Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1319479
W inte r 2020 23 PHOTO: ANATOLE TUZLAK Specialty metal projects Taseko Mines Limited continued with ongoing technical work, environmental monitoring, and product marketing initiatives for its Aley niobium project. Defense Metals Corp. filed an updated 43-101 technical report, began baseline environmental studies and carried out flotation pilot plant studies for its Wicheeda rare earth element project. The updated report includes an Indicated mineral resource of 4.89 Mt averaging 3.02 per cent LREO (Light Rare Earth Oxide), in addition to Inferred mineral resource of 12.1 Mt averaging 2.90 per cent (LREO reported at a cut-off grade of 1.5 per cent LREE [sum of cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), and samarium (Sm); in addition to niobium (Nb) percentages as metal]. Ni-C-Co-precious metal projects FPX Nickel Corp. announced a positive preliminary economic assessment for its Decar project's Baptiste deposit. Highlights included a mine life of 35 years and after- tax payback of 4.0 years, after-tax net present value (8 per cent) of US$1.72 billion and an internal rate of return of 18.3 per cent, average Ni production of 99 Mlbs per year, average operating costs of US$2.74/lb Ni and all-in sustain costs of US$3.12/ lb Ni and average US$481 million of annual earnings before royalties, taxes and depreciation. Coal projects At the Rocky Creek project, CTI Plus Resources Ltd. drilled approximately 75 holes, including HQ coring, PQ coring and rotary drilling. Coal seams were sampled and sent for testing. Also, 10 trenches were geologically mapped and sampled. Data will be used for a feasibility study. Industrial mineral projects Fertoz Ltd. continued with mine design and engineering studies for its Wapiti phosphate project. NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL REGIONS Untitled-12 1 11/19/20 1:44 PM