Perth-Aurox Resources Ltd., an Australian iron ore development company, says it also has phosphate assets for development at its Balla Balla iron ore location in northern Western Australia, not far from Port Hedland. Currently, the phosphate was slated to be removed as a waste product from magnetite mining. However, with phosphate rock moving from $50/mt to $400/mt on world markets within the past year, Aurox is now giving phosphate another look. It is moving ahead with studies into the beneficiation and sales of phosphate from the project. It currently estimates that its deposit could have well over 100 million mt. Aurox says it is already well advanced in the development of Balla Balla, having completed a bankable feasibility study for 6 million mt/y of magnetite iron ore production. It says it has in place two 15-year sales contracts for total of 6 million mt/y, increasing to 10 million mt/y in year five with major Chinese steel companies. The facility is near major ports, gas, and power grids with main highway access. Iron ore shipments to China could begin as early as 2010.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain