Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 7, Sheffield Resources has reported significant activity at its Thunderbird Mineral Sands Mine in Western Australia for the March 2025 quarter, with shipments totaling 82,000 tonnes of zircon concentrate. The mine, situated in the Kimberley region, is managed by Kimberley Mineral Sands (KMS), a joint venture equally shared between Sheffield and Yansteel. Recognized as one of the world’s largest high-grade, heavy-mineral sands deposits, Thunderbird produces various premium mineral sands concentrates, including zircon and ilmenite, suitable for smelting into chloride slag or manufacturing titanium dioxide pigment.
Prioritising zircon shipments and a closure at the port of Broome led to the deferral of a final ilmenite concentrate shipment to April.
During the quarter, the mine extracted 2.5 million tonnes of ore, yielding 148,000 tonnes of ilmenite concentrate and 39,000 tonnes of zircon concentrate. Total shipments for the period reached 126,000 tonnes, with an additional 18,000 tonnes of leucoxene concentrate dispatched. However, a port closure at Broome and a focus on zircon shipments delayed a final ilmenite concentrate delivery to April.
Bruce Griffin, Sheffield Resources’ executive chair, highlighted the quarter’s success: “Record zircon shipments for the March quarter are the result of the expanded customer base developed by the KMS marketing team and the strong interest we are seeing from existing and new customers for Thunderbird zircon concentrate. Combined with continued regular shipments of ilmenite to our joint venture partner Yansteel, these strong sales are expected to deliver the first positive quarter of operating cash flow for the Thunderbird mine; an excellent turnaround by KMS management, staff and contractors.” This reflects robust demand and effective coordination at the site.
In a separate development, Sheffield Resources entered a binding agreement with RGM in February 2023, securing an option to acquire up to a 20% stake in the South Atlantic Mineral Sands Project in Brazil. Located in the southeast of the country, this project encompasses four key deposits: Retiro, Estreito, Capao do Meio, and Bujuru. Additionally, Sheffield holds a 10% interest in Capital Metals, which operates the Taprobane mineral sands project in Sri Lanka, further diversifying its portfolio.
The Thunderbird mine’s output supports industrial applications without affecting local consumption or imports, focusing solely on export markets. The emphasis on zircon shipments underscores strategic prioritization, while ilmenite deliveries to Yansteel strengthen the joint venture’s ties. These efforts position Sheffield Resources to achieve financial milestones, with the March 2025 quarter marking a turning point for the Thunderbird operation in Western Australia’s mineral sands sector.
