WSA 0.00% $3.86 western areas limited

robust scoping study supports open pit mine

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    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.
    May 16, 2008 ASX & TSX: WSA
    News Release
    ROBUST SCOPING STUDY SUPPORTS OPEN PIT MINE AT SPOTTED QUOLL
    The Board of Western Areas is pleased to announce outstanding results from a scoping study
    for an open pit mine based on the current mineral resource at Spotted Quoll. The results of the
    scoping study have been estimated for an optimised pit which would extend to approximately
    160m depth. Assuming industry standard mining costs, conservative ore dilution factors and
    metallurgical recoveries based on test work to date, the conceptual open pit at Spotted Quoll
    has the potential to generate the following net cash flow over a four year mine life:
    Assumed nickel price Potential net cash flow
    US$8/lb nickel A$220M
    US$10/lb nickel A$300M
    US$12/lb nickel A$380M
    Notes:
    • The estimated C1 cash costs is less than US$1.50/lb
    • The estimated average diluted mine grade for the life of mine is 5.1% nickel
    • The potential cash flow does not include any by product credits (copper, cobalt)
    • Assumed smelter/refinery charges are based on Western Areas current offtake terms
    • The study includes A$25M for pre strip and A$5M for other infrastructure capital
    • No royalty payments or discount rate have been applied to the cash flow estimates
    Importantly, the scoping study indicates an annualised production rate of approximately
    8,000 tpa nickel, compared with the previously announced target of 5,000 tpa nickel.
    Western Areas is taking all steps to fast track Spotted Quoll into production in 2009. Minimal
    additional capital expenditure is required to develop the mine with ore expected to be
    treated at the Cosmic Boy concentrator due to be commissioned in the March quarter 2009.
    The optimised pit shell used in the scoping study excludes several significant recent drill hole
    intersections. For example, WBD 064 intersected 18.3m @ 10.4% nickel approximately
    50m below the pit shell. Three drill rigs are currently on site drilling between 200m and
    400m depth and an updated mineral resource is expected to be announced within the next three
    months. The first drill hole to test 200m below the mineral resource (WDB 68) intersected
    1.5m of stringer/disseminated sulphides confirming excellent continuity of the mineralisation.
    Discussion
    As a result of the very robust returns indicated by the initial scoping study, the preferred
    development plan at Spotted Quoll is likely to comprise two stages:
    1. High grade, low cost open pit mine which will extend to approximately 160m depth
    over a four year period. The pit is expected to provide decline access to a:
    2. High grade underground mine with an as yet unknown depth or mine life.
    Underground mining is expected to use standard underground mining methods.
    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.
    The underground mine is expected to be developed concurrently with the completion of the
    open pit to enable production to move seamlessly into underground ore.
    Managing Director, Mr Julian Hanna, said “Spotted Quoll was discovered exactly seven
    months ago on 16 October 2007. In that short time, Western Areas has announced an initial
    bonanza grade mineral resource containing 34,500t nickel and has completed a scoping study
    which demonstrates potential cash flow of around A$300 million from an open pit mine alone.
    This is a credit to the Newexco exploration team and our in house mine development team.”
    Mr Hanna added, “Spotted Quoll provides an excellent opportunity to generate major cash
    flow from a low cost open pit mine and highlights the speed at which that these shallow
    deposits can be advanced towards production. We also think that potential remains for further
    discoveries of this type and have stepped up our exploration program to find another one.”
    Metallurgical test work of the primary nickel sulphide at Spotted Quoll is already well
    advanced and indicates that a high grade 16% nickel concentrate can be produced and that
    locally elevated arsenic values should be relatively easily suppressed to acceptable levels.
    Permitting for a range of surface activities at Spotted Quoll is already underway and a declared
    rare flora previously identified in the area is located well outside the scoping study pit shell.
    Figure 1: Interpreted Long Section (plane of vein) of Spotted Quoll showing approximate outline of
    optimised pit shell referred to in release. (Note: drill hole intersections are down hole widths)
    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.
    Scoping Study Results:
    The final pit used in the scoping study was selected using a combination of maximised pit
    value and minimised waste stripping. The following table is based on the preferred optimised
    US$8 pit shell assuming a range of nickel prices.
    Assumed
    Ni Price
    Mineral
    Resource
    Category in Pit
    Tonnes Mined
    Grade Ni
    Waste:
    Ore
    Approx.
    Pit Depth
    Net cashflow
    estimate
    US$8/lb Indicated &
    Inferred
    515,000 5.1 % 26:1 160m A$ 220M
    US10/lb Indicated &
    Inferred
    515,000 5.1 % 26:1 160m A$ 300M
    US$12/lb Indicated &
    Inferred
    515,000 5.1 % 26:1 160m A$ 380M
    Note: The implied cash value does not include any by product credits.
    Pit Optimisation Assumptions:
    A range of pit optimisations were generated using a multi-element process with the Lerch
    Grossman algorithm. Optimised sets of nested pits were generated for each of the commodity
    price scenarios.
    This work was carried using the following assumptions:
    Costs:
    • Milling costs based on current forecast rates for the Cosmic Boy Concentrator.
    • Concentrate transport costs inline with current off-take rates
    • Mining costs based on estimates provided by a local open pit mining contractor
    • Ore haulage costs based on current transport costs at Forrestania
    • Arsenic penalties applied are based on Western Areas offtake agreement
    Revenue:
    • Nickel price: US$ 8/lb, US$ 10/lb and US$12/lb
    • Copper price: US$ 1.50lb
    • Cobalt price: US$ 20/lb
    • Exchange rate: 0.90 Flat
    Metallurgy:
    Based on recent petrology and metallurgical test work the following assumptions were applied:
    • No revenue assumed from the high grade, near surface oxide material
