RMC nails estimate of Wowo Gap resource

By FRANK ASAELI
RESOURCE Mining Corp (RMC) has completed the nickel limonite and saprolite resource estimation for the Wowo Gap nickel-copper project in Oro province
The inferred JORC compliant resource estimate quoted to the appropriate level of precision is 200 million tonnes, nickel at 0.83% and copper at 0.07% representing 1.7 million tonnes of contained nickel.
Executive director Warwick Davies said last Monday this represented a significant volume increase from the 2006 resource estimate following the completion of 83km of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and 47 diamond drill holes last year.
He said the job successfully defined the depth extent of the limonite and saprolite profiles within the mineral resource.
The resource estimate was accomplished using a lower cut-off grade of 0.5% nickel and a dry bulk density of 1.5t/m3.
The decrease in the nickel grade in comparison to the 2006 estimate was primarily due to the lower cut-off used but also the inclusion of the core stones in this resource estimate.
Mr Davies said the grade from the 2006 estimate was calculated from the soft saprolite and limonite material only.
Core stones are boulders of unweathered ultramafic rock which are common within the saprolite profile and typically range in grade between 0.25% to 0.35% nickel.
The estimated volume of core stones within the lateritic profile is 36%, based on geological logging of the diamond core.
The resource for Wowo Gap has been estimated using 14 GPR profiles spaced on 400m line across the resource area.
A mineral resource ore block model has also been developed from the topography, limonite and saprolite surfaces as interpreted from the GPR profiles.
The block model has defined a high grade zone towards the base of the hill with a strike length of approximately 3km and nickel grade over 1.2%.
There is estimated 40 million tonnes of ore within this pod, which will be the priority area for infill diamond drilling and GPR this year.
RMC representatives will meet the members of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) in Port Moresby today regarding the renewal of the exploration licence for Tenement EL 1165.