Kalgoorlie Nickel Project will be a multi-decade operation which will meet demand for nickel-cobalt supply with high ESG standards
- Ardea’s KNP hosts the largest nickel-cobalt resource in Australia (GSWA) and one of the largest in the developed World, at 854Mt at 0.71% Ni and 0.045% Co for 6.1Mt of contained nickel and 386kt of contained cobalt (ASX release 30 June 2023), which places the Company in a prime position to provide essential supplies of ESG-compliant nickel and cobalt, along with other Critical Minerals such as scandium.
- The Goongarrie Hub within the KNP is located 70km northwest of the mining centre the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, with resources of 584Mt at 0.69% nickel and 0.043% cobalt for 4Mt of contained nickel and 250kt of contained cobalt (ASX release 30 June 2023).
- The KNP Goongarrie Hub is the subject of 2023 PFS (ASX release 5 July 2023) and is the asset forming basis of Shareholder Agreement with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd (SMM) and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC): SMM and MC Shareholder Agreement finalised 30 August 2024 (ASX release 30 August 2024).
Strategic partnership with SMM and MC who are funding the $98.5 million Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), validating KNP Goongarrie’s potential and providing access to world-class expertise
- Ardea, SMM and MC completed binding Shareholder Agreement to develop the KNP – Goongarrie Hub (ASX release 30 August 2024).
- The Consortium will fully fund KNP Goongarrie Hub Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) up to budget A$98.5M to earn 35% interest in a Joint Venture managed by Ardea’s subsidiary Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd (KNPL) with significant technical input from Ardea, SMM and MC.
- The Consortium will earn an additional 15% interest on Final Investment Decision, with the Consortium assisting KNPL in optimising debt financing. This will take the Consortium to 50% interest in KNPL, with Ardea retaining 50% of KNPL.
- For more, see ASX release 30 August 2024.
Premier mining jurisdiction with strong stakeholder support
- Located in Western Australia, just 70km from Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Project benefits from excellent infrastructure, a skilled workforce, a stable regulatory environment and desirable semi-arid environment.
- The Project also has ready access to high-quality infrastructure with the Goldfields Highway, rail line and power infrastructure passing through the project area. The gas pipeline is located some 30km to the east and there are two port options, these being Esperance and Kwinana, that are well serviced by the KNP road and rail network.
- Ardea plans for in-pit tailings and evaporation, suited to the semi-arid environment, reducing environmental risks compared to tropical locations.
Kalgoorlie Nickel Project - Goongarrie Hub will be a large-scale, long-life, low-cost Project
- The current plan indicates a 40+ year operational life (ASX PFS release 5 July 2023).
- The resources at Goongarrie are dominantly the premium goethite style and extend continuously over 25km of strike and at Highway, 30km north, over a strike length of 10km.
- Additional expansion potential from Goongarrie Hub deposits not included in PFS, and DFS work to upgrade more of Mineral Resource to Measured category.
- Current DFS studies include possible throughput increase to 4Mt per annum.
- Potential lowest-cost producer with estimated operating costs of $6,000-$10,000 USD per tonne, Ardea is potentially competitive with Indonesian producers, thanks to low acid consumption and energy requirements (ASX PFS release 5 July 2023).
- Ardea’s innovative ore processing approach with use of mineralised neutraliser reduces costs, while providing the dual benefit of acid neutralisation and metal recovery, demonstrating technical innovation in project design.
- KNP Awarded Major Project Status by Australian Federal Government which has resulted in significant access to Government Departments and a seat at the table with input to working groups such as recently announced Production Tax Incentive.
- Ardea will continue to retain 100% of all non–Goongarrie-Hub KNP tenements, being the Kalpini Hub (Kalpini, Bulong projects) and the Yerilla Hub (Jump Up Dam, Boyce Creek and Aubils projects), providing the Ardea with an internal project pipeline for future growth for nickel-cobalt and associated Critical Minerals.
