16 June 2003
Student wins scholarship to follow her dream
Following her passion was made a lot easier for Teagen Thomas when she received a scholarship to help her cooking studies at school this year.
Teagen was granted $1000 last year by the Central Goldfields Education Trust, which offers scholarships to Aboriginal students who are associated with the Central East and Central West claimant groups.
The project, funded by Heron Resources as part of a heritage agreement, aims to help students who show potential to become positive role models in the community. …
16 June 2003
Young Aboriginals to benefit
A new round of scholarships will be made available to Aboriginal students next semester.
The Central Goldfields Education Trust receives $20,000 a year from Heron Resources to distribute to worthy candidates associated with the Central West and Central East claimant groups.
The scholarships are part of a heritage agreement and 24 have been awarded in the past 18 months. …
12 June 2003
Heron spreads wings to Siberia
Laterite nickel believer Heron Resources had added further ground to its burgeoning portfolio by picking up ground in the Siberia region north of Kalgoorlie held by Centaur Mining & Exploration.
Heron is paying $160,000 to Centaur's liquidator for tenements previously estimated to contain 50.7 million tonnes grading 0.7% at Siberia Taipan and 17.4Mt at 0.7% nickel at Siberia Tank.
The Siberia area is 30km southwest of Heron's mainstay Goongarrie project.
Last month Heron acquired laterite prospects further to the north in the Menzies and Comet Vale areas from Golden State Resources for more than $400,000 in cash and shares.
The junior says it's been in ongoing talks with Anaconda Nickel, OM Group – owner of the Cawse nickel laterite project – and China's Jinchuan Group regarding development scenarios.
It also told the market that it has identified more than the minimum 100Mt needed – 4Mt per year for 25 years – it believes is needed for a standalone development, with the potential ore grading 1.2% nickel at a 1% leach feed grade cut-off.
However around 60,000m of RC drilling comprising 1500 holes is necessary to elevate the resource into the indicated category ahead of development.
To download article see www.miningnews.net
14 March 2003
Canadians agree on WA development
…In a separate announcement to the ASX Heron Resources Ltd announced today that it had entered into a Letter Agreement with LionOre Australia (Nickel) Limited whereby LionOre may earn a 70% interest in all minerals from Heron's Maggie Hays Project through expending $200,000 within four years.
Once LionOre earns its equity, Heron may at its sole discretion convert to a 20% free-carried equity to the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study that recommends commencement of mining.
It is expected that any nickel sulphide production from the Joint Venture Project will be toll treated on commercial terms at LionOre's Emily Ann Plant.
Heron has identified two high priority nickel sulphide targets within the Joint Venture Project, including an ElectroMagnetic anomaly located 5km southeast along strike from the Maggie Hays nickel sulphide deposit.
In addition, anomalous gold soil geochemistry over regional structural zones will also be targeted.
Heron has the right to assign its Joint Venture rights to its affiliated company Pioneer Nickel Limited, should Pioneer proceed to an IPO.
To download article see www.minebox.com
14 March 2003
LionOre to farm into Heron ground
Heron Resources has struck a deal with LionOre Mining International that will see LionOre earn a 70% interest in Heron's tenements near the Maggie Hays nickel sulphide deposit in Western Australia.
LionOre, which owns Maggie Hays and the nearby Emily Ann mine, can earn a 70% interest in the tenements by spending $200,000 within four years.
Heron can subsequently convert its 30% stake into a 20% free carried till completion of bankable feasibility recommending commencement of mining.
According to Heron, two high-priority targets have been generated, including an EM anomaly 5km southeast along strike from Maggie Hays.
Heron said it could assign its rights in this joint venture to affiliated company Pioneer Nickel should that company proceed to an IPO.
To download article see www.miningnews.net
17 February 2003
Heron to spin-off gold, base metal assets
Heron Resources has commenced the de-merger of its second spin-off this year, Regent Resources, which will contain its base metal and gold assets.
Nickel laterite-focused Heron said earlier this month it would vend its nickel sulphide assets into a new public company called Pioneer Nickel by mid-2003.
The de-mergers follow the same model as Heron's successful $7 million Avoca Resources float last year, which attracted South Africa's Gold Fields as a cornerstone investor.
The latest spin-off, Regent, was formed in April 2002 to hold Heron's non-nickel laterite assets, with the initial objective of acquiring nickel sulphide targets in the Yindarlgooda area of Western Australia.
But as well as acquiring the nickel sulphide ground, it also picked up significant volcanogenic massive sulphide base metals and gold targets.
Heron was approached late last year by an unnamed "experienced and successful Eastern Goldfields explorationist" to further develop the company. This person is now the managing director designate of Regent.
Regent's brief is to acquire, explore for and develop base metal and gold resources within Western Australia, as well as target advanced-stage mineral acquisition opportunities capable of producing a cash flow.
The projects Heron plans to transfer to Regent are associated with significant historical gold mining centres, controlled by substantial regional metallogenic structures.
These include the Bardon tectonic zone, which hosts several of WA's most significant gold deposits; the Yindarlooda Dome and related GMQ share zone/Emu fault, which is a bimodal volcanic rift setting, and the Mount Dimar/Bungalbin greenstone belt.
Heron will retain a priority right to process any nickel laterite or nickel sulphide ore on the tenements.
Heron is proposing that Regent's vendor shares issued to Heron be subsequently transferred to Heron shareholders on a pro-rata basis at no cost as an in specie share distribution.
