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Making its mark in stone

Blackstone Minerals Ltd managing director Scott Williamson
was certain nickel was the space for the company to be in
when 2019 started.

Twelve months ago, the Blackstone portfolio spanned the steel production and while that sector still drives demand, the
early-stage Silver Swan South gold-nickel project, Kalgoorlie battery revolution has provided dormant nickel companies with a
and Middle Creek (gold) and cobalt-gold assets in BC, Canada. heart starter and given projects like Ta Khoa another chance.
However, the entwined grapevine that is the Australian mining Given Ta Khoa’s location, 160km west of Hanoi in the Son La
sector turned a casual conversation with a former colleague province, and the fact that it was previously housed in the
– Evan Spencer, who was behind Asian Mineral Resources Canadian-domiciled AMR, Australian interest in the project has
(AMR) – into an opportunity the ever-alert Williamson hadn’t only been piqued since Blackstone’s acquisition in mid-2019.
previously considered.
Enthusiasm in Ban Phuc has since quickly grown with eight
“At the start of the year we were looking at moving into nickel, but different broking firms visiting site since June and Williamson
we definitely weren’t focused on Asia. It wasn’t until I had a chat returning for a sixth time since then at the time of print.
with Evan that I started having a particular focus on this asset,” Upon arrival, Williamson will be met with four drill rigs at Ban Phuc
Williamson said.
where a maiden resource, followed by a reserve, is the aim in the
The asset in question is Ta Khoa, northern Vietnam, which was next six months.
last run by Spencer’s AMR as a modern mechanised operation
Confidence in the disseminated material appears to be growing
producing 975,000t @ 2.4% nickel and 1% copper for 20,700t
with every drill metre for Blackstone, with highlights from maiden
nickel and 10,100t copper between 2013-2016 from a narrow vein
drilling including: 22m @ 0.76% nickel, 0.13% copper, 0.01% cobalt
massive sulphide deposit at Ban Phuc.
and 0.4 g/t PGE from 138m; 17.8m @ 1% nickel, 0.09% copper,
Nickel followers would know that the industry was on its knees 0.01% cobalt and 0.74 g/t PGE from 106.6m; 45.5m @ 1.2% nickel,
during Ban Phuc’s previous existence, with few companies 0.17% copper, 0.01% cobalt and 0.35 g/t PGE from 56.5m; 27.7m
prevailing from that period unscathed. @ 0.88% nickel, 0.09% copper, 0.01% cobalt and 0.74 g/t PGE from
Back then the industry was consumed by nickel’s use in stainless 101m; 29.4m @ 1% nickel, 0.12% copper, 0.02% cobalt and 0.6
Company:
Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX)
Suite 3, L3 24 Outram Street,
West Perth WA 6005
Phone: +61 8 9425 5217
Fax:+61 8 6500 9982

Key personnel:
Hamish Halliday (non-executive
chairman), Scott Williamson
(managing director), Andrew
Radonjic (technical director), Steve
Parsons (non-executive director),
Michael Naylor and Jamie Byrde
(joint company secretaries), Dr Stuart
Owen (exploration manager)

@blackstone_BSX
@blackstoneminerals
Blackstone Minerals