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Ardea Resources Gets KNP Goongarrie Hub DFS Underway

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) has kicked off the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the company’s Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) – Goongarrie Hub.

The DFS is starting with an infill drill program designed to upgrade the nickel-cobalt laterite resources to Measured Mineral Resource category for the first five year open pits.

The planned program comprises 888 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes for a total of 51,745 metres on a 40x40m spacing.

The RC drilling has commenced at the Big Four nickel-cobalt deposit with some 16,215m planned.

One RC rig is starting proceedings, with additional rigs planned to be brought on to site in September 2024.

“The full Goongarrie Hub infill RC drill program is expected to be completed by end of CY2024,” Ardea Resources explained it its ASX announcement.

“The results from the drilling will then be used to provide an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (Measured category) for the first five year open pits.

“This will increase confidence in the existing nickel laterite resources, particularly during the payback period.

“As part of the DFS, additional drill programs are also planned for geotechnical testwork and hydrogeological testing.

“Additional diamond core drilling to provide bench-scale metallurgy material and validate historic RC results will also be completed.

“Commencement of these programs are pending granting of approvals (programs of work) from DEMIRS and final drill design.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Ardea Resources Drills High-Grade Nickel-Cobalt at Goongarrie Hill

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) has confirmed high-grade near surface nickel-cobalt mineralisation via diamond drill core drilling at the Goongarrie Hill nickel-cobalt deposit within the company’s Kalgoorlie Nickel project in Western Australia.

Ardea Resources said the results it has received very closely validate mineralisation models it used in generating the Goongarrie Hill Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).

The Goongarrie Hub MRE at a 0.5 per cent nickel cut-off grade is 556 million tonnes at 0.68 per cent nickel and 0.045 per cent cobalt for contained metal of 3.8 million tonnes of nickel and 248,000 tonnes of cobalt.

Ardea explained the pits at Goongarrie Hill will be the key Atmospheric Leach base load feed source for the proposed nickel-cobalt processing plant at the Kalgoorlie nickel project.

Latest drilling results at 0.5 per cent nickel and 1 per cent nickel cut-off grades include:

AGHD0003
38 metres at 0.85 per cent nickel and 0.057 per cent cobalt from 2m, including 18m at 1.12 per cent nickel and 0.095 per cent cobalt from 4m; and

AGHD0005
18m at 1.16 per cent nickel and 0.059 per cent cobalt from 2m, including 14m at 1.22 per cent nickel and 0.067 per cent cobalt from 6m.

“The Goongarrie Hill core drilling was a further field test of the KNP low-carbon flowsheet model,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“In contrast to Goongarrie South, Goongarrie Hill lacks the intense weathering associated with the Bardoc Tectonic Zone and ancestral Lake Goongarrie hydrology.

“None-the-less, premium High Pressure Acid Leach feed still occurred at Goongarrie Hill above an extensive and more uniform sheet of high-magnesium mineralisation well suited as an Atmospheric Leach feed.

“In terms of Mineralised Neutraliser, the neutraliser at Goongarrie Hill appears to be a sheet below the Atmospheric Leach feed.

“In a production situation, this material will be mined from grade control drilling and ‘goodbye cuts’.

“With the unique Goongarrie geological model yet again confirmed, we continue to await the results of the ALS benchscale metallurgy from Highway, as a control for the waiting Goongarrie South and Goongarrie Hill programs.

“These results will feed into ongoing DFS work flows and continue to enhance the KNP Goongarrie Hub as a globally significant source of sustainable and ethical ESG-compliant nickel-cobalt for the lithium ion battery sector.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

Ardea Resources Confirms Scandium and REE at Kalpini Nickel Project

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) recently completed re-assaying of historic drill pulps from the company’s Kalpini nickel project in Western Australia.

Ardea Resources reported the re-assays have confirmed very high-grade historical nickel-cobalt intercepts and identified previously undocumented but significant scandium credits.

Additionally, notable Rare Earth Element (REE) and Rare Metal (RM) grades were indicated within the historic nickel-cobalt laterite mineralisation, including:

WERC0371
12 metres at 1.7 per cent nickel, 0.151 per cent cobalt, 28 grams per tonne scandium from 20m with;

0.244 per cent Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO), includes neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce); and

1.32 per cent Total Rare Metal Oxide (TRMO), includes titanium (Ti), yttrium (Y), zircon (Zr), niobium (Nb), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta) and tungsten (W).

