Marropino mine
{{Short description|Tantalum mine in Zambezia, Mozambique}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Marropino mine
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| state/province = Zambezia Province
| country = Mozambique
| owner = Highland African Mining Company, owned by Noventa Group (based in Jersey)
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| products = Tantalum
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| closing year = 2013
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The Marropino mine is a large mine located in the northern part of Mozambique in Zambezia Province. Marropino represents one of the largest tantalum reserves in Mozambique having estimated reserves of 21.7 million tonnes of ore grading 0.019% tantalum.{{cite web|url=http://www.commerceresources.com/i/pdf/09-chap10.pdf |title=Tantalum reserves in Canada |year=2013 |publisher=commerceresources.com |accessdate=2013-07-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225070442/http://www.commerceresources.com/i/pdf/09-Chap10.pdf |archivedate=2010-12-25 }}
Background
In 2008, the Marropino mine was considered the world's second-largest tantalum mining operation.Melissa Pistilli, [https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/critical-metals-investing/tantalum-investing/noventa-marropino-tantalum-mine-producing-once-again/ Noventa: Marropino Tantalum Mine Producing Once Again], Investingnews.com, 28 April 2010 (accessed on 18 June 2019) Its operations were estimated to last at least 6 years.[https://books.google.com/books?id=cOUq1JKeQ18C Minerals Yearbook, 2008, V. 3, Area Reports, International, Africa and the Middle East], Government Printing Office, 24 october 2010 ({{ISBN|9781411329652}}). pp.31.2
In May 2009, the mine operations were put on "care and maintenance" to weather the 2008 crisis.[https://macauhub.com.mo/2010/09/06/9735/ Tantalite from Marropino, Mozambique may be exported via Quelimane], Macauhub.com.mo, 6 September 2010 (accessed on 18 June 2019) The mine operator also reported processing difficulties, low recovery rates, high power and transportation costs.[https://books.google.com/books?id=dgU75I2-xAcC Minerals Yearbook Area Reports: International Review, 2009, Africa and the Middle East], Government Printing Office, 2011 ({{ISBN|9781411329751}}). pp.32.2
In 2010, Noventa (previously Highland African Mining Company - HAMC[https://macauhub.com.mo/2013/08/02/highland-african-mining-company-closes-mine-in-marropino-mozambique/ Highland African Mining Company closes mine in Marropino, Mozambique], Macauhub.com.mo, 2 August 2013 (accessed on 18 June 2019)), the concession-owner of the mine, was considering using the small port of Quelimane as the mine's new hub for maritime exports. When it reopened in April 2010, the mine stopped the production of Morganite. Patrick Lawless was named CEO of Noventa in June 2010. The same month, the company announced the launch of Project Ligonha, a 3-month preliminary geological evaluation of the concessions' grounds. The project was managed conjointly with the University of Glasgow and the Eduardo Mondlane University.[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS51574+25-Aug-2010+RNS20100825 REG - Noventa Limited - New Tantalum Discovery at Marropino]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Reuters.com, 24 August 2010 (accessed on 18 June 2019)
In August 2010, Noventa's first shipment (since reopening) of 8 tonnes of tantalum to an Asian client left the country from Quelimane.[https://www.stockopedia.com/content/noventa-ready-to-make-first-shipments-of-tantalum-from-marropino-mine-46636/ Noventa ready to make first shipments of tantalum from Marropino mine], Stockopedia.com, 23 August 2010 (accessed on 18 June 2019)
Early 2012, Cyclone Funso caused some damage to the mine's buildings, along with minor floodings. The cyclone also brought a plague of non-endemic, poisonous rove beetles that affected 30% of the mine's workforce.[https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/noventa-provides-update-on-progress-at-marropino-509540381.html Noventa Provides Update on Progress at Marropino], Newswire.ca, 2 February 2012 (accessed on 18 June 2019)
In August 2013, it was reported by the Mozambican newspaper Notícias that the Marropino mine had halted its operations. Noventa explained that the remaining veins of tantalum were too deep and with higher levels of metals, making the operations unprofitable. Despite its plan to use Quelimane as an export port, the company had to stick with the twice-farther port of Walvis Bay, the only one in the country certified to handle class 7 products.[https://www.miningreview.com/top-stories/highland-african-mining-closes-mozambique-mine/ Highland African Mining closes Mozambique mine], Miningreview.com, 5 August 2013 (accessed on 18 June 2019)
Research
The research team at the Marropino mine had teamed up with a multidisciplinary team of the University of Glasgow to optimize the recovery of tantalum from its ore, as 50% of the rare metal was usually not extracted and disposed of as mineral waste.[https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_244348_en.pdf Process Optimisation in the Mining Industry], Gla.ac.uk (accessed on 18 June 2019)
- Reduce ore to slightly finer fraction size to extract higher levels of tantalum-bering grains;
- Remove mica crystals as early as possible;
- Make simple technology adjustments;
- Also apply process to waste dumps.
Production
See also
References
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