Ardea Resources Limited (ASX: ARL) has released a robust update of the JORC Code (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Goongarrie Hub nickel-cobalt deposits within the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP).
The KNP global Mineral Resource Estimate (using a 0.5% Ni cut-off grade) now stands at 854Mt at 0.71% Ni and 0.045% Co for 6.1Mt of contained nickel and 386kt of contained cobalt
The KNP is owned 100% by Ardea and the Goongarrie Hub is undergoing a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for an open pit mining operation feeding a 3.0 Mtpa High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) and 0.5Mtpa Atmospheric Leach (AL) circuit using proven technology to produce Mixed Hydroxide Product (MHP) for the Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) sector.
The technical work streams of the PFS have now been completed, and is undergoing a final review by the Competent Persons. Upon finalisation and sign off, expected to be in early July, Ardea will release the PFS by announcement on the ASX.
The Goongarrie Hub is a subset within the KNP. The deposits within the Goongarrie Hub that were considered in the PFS comprise from south to north on the Goongarrie Line the Scotia Dam (SD), Big Four (BF), Goongarrie South (GS), and Goongarrie Hill (GH) deposits, as well as the satellite deposits Highway (HW) and Siberia North (SN). Other Goongarrie Hub deposits (Ghost Rocks, Siberia South and Black Range) have at this stage not been included in the PFS.
As part of the PFS, the Goongarrie Hub MRE was re-evaluated to consider the Mineralised Neutraliser (MN) that is captured in optimised open pits, with a grade of less than the 0.5% nickel MRE reporting grade. As once this material has been screened, the coarse magnesium rich magnesite saprock has been demonstrated to be a viable source of neutraliser and the fine goethite rich fraction a viable source of AL feed.
A key component of the PFS for the KNP Goongarrie Hub has been focussed on Material Types to allow the nickel-cobalt mineralisation to be variously matched to the High-Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL), Atmospheric Leach (AL) and MN circuits, maximising resource utilisation for a well understood and proven flowsheet.
“The Kalgoorlie Nickel Project Goongarrie Hub Prefeasibility Study technical work streams are completed, with final sign-off shortly by the various contributors,” Managing Director and CEO, Andrew Penkethman, said.
“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% 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.”
