Name of the Project
Halls Creek project.

Location
Kimberley region, Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Mining and mineral processing company Cobalt Blue Holdings.

Project Description
Halls Creek will have a life-of-mine of 10.5 years.

The project will be underpinned by the development of the Onedin and Sandiego deposits in sequence.

The Onedin deposit will be mined and processed over five years using conventional drill, blast, load and haul methods, delivering up to one-million tonnes a year of material to a heap-leach pad.

Copper metal will be produced using solvent extraction and electrowinning, with a maximum production rate of 5 000 t/y. 

Zinc sulphate monohydrate will be produced using solvent extraction and crystallisation, with an average production rate of 15 000 t/y of contained zinc.

An estimated 19 400 t of copper and 59 000 t of zinc are expected to be produced over the life of the operation.  Mining is expected to be conducted by a specialist contractor.

Longhole open stoping will be used for the Sandiego deposit, to be mined and processed over 4.5 years. 

Cemented rock fill will maximise ore recovery, delivering up to 700 000 t/y of material to a flotation concentrator plant.

Separate copper and zinc concentrates will be produced, at 25% and 51% respectively. 

The average yearly copper concentrate will contain 7 300 t of copper and 72 600 oz of silver.

The average yearly zinc concentrate will contain 13 300 t of zinc and 12 100 oz of silver.

Total copper production contained in concentrate is estimated at 33 000 t, silver production in copper concentrate at 326 800 oz, and zinc and silver production in zinc concentrate at 59 900 t and 54 500 oz respectively.

Potential Job Creation
Job creation figures have not been disclosed.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of A$172-million and an internal rate of return of 28%.

Capital Expenditure
Onedin will require capital expenditure (capex) of A$73-million and Sandiego capex of 
A$43-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Cobalt Blue Holdings, tel +61 2 8287 0660 or email info@cobaltblueholdings.com.