    • No revenue assumed from mineralisation where sulphur to nickel ratio less than 0.5
    • Supergene ore recovery fixed at 50%
    • Transitional ore recovery fixed at 82%
    • Primary ore recovery fixed at 86%
    • All recoveries based on production of a 16% nickel grade concentrate.
    THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.
    Mining Factors:
    • 95% recovery of the in-pit resource
    • 20% dilution at zero grade
    • Drill & blast of the complete pre-strip
    • Pit slope angles as follows:
    Surface to 30m = 40 degrees
    30m to 50m = 42 degrees
    50m to pit bottom (footwall) = 54 degrees
    50m to pit bottom (hangingwall) = 45 degrees
    • Hangingwall slope allocated a 4 degree reduction for placement of the pit ramp.
    On 18 April 2008, Western Areas announced the first mineral resource at Spotted Quoll which
    comprises a total of 545,600t at an average grade of 6.3% nickel for 34,500t contained nickel
    to 200m depth. The majority (87%) is in the high confidence Indicated Mineral Resource
    category. The following table summarises the current Mineral Resource:
    Mineral Resource Statement 17 April 2008
    Spotted Quoll Deposit above lower cut-off of 2% Ni
    Measured Indicated Inferred
    Tonnes Ni (%) Ni (t) Tonnes Ni (%) Ni (t) Tonnes Ni
    (%) Ni (t)
    TOTAL - - - 473,600 6.4 30,140 72,000 6.1 4,370
    Mineral Resource Parameters: The Mineral Resource estimate was completed by Mr John Haywood who is a
    full-time employee of Western Areas NL. The Mineral Resource estimate at Spotted Quoll and the data and
    parameters used in estimating the Mineral Resource were then reviewed by a group of senior geologists employed
    by independent geological consultants Newexco.
    Massive and matrix sulphide mineralisation was modelled as 3D solids, and a block model was created using
    “Datamine Studio” software, filling the solids with cells and sub-cells; with Ni estimated by Ordinary Kriging. The
    mineralisation at Spotted Quoll exhibits good continuity of width and grade.
    Item Details Comments
    Cells Size 5m (X) by 10m (Y) by 5m (Z) Sub-celled to match solids
    Interpolation Method Ordinary Kriging Validated by ID2 estimate
    Search Radii Variable by domain Nominal 50m by 50m by 7m
    Nominal Drill hole spacing 40m by 20m to 40m by 40m
    Surface diamond drillhole collar surveys used differential GPS; downhole surveys used a gyroscopic instrument; a
    comprehensive density database was utilised; there is high assay confidence with systematic QA/QC procedures; a
    validated acQuire database. An alternate inverse distance squared estimate was made to validate the ordinary kriged
    resource. A validation of drillholes against block model grades was made.
    -ENDSTHIS
    NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.
    For further details, please contact:
    Julian Hanna Craig Oliver
    Managing Director – Western Areas NL Finance Director – Western Areas NL
    Telephone +61 8 9486 7855 Telephone +61 8 9486 7855
    Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
    Ann Nahajski
    Investor Relations – Porter Novelli
    Telephone +61 8 9386 1233
    Email: [email protected] Or visit: www.westernareas.com.au
    QA-QC STATEMENT:
    Mr Adrian Black from geological consultants Newexco Services Pty Ltd (“Newexco”) is responsible for the verification and quality
    assurance of the Company’s exploration data and analytical results from the Forrestania Nickel Project. Surface diamond drill
    hole collar surveys used differential GPS, down hole surveys employed a north seeking gyroscopic instrument; comprehensive
    density database; high assay confidence with systematic QA/QC procedures; and validated database. Samples of quarter core
    from the drill holes described in this release are prepared and analysed by ALS Chemex Ltd laboratory in Perth for nickel, copper,
    cobalt and other elements. Core samples are crushed and pulverised to 90% passing 75 microns then analysed for nickel by ore
    grade determination using the ALS OG–62 method. Assays standards are routinely inserted in the sample stream by Newexco
    for quality control.
    The information within this report as it relates to the scoping study, including the pit optimisation studies referred to in this release
    was prepared by Mr Tim Peters. The information as it relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Mr Julian
    Hanna and the information as it relates to mineral resources was prepared by Mr John Haywood. Mr Peters is a mining
    engineering consultant from Piran Mining Pty Ltd employed by Western Areas and Mr Hanna and Mr Haywood are full time
    employees of Western Areas.
    Mr Hanna, Mr Peters and Mr Haywood are members of AusIMM and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of
    mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as Competent
    Persons as defined in the 2004 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and
    Ore Reserves.’ Mr Hanna, Mr Peters and Mr Haywood consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on the
    information in the form and context in which it appears.
    FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT:
    This release contains certain forward-looking statements. Examples of forward looking statements used in this release are:
    ‘scoping study indicates an annualised production rate of approximately 8,000 tpa nickel’, and ‘underground mine is expected to
    be developed concurrently with the completion of the open pit’, and ‘a scoping study which demonstrates potential cash flow of
    around A$300 million from an open pit mine alone’ and ‘excellent potential remains for further discoveries of this type’. Forwardlooking
    statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's ability to control or predict which
    could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.
    This announcement does not include reference to all available information on the Company or the Forrestania Nickel Project or
    the Spotted Quoll deposit and should not be used in isolation as a basis to invest in Western Areas. Any potential investors
    should refer to Western Area’s other public releases and statutory reports and consult their professional advisers before
    considering investing in the Company.
    For Purposes of Clause 3.4 (e) in Canadian instrument 43-101, the Company warrants that Mineral Resources which are not
    Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
 
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