IDM International's first bulk shipment of specialty casting sand bound for China next week 

(MENAFN - ProactiveInvestors - Australia) IDM International (ASX: IDM) is nearing the milestone first bulk shipment of 11,000 tons of SpheriChrome„, which will be loaded next week in Coos Bay, southwestern Oregon, before setting sail for China.

SpheriChrome„ is a specialty casting sand mined in Coos Bay by IDM's wholly owned subsidiary Oregon Resources Corporation.

It is a chromite sand with a round grain structure and is finer than typical chromite sand making it unique.

IDM's first shipment is bound for a number of foundries in China.

Foundries that produce high value castings require quality chromite and zircon sand as it ensures a high quality finish and reduces the after costs of grinding and sanding which often results from using poor quality foundry sands.

IDM, through subsidiary Oregon Resources, is developing the Southern Oregon Special Minerals project covering about 2,600 acres (10.5 square kilometres) of terraced mineral sands properties near Coos Bay.

IDM is in a unique position as it is the only emerging producer of foundry grade chromite in the United States.

The project has been shown to host heavy mineral deposits incorporating a multiple suite of minerals including chromite, garnet, zircon, ilmenite, magnetite, kyanite and staurolite.

The main plant to be constructed is designed to be highly efficient and scalable with the ability to process from 500,000 to 1.2 million tonnes per annum of material.