Heron shares were down 0.5¢ at 41.5¢ in midday trade.
To download article see www.miningnews.net
3 February 2003
Article from the West Australian
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3 February 2003
Heron to float nickel sulphide assets
Laterite nickel focused Heron Resources is looking to vend its nickel sulphide assets into a new public company called Pioneer Nickel by mid-2003.
The new company will hold tenements contained within the Pioneer-Coolgardie ultramafic belt, with Heron's managing director Ian Buchhorn telling MiningNews.net the acquisition of an advanced stage project was also being looked at.
He said it was too early to name the management of Pioneer – "we're talking to a group of people" – and that the amount raised in an IPO would depend on whether an advanced project was picked up.
Heron's 46 sulphide nickel tenements cover 1003km² of ultramafic tenure, with the Pioneer prospect 115km south of Kalgoorlie and Acra, 111km north of Kalgoorlie, the current standouts.
Heron is also considering a spin-out of its base metal sulphide and gold assets into a new company called Regent Resources later this year, while further down the track Balladonia Energy could have an IPO based on its 2.6 billion tonne oil shale project on the Nullarbor Plain.
Last year Heron spun-out Avoca Resources, a successful $7 million IPO that attracted South African major Gold Fields as a cornerstone investor.
Meantime, Buchhorn will fly to China this month to meet with officials from Jinchuan Group regarding possible development of the Goongarrie nickel laterite project.
To download article see www.miningnews.net
1 February 2003
Article from the Kalgoorlie Miner
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31 January 2003
Heron de-merging nickel assets
Perth-based Heron Resources Ltd has commenced a de-merger to enable the "spinning off" of its Nickel Sulphide assets into a new public company, Pioneer Nickel Ltd.
Pioneer was incorporated on January 14, 2003, and is currently a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Heron.
Heron managing director Ian Buchhorn said: "Pioneer's aim is to acquire, explore for and develop Nickel Sulphide resources within the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia and that it will specifically target advanced stage Nickel Sulphide acquisition opportunities, to complement its existing exploration portfolio."
The Heron projects proposed for transfer to Pioneer are predominantly associated with the Ida Fault-Zuleika Shear Zone and its associated Pioneer-Coolgardie Ultramafic Belt. This ultramafic belt is characterised by several Nickel Sulphide occurrences. No significant Nickel laterite has been identified in Heron's exploration within the Pioneer-Coolgardie Ultramafic Belt, which is one rationale for Heron divesting the assets.
Buchhorn said: "Subject to the requirements of the Corporations Act and ASX regulations, and dependent upon project acquisition mechanisms, it is proposed that the Pioneer vendor shares issued to Heron will be subsequently transferred to Heron shareholders on a pro-rata basis at no cost as an in specie share distribution.
"It is proposed that Heron retains a priority right to process any Nickel Laterite or oxidised Nickel Sulphide ore located on the tenements to be transferred to Pioneer."
PullingerReadheadStewart has been retained as Corporate Advisor to the proposed de-merger, and Butler Settineri Securities Pty Ltd are Investigating Accountants for the Initial Public Offer.
To download article see www.minebox.com
29 January 2003
Heron to visit China for Goongarrie development talks
Heron Resources' North Kalgoorlie laterite nickel project appears to have taken some giant strides forward with today's announcement that the company is to have preliminary discussions in China with nickel major Jinchuan Group regarding potential development.
MiningNews.net understands Heron managing director Ian Buchhorn and chairman (and lawyer) Craig Readhead will next month meet with high-level Jinchuan officials – including the group's CEO – to consider producing 40,000t per annum of contained nickel in concentrate utilising a modified high pressure acid leach plant. The concentrate would be shipped to refining facilities in China.
MNN was unable to reach Buchhorn, but it is believed Heron will retain equity in any development.
Metallurgical specialist MPM holds the intellectual property associated with the planned modifications to the HPAL plant, and with Atomaer was involved in introducing Jinchuan to Heron's North Kalgoorlie project.
Late last year seven Jinchuan officials spent three or four days at the project collecting 150kg of samples to take back to China for further testwork.
Should Heron and Jinchuan reach agreement, a feasibility study taking six to 18 months is anticipated ahead of construction.
Heron has said previously 30,000m of RC drilling would be required to drill out the Goongarrie deposit on a 40m by 40m pattern to firm up the resource of 40 million tonnes grading 1.2% nickel needed for a 4Mt a year processing operation.
Today's announcement was made after the market closed. Heron shares last traded at 16.5 cents.
To download article see www.miningnews.net
15 January 2003
Article from the Kalgoorlie Miner
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13 January 2003
Nickel prices surge on shortfall fears
The price of nickel continues to surge higher on world markets on fears of a growing global shortfall in supply.
In London on Friday nickel closed at US$3.62 a pound, its highest for 27 months and up 11.7% since the start of 2003.
Nickel has now risen by 40% over the past 12 months, making it the strongest performer of any base metal. The next best is copper which is up by 15.8%, largely because of producer cutbacks rather than a fundamental change in the supply/demand equation which is what is driving nickel.
The International Nickel Study Group said in a report carried on Bloomberg news that it expects nickel supplies will be about 800 tonnes short of demand in 2003.
To download article see www.miningnews.net
7 January 2003
Article from the Kalgoorlie Miner
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