Metals One (AIM: MET1), which is advancing strategic minerals projects in Finland and Norway, announces it has awarded the contract to undertake a formal Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) for the Finland – Black Schist Ni-Cu-Co-Zn Project (“Black Schist Project”) to Wardell Armstrong International (“WAI”), part of Wardell Armstrong LLP, a long-established, independent British engineering and environmental consultancy.
WAI will commence work immediately and the PEA is expected to be completed by November 2024.
The primary aim of the PEA is to evaluate the economic viability of the Black Schist Project based on the “R1” (28.1Mt at 0.19% Ni, 0.10% Cu, 0.01% Co, and 0.38% Zn) and “P5” (29 Mt at 0.18% Ni, 0.08% Cu, 0.01% Co, and 0.33% Zn) resources, and to establish an economic concept.
The PEA will deliver an early level study that includes an economic analysis of the potential viability of mineral resources and the preliminary evaluation of the Black Schist Project. The results of the PEA are expected to identify:
· Probable mining and processing schemes
· Technical parameters requiring additional examination or test work
· General features and parameters
· Capital and operating cost estimates
The PEA report is expected to form the basis of the Company’s application for Strategic Project status under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and therefore the project will be classified according to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources.
Jonathan Owen, Chief Executive Officer of Metals One, commented:
“Having delivered a doubling of the Black Schist Project resource earlier this year, we have now moved into the economic assessment phase as a precursor to project development. We are delighted to be working with Wardell Armstrong International to deliver this hugely important milestone on our roadmap to commercial production. Having considered a range of proposals, we determined that WAI was best suited to the mandate, in particular due to its relevant experience working on the Talvivaara project, operated by Terrafame, which produces critical technology minerals from the same type of ore being pursued by Metals One in the same region of Finland.
Crucially, this PEA work will also underpin Metals One’s application for EU Strategic Project status which, in turn, we expect will open up development funding and permit fast-tracking opportunities.”
Background to the Black Schist Project
The Black Schist Project includes the Rautavaara (R1) and Paltamo (P5) deposits which are located in the Northern Savonia (Rautavaara) and Kainuu (Paltamo) regions of eastern Finland. The regional mining and processing centre at Sotkamo lies between the two project areas approximately 90 km north of Rautavaara and 50 km south of Paltamo. The regional city centre of Kuopio (population c. 120,000) lies approximately 100 km south of Rautavaara, while Oulu (population c. 210,000) lies approximately 145 km northwest of Paltamo.
The Paleoproterozoic Kainuu Schist Belt, and the correlated North Karelia Schist Belt to the southeast, are important economically as they are the host sequences to the Terrafame and Outokumpu mines, respectively. The primary exploration model that Metals One is pursuing at the Black Schist Project is for Talvivaara-style shale-hosted nickel-zinc-copper-cobalt deposits. Metals One is also open to exploration for Outokumpu-style copper-cobalt-zinc-nickel volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits. Both deposit styles, exemplified by their namesake major mines, are somewhat unique to Finland.
Enquiries:
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Metals One Plc Jonathan Owen, Chief Executive Officer |
via Vigo Consulting +44 (0)20 7390 0234 |