- The KNP Goongarrie Hub is advanced stage with near-term news flow catalysts: with DFS is set for completion in the second half of 2025. Regular news flow expected from ongoing studies and a clear path to Final Investment Decision.
- Well-positioned for growing nickel demand with production aligned with expected market deficits from 2028 onwards, driven by electric vehicle and energy storage growth, with analysts projecting nickel prices above US$20,000 per tonne from 2030. (More about nickel)
KNP - Mineral Resource Estimate
On 30 June 2023, Ardea released an updated JORC Code (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the KNP, with a combined resource of 854Mt at 0.71% Ni and 0.045% Co for 6.1Mt of contained nickel and 386kt of contained cobalt (ASX release 30 June 2023).
Mineral Resource Statement
Camp | Prospect | Resource Category | Size (Mt) | Ni (%) | Co (%) | Contained Metal | Estimation Details | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ni (kt) | Co (kt) | Method | Source | Year | ||||||
Goongarrie | Goongarrie South | Measured | 18.2 | 0.94 | 0.085 | 171 | 15 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 |
Indicated | 82.3 | 0.71 | 0.049 | 584 | 40 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | ||
Inferred | 9.6 | 0.64 | 0.033 | 61 | 3 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | ||
Highway | Indicated | 70.6 | 0.69 | 0.038 | 487 | 27 | LUC | Ardea | 2023 | |
Inferred | 21.1 | 0.67 | 0.040 | 141 | 8 | LUC | Ardea | 2023 | ||
Ghost Rocks | Inferred | 47.3 | 0.66 | 0.042 | 312 | 20 | OK | Snowden | 2004 | |
Goongarrie Hill | Indicated | 39.9 | 0.65 | 0.037 | 259 | 15 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | |
Inferred | 29.3 | 0.60 | 0.025 | 176 | 7 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | ||
Big Four | Indicated | 48.7 | 0.71 | 0.047 | 346 | 23 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | |
Inferred | 14.1 | 0.68 | 0.043 | 96 | 6 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | ||
Scotia Dam | Indicated | 11.5 | 0.71 | 0.065 | 82 | 7 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | |
Inferred | 5.1 | 0.72 | 0.043 | 37 | 2 | LUC | Ardea | 2021 | ||
Goongarrie Subtotal | Measured | 18.2 | 0.94 | 0.085 | 171 | 15 | ||||
Indicated | 253.0 | 0.69 | 0.044 | 1,758 | 112 | |||||
Inferred | 126.5 | 0.65 | 0.037 | 823 | 47 | |||||
Ms+Ind+Inf | 397.7 | 0.69 | 0.044 | 2,753 | 175 | |||||
Siberia | Siberia South | Inferred | 80.7 | 0.65 | 0.033 | 525 | 27 | OK | Snowden | 2004 |
Siberia North | Indicated | 14.2 | 0.72 | 0.042 | 102 | 6 | Ni (UC), Co (OK) | Snowden | 2009 | |
Inferred | 72.2 | 0.74 | 0.034 | 534 | 25 | Ni (UC), Co (OK) | Snowden | 2009 | ||
Black Range | Indicated | 9.3 | 0.67 | 0.090 | 62 | 8 | OK | HGMC | 2017 | |
Inferred | 9.9 | 0.69 | 0.100 | 68 | 10 | OK | HGMC | 2017 | ||
Siberia Subtotal | Indicated | 23.5 | 0.70 | 0.061 | 165 | 14 | ||||
Inferred | 162.8 | 0.69 | 0.038 | 1,127 | 61 | |||||
Ms+Ind+Inf | 186.3 | 0.69 | 0.040 | 1,292 | 75 | |||||
KNP Goongarrie Hub TOTAL | Measured | 18.2 | 0.94 | 0.085 | 171 | 15 | ||||
Indicated | 276.5 | 0.70 | 0.046 | 1,923 | 127 | |||||
