Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Production Start | ...  |
Mine Life | 18 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
Source:
p. 8, 12, 71,97
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.
Contractors
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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 ( ........

Summary:
The Rio Tuba mine site is located in Barangay Rio Tuba, municipality of Bataraza, in the southern tip of the province of Palawan. RTNMC exports saprolite and limonite ore, and provides limonite ore and non-mining services to the adjacent Coral Bay HPAL plant.
As one of the biggest nickel open pit mining sites in the Philippines, it has become Rio Tuba’s mission and goal to provide top quality end products to two of their biggest client countries which are China and Japan. After nickel is mined from an open pit, it goes through several phases of operation namely Saprolite Operation, Limonite Operation, and lastly, Gotok Limestone Operation. The company boasts of 5,200 hectares worth of mine sites but has only touched approximately 658.39 hectares of land for the past 35 years.
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:
Commodity | Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Saprolite
|
wmt
| ......  | ......  | ......  | 1,661,838 | 1,529,526 | 1,921,351 |
Limonite
|
wmt
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
All production numbers are expressed as ore.
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Ore tonnes mined
| ......  | ......  | 5,449,332 wmt | 5,085,208 wmt | 3,059,679 wmt | 3,244,322 wmt |
Waste
| ......  | ......  | 130,674 wmt | 409,609 wmt | 147,995 wmt | 129,316 wmt |
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Reserves at December 31, 2021:
Cut-off grades used to estimate Ore Resources are as follows: Saprolite: > 1.00% Ni,< 20.00% Fe; Limonite: > 20.00% Fe
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven & Probable
|
53,910 kdmt
|
Nickel
|
1.28 %
|
691.34 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
53,910 kdmt
|
Iron
|
25.6 %
|
13,803 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
57,064 kdmt
|
Nickel
|
1.32 %
|
756 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
57,064 kdmt
|
Iron
|
25.11 %
|
14,328 kt
|
Inferred
|
10,481 kdmt
|
Nickel
|
1.43 %
|
150 kt
|
Inferred
|
10,481 kdmt
|
Iron
|
16.11 %
|
1,689 kt
|
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