Sheffield's Thunderbird project brings real opportunities

Written on the 27 July 2016

Sheffield  Resources'  Thunderbird  mineral  sands  project  will  promote  the  co-existence  of  the melting pot of Kimberley values, said Bruce McFadzean, the Company's Managing Director.

Taking  local  stakeholders  to  the  Dampier  Peninsula  project  site  this  week,  Mr  McFadzean  told them that Thunderbird presents a real opportunity for the region.

"It's a mineral sands project offering up around 140 permanent local jobs, and that means  at least`140 families living in the region would directly benefit," Mr McFadzean.

"Long  term  job  prospects  underpin  regional  sustainability  which  then  underpins  the  retention  of regional lifestyle values.

"It is a perfect project to demonstrate we can move forward together. We can co-exist respectfully -tourism, conservation, development, culture and employment.

"Mineral sands are used by you everyday, in your toothpaste and artificial joints,  your crockery and porcelain, paint, food colouring, medicines and sunscreen.

"And the project is intergenerational, with our studies showing a life of mine of more than 40 years, meaning this is a project for our children's children," Mr McFadzean.

Successful  development  of  the  Thunderbird  Mineral  Sands  Project  will  see  ASX-listed  Sheffield Resources  Limited  mine  and  process  zircon  and  titanium  minerals  (ilmenite,  leucoxene)  at  its remotely located site on the Dampier Peninsula.

It  is  a  large-scale,  long  life,  mineral  sands  mining  and  mineral  processing  project  with  low environmental impacts and long term employment and economic benefits.
The products  would  potentially  be exported through the north-west ports of Derby and Broome to markets in China, other Asian destinations, Europe and the Middle East.

Sheffield commenced drilling for mineral sands on its Thunderbird tenement in the Canning Basin geological  province  mid-2012,  announced  its  Maiden  Mineral  Resource  by 

December  the  same year, completed a pre-feasibility study in 2015 and  declared a  Maiden Ore Reserve for the Project in early 2016.

Sheffield  is  undertaking  a  Bankable  Feasibility  Study  and  Public  Environmental  Review  of Thunderbird,  both  scheduled  for  completion  in  2017.  Sheffield  has  a  vigorous  community engagement program and welcomes the support of stakeholders.

Sheffield envisages a financial investment decision (FID) and commencement of construction in 2017, and subsequently first exports through the ports of Derby and Broome are notionally planned for 2019.

Download the fact sheet here.

For further information please contact: Kim Pervan, Government & Community Relations Consultant
Tel: 08 6555 8714  Mobile: 0407 083 832
kpervan@sheffieldresources.com.au
www.sheffieldresources.com.au