Inferred | 289.3 | 0.67 | 0.037 | 1,951 | 108 | |||||
Ms+Ind+Inf | 584.0 | 0.69 | 0.043 | 4,044 | 250 | |||||
Bulong | Taurus | Inferred | 14.2 | 0.84 | 0.051 | 119 | 7 | OK | Snowden | 2007 |
Bulong East | Indicated | 15.9 | 1.06 | 0.055 | 169 | 9 | OK | Snowden | 2004 | |
Inferred | 24.0 | 0.79 | 0.053 | 190 | 13 | OK | Snowden | 2004 | ||
Bulong Subtotal | Indicated | 15.9 | 1.06 | 0.055 | 169 | 9 | ||||
Inferred | 38.2 | 0.81 | 0.052 | 309 | 20 | |||||
Ms+Ind+Inf | 54.1 | 0.88 | 0.053 | 477 | 29 | |||||
Hampton | Kalpini | Inferred | 75.4 | 0.73 | 0.044 | 550 | 33 | OK | Snowden | 2004 |
Hampton Subtotal | Inferred | 75.4 | 0.73 | 0.044 | 550 | 33 | ||||
KNP Kalpini Hub TOTAL | Indicated | 15.9 | 1.06 | 0.055 | 169 | 9 | ||||
Inferred | 113.6 | 0.76 | 0.047 | 859 | 53 | |||||
Ms+Ind+Inf | 129.5 | 0.79 | 0.048 | 1,028 | 62 | |||||
Yerilla | Jump Up Dam | Measured | 3.8 | 0.94 | 0.048 | 36 | 2 | OK | Snowden | 2008 |
Indicated | 41.6 | 0.78 | 0.043 | 324 | 18 | OK | Snowden | 2008 | ||
Inferred | 18.4 | 0.63 | 0.034 | 116 | 6 | OK | Snowden | 2008 | ||
Boyce Creek | Indicated | 26.8 | 0.77 | 0.058 | 206 | 16 | OK | Snowden | 2009 | |
Aubils | Inferred | 49.4 | 0.70 | 0.066 | 346 | 33 | OK | Heron | 2008 | |
KNP Yerilla Hub TOTAL | Measured | 3.8 | 0.94 | 0.048 | 36 | 2 | ||||
Indicated | 68.4 | 0.78 | 0.049 | 531 | 33 | |||||
Inferred | 67.8 | 0.68 | 0.057 | 462 | 39 | |||||
Ms+Ind+Inf | 140.0 | 0.73 | 0.053 | 1,028 | 74 | |||||
KNP TOTAL | Measured | 22.0 | 0.94 | 0.079 | 207 | 17 | ||||
Indicated | 360.8 | 0.73 | 0.047 | 2,622 | 169 | |||||
Inferred | 470.7 | 0.70 | 0.043 | 3,272 | 200 | |||||
GRAND TOTAL | Ms+Ind+Inf | 853.5 | 0.71 | 0.045 | 6,101 | 386 | ||||
Legend: LUC – Local Uniform Conditioning; UC – Uniform Conditioning; OK – Ordinary Kriging. For more detail and explanatory discussion, see the full Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) following JORC Code (2012) guidelines in ASX release 30 June 2023. This Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) is inclusive of the following KNP Goongarrie MRE and Ore Reserves table below on this page. |
Deposit | Resource Category | Tonnes (Mt) | Ni Co Resources | Contained Metal | Sc Resources | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ni (%) | Co (%) | Ni (kt) | Co (kt) | Tonnes (Mt) | Sc (ppm) | |||
Goongarrie South | Measured | 18 | 0.94 | 0.085 | 172 | 15 | 18 | 40 |
Indicated | 82 | 0.71 | 0.049 | 587 | 40 | 53 | 23 | |
Inferred | 10 | 0.64 | 0.033 | 61 | 3 | 6 | 24 | |
Subtotal | 110 | 0.75 | 0.053 | 820 | 59 | 77 | 27 | |
Goongarrie Hill | Indicated | 40 | 0.65 | 0.037 | 260 | 15 | 11 | 16 |
Inferred | 29 | 0.60 | 0.025 | 178 | 7 | 2 | 16 | |
Subtotal | 69 | 0.63 | 0.032 | 438 | 22 | 13 | 16 | |
Big Four | Indicated | 49 | 0.71 | 0.047 | 345 | 23 | 32 | 24 |
Inferred | 14 | 0.68 | 0.043 | 95 | 6 | 3 | 24 | |
Subtotal | 63 | 0.70 | 0.046 | 440 | 29 | 35 | 24 | |
Scotia Dam | Indicated | 11 | 0.71 | 0.065 | 82 | 7 | 11 | 25 |
Inferred | 5 | 0.72 | 0.043 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 22 | |
Subtotal | 17 | 0.72 | 0.058 | 118 | 10 | 12 | 25 | |
