Chalice Mining is rapidly expanding its blueprint to become a globally renowned producer of platinum group metals, nickel and copper through the Gonneville project in Western Australia.
Speaking at the Diggers 'n' Dealers conference in Western Australia, Chalice managing director Alex Dorch said: Based on March resource data, the company now has two open pit development options, while those scenarios are being reviewed through a scoping study, which is expected to conclude in the third quarter of this year.
In addition, Dorch confirmed that Chalice is looking for strategic partnerships for the development of the project and is in talks with established technology leaders and end users.
Recent deep drilling found grades four times higher than those found in known open pit mines, Dorsch said: Chilce is now proposing a concept to develop from within the pit to extend the life of the mine.
Chalice has also acquired a large area of vacant land, including farmland, with exploration potential, which has led to positive results in initial exploration of the first 10km of the mineral-rich formation stretching 20 kilometres near Gonneville.
Dolce highlighted the importance of Gonneville in global mineral discovery, raising concerns about reliance on suppliers of platinum group metals from Russia and South Africa, as well as Indonesia's role in nickel production.
Gonneville is the second largest nickel sulfide deposit in Australia after BHP's Musgrave Range project.
Chalice aims to concentrate platinum group metals and copper into a copper concentrate with a copper content of approximately 25% and 100 to 150 grams per ton of platinum group elements. Mineral resources are estimated at 560 million tons, with a grade of 0.88 grams per ton of platinum group metals.
