PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The ore reserve estimate for the Wickepin kaolin project, in Western Australia, has more than doubled.
ASX-listed WA Kaolin on Tuesday reported that the project’s ore reserve was now estimated at 64.99-million tonnes, an increase of 113% on the previously reported ore reserve, with the project’s mine life now estimated at 73 years.
The project’s mineral resource estimate stands at 643-million tonnes.
“This ore reserve upgrade more than doubles our Wickepin kaolin deposit making it the largest known primary kaolin deposit in the world,” said WA Kaolin CEO Andrew Sorensen.
“This massive resource now supports a 73-year mine life, proving that it will be a multi-generation project, and provides confidence as we progress our production ramp-up to Stage 1 nameplate capacity of 200 000 t/y and look towards doubling production capacity in Stage 2.”