Key points
- The program was conducted aboard the RV Mt Mitchell over a contract area solely owned by Nautilus’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (TOML).
- Multibeam sonar mapped the bathymetry and distribution of polymetallic nodules containing nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese.
- An epi-benthic sled collected nodule samples for preliminary metallurgical test work, with data now being sorted and catalogued before assay.
- A 2013 resource estimate cited by Nautilus reported 410 million tons grading 1.2 per cent nickel, 1.1 per cent copper, 0.24 per cent cobalt and 27 per cent manganese over two-thirds of the TOML tenement.
Nautilus Minerals Inc. has completed a successful polymetallic nodule exploration program to the Clarion Clipperton zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean. The work was carried out over a contract area in the CCZ solely owned by Nautilus’s 100-per-cent-owned subsidiary Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (TOML).
The 54-day (Seattle to Seattle) program conducted aboard the RV Mt Mitchell vessel successfully used multibeam sonar to map the bathymetry and distribution of polymetallic nodules containing nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese, an important step for focusing future work to better defining the resource estimate(i) and to enable the commencement of engineering studies.
In addition, nodule samples were obtained using an epi-benthic sled, for preliminary metallurgical test work. The sample data are currently being sorted and catalogued before being sent for assay. Nautilus also undertook preliminary environmental observations at several sites in preparation for future studies.
Nautilus Minerals’ interim chief executive officer and TOML director, Mike Johnston, commented: “The completion of this successful exploration program represents a key step for us in advancing TOML’s CCZ project. The high-quality, detailed multibeam data is being interpreted to enable us to focus our next sampling program for the purpose of upgrading the resource estimate. Preliminary engineering studies and metallurgical testwork will commence on the data shortly.”
(i) Nimmo (2013): 410 million tons at 1.2 per cent Ni, 1.1 per cent Cu, 0.24 per cent Co and 27 per cent Mn over two-thirds of the TOML tenement (Abundance cut-off six wet kilograms per cubic metre). NI 43-101 technical report Clarion-Clipperton zone project, Pacific Ocean.
Qualified person
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Lowe, vice-president of strategic development and exploration of Nautilus. Mr. Lowe is a fellow and chartered professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has over 15 years experience in mining and exploration geology, and is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
