Elementos partners with Atlantic Copper to upgrade Oropesa production
Tin developer Elementos has announced it is partnering with Atlantic Copper to test upgrading tin production and recovery from at the Oropesa tin deposit, Spain.Atlantic Copper, which is the largest industrial company in Andalucia, Spain, and a subsidiary of American mining company Freeport-McMoRan, will fully fund the production of a sample of tin concentrate from Oropesa’s low-grade ore and waste.
Subsequent work will assess the technical and economic viability of smelting this tin concentrate at Atlantic Copper’s CirCular Plant, 245 km away in Huelva, Spain.
Elementos Managing Director Joe David commented: “This agreement funds the study of a significant value-accretive opportunity which has the potential to deliver higher metallurgical recoveries which in-turn increases the utilization of Mineral Resources and removes further metal content in waste and reject streams.”This news follows an announcement last year that the company had entered into an option agreement with a subsidiary of Spanish tin producer CRM to take a 50% stake in the Robledallano smelter, which would enable the company to produce tin metal from Oropesa concentrates.
Elementos intends to produce 3,350 t of tin-in-concentrate per year at Oropesa, and is working towards a Definitive Feasibility Study due later this month.Atlantic Copper’s engagement with Elementos is a positive vote of confidence in the company and its work to become the EU’s first and only fully-integrated primary tin producer.
ITA is pleased to see work to reduce metal content in waste material and improve metallurgical recovery as the industry works towards improving efficiency and impact on the environment.