VKPRC0112
4m at 1.66 per cent nickel, 0.102 per cent cobalt, 40g/t scandium from 29m with;

0.1297 per cent TREO; and

0.7193 per cent TRMO.

“The Kalpini drill pulp re-assay was a major undertaking for Ardea in 2021, with the principal objective to validate historic resource drilling and obtain scandium assays for the current re-estimation of the full Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE),” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The importance of cobalt as a significant revenue contributor for the KNP was validated in the 2018 PFS.

“Significantly, the cobalt revenue credit reduced the then estimated C1 operating cost from US$5.59 per pound to US$0.42 per pound.

“If scandium and now REEs can be configured in the flowsheeet as additional revenue contributors, there are significant improvements to the already robust KNP financial metrics.

“These studies are all subject to the current Ardea-ALS bench-scale metallurgical R&D, where material with REE and RM credits are targeted in R&D programs.

“These R&D programs for Ardea are specifically targeting Critical Minerals, as supply chain security is more important than ever as the World continues the transition to a low carbon future.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

 

Ardea Resources Commences Emu Lake Nickel Sulphide Follow up Drilling

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) has commenced diamond drilling at the company’s Emu Lake nickel sulphide camp outside Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

The drill program of approximately 4,350m is to follow-up Ardea’s Binti South prospect high-grade massive nickel-copper-PGE sulphide discovery.

Drilling will also be undertaken at the Binti Gossan prospect one kilometre northwest of Binti South.

Other work is to include detailed DHEM surveys on all drill holes to help locate conductor plates that are typically associated with Emu Lake nickel sulphide mineralisation.

“Supported by funding from the placement ($21.5 million raised in February), the Ardea team have drawn upon their strong local relationships with key service providers and secured a core drill rig ahead of schedule to resume the nickel sulphide drilling at Emu Lake,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“This follow-up drill program is aimed at building upon the discovery success at Binti South and will also test targets down dip and plunge of high grade mineralisation intersected in historic drilling at Binti Gossan.

“The Emu Lake nickel sulphide exploration is evolving as part of a broader Kalpini nickel story.

“It can significantly contribute to Ardea’s building of a green, forward-facing integrated nickel company servicing the lithium-ion battery supply chain with an ESG-compliant, sustainable and ethical product.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

Ardea Resources Encounters High-Grade Nickel-Cobalt from Highway Metallurgical Drilling

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) already had plenty to tell investors at the 2022 RIU Explorers Conference, but now there’s more after it reported on recent diamond drill core drilling that it says confirms high-grade near surface nickel-cobalt mineralisation at the Highway nickel-cobalt deposit.

The company said the results validate mineralisation models used in generating the Highway resource estimate.

The Highway deposit is a key proposed satellite plant feed source for Ardea’s Kalgoorlie nickel project – Goongarrie hub.

Intercepts at 0.5 per cent nickel and 1 per cent nickel cut-off grades include:

AHID0002
42 metres at 0.77 per cent nickel and 0.11 per cent cobalt from 2m, including 12m at 1.01 per cent nickel and 0.22 per cent cobalt from 16m and 6m at 1 per cent nickel and 0.04 per cent cobalt from 38m; and

AHID0003
36m at 0.95 per cent nickel and 0.08 per cent cobalt from 2m, including 24m at 1.11 per cent nickel and 0.1 per cent cobalt from 4m.

“The core drilling at Highway was the first field test of the KNP low-carbon flowsheet model,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“It was important for confirming the expectation that high-magnesium mineralisation is suitable as an Atmospheric Leach (AL) feed and uniformly underlies the premium goethite High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) feed.

“The 2021 diamond drilling (DD) program supports Ardea’s modelling that Highway is particularly endowed with AL material.

“AL material is especially important to the low-carbon flowsheet as this helps enable the on-site acid plant to be expanded to generate excess steam which is used for off-grid power generation.

“The Highway DD program tested well below the depth of historic RC drilling.

“In terms of Mineralised Neutraliser, from our detailed core logging, the neutraliser will be an extensive sheet below the AL feed at the base of conventional open pits.

“It appears to be of a cave-fill mineralisation style within saprock.

