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Technical case record · Metals recovery

Kunwarara tailings to magnesium feedstock

QMAG is characterising fine tailings for fractions suitable for high-purity magnesium chloride and magnesium-metal production.

Kunwarara, Queensland, AustraliaResearch and developmentConcept evidence

What was developed or tested

The programme combines feed characterisation, fraction selection and process testing for an electrolytic magnesium route.

What the evidence supports

An emerging Australian critical-minerals pathway with government support. It is included as development evidence; no commercial recovery claim is made.

Environmental and technical uncertainty

Potential value depends on purification yield, reagent and energy demand, brine/residue management and comparison with conventional production.

Benefit-case screening lens

Potential value: Recovered metal revenue, critical-mineral supply, improved resource efficiency and possible reduction of a legacy or active tailings inventory.

Deployment constraints: Representative grade, mineral deportment, recovery, throughput, reagents, energy, CAPEX, commodity price and management of the reprocessed residue.

Question before applying elsewhere

Do grade variability, mineral deportment, recovery, reagent demand and residual-waste management support a viable site-specific flowsheet?

Sources

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