LATEST NEWS

 

17 January 2012 Atlas Mining Lease Application

11 January 2012 Atlas South Drilling Imminent

28 December 2011 Appendix 3Y - G Sakalidis, R Thomson, P Thomas

28 December 2011 Appendix 3B - New issue announcement

19 December 2011 Product Price Increases Improves North Perth Basin Return

8 December 2011 Presentation of Projects November 2011

8 December 2011 Boonanarring Northern Extension Shapes Up

25 November 2011 Progress North Perth Basin Project

31 October 2011 Quarterly Activities and Cash Flow Reports - For the Quarter Ended on 30 September 2011

18 October 2011 Presentation October 2011

13 October 2011 Appendix 3B - New issue announcement

30 September 2011 Annual Report 2011

27 September 2011 Gingin South Infill Confirms High Grade Deposit

16 September 2011 The West Australia

15 September 2011 Up to 70% Zircon at the 12.5km Boonanarring Target-4

30 August 2011 Boardroom Radio - Image set for production 2014

25 August 2011 Feasibility Study to Commence

29 July 2011 Quarterly Activities and Cash Flow Reports - For the Quarter Ended on 30 June 2011.

29 July 2011 Remaining 30% of Cooljarloo Acquired

22 July 2011 Product Tonnes Upgrade Total 9.5Mt HM, Including 1.07Mt of Zircon

21 July 2011 Gingin South 240% Resource Increase to 492,000t HM

23 March 2011 - Breakaway Research

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Image Resources is a diversified mineral explorer with a major landholding and an expanding mineral sands resource base in the North Perth Basin of Western Australia as well as major mineral sands projects in the Eucla Basin.

Figure 1: Image Resources NL’s projects in Western Australia

In the last few years there has been extensive exploration for heavy mineral sands deposits in WA, particularly for those rich in zircon. The main focus for Image Resources has been in the Cooljarloo area in the mid-west coastal plain of the Perth Basin (Fig. 1) with deposits such as Atlas and the Hyperion deposit at Cooljarloo North being extremely prospective. Other areas of interest include the Gingin prospect, as well as mineral sands targets around Bidaminna and Bootine. The newly discovered zircon-rich Cyclone and Cyclone Extended mineral sand deposits are contained within the Wanna Lakes in the Eucla Basin, close to the border with South Australia.

The titanium mineral sands industry (heavy mineral sands) is the most important sector of the industrial minerals suite in Western Australia, and includes ilmenite, synthetic rutile (upgraded ilmenite), leucoxene and rutile, together with zircon and staurolite mineral sands.

Titanium minerals

Ilmenite, leucoxene and rutile are oxides of titanium and used primarily as a feedstock for the TiO₂ pigment industry, and are the source for titanium metal. Titanium pigments are used in a wide range of products such as paints and sunscreens to plastics, paper, textiles and food. The high strength combined with its lightness makes titanium metal ideal for engineering, particularly in the aerospace industry, as well as in jewellery. About 10 Mt is consumed globally per annum. Ilmenite attracts a price of about US$100/tonne, leucoxene about US$450/tonne and rutile about US$650/tone. Synthetic rutile, a downstream product of ilmenite, attracts about US$500/tone. Ilmenite typically comprises 40–80% of a heavy mineral suite, leucoxene 5–30% and rutile 2–15%.

Zircon

Zircon or zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄) is used in the production of ceramics, as a refractory, in foundry applications and specialised glass. It is also the source for zirconia (zirconium dioxide, ZrO₂), which is used in many high-end industrial applications. Zirconium metal has a high melting point and is chemically resistant which makes it ideal for use in specialized metal alloys and nuclear fuel roads. About 1.3 Mt is consumed globally per annum and it attracts a price of about US$1000/tonne, up from US$850 a year ago. Zircon typically comprises 5–15% of a heavy mineral suite. The Eucla Basin projects contain 25–50% zircon in the heavy minerals.

As well as the mineral sands projects, Image retains interests in a diverse package of gold and nickel tenements through joint ventures with Emu Nickel NL, Meteoric Resources NL, Magnetic Resources NL, Catalpa Resources Ltd and Sipa Resources Ltd.

Last updated: 17 January 2012