I don't want to get into any arguments here. But I'll make it simple - as I posted the other day I am happy for KRC and hope they get over the line given the grade of ore they have but it can be done based on the FMG experience - refer Post #:
31902997 and Post #:
31903093
As to the question around roasting versus leaching, well leaching has it own issues and I won't go there. But roasting and oxidization, well for one if there is an issue the challenge will be dealt with because in the iron ore sector the most effective methods of cleaning oxidized iron ores of the Bakchar type are reduction-roasting-magnetic and direct reduction with magnetic separation and I suspect something similar will occur here (if oxidisation is an issue) in an own solution for AVL (yes I know we have vanadium before you scratch your head). And AVL have the foresight of resolving the issues that Xstrata wouldn't resolve.
Now as to comments about Windumuura's closure - most of you are looking in the wrong area. The mine was closed by Glencore initially because as the biggest vanadium mine at the time, and Glencore owning the other mines in South Africa, its closure allowed Glencore to price gouge the market (i.e. Xstarat said mine closed because vanadium prices had fallen). That is what many thought at teh time. And actually Glencore's actions sent back vanadium devlepment for the next 15 years btw hence why the WA government at that time was livid and why there was even a parliamentary inquiry here about the actions - DYOR. Burning down the facilities didn't help as companies thereafter were essentially trying to restart the mine by working with what they had there rather than getting rid of everything and starting out fresh.
Hower, the project did suffer from issues around magnetic seperation thorugh a number of production stuff ups to put it mildly that became very copunded when vanadium prices started falling in the early 2000s.
www.parliament.wa.gov.au/...nsf/.../Vanadium+Resources+at+Windimurra.pdf
and
www.elementcommodities.com/wp-content/.../Windimurra_07.09.2011_MetalPages.pdf
Chapter 3 in the report talks about why Windumurra closed. Magnetic recovery was an issue because they put in place the wrong technology, over-milled, and the power to the generators was not good because again mismanagement, which will be overcome IMO.
The PFS here will determine who is right but I suspect the issues presented by many here are not issues for AVL (or KRC if vanadium price continues to remain positive albeit the price impact of falling prices IMO will impact KRC more than AVL). At the end of the day, technology solutions are required for both AVL and KRC, and in terms of traditional extraction processes (roasting) the industry has evolved technology wise since the early 2000s. Is that enough, well the PFS will decide but I am in AVL, it is a spec company, purely because of its higher grades and traditional deposit, as against KRC which has a lower grade over a larger area but they are the risks you take.
Could we just discuss AVL rather than brawling with KRC holders - i want both projects to develop btw. Anyway, posted for balance.
All IMO
