Thor Mining has a broad portfolio of assets in tungsten, molybdenum, copper, and other metals

By Deputy Chief EditorOctober 10, 2019

122 1 minute read

Consultants upped tungsten, molybdenum and copper estimates at Molyhil
Management has long track record of mining industry experience
Kapunda copper project looks amenable to in-situ extraction
Financing talks for Molyhil ongoing

What does Thor Mining do?

Thor Mining PLC (ASX:THR)(LON:THR) specialises in exploration and the development of base metals resources in Australia and the USA.

Its run by Mick Billing, a seasoned mining industry professional who has more than 40 years experience in resources and the resources finance business and who boasts extensive time at Western Mining on his CV.

What does Thor Mining own?

The key asset is the Molyhil tungsten and molybdenum project, which lies 220 kilometres east of Alice Springs.

The Molyhil deposit occurs in two adjacent skarn bodies that contain outcropping molybdenite and scheelite mineralisation. Since mid-2004 it has been the subject of systematic testwork comprising geophysical exploration, diamond and reverse circulation drilling programmes, surface and underground bulk sampling, metallurgical testwork and a geotechnical study.

A feasibility study revealed in August 2018 that the project is technically and economically viable, has a seven-year life, with strong financial returns and rapid capital payback.

In October, mining consultants RPM Global raised by 1.5% the total indicated and inferred estimate to 13,300 tonnes of tungsten trioxide, 6,800 tonnes of molybdenum, and 2,200 tonnes of copper.

Thor has also recently demonstrated the existence of a significant new tungsten deposit adjacent to Molyhil at the Bonya Samarkand prospect. The Bonya tenement is held jointly with Arafura Resources (ASX:ARU).

At the Desert Scheelite deposit on the Pilot Mountain project in Nevada, Thor now boasts a resource of 10.7mln tonnes of ore grading 0.26% WO3 (tungsten), with additional silver, zinc and copper.

In March, Thor agreed to to spin out its copper interests into a new vehicle, Enviro Copper, where it will take up to a 30% stake.

Enviro has rights for up to 75% of both the Kapunda copper project and the Moonta copper project.

Both projects are amenable to in-situ leaching (ISR).

"The developments in our ISR copper investments show tremendous promise as we look towards a, potentially quite large, ISR focussed copper business".