Venture Minerals Limited (ASX:VMS, OTC:VTMLF) has engaged Curtin University to spearhead the next stage of metallurgical test work on tin-rich borates from the Mount Lindsay Project in Tasmania following stage 1 work completed by the CSIRO.
This next phase will investigate methods to extract tin, boron and iron from tin-iron borates.
Venture hopes the work will produce “significantly” higher tin recoveries than previously achieved, as well as a high-value boron by-product which would provide an additional revenue stream for the project and a major economic benefit.
The company recently identified potential for large-scale quantities of tin and boron mineralisation throughout the project’s skarn system, in a borate form of mineral not previously assessed in any mining studies at the site.
Given boron’s relevance in the energy transition as a critical mineral used in solar panels and nuclear reactors, the company is keen to pursue it as a potential production target.
Globally significant critical mineral producer
“Venture looks forward to working with Curtin University as it looks to unlock the potential of the tin-rich borates at Mount Lindsay,” Venture Minerals managing director Andrew Radonjic said.
“Curtin is well positioned in this space as leader of the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer hub, which is part of the recently announced Federal Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program.
“Curtin will continue from where CSIRO’s good work finished off and will look to develop a processing flowsheet in the coming months for recovering tin, boron, and iron from the tailings circuit.
“The results from the Curtin test work will be fed back into the Mount Lindsay Underground Feasibility Study so that the mine design can be re-optimised to deliver the final outcomes that could make Mount Lindsay a significant producer of critical minerals for the global market.”
Boron is now included in the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials Act, considered vital to the energy transition – in addition to solar and nuclear applications, up to 50 kilograms of boron is also used in electric vehicle batteries.
At present, Australia does not produce boron – Türkiye holds the largest reserves at 1.2 billion tonnes, while the US and Russia take the silver medal at 40 million tonnes.