COMPANY BACKGROUND
The company was listed on the ASX in September 2001 (as West Musgrave Mining Ltd), after raising $3.5 million via a prospectus, with a geographic focus on projects in the prospective West Musgrave region of Western Australia located 1,300 km north east of Perth.
In March 2003 the Company announced the expansion of its activities into the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia with the acquisition of the Blair nickel sulphide mine, located 35 km north of Kambalda, in the heart of Western Australia's main nickel sulphide province. This was closely followed in May 2003 with the announcement of the acquisition from St Ives gold Mining Company Pty Ltof a 95 km2 package of highly prospective tenements surrounding the Blair mine d. A new ore shoot (Area 57) was subsequently delineated in diamond drilling of a high grade massive sulphide target close to the existing Blair underground decline, and underground development of the stage 1 mine commenced in early December 2003.
The mine has now produced 104,000 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2.98% for a total of 3,084 contained nickel tonnes.
The company has also been actively seeking other opportunities. Nickel exploration is being undertaken by Pioneer Nickel which is earning 51% by spending $2.25 million. As well as this, Duplex Hill South is also being explored with some success and expects to be mining gold in the near future. Other potential acquisitions are regularly being considered by the company.
BOARD & EXECUTIVES
The company has attracted a strong, committed team of experienced professionals to oversee the attainment of the Company's principal goal of the discovery and development of profitable mining operations for the benefit of its shareholders. There is a balanced skill set within the Board which mainly comprises non-executive Directors.
The company's exploration team comprises well-focused and experienced geoscientists with an excellent track record, supervised by Ernie Poole.