Can Hawsons’ 100% Dry Processing Circuit Revolutionize Iron Ore Mining?

Project Overview and Location

Hawsons Iron Ltd has provided a comprehensive update on its flagship Hawsons Iron Project, situated in the Braemar region of New South Wales, approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Broken Hill. The project targets magnetite concentrate production from metasiltstone-hosted iron-oxide ore, a key ingredient in the emerging green steel industry.

Dry Processing Circuit Validation

Central to the update is the completion of a dry comminution test work program and a mineral resource variability study, culminating in an independent report by Stantec Australia Pty Ltd. The findings endorse a 100% dry processing circuit, a significant departure from traditional wet processing methods. This approach offers multiple advantages including cost optimisation, enhanced safety, reduced environmental footprint, and simplified operations and maintenance.

Hawsons’ CEO, Tom Revy, emphasised the importance of these results, highlighting the project's potential to deliver a lower-cost and environmentally cleaner alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical routes. The dry processing circuit is expected to contribute to the project's sustainability by enabling co-disposal of mine waste and dry processing tailings.

Resource Consistency and Secondary Products

Detailed analytical work has demonstrated a high degree of geochemical and physical consistency within the mineral resource, particularly in the early years of mining. This consistency is critical in de-risking the project’s initial operational phase.

In addition, test work indicates potential for secondary product streams, including non-magnetic iron concentrates such as hematite and silica sands. These by-products could open additional revenue streams, targeting steelmaking and construction sand markets. Further test work and economic assessments are planned to evaluate the viability of incorporating these secondary products into the final processing flow sheet.

Infrastructure and Environmental Considerations

The project’s infrastructure plans include a zoned co-disposal facility for tailings and waste rock, a rail spur connecting to the ARTC network for concentrate transport to Port Adelaide, and a power supply line from a nearby high voltage source. Water usage is minimised, with primary water needs focused on dust suppression, reflecting the dry processing philosophy.

Environmental and community factors have been carefully considered. The project area is characterised by native vegetation and grazing land with limited ecological disturbance. Hawsons is committed to implementing comprehensive safety and environmental management systems, including ongoing stakeholder engagement and heritage protection measures.

Next Steps and Development Outlook

Hawsons is progressing towards releasing an updated Prefeasibility Study (PFS) and Maiden Ore Reserves, incorporating the dry processing circuit and recent test work findings. The next phase involves pilot testing at GEBR Pfeiffer’s facility in Germany to finalize process design criteria, a critical step towards completing a Definitive Feasibility Study.

Additional drilling is planned to upgrade resource classifications and expand the mineral resource base. Environmental permitting and infrastructure assessments continue in parallel to align with development timelines.

Overall, the Hawsons Iron Project is positioning itself as a potentially significant contributor to the global green steel supply chain, leveraging innovative processing technology and a sustainable operational approach.