Tartana Minerals ramps up copper sulphate production with major shipment to Northern Territory
Tartana Minerals (ASX: TAT) has made the largest-ever shipment of copper sulphate from its plant in Queensland to one of the major mining operations in the Northern Territory.
The 150-tonne order was sold via Kanins International, a leading marketer of copper sulphate.
Kanins initially signed a three-year, 100%-offtake agreement in November 2022 for the exclusive sale and distribution of Tartana’s technical-grade product.
Production ramp-up
The agreement was based on production ramping up from 200 metric tonnes per month to 500mt per month thereafter.
“This shipment marks an important milestone as it represents our largest shipment to date within the company’s recent sales to the North Australian mining industry,” Tartana managing director Stephen Bartrop said.
Tartana completed the first shipment of copper sulphate in early May.
“Improved plant performance has led to increased product quality, which is continuing to build a strong market for our ongoing copper sulphate pentahydrate production.”
Next shipment
Production for the company’s next shipment, targeted to be approximately 70mt, is well-advanced with approximately half the shipment completed and in storage and the remainder to be produced next week.
Mr Bartrop said plant production is ongoing, utilising Tartana’s proprietary process for creating free-flowing crystal with low levels of impurities.
At the same time as the company is upgrading plant operations, Tartana is undertaking ongoing exploration and metallurgical work to support future copper sulphate production.
Metallurgical drilling
The company recently completed drilling of a metallurgical hole to a total depth of just over 300 metres.
The hole was designed to provide primary copper mineralisation samples for metallurgical test work including flotation recoveries, potential concentrate grades and ore sorting.
Tartana expects the results of this work and the core assaying will be available shortly.
The Tartana mining leases contain an existing heap leach – solvent extraction – crystallisation plant, which has been refurbished to produce copper sulphate for sale into the mining industry.