Highway | Indicated | 71 | 0.70 | 0.038 | 491 | 27 | 19 | 27 |
Inferred | 21 | 0.67 | 0.040 | 142 | 8 | 3 | 26 | |
Subtotal | 92 | 0.69 | 0.038 | 633 | 35 | 22 | 26 | |
Siberia North | Indicated | 14 | 0.72 | 0.042 | 102 | 6 | - | - |
Inferred | 72 | 0.74 | 0.034 | 532 | 24 | - | - | |
Subtotal | 86 | 0.73 | 0.035 | 634 | 30 | - | - | |
Combined PFS Deposits | Measured | 18 | 0.94 | 0.085 | 172 | 15 | 18 | 40 |
Indicated | 267 | 0.70 | 0.044 | 1,867 | 118 | 126 | 23 | |
Inferred | 151 | 0.69 | 0.034 | 1,045 | 51 | 14 | 23 | |
Grand Total | 437 | 0.71 | 0.042 | 3,083 | 184 | 158 | 25 | |
Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding of appropriate significant figures. For more detail and explanatory discussion, see the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) Goongarrie Hub Subset in ASX release 30 June 2023. The Goongarrie Hub Mineral Resources shown in the above table for the Goongarrie South, Highway, Goongarrie Hill, Big Four, Scotia Dam and Siberia North deposits are inclusive of the Ore Reserves below on this page. |
Goongarrie Hub - Ore Reserve Estimate June 2023
Orelogy has developed an Ore Reserve estimate for the Goongarrie South, Big Four, Goongarrie Hill, Highway and Siberia North pits. The Ore Reserves were produced in accordance with the guidelines of the JORC Code 2012.
The KNP Goongarrie Hub Pre-feasibility Study Ore Reserve consists of ore above 0.5% Ni as the feed stock for the KNP processing facility, and ore as mineralised neutraliser above 0.5% Ni equivalent and LOI is above 25%. The following sections summarise the modifying factors applied to produce the Ore Reserve.
Ore >= 0.5% Ni | Ore > 0.5% NiEq and LOI > 25% | Total Ore | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deposit | Mt | Ni (%) | Co (%) | Ni (kt) | Co (kt) | Mt | Ni (%) | Co (%) | Ni (kt) | Co (kt) | Mt | Ni (%) | Co (%) | Ni (kt) | Co (kt) |
Proven | |||||||||||||||
Goongarrie South | 16.7 | 0.96 | 0.09 | 160 | 15 | 0.05 | 0.43 | 0.03 | 0.20 | 0.01 | 16.7 | 0.96 | 0.09 | 160 | 15 |
Sub-total | 16.7 | 0.96 | 0.09 | 160 | 15 | 0.0 | 0.43 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 16.7 | 0.96 | 0.09 | 160 | 15 |
Probable | |||||||||||||||
Big Four / Scotia Dam | 34.9 | 0.76 | 0.07 | 265 | 23 | 0.8 | 0.38 | 0.04 | 3 | 0 | 35.7 | 0.75 | 0.06 | 268 | 23 |
Goongarrie South | 33.6 | 0.79 | 0.07 | 265 | 23 | 1.8 | 0.40 | 0.03 | 7 | 1 | 35.4 | 0.77 | 0.07 | 272 | 24 |
Goongarrie Hill | 15.8 | 0.70 | 0.04 | 110 | 7 | 0.1 | 0.44 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | 15.9 | 0.70 | 0.04 | 111 | 7 |
Highway | 54.0 | 0.70 | 0.04 | 380 | 22 | 27.2 | 0.39 | 0.01 | 106 | 4 | 81.2 | 0.60 | 0.03 | 486 | 26 |
Siberia North | 9.2 | 0.74 | 0.05 | 68 | 4 | 9.2 | 0.74 | 0.05 | 68 | 4 | |||||
Sub-total | 147.4 | 0.74 | 0.05 | 1,087 | 79 | 29.9 | 0.39 | 0.02 | 117 | 5 | 177.4 | 0.68 | 0.05 | 1,204 | 84 |
TOTAL | |||||||||||||||
Big Four / Scotia Dam | 34.9 | 0.76 | 0.07 | 265 | 23 | 0.8 | 0.38 | 0.04 | 3 | 0 | 35.7 | 0.75 | 0.06 | 268 | 23 |
Goongarrie South | 50.2 | 0.85 | 0.08 | 425 | 38 | 1.9 | 0.40 | 0.03 | 7 | 1 | 52.1 | 0.83 | 0.07 | 432 | 39 |
