Magnetite Mines Advances Saline Water Flotation Technology to Revolutionise Green Iron Ore Processing

Highlights

• Magnetite Mines Ltd (ASX:MGT) has filed a provisional patent for a saline water flotation process that enables magnetite ore concentration without fresh water.
• The method supports direct reduction (DR)-grade iron ore production and significantly reduces environmental and operational costs.
• The innovation strengthens the Razorback Iron Ore Project's positioning as a sustainable and competitive green steel feedstock provider.

Magnetite Mines Ltd (ASX:MGT) has initiated the patent process for a proprietary saline water flotation method designed to recover high-grade magnetite iron ore concentrate without using fresh water. This breakthrough represents a major development in mineral processing, particularly for operations in arid and water-sensitive regions. The new technique, developed internally, enables the production of direct reduction (DR)-grade iron ore concentrates using readily available saltwater instead of costly desalinated or limited freshwater supplies.

The company has formally submitted a provisional patent to safeguard the intellectual property surrounding this innovative flotation process. By eliminating dependence on freshwater sources for processing, the method bypasses the need for large-scale coastal desalination infrastructure, potentially saving significant capital and operational expenditures. With seawater available in abundance, this solution supports a more sustainable and resource-efficient operational framework at the Razorback Iron Ore Project in South Australia.

The ability to process ore using saline water without compromising recovery or concentrate quality marks a significant advancement. Direct reduction-grade magnetite concentrates are vital to the global green iron and steelmaking movement due to their high purity and suitability for low-emission production technologies. These concentrates serve as essential feedstock for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI), a cornerstone in decarbonising global steelmaking.

Extensive collaboration between Magnetite Mines and reagent suppliers, supported by metallurgical testing through Bureau Veritas, led to the discovery of this technique. The flotation stage, typically performed with freshwater due to chemical sensitivities in flotation reagents, was successfully adapted to operate with saline water. This was achieved by modifying the chemical reagent regime without significant changes to the existing process flowsheet or equipment requirements at the Razorback site.

The newly developed saline flotation process retains the advantages of conventional froth flotation—widely used across the minerals processing industry—while offering a solution tailored for sustainable magnetite production. This development ensures the Razorback Project maintains its trajectory as a future supplier of premium-grade magnetite, targeting customers pursuing low-carbon steel production.

The patent filing gives the company a 12-month period to conduct additional testwork and optimise the process further before proceeding to full patent protection. During this time, more ore samples from across the Razorback deposit will undergo testing to validate the method’s consistency and scalability.

The advancement aligns with Magnetite Mines’ broader strategic objective to position the Razorback Iron Ore Project as a globally competitive source of low-emission, high-grade iron ore. The project already integrates advanced processing flowsheets designed to maximise iron content and reduce impurities, targeting the production of DR-grade magnetite suitable for green steel manufacturing.

The use of seawater in mineral processing represents a paradigm shift for the mining industry, especially for projects located in regions where freshwater is scarce or expensive. It provides both environmental and economic advantages, addressing two critical concerns in modern mining: water usage and carbon emissions. By introducing an adaptable reagent sequence for use with saline water, Magnetite Mines is advancing a unique solution that caters to the evolving demands of the global iron and steel sector.

The Razorback Iron Ore Project continues to make progress, with this development contributing to its vision of delivering a technically and environmentally superior iron ore product to the market. Magnetite Mines’ focus on DR-grade products positions the company to serve as a key supplier in the decarbonisation of steelmaking, offering a high-purity, low-emission resource critical to the global transition toward green industrial practices.

Magnetite Mines Ltd (ASX:MGT) is now positioned at the forefront of innovation in mineral processing and resource sustainability. By leveraging its in-house expertise and forging ahead with intellectual property protections, the company is securing a long-term advantage in the highly competitive iron ore sector. The saline flotation patent represents a foundational step in unlocking the full potential of the Razorback Project and delivering enduring environmental and commercial benefits to stakeholders across the green iron value chain.