Resource Mining Corporation (ASX:RMI) Awarded Commercialisation Grant for Organic Acid Leach Study

Perth, Dec 8, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Innovative Perth-based minerals explorer Resource Mining Corporation (ASX:RMI) has received advice from AusIndustry of success in being awarded a A$250,000 Commercialisation Australia grant from the Federal Government to provide proof of concept for its organic acid nickel recovery process.

The Commercialisation Australia grant will be used to fund work including commercial laboratory testing to refine the process to proof of concept, including the hydrometallurgical process of acid regeneration.

"The successful Commercialisation Australia grant application is recognition that the project has merit and is worthy of support," said Resource Mining Corporation Managing Director Warwick Davies.

The aim of the research is to develop proof of concept for an innovative organic leaching process the company has been applying to the unique tropical clay laterite structures that exist at its Wowo Gap nickel and cobalt deposit in Oro Province Papua New Guinea and for treating other siliceous nickel lateite orebodies.

"Commercialisation includes the recovery of the organic acid from the leachate after metal ions have been removed and once proof of concept has been achieved the next stage will be a scoping study leading to the construction of a pilot plant," said Mr Davies.

"The organic leaching process provides a more cost effective alternative to a standard high pressure acid leach process (HPAL) and the grant is especially important because it has the potential to change the project economics from a development perspective and be better for the environment," said Mr Davies.

About Resource Mining Corporation Limited: A Perth-based specialist mineral exploration company creating wealth from mineral commodities using innovative technical, marketing and financial skills as it explores for economic metal deposits in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The company has a strong commitment to sustainable development and aims to realize world class mineral opportunities through science-based innovation, expert environmental analysis and best practice community stakeholder engagement.

Contact

Warwick Davies Managing Director Ph: +61-8-9213-9400 M: +61-418-949-759 E: wd@resmin.com.au