The feasibility study is based on a processing rate increasing to 250 000 t/y of ore to produce about 35 000 t/y of flake graphite concentrate at 90% recovery.

Mining will be undertaken using conventional truck-and-shovel openpit mining methods and the services of a mining contractor.

Three waste rock storage facilities (WRSFs) have been designed, starting with WRSF West and then progressing to WRSF East and then WRSF South. WRSF West and WRSF South will be progressively constructed and rehabilitated from west to east to enhance the visual aesthetics of subsequent operations.

Some waste rock from early mining operations will be used for the construction of the tailings storage facility (TSF) embankments or division walls.

The waste output (tailings) from the flotation process will be pumped from the processing plant to a tailings thickener before deposition in the TSF.

The TSF is designed to store 1.61-million tonnes of tailings and has capacity to store 200 000 m3 of potentially acid-forming (PAF) waste rock. 

The design of the TSF is valley fill and comprises two cells to manage nonacid-forming (NAF) and PAF tailings. PAF tailings and waste rock will be stored in the western TSF cell during operations, and then fully encapsulated by NAF tailings at closure.

Development of the TSF will occur in four phases, based on the deposition of NAF and PAF tailings.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of A$81-million over the life-of-mine and an internal rate of return of 33%, with a payback of three to four years.

Value
The project is estimated at A$44-million.

Duration
Kookaburra Gully is planned to be in maiden production from 2019, with a mining lease already granted.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Lincoln Minerals, tel +61 8 8274 0243 or email info@lincolnminerals.com.au.