Mining Intelligence and News
Philippines

Rio Tuba Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Nickel
  • Iron Ore
  • Saprolite
  • Limonite
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotThe Rio Tuba mine produces direct shipping saprolite ore and limonite ore.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sojitz Corp. 4 % Indirect
PAMCO, Inc. 36 % Indirect
Nickel Asia Corp. 60 % Indirect
Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (operator) 100 % Direct
The Rio Tuba mine is operated by Rio Tuba Nickel (RTN) Mining Corporation. RTN is a 60% owned subsidiary of the Nickel Asia Corp.

PAMCO owns 36% and Sojitz owns 4% of the outstanding shares in the capital stock of RTN.

Deposit type

  • Laterite

Summary:

The targeted deposit type for all projects is tropical (wet) lateritic nickel and cobalt. Particular emphasis is placed on the definition of reasonable thicknesses (i.e. >4m) of (garnieritic) saprolite.

This style of mineralisation is best developed in areas of moderate topographic gradient over olivine-rich ultramafic cumulates; particularly in areas of relatively higher bedrock fracture density.

Vertical zonation within nickeliferous laterite is distinct, with nickel content generally increasing with depth. Garnierite, the principal saprolite nickel host mineral, is a variety of serpentine, a silicate mineral developed below base of total oxidation in the weathering profile. Overprinted on the saprolite is an iron oxide zone of massive, microscopic scale goethite (limonite) needles termed “ferralite”. This zone is characterized by higher iron and manganese and lower magnesium content than the saprolite (garnierite) horizon. The presence of higher proportions of manganese oxides (“asbolite”) can frequently result in bonanza grades of cobalt (up to 3% locally), which readily incorporates into the asbolite crystal structure. Nickel content is generally lower than in the saprolite.

Geology:
- The nickeliferous laterite deposit at Rio Tuba was formed by the in-situ weathering of the ultramafic rocks. High moisture content and the occurrence of boulders and hard saprolite that hold 2% and above nickel are its outstanding characteristics (Hirai, et al., 1987);
- Practically, there is no active fault in Palawan, and there is no threat from faulting or fault ruptures, and local earthquakes;
- The steep slopes in the project site are occasionally affected by landslides while the rivers are flooded during the seasonal monsoon and typhoons, although debris flows have not been documented; and
- No active tectonic features are present on this region. No active faults and volcanoes are found in the region. Very rare occurrence of earthquakes is observed in Palawan, and these have magnitudes of only 5 or lower.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

Summary:

Nickel Asia Corp is also the exclusive supplier of limonite ore from its Rio Tuba mine to the Coral Bay plant, the country’s first hydrometallurgical nickel processing plant owned by Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC), where NAC has a 10% equity interest.

Production

CommodityUnits20222021202020192018201720162015
Saprolite wmt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,276,5141,661,8381,529,5261,921,3512,367,548
Limonite wmt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe4,172,8183,423,3701,530,1531,322,9711,094,426
All production numbers are expressed as ore.

Operational metrics

Metrics20222021202020192018201720162015
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe5,449,332 wmt5,085,208 wmt3,059,679 wmt3,244,322 wmt3,461,974 wmt
Waste  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe130,674 wmt409,609 wmt147,995 wmt129,316 wmt
Total tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Financials

Units20222021202020192018
Capital expenditures M PHP  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 0.11   0.2  
Revenue M PHP  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 3.3   4.4  
Operating Income M PHP  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1.1   1.7  
After-tax Income M PHP  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 0.9   1.5  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 12, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 12, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 12, 2024

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2019

Aerial view:

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