High-grade Premium Concentrate

As a leader in the green steel revolution, Tacora's high grade, low-silica iron ore is produced with a strong commitment to sustainability, surpassing the world’s most stringent environmental standards. This premium ore enhances the efficiency of steel production, which is foundational to modern technological advancements and infrastructure development worldwide.

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Iron ore's primary use is in steelmaking—a material crucial to global progress. Steel's versatility extends from kitchen appliances and electronics to medical instruments, architecture, automotive, and aerospace industries, fueling economic growth and enabling human innovation.

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Moreover, steel’s recyclability is a significant environmental benefit, as it can be reprocessed into high-quality material repeatedly. Recycling steel conserves resources, with each tonne of scrap steel saving over 1,400 kilograms of iron ore, reducing emissions, and minimizing environmental impact.

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Beyond steel, iron ore has diverse applications, including in the production of powdered iron for magnets and catalysts, radioactive iron for biochemical research, and various pigments and compounds used in industries such as cosmetics, paint, metallurgy, and electronics.

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In 2023, Canada exported approximately 58.9 million tonnes of iron ore, marking a 6.9% increase from the previous year. This solidified Canada's position as the third-largest iron ore exporter globally, behind Australia and Brazil.

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Scully Mine produces product with a concentrate grade as set out in the initial feasibility study at 65.9% Fe, a level that exceeds the specifications of both the industry’s standard 62% benchmark, as well as the industry’s high grade 65% benchmark, with respect to both grade and quality. We have branded this high-grade product as Tacora Premium Concentrate (TPC), which has been added to Canada’s list of critical minerals, underscoring its importance to eco-friendly steel production.

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Low Impurity

Low silica and alumina content in our concentrate significantly enhances the efficiency and quality of steel production. Low silica reduces slag formation during the smelting process, leading to lower energy consumption and fewer impurities in the final product. This results in higher-quality steel and lower operational costs for producers. Similarly, low manganese levels help minimize unwanted chemical reactions that can weaken steel or make it brittle, ensuring the production of strong, durable steel suitable for various industrial applications.

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Environmental Benefits

When less energy is required to separate impurities from the iron, the reduction in energy consumption directly translates to lower CO₂ emissions. With fewer impurities to remove, the steel production process becomes faster, reducing the overall carbon output. By streamlining the steelmaking process and minimizing waste, iron ore with low silica and manganese content helps steel producers achieve more sustainable operations, thereby reducing the carbon footprint per tonne of steel produced.

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Increased Blast Furnace Productivity

Increased blast furnace productivity enhances the rate of iron recovery by optimizing the efficiency of the ironmaking process. Higher productivity in the furnace means that more iron can be extracted from the ore in less time, reducing the amount of unprocessed material and minimizing losses. This efficiency is achieved through better control of temperature, gas flow, and raw material input, ensuring that a higher percentage of the iron content in the ore is converted into usable molten iron. As a result, the overall yield of iron per tonne of ore increases, leading to more efficient use of resources and a higher recovery rate, which is crucial for both economic and environmental sustainability.

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Improved Grinding Efficiency

A modified recirculation system was added to Mill 1 to improve grinding efficiency. The purpose was to reduce the amount of water entering the mill, helping it reach an ideal grinding density of 65% compared to the previous 40%. The upgrade reroutes discharged material directly onto sizing screens. Fine material moves to a spiral separator for further processing, while coarser material goes to a recirculation pump. This pump sends the material to a cyclone above the mill feed, separating it into two streams: one flows into the mill, and the other returns to the discharge box.

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Since these modifications, Mill 1 has increased throughput by 100 tonnes per hour (tph), outperforming other mills while also experiencing fewer reductions in operation. Furthermore, recovery rates on the spiral circuit have improved, indicating better overall efficiency and performance after the modifications.

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Cost Benefits

Higher iron content in ore leads to lower transport and processing costs per tonne of steel by maximizing the amount of usable material in each shipment. With higher-grade ore, less waste material is transported, reducing shipping volumes and costs. Additionally, higher iron content reduces the need for extensive processing to concentrate the ore, cutting down on energy consumption and processing time. This efficiency not only lowers operational expenses but also reduces the environmental impact, making the overall steel production process more cost-effective and sustainable.

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Cleaner concentrate = less waste, reducing the environmental impact associated with slag disposal, such as landfilling or reprocessing, helping Tacora achieve more sustainable operations.

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Tacora was Present to Celebrate a New Record for the Port of Sept-Iles

In January, the Port of Sept-Îles announced that it had reached an all-time high with 38.5 million metric tons of cargo handled at its facilities in 2024, with all the main contributing partners invited.

Tacora contributed to this new record with 3.4 million tons of Tacora Premium Concentrate shipped.

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About the Port of Sept-Îles

The Port of Sept-Îles is North America’s largest ore-handling port, with a projected volume for 2025 of more than 40 million metric tons. It is also recognized as the largest primary aluminum port terminal in the Americas in terms of operational volume. In 2024, the Port of Sept-Iles was recognized as the best dry bulk port at the IBJ Awards. The facilities at the Port of Sept-Iles play a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada.