Coziron Resources (CZR) has taken another step toward production at its Robe Mesa iron ore project after receiving mining approval for two key deposits from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
The approvals were granted for the Robe Mesa and P529 deposits, which respectively sit north and south of Rio Tinto’s Mesa F project , around 120km from Karratha in the Pilbara.
CZR increased the mineral resource at its Robe Mesa project by 20 per cent last month, boosting the resource to 45.2 million tonnes.
The company also holds the title to its Robe South deposit that sits between the new acquisition and Rio’s Mesa deposit.
Robe South contains 4.2 million tonnes at 53 per cent iron ore with a cut-off grade of 50 per cent.
“The granting of mining licences covering the Robe Mesa deposit, following a collaborative agreement with the Robe River Kuruma Traditional Owners, has been a goal of CZR for many years and further de-risks our project, adding value to the Robe Mesa asset,” CZR managing director Stefan Murphy said.
CZR said a higher-grade zone of the Robe South deposit extends into the newly acquired tenement and increases the area’s strike length to around 1.1km.
The zone has the potential to develop into a satellite deposit that can feed the company’s Robe Mesa processing plant.
The mining licences are held by CZR through its wholly owned subsidiary Zanthus Resources, which has an 85 per cent interest in Robe Mesa, and joint venture partner Zanf, which holds the remaining 15 per cent.
The licences have been granted for a term of 21 years and follows an agreement with the Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation that provides economic and social benefits to the Traditional Owners and consent for mining.