“In a production situation, this material would best be defined by grade control drilling from the base of pit floor, and mined as “goodbye cuts”.

“With the Highway geological model now confirmed, we eagerly await the results of the ALS benchscale metallurgy, testing the Highway flowsheet model.

“These results will feed into ongoing DFS work flows and continue to enhance the KNP Goongarrie Hub as a globally significant source of sustainable and ethical minerals to fuel the battery revolution.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

Ardea Resources Claims Emu Lake Nickel Sulphide Discovery

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) claimed confirmation of a massive nickel sulphide discovery at the company’s Kalpini project, northeast of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Ardea Resources made the claim following receipt of assay results from drill core hole AELD0003 that included:

2.72 metres at 5.42 per cent nickel and 0.85 per cent copper from 391.04m, including 1.23m at 8.22 per cent nickel and 0.56 per cent copper from 391.04m.

Ardea explained the results from AELD0003 confirm a fertile nickel sulphide horizon, the Western Ultramafic with the hole showing increased massive nickel and copper sulphide grade and thickness on an intact, basal dacite contact.

“The focus of historic Emu Lake exploration has been the Binti Gossan prospect area, one kilometre north of Ardea’s Western Ultramafic channel discovery,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The Western Ultramafic is a separate and distict high-magnesium ultramafic flow that was not prioritised by past explorers, presumbaly due to an absence of surface gossans as seen at the Binti Gossan.

“With the recently received assay results from core hole AELD0003 confirming high-grade nickel sulphides located on an intact basal dacite contact with komatiite, we now have three adjoining drill holes with nickel sulphide mineralisation on the same contact which conclusively confirms that a discovery has been made.

“Importantly, the interpreted 3D geometry of the AELD0003 discovery suggests the mineralisation is open in all directions for further drill exploration.

“With Ardea holding 20 kilometres of fertile komatiite strike at Emu Lake, there is significant scope to extend this nickel sulphide discovery and make additional discoveries.

“I acknowledge the Ardea team and partners such as CSIRO and Newexco for their input which has assisted in developing the Emu Lake “Thermal Erosion” nickel sulphide model which is a major exploration breakthrough for the company, as it has opened up a new search space.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

Ardea Resources Completes Capital Raising to fund Kalgoorlie Nickel Project Feasibility Work

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) has raised $5.7 million to accelerate activities at the company’s Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) in Western Australia.

After the cash is banked, Ardea Resources will have more than $10 million cash it intends spending to progress feasibility study work streams, including hydrology and metallurgical drilling programs, metallurgical test work, and pit optimisation studies.

“The proceeds of the placement ensure Ardea is well funded to maintain momentum on accelerated Kalgoorlie Nickel Project feasibility study work streams,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“With the continued expansion of the lithium-ion battery sector and Original Equipment Manufacturers needing to secure sustainable and ethical mineral supply, Ardea’s Kalgoorlie Nickel Project is perfectly positioned to play a leading role with its globally significant nickel-cobalt and scandium resource at Goongarrie with direct transport infrastructure links to the emerging Kwinana Battery Hub We have drill rigs contracted for the KNP Goongarrie Hub to commence drilling water production bores and metallurgical core holes during the September 2021 Quarter.

“Borefield exploration drilling has recently been completed and defined production bore targets are ready for drilling.

“This hydrology drilling will lock in secure process water supplies for the development of our nickel and critical mineral resources at the Goongarrie production hub.

“The metallurgical testwork will provide samples for additional testwork to refine our plans to use mineralised neutraliser sourced during conventional open pit mining as opposed to having to import neutraliser.

“We will also be assessing options to recover additional critical minerals, in addition to the planned nickel-cobalt and scandium production.

“All of these work streams will further enhance the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project and build upon the prefeasibility and expansion studies completed by Ardea in 2018.”

 

 

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

 

Ardea Resources Hits Best Semi-Massive Nickel Sulphide Intercept at Emu Lake to Date

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) reported assay results it claims to have confirmed komatiite-hosted basal nickel sulphide located above a felsic volcanic footwall contact at the Emu Lake prospect, 70km north-east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Ardea Resources drilled hole AELD0002 in April 2021, targeting a strong down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) anomaly 50m north of earlier drill hole AELD0001, intersecting 0.65m of massive and semi-massive nickel sulphides and 1.1m of matrix and disseminated nickel sulphides.

