The RNO deposits are characteristic of nickel laterite deposits formed in tropical conditions (high rainfall and warm temperatures) of weathered and serpentinised olivine rich ultramafic rocks over long periods of time (greater than 1 million years - Golichtly, 1981). The high rain fall and warm temperatures increase the kinetics of the weathering process. The primary Ni content of these rocks is typically between 0.2 and 0.4%.

The Bandalup Ultramafics dominate the RNO area with a strike length of approximately 45 km and are typically between 500 m to 3000 m wide. The host rocks are comprised of a serpentinised (greenschist facies metamorphism) komatiite complex with rare interflow sedimentary units; the primary ultramafic rock was dunitic in composition. The serpentinite typically exhibits pseudomorphs of mesocumulate to accumulate olivine textures and secondary magnetite. The sequence has been altered in areas with overprinting carbonate rich rocks, mostly in the saprolite. The serpentinite sequence dips at about 50 degrees to the west. The Bandalup sequence is in turn bound by:
- Metabasalt and metadolerite members of the Maydon basalt; and
- Gneissic granitoids of monzogranodiorite to granodiorite composition.

The Shoemaker-Levy and Hale-Bopp Archean strata have been intruded by a series of stacked typically northeast trending sub-vertical Proterozoic dolerite dykes. The dykes are often associated with faulting. Late stage cross cutting dyk ........

RNO operates with conventional open cast mining using hydraulic excavators and mechanical drive haul trucks. RNO has fully equipped training facilities for operators and maintenance workshops on site. Waste is trucked onto waste dumps in the vicinity of the open pits or backfilled into the mined-out sections of the pit. Ore is directly tipped into the crusher, with allowance for some re-handling on the ROM stockpiles for blending and other operational reasons.

Future mining will be focused at Shoemaker-Levy over several phases starting in the south and progressively moving to the north. Mining commenced at Shoemaker-Levy in 2021 and ore is crushed at Shoemaker-Levy prior to being conveyed ~9.5 km overland to the existing processing facilities in order to minimise costs.

All planned mining activities take place in the three mining areas with the bulk of the remaining mining scheduled in Shoemaker-Levy. The current mining activities in the Shoemaker-Levy and Halleys deposits are conducted in the form of a conventional Drill/Blast and Load/Haul operation.

FQM has contracted Mining and Civil Australia (MACA), a mining contracting company based in Western
Australia, to undertake ore and waste mining at RNO under a five year, bcm rate based contract which includes drill and blast activities and management of the explosives supply. The contract has an option for extension however, FQM is also undertaking operational reviews that consider alter ........

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