JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Sundance Resources has upgraded a substantial portion of its mineral resource at the Mbalam iron-ore project, in Cameroon, from inferred to indicated.

“This upgrade represents another important milestone for the Mbalam project, highlighting the size and quality of the iron-ore resource supporting our proposed development of a world-scale, long-life project,” said Sundance MD Don Lewis.

The latest resource modelling has defined a combined indicated resource of 1,6-billion tons, comprising 169-million tons of high-grade hematite at 60,5% iron and 1, 43-billion tons of itabirite hematite at 38% iron.

This formed part of the overall joint-ore reserves committee code compliant resource, defined on exploration permit 92, which totals a combined indicated and inferred resource of 2,5-billion tons, comprising 215-million tons of high-grade hematite at 60,2% iron, and 2,33-billion tons of itabirite hematite.

“The high conversion of resources from inferred to indicated category demonstrates the quality of our resource definition drilling programme, and will give confidence to potential strategic partners evaluating the Mbalam project,” Lewis added.

The company stated that its development plan assumed start-up production of direct shipping ore (DSO) quality hematite from grade-blending of material sourced from the Mbarga, Mbarga South and Metzimevin deposits on exploration permit 92 in Cameroon and from the Nabeba deposit on research permit 92 in the Republic of Congo.

The Nabeba deposit, which is located about 42 km to the south of the Mbarga deposit, has the potential to be an additional source of high-grade hematite. Sundance has defined an exploration target of between 100-million and 250-million tons at between 55% and 65% iron for the deposit.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.