Pilbara Minerals in talks to acquire Tabba Tabba Tantalum Project

2012
Image credit: www.pilbaraminerals.com.au

Mining and exploration company Pilbara Minerals has announced that it has begun negotiations with its joint venture partner to move to 100% of the Tabba Tabba Tantalum Project, due to commence production during this quarter.

Image credit: www.pilbaraminerals.com.au
Image credit: www.pilbaraminerals.com.au

Pilbara Minerals specialises in the exploration and development of the specialty metals tantalum and lithium. Tantalum comes from minerals such as tantalite, columbite, wodginite and microlite contained in pegmatite ore bodies. The largest tantalum deposits are in Australia, Brazil and Africa. Tantalum is mostly used for the production of electronic components (capacitors) such as tablets, smart phones, digital cameras and electronic systems for vehicles, with additional use in components (superalloys) for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, airplane turbine blades and missiles. It is also used as a substitute for platinum.

The Tabba Tabba Tantalum Project is located near Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The company said that the acquisition was in line with its objective to build a substantial Australian strategic metals company producing both high-grade tantalum and lithium from its projects in the Pilbara.

Adertisement

Pilbara Minerals developed the project with its 50/50 joint venture partner Valdrew Nominees Pty Ltd, trading as Nagrom & Co – a leading and long-established metallurgical and gravity processing company based in Western Australia.

According to the ASX Announcement, Nagrom will continue to be involved in the project by proving the appropriate services “to support the mining and processing operations of the Tabba Tabba Tantalum Project”.

Pilbara Minerals said that it was preparing to finalise the contractual arrangements and binding documentation with all parties involved in the project, including with Global Advanced Metals Wodgina Pty Ltd (GAM). GAM is the owner of the underlying Tabba Tabba tenements.

Aside from the Tabba Tabba Tantalum deposit, the company is also drilling and developing the advanced 100%-owned Pilgangoora tantalum-lithium deposit which is located in the vicinity of Tabba Tabba.