Page 12 - Bauxite Resources Annual Report 2014

During the 12 months to 30 June 2014
the Company and its joint venture
partners completed exploration drilling
programs in strategic target areas to
expand known bauxite resources and
to identify new bauxite mineralisation.
A total of 3,558 vacuum drill holes were
completed during the year for 17,855m.
The Company once again has
experienced strong resource growth
with bauxite resources of BRL and
its joint venture partners increased to
380.2Mt as at June 30 (refer to Mineral
Resources Table 1 for resources
details). BRL considers the increase
achieved to be an excellent result that
provides a range of developmental
opportunities for domestic and
export exploitation.
DEVELOPING A PIPELINE
OF HIGH QUALITY BAUXITE
PROJECTS TO MEET
MARKET SHORTAGES
The Company remains committed to
the identification and development
of a pipeline of high quality bauxite
resources, with focus during the year
expanding the number of key projects
from two to four with the identification
of the Dionysus and Athena resources,
in addition to Fortuna and Felicitas.
All resources, located in the eastern
and northern Darling Range, display
low reactive silica and high available
alumina to reactive silica ratios, making
them attractive for refining. The majority
of alumina present is the tri-hydrate
mineral gibbsite. Alumina from this type
of deposit is more readily extracted
at lower temperatures than mono-
hydrate alumina found in other bauxite
regions, and as such refining costs are
significantly reduced.
BRL resources are typically on large
private land holdings (cleared farmland),
with excellent road and rail infrastructure
nearby. Bauxite is shallow, typically
with less than 2m of loose overburden,
requiring limited pre-stripping. All
attributes indicate potential for the
Company’s projects to support long life,
low cost bauxite production.
The Company has commenced studies
to assess the viability of establishing
a Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) business
at the Fortuna deposit. These studies
will be undertaken in the second half of
2014 and if positive support a Mining
Proposal being submitted in 2015.
EXPLORATION AND
DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
10 | Bauxite Resources Annual Report 2014