:: First Stage of Mount Isa Mill Expansion Complete

The first stage of an expansion program at the Mount Isa zinc concentrator has been successfully completed, reported owner XSTRATA of Switzerland. Work on the old plant included installation of a new crushing circuit and ore feed system, commissioning of a new zinc filtration plant, and creation of a better maintenance program with emphasis on the heavy media plant. A parallel second-hand milling and flotation circuit was also added.

The annual throughput of the mill now stands at 6.5 million tonnes, a 40% increase over the feed rate of the first nine months of 2006. Throughput will be further increased to 8.0 million tonnes/year when the second stage of expansion is completed in 2008.