Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) has confirmed the potential to capture economically ‘significant’ volumes of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) at its Mulga Tank Project in Western Australia.
The $16.65 million market capitalisation company says powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) results from 13 samples gathered from the nickel-copper-platinum group element (Ni-Cu-PGE) project demonstrate up to 8% brucite and up to 12% hydrotalcite group minerals.
These minerals have been implicated in the passive sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in mine tailings at several locations worldwide, and more specifically, tailings from giant, dunite-hosted Mt Keith nickel deposit in Western Australia.
Further mineral characterisation work, as well as other studies designed to help the company understand the potential of the Mulga Tank Ultramafic Complex, will continue in parallel with ongoing exploration.
Western Mines reports although only a small group of samples were analysed, the results demonstrate that the mineralogy of the Mulga Tank Ultramafic Complex contains critical components that could partially or entirely mitigate the output of atmospheric CO2 generated in future mining activities.
The presence of both brucite and hydrotalcite group minerals may result in tailings generated through a conventional crush, grind, and flotation processing route being amenable to relatively rapid sequestration of carbon through carbon mineralisation processes.
Western Mines believes this could ‘significantly’ enhance the ‘green’ credentials of the project by producing NetZero Carbon Nickel along with the possibility of a carbon credit by-product revenue stream.
Commenting on the test results, Western Mines Group Managing Director Caedmon Marriott says: “Our Technical Director, Dr Ben Grguric, continues to lead and investigate further studies to enhance our understanding of the Mulga Tank Complex.
“This reconnaissance mineralogical work opens an interesting angle in the significant carbon capture potential of the project“
This reconnaissance mineralogical work opens an interesting angle in the significant carbon capture potential of the project, greatly enhancing the green credentials and also the potential economics of the project. This and other technical studies will continue in parallel with our ongoing field exploration activities.”
Western Mines Group is a gold and nickel explorer focused on the discovery of ‘high-value’ gold and nickel sulphide deposits across a portfolio of ‘highly prospective’ projects located on major mineral belts in Western Australia.
The company’s Mulga Tank project represents Western Mines’ flagship asset and is located within an ‘overlooked’ portion of the eastern Yilgarn Craton.
Western Mines Group had $3.272 million cash and cash equivalents at hand as of 30 June 2023, according to its latest quarterly report.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Mines Group
