Tartana (ASX:TAT) produces inaugural Queensland copper cash

Tartana Minerals’ freshly recommissioned copper sulphate plant has produced its first shipment and marked the beginning of ongoing copper cashflow from its namesake project west of Cairns in far north Queensland.

Full offtake partner Kanins International paid for the delivery as soon as it left the mine site, and Tartana expects it to be the first of many on a regular basis as it ramps up production.

Tartana Managing Director Stephen Bartrop said the first shipment was a significant step towards refiring commercial steady-state production and reflects a coalescence of over two years’ recommissioning work.

“We now look towards moving into a more regular rhythm of shipments being completed,” Bartrop said.

“Recent copper price improvements directly increase the profitability of this project as copper sulphate is priced by reference to its copper weight plus a premium.”

There are also 45 thousand tonnes of contained copper to be mined at the Tartana open pit, and the Sydney-based explorer-developer has commissioned a 300-metre diamond core hole to verify a confidence upgrade of the open at depth resource.

Drilling will also provide bulk samples for ore sorting and copper flotation testwork for an open pit mine plan as Tartana investigates its options for treating the primary ore.

And the company will likewise investigate ways to produce from several assets surrounding its heap leach – solvent extraction and crystallisation plant, with 39 thousand tonnes of zinc and 415,000 ounces of nearby gold worthy of a better look.

The company formerly known as R3D Resources has noted high demand for drilling across the industry, and there is similar demand for red metal results and copper-focused plays through a heavy uptick in prices.

The mining cognoscenti have been repeatedly honking the horn over a copper imbalance and the necessity of new operations, and Tartana at least has now produced one to call its own.

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