Goongarrie Hill | 15.8 | 0.70 | 0.04 | 110 | 7 | 0.1 | 0.44 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | 15.9 | 0.70 | 0.04 | 111 | 7 |
Highway | 54.0 | 0.70 | 0.04 | 380 | 22 | 27.2 | 0.39 | 0.01 | 106 | 4 | 81.2 | 0.60 | 0.03 | 486 | 26 |
Siberia North | 9.2 | 0.74 | 0.05 | 68 | 4 | 9.2 | 0.74 | 0.05 | 68 | 4 | |||||
TOTAL | 164.1 | 0.76 | 0.06 | 1,247 | 94 | 30.0 | 0.39 | 0.02 | 117 | 5 | 194.1 | 0.70 | 0.05 | 1,365 | 99 |
Notes:
|
For full details and JORC table, see ASX release 5 July 2023.
Competent Persons Statement
The Resource Estimation, exploration and industry benchmarking summaries are based on information reviewed or compiled by Mr Ian Buchhorn, and Mr Andrew Penkethman. Mr Buchhorn is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Mr Penkethman is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Both Mr Buchhorn and Mr Penkethman are full-time employees of Ardea Resources Limited 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 a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Buchhorn and Mr Penkethman have reviewed this website and consent to the inclusion in this website of the information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Buchhorn and Mr Penkethman own Ardea shares.
Ardea wishes to clarify that its current Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) following JORC Code (2012) guidelines is:
Resource Category | Size (Mt) | Ni (%) | Co (%) | Contained Metal | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ni (kt) | Co (kt) | |||||
KNP TOTAL | Measured | 22 | 0.94 | 0.079 | 207 | 17 |
Indicated | 361 | 0.73 | 0.047 | 2,622 | 169 | |
Inferred | 471 | 0.70 | 0.043 | 3,272 | 200 | |
GRAND TOTAL | Combined | 854 | 0.71 | 0.045 | 6,101 | 386 |
Note: 0.5% nickel cutoff grade used to report resources. Minor discrepancies may occur due to rounding of appropriate significant figures. |
The Mineral Resource Estimate information referred to in this website has been previously released on the ASX platform by Ardea in ASX release 30 June 2023, in accordance with Listing Rule 5.8.
The Ore Reserve information referred to in this website has been previously released on the ASX platform by Ardea in ASX release 5 July 2023, in accordance with Listing Rule 5.9.
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the previous market announcements noted above and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resource Estimate and Ore Reserve in the previous market announcements continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons’ findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.
Previously Reported Information: The information in this website that references previously reported Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves results is extracted from the Company’s ASX market announcements released on the date noted in the body of the text where that reference appears. The previous market announcements are available to view on the Company’s website or on the ASX website (www.asx.com.au). The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person’s findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.