Name of the Project
Uis tin mine Phase 1 expansion project.

Location
Namibia.

Project Owner/s
Tin mining company AfriTin Mining.

Project Description
A definitive feasibility study (DFS) has confirmed the feasibility of expanding the current Phase 1 processing plant, resulting in a 67% increase in tin concentrate production from 720 t/y to 1 200 t/y.

The DFS proposes enhancements to the current processing plant, which will result in a modular expansion of the existing crushing circuit to increase ore throughput by 50%. It also proposes the upgrade of the existing concentrator circuit to accommodate the increased crushed ore feed tonnage and increase the projected overall tin recovery target from the current 60% to 64%.

The detailed upgrades include:

• the addition of a crusher and screen between the primary jaw crusher and the fines crushing section;

• the addition of a buffer stockpile between the crushing and concentrating sections;

• the increase of the water rejection capacity in the dense-medium separation (DMS) 1 section;

• combining the dense-medium circuits of DMS 2 and DMS 3 to improve operability and stability;

• converting the DMS 2 floats recrush circuit into a closed circuit by adding a classification screen;

• additional spirals to reprocess middlings; and

• the relocation of product handling infrastructure and the installation of an additional shaking table for improved processing capacity. The existing shaking tables will be replaced with Holman tables for higher separation efficiency.

The DFS is based on a tin-only basis and currently excludes tantalum and lithium concentrate as potential by-products – these commodities are being investigated by AfriTin’s metallurgical testwork programme.

The Uis mine has proven and probable reserves of 15.61-million tonnes grading 0.14% tin for 21 536 t of contained metal.

Potential Job Creation
The project will be complemented by the appoint­ment of a skilled and experienced project management and construction management team to reduce implementation time and limit project implementation risks.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a net present value of $12.1-million and an internal rate of return of 54%, with a payback of 2.4 years.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at $5.7-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The company aims to complete the expansion by the second quarter of 2022.

Latest Developments
AfriTin Mining’s density-based lithium beneficiation testwork at its Uis tin mine has achieved petalite concentrate grades of more than 4% lithium oxide that are within contaminant specifications for a typical saleable technical grade petalite product.

The miner will now proceed with the design and procurement of a pilot lithium beneficiation facility, as well as the implementation of a tantalum concentrating circuit.

AfriTin CEO Anthony Viljoen has said the metallurgical testwork results confirm the production potential of separate saleable lithium and tantalum concentrates.

“The implementation of these by-product streams could substantially transform the overall economics and unit cost of production for the current Phase 1 facility,” he adds.

By implementing the pilot phase development of these separate elements, the company aims to take advantage of the burgeoning technology metals market by fast-tracking the by-product streams into production.

AfriTin has embarked on an aggressive strategy to maximise returns by producing by-products and maximising processing throughput. The programmes to develop separate tantalum and lithium concentrate by-products are advancing to the pilot phase.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Minxcon (DFS).

Contact Details for Project Information
AfriTin Mining, tel +27 11 268 6555.