Hi-tech NT iron ore mine Frances Creek set to triple processing capacity with new machinery

THE Frances Creek iron ore mine’s rebirth near Pine Creek continues to make exciting gains, with the company behind the project investing in a second piece of hi-tech ore-sorting technology to triple its work capacity.

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THE Frances Creek iron ore mine’s rebirth near Pine Creek continues to make exciting gains.

The company behind the project is investing in its second piece of hi-tech German ore-sorting technology from Steinert, tripling its work capacity.

The first Steinert system has been processing more than 50 tonnes an hour at the Frances Creek mine, 250km south of Darwin.

The second Steinert system arrived at Frances Creek last Friday and has twice the capacity of the first million-dollar plus piece of machinery.

The new revolutionary ore-sorting technology is being used for the first time in the NT and in a world’s first, NT Bullion, in conjunction with Steinert, has rewritten the software algorithms to sort iron ore from the vast unprocessed ore that was previously mined, but up until now could not efficiently be graded into high-quality export hematite.

Called WALKABOUT, it uses a series of lasers, X-rays and infra-red technology to eject waste ore leaving the higher grade ore to be processed and increase efficiency in mining production.

NT Bullion, which is employing around 20 locals on site, trucked the German- made Steinert system from Perth to the Territory and has a third Steinert WALKABOUT on the way.

The WALKABOUT iron ore separator which has recently arrived at the Frances Creek mine. Picture: Supplied

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NT Bullion managing director Rod Illingworth said he is happy with the progress at Frances Creek and the success of the new technology.

“This second sorter will be a major boost for our ability to process existing waste stock piles of ore already mined by the previous owners as part of our rehabilitation processes,” Mr Illingworth said at the mine last week.

“The new sorter will enable us to continue day and night shifts using local employees and meet the demand for international sales of iron ore.

“We have also ordered a new third sorter from Steinert in Germany which will arrive later this year and increase our capacity by another 50 per cent.

“Because we have developed new commercialisation for the iron ore and other materials while adapting the technology to our hot and dusty conditions in the Top End, we have other companies wanting to hire our machines for specialised non-mining projects throughout the Territory. This has created a new business in the NT that is a world first and world leading application of the technology.

Iron ore stockpiles at the Frances Creek mine. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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“We will continue to use innovation and local know-how to develop systems and processes to efficiently rehabilitate abandoned mines in the Territory while we are determined to continue to employ and train locals and Indigenous employees for a more sustainable industry and community.

“The Steinert technology will revolutionise ore mining in the NT. It increases efficiency and production. The iron ore waste stockpiles at Frances Creek are being recycled without any hard mining, contributing significantly to the mine’s rehabilitation.”