O C TO B E R 2 0 1 4
MagnesiteOpportunities in New South Wales, Australia
To Adelaide
A.C.T.
Q U E E N S L A N D
V I C T O R I A
SO
UT
H A
US
TR
AL
I A
New EnglandOrogen
LachlanOrogen
Murray Basin
Delamerian OrogenCurnamonaCraton
Thomson Orogen
MudgeeDUBBO
Wentworth
Cobar
ORANGE
WOLLONGONG
Nyngan
Walgett
Coonamble Gunnedah
Parkes
BrokenHill
Narrabri
Inverell
Cowra
Goulburn
Griffith
NOWRA
Batemans Bay
Narooma
Bega
Cooma
Moree
WAGGAWAGGA
ALBURY
Grafton
Yamba
Ballina
LISMORE
NEWCASTLE
Balranald
Deniliquin
TibooburraLightning Ridge
Eden
BATHURST
PORT MACQUARIE
COFFS HARBOUR
Kempsey
TareeMuswellbrook
Bourke
TAMWORTH
Armidale
SYDNEY
CANBERRA
Piedmont MagnesitePiedmont Magnesite
Noakes MagnesiteDeposit
Noakes MagnesiteDeposit
Baileys MagnesiteDepositBaileys MagnesiteDeposit
Thuddungra MagnesiteMineThuddungra MagnesiteMine
AttungaMagnesiteAttungaMagnesite
Fifield MagnesiteFifield Magnesite
Whitton RoadMagnesite
Whitton RoadMagnesite
REFERENCE
Magnesite occurrenceSmallMediumLargeVery largeOperating mineDepositUltramafic rocks/serpentinitesExport portRailway Major road, sealedMajor road, unsealedGas pipelineGas pipeline, proposed
FifieldFifield
ThuddungraThuddungra
200 km
N
Overview
• New South Wales hosts large, ultrapure, cryptocrystalline and nodular deposits, as well as widespread regolith-hosted replacement deposits.
• Boutique opportunities exist for agricultural and specialist applications.
• World magnesite supply has been impacted by modernisation in China reducing its export capacity. Western nations are seeking other suppliers, so there is strong demand from local and international markets.
Geological setting
Magnesite (MgCO3) is rhombohedral (47.8% MgO and 52.2% CO2 when pure) and occurs as a solid solution with siderite (FeCO3).
Deposits in New South Wales are typically:• ultrafine-grained (crypto- to micro-crystalline or ‘bone’)• coarse-grained ‘sparry’
Development opportunities• Large, high-grade colluvial channel-hosted deposits (e.g.
Thuddungra and nearby Noakes, Baileys Magnesite deposit etc.)
• Weathered ultramafic intrusions (e.g. Fifield)• Nepheline olivine basalts and leucitites (Cargelligo
deposits, e.g. Whitton Road)• Vein-style silica-carbonate deposits (Piedmont and Attunga)
Exploration opportunities• Clarence–Moreton Basin: Sedimentary deposits may occur
near the Gordonbrook Serpentinite• Great Serpentinite Belt: smaller vein-style (Krubath-type)
are widespread• Delamerian Orogen: Potential for large, sparry deposits
resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au
Project highlights
Thuddungra Magnesite mine: (measured resource) 3.8 Mt @ 55.1%, MgCO3. Currently produces 30 000 tpa (~12% of national supply). The ore is cryptocrystalline and nodular, of exceptional quality (>99.8% MgCO3) and suitable for refractories and pharmaceuticals. It includes lower-grade bulk material suitable for a wide range of applications.
Additional ore occurs at the nearby Noakes and Baileys Magnesite deposits.
Noakes: (measured resource) 12.6 Mt @ 43.0% MgCO3.
Fifield Magnesite mine produced ~895 000 tonnes hard magnesite (99.19% MgO calcined).
The nearby BHP Magnesite mine produced ~1 Mt of magnesite.
Cincinatti mine has existing mine infrastructure.
Cargelligo (Whitton Road deposits) has numerous deposits of 93.4–97.3% MgCO3 with ferric oxide from 0.5–1.8%.
World magnesia production (from magnesite) by country
China 49%
Turkey 6%
Spain 3%Others 3%Slovakia 5%Russia 12%
North Korea 2%
India 3%
Greece 2%USA 2%
Brazil 5%
Austria 5%
Australia 3%
Total resources in Australia = 330 Mt
31%causticcalcinedmagnesia
69%dead-burned
magnesia
Australia
Source: http://www.indmin.com/magnesia.html
Magnesite end products — totalled 582 700 t (USA, 2008)
Dead-burned and fused magnesia: 386 000 tRefractories (including steel and metallurgical industries)Cement Glass
Caustic calcined magnesia: 167 000 tCements for flooring, wallboards and mouldings Acoustic tilesVarious environmental and chemical applications
Crude magnesite (MgCO3): 15 800 tChemicalsAgriculturePharmaceuticals
2.39%Other
66.24%Dead-burned and fused magnesia
2.71%Crude magnesite
28.66%Caustic calcined magnesia
Source: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/magnesium
Magnesite (MgCO3)
Channel-hostedMgCO3
Plan view
In-situMgCO3
SiO2 + MgCO3
Serpentinite andmagnesite-bearingcolluvium
SiO 2SiO
2
Ground-waters
Surface
Soil horizons
Mixed overburden
Thuddungra magnesite mineWeathered serpentinitePalaeochannel
REFERENCE
~2m0
~250 m0
Cross-section of palaeochannel fill in the Thuddungra district (diagrammatic only).
Contact: [email protected] | +61 2 4963 6500Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at time of writing (October 2014), using publicly available information. Because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date. The information contained in this publication may not be or may no longer be aligned with government policy nor does the publication indicate or imply government policy. No warranty about the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information contained in this document is inferred (including, without limitation, any information in the document provided by third parties). While all reasonable care has been taken in the compilation, to the extent permitted by law, the State of New South Wales (including the NSW Department of Planning and Environment) exclude all liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information, or for any injury, loss, or damage whatsoever (including without limitation liability for negligence and consequential losses) suffered by any person acting, or purporting to act, in reliance upon anything contained herein. Users should rely upon their own advice, skills, interpretation and experience in applying information contained in this publication. The product trade names in this publication are supplied on the understanding that no preference between equivalent products is intended and that the inclusion of a product name does not imply endorsement by the Department over any equivalent product.