Assays for this zone returned:

1.1m at 4.78 per cent nickel, 0.16 per cent copper, 0.47 grams per tonne platinum, 0.2g/t palladium from 366.9m (semi-massive sulphide), within a broader zone of 4.8m at 1.44 per cent nickel, 0.09 per cent copper, 0.2g/t platinum, 0.09g/t palladium from 365.9m, including a disseminated zone down to a cut-off of 0.3 per cent nickel.

The company explained this is one of the best nickel sulphide intercepts it has achieved at Emu Lake to date, claiming it demonstrates the prospectivity of this new western ultramafic position that has received minimal attention from historic exploration, thus opening up an entirely new target horizon.

“This new basal contact intercept provides a platform to test along this stratigraphic horizon for channel positions where the sulphides are insitu and expected to be thicker,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“The available geophysics is showing there is potential for such a channel to exist below AELD0002 which could extend for a considerable length in a similar fashion to the Silver Swan channel.

“It is interesting to note that earlier surface EM surveys have not been able to detect these sulphides, demonstrating the potential to open up a previously un-tested, albeit deeper, search space at Emu Lake.”

 

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

Ardea Resources Commences Highway and Black Range Nickel Sulphide Drilling

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) reported commencement of drilling of two strong IP chargeability anomalies within the company’s Kalgoorlie nickel project in Western Australia.

Ardea Resources has kicked off a program of RC drilling to test for nickel sulphide mineralisation at two strong Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomalies, at the company’s Highway and Black Range project areas located 110km north and 65km north-west of Kalgoorlie, respectively.

“Ardea remains focussed on developing the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) to provide sustainable and ethical nickel and Critical Mineral supply for the rapidly expanding lithium-ion battery sector,”
Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“In tandem with completing priority Definitive Feasibility Study work streams, compelling nickel sulphide and Critical Mineral exploration opportunities that can provide further upside, continue to be evaluated on Ardea’s strategic KNP tenement holding.

“The recently defined IP anomalies at Highway and Black Range, occurring in association with strong geochemical anomalies and other geological vectors is very significant.

“These anomalies provide compelling exploration targets, and it is exciting to see that drilling has now commenced to test them.

“Nickel sulphide mineralisation is traditionally treated through a flotation concentrator, but the proposed KNP flow-sheet is amenable to hydrometallurgical processing of sulphides, with multiple benefits for the autoclave operation.”

 

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au

 

 

Ardea Resources Confirms Emu Lake Nickel Sulphide Drill Target

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL) has delineated a strong off-hole conductor by way of a downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) survey at Emu Lake within the company’s Kalpini project in Western Australia.

Ardea Resources had the survey carried out on recently drilled hole (ALED0001) at Emu Lake defining a strong off-hole conductor north of the hole.

The company explained hole AELD0001 was drilled in December 2020, targeting a DHEM anomaly based on legacy data compiled by geophysical consultants, Newexco.

The hole intersected a stringer zone of nickel sulphides at 382m the company believes may be remobilised from a source defined by the AELD0001 DHEM modelling.

“Ardea remains focussed on their Kalgoorlie Nickel Project nickel laterite and developing this project to provide ethical and sustainable nickel and Critical Mineral supply for the rapidly expanding lithium-ion battery supply chain,” Ardea Resources managing director Andrew Penkethman said in the company’s ASX announcement.

“In tandem with this priority, compelling nickel sulphide and Critical Mineral exploration opportunities continue to be evaluated that can provide further KNP upside.

“This initial core hole at Emu Lake is a good example of the upside potential.

“The hole was drilled into an EM anomaly based on legacy data and was aimed at making a komatiite hosted (Kambalda style) nickel sulphide discovery.

“Given the low industry wide success rate in making nickel sulphide discoveries, it is extremely encouraging to see that we have identified a strong conductor along strike from the initial target that could represent an accumulation of high-grade nickel sulphide.

“We are looking forward to drilling this quality target whilst also working up additional compelling drill targets through a series of geophysical programs currently underway at Emu Lake, Highway and Black Range.”

 

TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: CLICK HERE

 

Email: ardea@ardearesources.com.au

 

Web: www.ardearesources.com.au