Overview
Sierra Rutile, a wholly owned subsidiary of Iluka Resources, has one of the largest rutile deposits in the world. It has an established operating history spanning 50 years and a project mine life of mine life well in excess of 20 years. Sierra Rutile also produces smaller quantities of Ilmenite and zircon in concentrate.
Sierra Rutile is a leading mineral sands company, operating world-class assets in Sierra Leone. The company produces high quality rutile, ilmenite and zircon from the world’s largest natural rutile deposits.
Location | Moyamba and Bonthe districts, Sierra Leone |
Mines | Lanti dry mine Gangama dry mine |
Expansion projects | Sembehun mine |
Assets | Dry mining fleet Four dry mining concentrator plants Mineral separation plant Two in-pit mining units Port and shipping fleet |
Products | Rutile, titanium dioxide minerals Ilmenite Zircon |
Operation
Mining and Concentrating
Mining
The dry mining fleet uses conventional earth moving equipment. Dry mining activities excavate in Lanti Dry and Gangama deposits. Each of these sites have two concentrators.
Processing
Mineral concentrate from Lanti Dry and Gangama are processed in the company’s mineral separation plant, which includes a feed preparation plant and dry plant. The mineral separation plant has a capacity of 175 thousand tonnes of rutile per annum.
Transport
Products from the mineral separation plant are transported by truck to Sierra Rutile’s port.