Rio Tinto announced the maiden Inferred Mineral Resource at its Winu copper-gold project. The company added that the discovery of a new zone dominant in gold mineral is located east of the Winu deposit in Paterson, West Australia. It is targeting the first production from Winu in 2023, subject to approvals.
The company added that the Inferred Mineral Resource, reported at a 0.2pc copper equivalent cut-off, is 503mt at 0.45pc copper equivalent. The mineral resource zone includes a higher-grade component of 188mt at 0.68pc CuEq at a cut-off grade of 0.45pc CuEq.
Rio Tinto management shared that the Paterson region can be developed further through owned as well joint ventures and the company has carried out exploration activity in only 2pc of Rio Tinto Tenements.
The copper mineralisation can be done through shallow open pit mine, revealed the study.
The Winu project team is working with local Nyangumarta and Martu traditional owners and regulators in order to obtain agreements and approvals necessary for future development.