TOMRA Mining Media Center

TOMRA X-Ray Transmission (XRT) sorters provide a game-changing solution for the Mt Carbine mine in Queensland, Australia. On the one hand, they deliver remarkable cost savings while achieving high-purity Tungsten for the processing plant. On the other hand, they contribute to a circular economy by effectively eliminating contaminants from the waste rock, which is used to produce green aggregates for sale – also creating an additional revenue stream for owner EQ Resources.

The integration of TOMRA’s ore sorting technology at the mine is a story of close collaboration between two companies that share the same philosophy: make the most of natural resources towards a circular economy. Its success is testament to TOMRA’s capacity to listen to the customer and develop tailored solutions for mining companies of all sizes – from large international concerns to small local operations with limited budgets.

The Mt Cattlin mine, owned by Galaxy Resources Ltd (part of the Allkem group of companies), is located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The open pit mine produces high-quality spodumene concentrate for the global lithium market. The demand for this commodity is ballooning due to the role of lithium and lithium-ion batteries in mobile devices and in electric vehicles (EV), as manufacturers vie for leadership in the EV race. With supply struggling to keep up, lithium prices are expected to be strong for years to come.