Name and Location
Agata iron/nickel laterite project, Agusan del Norte province, Philippines.

Client
The Agata project is a joint venture (JV) of TVI Pacific and 75% owner, Edmonton-based Mindoro Resources.

Project Description
The Agata project has a measured and indicated resource of 33.9-million tonnes grading 1.1% nickel and an inferred resource of two-million tonnes at 1.04% nickel.

The iron/nickel laterite project is being advanced in two stages under the JV.

The JV partners intend to develop a near-term high-iron laterite direct shipping ore (DSO) operation and a limestone DSO operation.

Later in the project’s life, the JV partners plan to build a lime plant and a nickel processing plant, for which pilot testing is under way.

Value
The Agata project will require a capital investment of about $10.1-million.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
TVI has produced nickel hydroxide product at its pilot plant.

A pregnant leach solution was passed through a counter-current ion-exchange pilot plant that recovered about 99.3% of the nickel. After dewatering, the filter cake graded between 52% and 54% nickel, which validated the company’s process and established all design parameters for the full-scale plant. TVI also produced a mixed hydroxide product grading 36% nickel, which after a two-stage precipitation step, could be upgraded to a grade of more than 40% nickel.

The final stage of pilot plant operation will comprise treating the barren solution from the ion-exchange plant to produce a disposable effluent and to perform ecological tests for residues. This will be followed by a definitive feasibility study.

Meanwhile, the feasibility study on the DSO project is nearing completion and, subject to economic viability and final permitting, will lead to the start of a DSO operation in 2014.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Mindoror Resources, tel +1 780 413 8187, fax +1 403 290 8197 or email ir@mindoro.com.
TVI Pacific, tel +1 403 265 4356, fax +1 403 264 7028 or email tvi-info@tvipacific.com.