Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Pressure Acid Leach (PAL)
- Atmospheric Leach (AL)
- Counter current decantation (CCD)
|
Mine Life | 30 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
RNO was placed on care and maintenance in October 2017 due to the continuing low nickel price. During 2019 work began towards the restart of operations at RNO and nickel production activities recommenced during Q1 2020, with the ramp up to full production levels expected during Q2 2020. |
Latest News | SIMPEC secures inaugural First Quantum contract December 15, 2020 |
Source:
p. 8, 57
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. is the 100% owner of the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations. The Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation’s mineral rights are primarily held by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, FQM Australia Nickel Pty Ltd.
Summary:
Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations (RNO) consists of several discrete nickel laterite deposits.
The mineral resources defined at the Halley's, Hale-Bopp, Shoemaker-Levy, Nindilbillup and Shoemaker-Levy North nickel laterite deposits have developed over Archaean ultramafic rocks through prolonged deep weathering. Sub-horizontal tabular zones containing residual and supergene accumulations of nickel, cobalt, manganese and iron have developed in association with extensive leaching of principally magnesium.
The majority of nickel mineralisation in the RNO deposits is hosted in the goethite/limonite zone, whilst the upper levels of the saprolite zone is also commonly well mineralised. In all RNO deposits, nickel mineralisation forms as a blanket beneath barren surface units whilst cobalt mineralisation occurs mainly in a narrow zone generally towards the top of the nickelenrichment zone in association with manganese accumulation. It is often centred around the redox boundary in the limonite zone, recognised by an accumulation of manganese enrichment.
Summary:
Operations at Ravensthorpe involve open pit mining and beneficiation of nickel laterite ore.
All mining activities will take place in the three mining areas, each of which has been split into smaller stages. The current mining activities in Halleys involve a conventional Drill/Blast and Load/Haul operation. There is up to 40% free diggable ore and waste to be mined over the life of mine. All remaining ore and waste requires drilling and blasting.
The mining contractor mobilized and commenced mine production early in the first quarter of 2020. On the process plant, commissioning works and recruitment of operations personnel are planned to continue to ramp up ahead of expected first nickel and cobalt production during the quarter. The first two shipments of sulphur, a critical process reagent, were received in January 2020.[12.31.2019 MDA, p. 27]
Processing
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Pressure Acid Leach (PAL)
- Atmospheric Leach (AL)
- Counter current decantation (CCD)
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Beneficiation
Nickel and cobalt values are enriched in the fines fractions of both the limonite and Saprolite ores, and the beneficiation process consists of rejecting the principally siliceous coarse fractions using conventional wet ore sizing equipment. Typical mass rejections of 60-70% are achieved at a nominal nickel recovery of 60-65%.
Crushed ore to each Beneficiation circuit is recovered from its respective reclaimer stockpile. Both feeds direct the crushed ore to a drum scrubber, where loose ore agglomerates are broken up and dispersed, and any loosely attached mineralisation is scrubbed from the siliceous gangue. The scrubber product is treated through a combination of screening and hydraulic classification to recover the nickel and cobalt values, which are now concentrated in the -100µ fraction. The +100µ material is discarded to a reject stream which is mechanically transported to a dump.
Limonite beneficiated products are treated through Pressure ........

Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Nickel
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
Nickel
|
Head Grade, %
| 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Nickel
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| ......  | ......  | ......  | | |
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Production:
Commodity | Product | Units | 2020 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Nickel
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| ...... ^ | 17,837 | 23,624 | 26,667 |
Nickel
|
Concentrate
|
t
| | 78,097 | 100,059 | 112,766 |
^ Guidance / Forecast.
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Ore tonnes mined
| ......  | 9,160 kt | 8,272 kt | | |
Waste
| ......  | 4,970 kt | 4,588 kt | | |
Stripping / waste ratio
| ......  | 0.54 | 0.55 | | |
Tonnes processed
| ......  | 2,510 kt | 2,334 kt | 3,128 kt | 3,119 kt |
Reserves at December 31, 2019:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven
|
81.8 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.63 %
|
Proven
|
81.8 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.03 %
|
Proven
|
81.8 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
6.27 %
|
Probable
|
115.4 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.58 %
|
Probable
|
115.4 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.03 %
|
Probable
|
115.4 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
5.18 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
197.2 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.6 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
197.2 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.03 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
197.2 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
5.63 %
|
Measured
|
74.2 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.62 %
|
Measured
|
74.2 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.03 %
|
Measured
|
74.2 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
5.77 %
|
Indicated
|
141.9 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.58 %
|
Indicated
|
141.9 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.03 %
|
Indicated
|
141.9 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
5.97 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
216.1 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.59 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
216.1 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.03 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
216.1 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
5.9 %
|
Inferred
|
110 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.52 %
|
Inferred
|
110 Mt
|
Cobalt
|
0.02 %
|
Inferred
|
110 Mt
|
Magnesium
|
8.89 %
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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News:
Aerial view:
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