Ardea Resources Takes KNP MRE Over 6Mt Contained Nickel Mark
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) released an updated JORC Code (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Goongarrie Hub nickel-cobalt deposits within the company’s 100 per cent-owned Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) in Western Australia.
Ardea Resources reported the KNP global MRE (using a 0.5% Ni cut-off grade) now stands at 854 million tonnes at 0.71 per cent nickel and 0.045 per cent cobalt for 6.1 million tonnes of contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes of contained cobalt.
Ardea is currently undertaking a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) at the Goongarrie Hub for an open pit mining operation feeding a three million tonnes per annum High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) and 0.5 million tonnes per annum Atmospheric Leach (AL) circuit using proven technology to produce Mixed Hydroxide Product (MHP) for the Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) sector.
The company has already completed the technical work streams of the PFS that is now undergoing a final review by the Competent Persons.
Upon finalisation and sign off, expected to be in early July, Ardea anticipates release the PFS by announcement on the ASX.
“The Kalgoorlie Nickel Project Goongarrie Hub Prefeasibility Study technical work streams are completed, with final sign-off shortly by the various contributors,” Ardea Resources managing director and CEO Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.
“Whilst completing the open pit optimisations of the resource models, it was apparent that additional tonnes of nickel-cobalt bearing Mineralised Neutraliser below the 0.5 per cent nickel reporting grade would be recovered within the mine plan.
“This extra neutralising material contributes additional project value through its magnesite component being used in the leaching circuit for acid neutralisation, to which it adds nickel-cobalt units at nil cost.
“Additionally, the Mineralised Neutraliser Fines component contribute to the nickel-cobalt production as the dominant feed for the Atmospheric Leach circuit.
“This excellent R&D outcome is protected with an international patent application recently lodged.”
TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE