Arafura Resources Limited and partner reveal maiden tungsten and copper resources at Bonya deposits

The White Violet and Samarkand deposits have potential to extend the operational life of Thor Mining’s nearby Molyhil project.

Arafura Resources Limited (ASX:ARU) and partner Thor Mining PLC (ASX:THR) have revealed maiden mineral resource estimates for White Violet and Samarkand tungsten and copper deposits at the Bonya JV project.

Bonya is adjacent to Thor’s Molyhil tungsten and molybdenum mine project, 220 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and east of Arafura’s Nolans project.

The project is held in joint venture between Arafura (60%) and Thor (40%) with Thor acting as manager and each party contributing to the cost according to their equity holding.

Inferred resources

The inferred resources at White Violet are 495,000 tonnes, grading 0.22% tungsten trioxide and 0.06% copper, containing 1,090 tonnes of tungsten and 300 tonnes of copper.

At Samarkand, inferred resources are 245,000 tonnes, grading 0.19% tungsten trioxide and 0.13 % copper, containing 465 tonnes of tungsten and 320 tonnes copper.

“Quietly confident”

Arafura managing director Gavin Lockyer said: “We are pleased to deliver the project’s first tungsten resources at White Violet and Samarkand, and feel quietly confident the JV can build further value over time through the discovery and delineation of additional tungsten and/or copper resources.”

“Good first steps”

Thor Mining executive chairman Mick Billing said that while the results were promising, more work was needed.

He said: “These maiden resources are very significant when combined with the mining inventory of the nearby proposed Molyhil development.

“More work is required, to convert these inferred resources to, at least, Indicated classification, along with other technical, environmental and social impact assessments, however we have taken very good first steps.”