Metallica Minerals passes environmental milestone

THE DRILL SERGEANT: Metallica Minerals (ASX: MLM) has had an Environmental Authority (EA) issued by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection for the company’s Mining Lease Application (MLA 20669).

The Mining Lease Application covers the Urquhart Point zircon-rutile HMS project.

The project is located three kilometres southwest of Weipa on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland and has a JORC Code 2012 Indicated Resource of 2.7 million tonnes at 6.53 per cent HM.

“This paves the way for the MLA to be submitted to the Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines for consideration to grant the Mining Lease,” Metallica Minerals managing director Andrew Gillies said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The MLA is held 100 per cent by Oresome Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Metallica and incorporates high-grade mineral sands from surface to a depth of three metres.

“Subject to the Mining Lease being granted and funding obtained by the end of calendar 2013, Metallica will target zircon-rutile HMS production for the third quarter of 2014.”