Thundelarra Exploration (ASX: THX) is an established Australian resources company primarily focused on uranium exploration and development in the Northern Territory.
The Company holds dominant tenement positions in the Pine Creek and the Ngalia Basin uranium provinces with a total area in excess of 6,000 sq km. Thundelarra has achieved significant exploration success on its Northern Territory properties, particularly in the Pine Creek region where several new uranium occurrences have been identified, including the Thunderball prospect where drilling has delivered a number of very high grade uranium intercepts.
The Company has a number of assets in addition to its Northern Territory interests, including; three highly prospective uranium projects in Western Australia and one in Queensland.
Thundelarra Exploration Copernicus nickel-copper concentrate sold to Jinchuan Group
Thundelarra Exploration (ASX: THX) has advised that 12,000 tonnes of Copernicus nickel sulphide ore has been processed at Panoramic Resources Ltd’s Savannah plant.
Copernicus Nickel Mine is located in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia approximately 35 kilometres south of the Savannah Nickel Mine.
The project is a joint venture between Thundelarra (40%) and Panoramic Resources Ltd (60%).
This ore was near surface material mined from the open pit late last year and was classified as transitional or partially oxidised.
Provisional results indicate that the ore performed well in the plant meeting expectations on grade and recovery.
However, a full reconciliation will not be completed until after month end on the results of the processing.
Based on mill sampling, the ore was estimated to grade 1.5% nickel, 0.8% copper and 0.05% cobalt. Nickel recovery of 60% was achieved, which is considered most satisfactory for this partially oxidised material.
The feasibility study forecasts nickel recovery from fresh ore to average approximately 76%.
1,700 dry tonnes of nickel/copper concentrate were produced. This concentrate has been sold to the Jinchuan Group and is currently en-route from Wyndham to the Chinese port of Lianyungang.
Mining operations at Copernicus remain suspended pending a determination by the joint venture that future commodity prices and exchange rate are likely to sustain levels that will deliver a satisfactory profit margin.
