PERTH (miningweekly.com) - Nickel miner Western Areas has reported another quarter of record production for its Spotted Quoll underground mine, in Western Australia.
During the three months to December, the miner reported total combined mine production of 6 957 t of nickel in ore, with the Spotted Quoll operation achieving its highest quarterly tonnage of 2 577 t of nickel in ore. This was up from the 2 375 t delivered in the previous three months.
In addition, the Flying Fox mine produced some 4 380 t of nickel in ore.
Meanwhile, total nickel in concentrate produced from the Cosmic Boy mill reached 6 722 t during the three months under review, bringing the half-year total to 13 673 t of nickel, at a cash cost of A$2.69/lb.
Nickel sales during the quarter under review were also strong, with 6 829 t of nickel sold during the three months. This was down slightly from the 6 923 t sold in the previous quarter.
The concentrate stockpile at the Cosmic Boy mill now stood at some 5 164 t, at a grade of 14.2% nickel, containing some 733 t of nickel metal. Western Areas said on Monday that the balance of concentrate stockpiles was at the Esperence port.
A second offtake agreement with China’s Jinchuan, for 15 000 t of nickel, was on track for completion ahead of schedule, in January this year. The miner added that the tender process for the uncommitted nickel concentrate also started during the December quarter, and noted that a decision on the award of this tender would be made early in the March quarter.