Lunnon Metals unveils new nickel resource as it probes historical Foster mine
Lunnon Metals 的 N75C 表面勘探区的初始资源总量为 412,700 吨，含镍 2.3%，含金属 9,500 吨。
Kambalda district explorer Lunnon Metals (ASX: LM8) has delivered a first-time mineral resource estimate for its N75C surface prospect, part of the old Foster mine operated by the former Western Mining Corporation.
The resource is estimated at 412,700 tonnes at 2.3% nickel for 9,500t of contained nickel metal.
The resource was underpinned by historical drill core for the prospect.
Global resources for the wider Kambalda nickel project now stand at 1.65Mt grading 2.9% nickel for 48,500t.
The company is working its way through the 350km of historical core that is available from previous exploration.
Lunnon, which listed on the ASX last June, is focused on the Kambalda nickel district of Western Australia.
The mineral belt runs 70km south from Kambalda township.
The district has produced 1.6Mt of nickel since the first discovery in 1966 by Western Mining Corporation.
‘Outstanding’ potential on several fronts
Lunnon says there is “outstanding” potential on several fronts at the project.
These include the recent Baker deposit discovery, applications of the core program at Foster itself and the Jan shaft, along with additions to the Warren shoot.
In January, Lunnon reported hitting 3.54% nickel in the Warren shoot, part of the historic Foster mine.
Lunnon says the N75C resource demonstrates the potential of the 350km of historical core, which allows the company the opportunity to increase its mineral resource based in parallel with its drilling program
That drilling has so far found Baker as a new nickel source.
The N75C surface was one of many nickel surfaces mined during the operational life of the Foster mine.
45 sub-surfaces yet to be investigated
Now that N75C’s mineral resource estimate is complete, the company will continue to apply its historical core program, where about 45 sub-surfaces remain to be investigated.
Managing director Ed Ainscough says the historical core program was a key plank in the two-year work program outlined in the company’s prospectus.
The additional mineral resource, due to its proximity to the resource at Foster, has an immediate impact in terms of what the mine might be capable of in the future, he added.
Compliant resource estimates should be expanded after dewatering of the mine, allowing underground exploration.
Permitting work is under way to allow dewatering and re-entry to the Foster mine.