Resource Mining Corporation Limited (ASX:RMI) Announces Efficiency Improvements for Organic Acid Leach Process

Perth, Feb 15, 2012 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Further leaching efficiency has been achieved for Resource Mining Corporation's (ASX:RMI) new green-tech nickel recovery process as latest test work continues to optimize the leaching parameters.

Recent test work has further optimized the organic acid leaching process, which has achieved nickel extraction of up to 98% from the saprolite material after less than 30 minutes. The test work on the limonite material confirms previous work with leach extractions of up to 80% after 90 minutes.

Comparison between Leach Extraction Results

Limonite
July 2011 Leach Extraction Results: Up to 80% Ni in 1 1/2 hours
Updated Leach Extraction Results: Up to 80% Ni in 1 1/2 hours

Saprolite
July 2011 Leach Extraction Results: Up to 85% Ni in 4 hours
Updated Leach Extraction Results: 98% Ni in less than 1/2 hour

The key optimization parameters determined in the latest test work related to residence time and temperature.

"The relatively short leaching time has the potential to require a significantly smaller processing plant and higher throughput compared to a traditional inorganic acid plant and this is likely to improve the cost dynamics for tropical nickel laterite deposits considerably," said Resource Mining Corporation Managing Director Warwick Davies.

Downstream processing testwork programs to recover the nickel and cobalt from leached slurries have commenced with initial results expected in April.

Contact

Warwick Davies Managing Director Phone: +61-8-9213-9400 Mobile: +61-418-949-759 Email: wd@resmin.com.au