Could it be that Rio Tinto is about to break cover on its Winu...

Could it be that Rio Tinto is about to break cover on its Winu copper discovery in Western Australia’s remote Paterson province?
That’s the speculation in WA mining circles, with the chatter led by the band of juniors with exploration interests in the region which stand to benefit if Rio does confirm Winu as a major find.
Rio has remained shtum on Winu since reports that it was on to something special first surfaced in April last year. In fact, Rio has yet to confirm the discovery is called Winu.
That is despite satellite imagery showing extensive drilling over an area of more than 1km by 1km, the establishment of a 56-man exploration camp, and Rio drawing up airport and road plans for the project.
The gossip says it’s big
Last week, a rumour surfaced that Rio had ordered the building of another four 60-man accommodation units to plonk down amongst the sand dunes at Winu; such is the scale of the discovery.
Feeding the expectations that Rio could be about to formally announce the discovery has been the “delay’’ this year in the release of its full (calendar) year results. Normally they are realised early in the second week of February.
But this year the release date is February 27. It is unlikely preparations for an announcement on Winu are behind the delay, with pundits suggesting the annual report to shareholders, released about three weeks after the financial results, as a more likely platform for a Winu announcement.
That old nearology chestnut
Either way, the junior sector is hoping an announcement on Winu comes soon. Assuming it as big as suspected — 2m tonnes of copper and growing fast is the latest tip – Winu has the potential to give the juniors a “nearology’’ kick along.