Australian iron ore producer Atlas Iron has announced a 527 percent increase in the resource at its Wodgina direct shipping ore (DSO) project in the Pilbara region Western Australia, and has hinted at further upgrades to come.
According to a statement released by Atlas Iron, Wodgina resource has increased from 8.1 million mt at 57.5 percent iron in January to 42.7 million mt at 56.3 percent iron.
Commenting on the increase in the source, Atlas managing director David Flanagan said, "Atlas has drilled only half the targets in Wodgina's project area, which suggested the resource was likely to get bigger. We are now fast tracking feasibility studies to underpin our plans to commence mining here in the first quarter of 2010 and take full advantage of the recently signed Wodgina mine infrastructure access agreement."
Mr Flanagan added that the Wodgina project, located at 100km south of Port Hedland, would be a low cost operation with low strip ratios and established infrastructure close to a world-class port.