Summary:
The Mount Edwards Nickel Project lies predominantly within the Coolgardie Domain on the western margin of the Kalgoorlie Terrane in the Norseman-Wiluna Greenstone Belt of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia.
The characteristic stratigraphy of the Kalgoorlie Terrane consists of a lower basalt unit overlain by komatiite, which is in turn overlain by an upper basalt unit. This mafic-ultramafic succession, referred to as the Coolgardie Group, is overlain by a unit of felsic volcanic and sedimentary rocks, the Black Flag Group that is found to the east of the Project area. The stratigraphic sequence within the Coolgardie Domain is inferred to be a continuation of the Kambalda stratigraphy.
The greenstone sequence has been subdivided into six (6) stratigraphic units. Four (4) phases of deformation have been recognised in the Widgiemooltha mining district and surrounding areas comprised of an early phase of D1 recumbent folding and thrusting followed by a transpressional regime with large scale, upright open folding (D2), sinistral, strikeslip D3 faulting (with associated enechelon folds) and prolonged ENE to WSW regional shortening (D4).
The area also hosts significant felsic intrusive units containing lithium mineralisation throughout the Coolgardie Greenstone Domain.
Widgie Townsite (WTS) is a steeply east-dipping (~75°) nickel sulphide deposit that plunges south and comprises two mineable north–south striking lenses with strike lengths up to ~300 m. Mineralisation is predominantly disseminated nickel sulphide, with mineable horizontal widths of ~5–20 m. The primary sulphide zone begins at ~80 m below surface (~320 mRL) and extends to ~520 m below surface, remaining open at depth and currently constrained by drilling. The main lens typically lies ~10–20 m off the basalt–ultramafic contact, while the southern lens is hosted within ultramafics.
Gillett is a steeply west-dipping (~85°) nickel sulphide system extending over ~1,450 m strike, with mineable widths of ~3–15 m and predominantly disseminated sulphides. The primary sulphide zone starts at ~150 m below surface (~350 mRL) and extends to ~420 m below surface, remaining open at depth and along strike and constrained by drilling. The deposit comprises two north–south striking lenses separated by ~15 m; the main lens commonly sits ~10–20 m off the basalt–ultramafic contact, with a minor western lens locally on the basalt contact.
Widgie 3 is a near-vertical nickel sulphide deposit extending over ~320 m strike, with mineable widths of ~3–12 m and matrix to disseminated sulphide mineralisation. The primary sulphide zone starts at ~60 m below surface (~330 mRL) and extends to ~420 m below surface, remaining open at depth. Mineralisation occurs as a single lens located on the basalt–ultramafic contact, with a small splay at the southern end that may expand with further drilling.
Armstrong dips moderately to the south-west (~55°) and plunges north, with mineable widths of ~1.5–25 m and a strike length of ~250 m. The orebody starts near the base of the current open pit (~230 mRL) and extends to ~0 mRL at depth, where it terminates against a large granite intrusion. Mineralisation occurs in a single NW–SE striking lens largely along the basalt–ultramafic contact, with a felsic dyke and major faults intersecting the northern end.
132N is a near-vertical nickel sulphide system that plunges north and extends over ~220 m strike, with mineable widths of ~2–10 m. The orebody begins near the base of the current open pit (~300 mRL) and extends to ~50 mRL at depth, remaining open at depth and potentially continuing down-plunge within a mineralised ultramafic syncline. The deposit comprises multiple north–south striking lenses generally located on the basalt–ultramafic contact, with local high-grade channel structures developed within the basalt.
Commodity Production
The Nickel concentrate product will contain payable quantities of copper, cobalt and palladium.
| Commodity | Product | Units | Avg. Annual | LOM |
|
Nickel
|
Metal in concentrate
|
kt
| 10 * | 62 * |
|
Nickel
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| 103 * | 617 * |
* According to 2024 study.