Miner eyes iron deposits in Yandera

GOOD progress was made on various aspects of the definitive feasibilty study (DFS) of Marengo Mining’s Yandera copper-molybdenum-gold prospect in the Bismarck Range of Madang, the company said in its June quarterly report.
The Perth-based company also announced that work was being undertaken to recover a magnetite iron concentrate at its exploration sites, several kilometres southwest of Ramu NiCo’s nickel-cobalt mine at Kurumukari in the Usino-Bundi district.
It said that the iron concentrate had been identified as potentially an additional economic product.
This was in addition to producing further samples for the recovery of copper and molybdenum sulphide concentrates.
Marengo Mining said during the June quarter, a number of the drill rigs located on site were utilised for geotechnical drilling of various proposed infrastructure sites around the project area, including proposed plant sites, waste rock dumps, offices, workshops, camp facilities and back-up power installations.
It also said that geotechnical drilling was being extended to proposed infrastructure sites in the Ramu and Imbrum valleys and coastal locations.
“Considerable time was spent undertaking additional reviews of the current resource model, a process which will continue up to the latter part of the year, as all additional drill results are fed into the model.
“The DFS continues to focus on developing a project with an initial operating life in excess of 20 years, with the focus on mining and processing identified higher grade zones early in the mining operation,” the report noted.
According to Marengo, preparations were made for the mobilisation of personnel and equipment to site for the start of an exploration passage, for the recovery of a bulk sample of material for additional metallurgical test-work.
It said that a bulk sample of some 50 tonnes would be shipped to Australia for test-work to establish processing parametres for the recovery of copper and molybdenum sulphide concentrates.
Site activity associated with the selection of hydroelectric power installations was started in the Imbrum Valley, near the project area.
“Shallow drilling and some trenching will be undertaken to test ground competency for the location of major items of equipment, including hydroelectric turbines.
“Work also continued on the waste management study being undertaken to focus on producing efficient waste management disposal methods, such as recycling and other forms of environmentally ac-ceptable waste management”.
Other activities carried out during the quarter included additional site inspections at the proposed near-coastal concentrator, access routes and airfield locations.