https://www.miningweekly.com

Berkut to explore World War-era base metals project in Sweden

26th July 2017

By: Mariaan Webb

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Australia’s Berkut Minerals has been granted a licence for an advanced, near-mine exploration opportunity in northern Sweden, the company announced on Wednesday.

Located on the north-west end of the Skellefteå mineral belt, the Lainejaur project includes an historic nickel, cobalt, copper mine, which was discovered in 1941 and which was brought into production to supply nickel for Sweden during World War II. When the mine closed at the end of the war in 1945, it had two shafts extending to 213 m below the surface and had produced 100 526 t of ore at 2.21% nickel, 0.1% cobalt and 0.93% copper.

The Lainejaur project was largely underexplored from 1945 to 2002, when a subsidiary of Toronto-based miner Lundin Mining secured the property before optioning it to Blackstone Minerals. Drilling by Blackstone in 2007 and 2008 culminated in the definition of a National Instrument 43-101-compliant inferred resource of 645 000 t at 1.33% nickel, 0.09% cobalt and 0.66% copper.

Berkut MD Neil Inwood said that the Lainejaur project could be tested by down-hole geophysics and drilling. “There is massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralisation open at depth in an untested extension up to 1.5 km in length. Additionally, our substantial landholding in the surrounding area will allow us to explore for repeats of the known mineralisation. Lainejaur is only 15 km from the industrial centre of Malå,” he added.

Berkut has two projects in southern Sweden – the Gladhammar and Tunaberg project, over a combined area of 300 ha. Both districts contain historic, cobalt-dominant mine workings from the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, untested by modern exploration methods.

Berkut is focusing on cobalt projects in Europe to tap into the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries, which use cobalt in their production.

Europe is positioning itself to be a leader in lithium-ion vehicle manufacture and use. The French government recently announcement that it would outlaw the sale of all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040. Vehicle manufacturer Volvo will offer electric options on its entire vehicle fleet by 2019.

Several lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities are currently under construction in a number of European countries.

Most of the world’s cobalt originates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but there are serious concerns about how cobalt is mined in that country. Public demand for ethically sourced tech materials is expected to increase, driving producers to seek supply from secure and stable jurisdictions.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.
Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.

ENVASS is a customer and solutions-driven environmental consultancy with established divisions, serviced by highly qualified and experienced...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Alco-Safe
Alco-Safe

An unmanned breathalyser that is made to be tough and simple to use. Can be used in any environment for operator-free breathalyser testing.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (15/03/2024)
15th March 2024 By: Martin Creamer
Gold, hydrogen, mining boost make headlines
Gold, hydrogen, mining boost make headlines
15th March 2024
Magazine round up | 15 March 2024
Magazine round up | 15 March 2024
15th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.067 0.098s - 90pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now