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Xstrata to Extend Life of McArthur River Zinc Mine

By Joel ScanlonMar 13 2011

The McArthur River mine (MRM) owned by Xstrata may soon double its zinc and lead output if all goes to plan. However Xstrata must spend $900 million in order for the mine to remain viable. The doubling of the zinc - lead concentrates from the mine will be not easy for the world’s largest bulk producer of Zinc concentrate.

This would include increasing mine production, installing a proprietary hydrometallurgy technology at the San Juan de Nieva melter of the company in Spain and the Nordenham smelter of the company in Germany. Potential improvements will also have to be made to the lead smelter in Brunswick in Canada.

Xstrata Zinc will spend $270 million to increase the output of zinc lead concentrates from 384,000 tons in 2010 to 800,000 tons in 2011. The smelters in Spain, Germany and Canada will receive $630 million. The project at MRM will only be financially viable by increasing production and reducing unit costs as per the Chief Operating officer of Xstrata Zinc.

The chief operating officer of Xstrata Zinc Australia, Brian Hearne said that an environmental notice had been lodged with the Northern Territory government and this plan would extend the life of the mine by six years till 2033.

Written by

Joel Scanlon

Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.

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APA
Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). Xstrata to Extend Life of McArthur River Zinc Mine. AZoMining. Retrieved on April 26, 2024 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3696.
MLA
Scanlon, Joel. "Xstrata to Extend Life of McArthur River Zinc Mine". AZoMining. 26 April 2024. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3696>.
Chicago
Scanlon, Joel. "Xstrata to Extend Life of McArthur River Zinc Mine". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3696. (accessed April 26, 2024).
Harvard
Scanlon, Joel. 2019. Xstrata to Extend Life of McArthur River Zinc Mine. AZoMining, viewed 26 April 2024, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3696.