Macarthur engages RCR Mining Technologies on rail wagon and rail unloading solution for Lake Giles Iron Project

• Macarthur appoints RCR Mining Technologies to design cutting edge ‘Helix Dumper’ transport solution for Lake Giles
  
• Helix Dumper system optimises transport of magnetite over conventional methods
  
• RCR, a subsidiary of NRW Holdings, owns the rights to develop ‘Helix’ in Australia
  
• The appointment of RCR and collaboration with Port of Esperance continues Macarthur’s route to market progress for Lake Giles

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 28, 2020 -- Macarthur Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V: MMS) (ASX: MIO) (the “Company” or “Macarthur”) continues its progress towards a route to market for its flagship Moonshine magnetite deposits at Lake Giles, targeting a +65% Fe beneficiated magnetite concentrate, with the engagement of RCR Mining Technologies Pty Ltd (“RCR MT”) to provide a conceptual engineering and design solution for rail transport and unloading infrastructure of magnetite concentrate at the Port of Esperance. RCR MT has been engaged to examine the potential to use cutting-edge rail unloading technology that has been successfully used in Scandinavian magnetite operations for several years.

The engineering concept will employ a ‘Helix Dumper’ unloading system and Helix Dumper wagons owned and developed by Kiruna Wagon in Sweden. The Kiruna Wagon system has been successfully utilised in transporting magnetite concentrate from northern Sweden to the Port of Narvik in Norway. The system was developed specifically for magnetite concentrates to provide efficient discharge of sticky product at rates up to 25,000 tonnes per hour, and provides the potential to optimise productivity with several advantages over conventional rotary car dumpers, such as:

• Lightweight wagons, increasing gross payload;
• High-capacity continuous discharge, reducing operating costs;
• The potential for lower capital cost;
• The potential for lower operating cost with unloading powered only by the locomotive’s forward motion; and
• Wagon body shape optimised for wet concentrates.

Macarthur is currently working with Southern Ports Authority on the potential to develop this system at the Port of Esperance, in addition to negotiating access to develop a storage shed for its magnetite concentrate.

If constructed, the system will be capable of handling tonnages well in excess of Macarthur’s immediate requirements for stage 1 of its Lake Giles Iron Project, providing the potential for increased trade through Esperance, subject to capacity elsewhere within the Port. Macarthur intends to work collaboratively with the Port to ensure that the footprint of the system and associated conveyor infrastructure (which would feed directly into the storage shed) can work in with existing operations at the Port and without adversely affecting other users.

RCR MT is a subsidiary of ASX listed NRW Holdings (ASX: NWH), a leading provider of diversified services to the mining, energy and civil infrastructure sectors. RCR MT is a market leader in the design and manufacture of an extensive range of surface and bulk materials handling equipment with a reputation for delivering high quality mining technologies nationally and internationally. RCR MT holds an exclusive license to develop the Helix system in Australia and in combination with Kiruna Wagon have the ability to manufacture both the dumper and wagons in Western Australia.

Macarthur’s route to market progress:

• The Company announced on 25 June 2020 details of applications lodged for haul road and rail loading tenure which maps out a solution to transport magnetite from site to the existing rail network that connects to the Port of Esperance (see full release here).
• The Company announced on 15 July 2020 it had received a Proposal for development of a Commercial Track Access Agreement from Arc Infrastructure, the owner of the below-rail network (see full release here).

Cameron McCall, President and Executive Chairman of Macarthur Minerals commented:

“This is another positive step forward for Macarthur’s Lake Giles Iron Project and demonstrates the tenacity with which Management is progressing this essential component of project delivery. The Company’s recent announcements concerning its applications to develop haul road and rail siding infrastructure near Lake Giles and that the Company had received a Proposal for development of a Commercial Track Access Agreement from Arc Infrastructure means that the Company is now edging closer than ever to delivering its route-to-market solution and making this Project real for shareholders.

With this new cutting-edge rail unloading technology having the potential to contribute to increased trade through Esperance Port, this can only be good for future economic growth and job security in the region. Macarthur welcomes the opportunity to be part of that story and to contribute a positive legacy for the State of Western Australia and workers in the Goldfields region.”

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr Cameron McCall, Executive Chairman

For more information please contact:

Joe Phillips
CEO & Director
+61 7 3221 1796
communications@macarthurminerals.com

Investor Cubed
Neil Simon, CEO
+1 647 258 3310
info@investor3.ca

Company profile

Macarthur is an iron ore development, gold and lithium exploration company that is focused on bringing to production its Western Australia iron ore projects. The Lake Giles Iron Project mineral resources include the Ularring hematite resource (approved for development) comprising Indicated resources of 54.5 million tonnes at 47.2% Fe and Inferred resources of 26 million tonnes at 45.4% Fe; and the Moonshine magnetite resource of 710 million tonnes (Inferred). Macarthur has prominent (~721 square kilometer tenement area) gold, lithium and copper exploration interests in Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition, Macarthur has lithium brine Claims in the emerging Railroad Valley region in Nevada, USA.

This news release is not for distribution to United States services or for dissemination in the United States

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding expected completion of the Feasibility Study; granting of mineral tenure to facilitate infrastructure proposed; the ability to enter into a commercial rail access agreement or the eventual mining of the Project, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the current expectations, assumptions or beliefs of the Company based upon information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct as actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: unforeseen technology changes that results in a reduction in iron or magnetite demand or substitution by other metals or materials; the discovery of new large low cost deposits of iron magnetite; the general level of global economic activity; future changes in rail network capacity and demand; failure to complete the FS; failure to receive mineral tenure for infrastructure; and failure to obtain mining approvals under the Mining Act; inability to negotiate access to tenure at the Port of Esperance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and, as such, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and except as may otherwise be required pursuant to applicable laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.