WHAT WE DO
Spotted Quoll
Spotted Quoll is Western Areas’ second mine and was discovered in October 2007, as a result of Western Areas ongoing investment in regional and near-mine exploration.
Spotted Quoll has high nickel grades also making it one of the world’s highest-grade nickel mines.
The Spotted Quoll orebody is open at depth with the mine currently planned to just over 1km below the surface. The primary stoping method is a ‘top-down’ mining method using long-hole open stoping with paste fill. The narrower and shallower areas are mined using top-down narrow vein techniques. Currently Spotted Quoll has a mine life exceeding six years, based on current reserves.
PRODUCTION STATISTICS
2018/2019 YTD Item Unit Sep Qtr Dec Qtr Mar Qtr Jun Qtr Total Total Ore Mined Tns 141,567 139,528 141,595 133,312 556,002 Mine Grade Ni % 4.1% 4.2% 4.3% 4.1% 4.2% Total Nickel Mined tonnes 5,868 5,851 6,066 5,423 23,208 Ore Processed (Milling/Concentrator) tonnes 156,706 154,517 146,935 152,329 610,487 Processed Grade Ni % 3.9% 4.0% 4.2% 4.0% 4.0% Average Mill Recovery % 89% 88% 88% 88% 88% Total Nickel in Concentrate Produced tonnes 5,379 5,415 5,448 5,433 21,675 Total Nickel Sold tonnes 5,018 5,386 5,189 5,890 21,483 Contained Nickel in stockpiles tonnes 4,820 4,413 4,510 3,317 Cash Cost Nickel in Concentrate A$/lb 2.99 3.15 2.82 2.96 2.98 Cash Cost Nickel in Concentrate US$/lb 2.19 2.26 2.01 2.07 2.13 Exchange Rate US$/A$ 0.73 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.72 Realised Nickel Price (before payability) A$/lb 7.91 7.01 8.31 7.66 7.72 2018/2019 YTD Tonnes Mined Sep Qtr Dec Qtr Mar Qtr Jun Qtr Total Flying Fox Ore Mined tonnes 58,699 59,309 56,386 57,213 231,607 Grade Ni % 4.0% 4.3% 4.5% 4.2% 4.2% Flying Fox Nickel Mined tonnes 2,330 2,574 2,550 2,381 9,835 Spotted Quoll Ore Mined tonnes 82,868 80,219 85,209 76,099 324,395 Grade Ni % 4.3% 4.1% 4.1% 4.0% 4.1% Spotted Quoll Nickel Mined tonnes 3,538 3,277 3,516 3,042 13,373 Total Ore Mined tonnes 141,567 139,528 141,595 133,312 556,002 Grade Ni % 4.1% 4.2% 4.3% 4.1% 4.2% Total Nickel Mined tonnes 5,868 5,851 6,066 5,423 23,208 2018/2019 YTD Tonnes Milled and Sold Sep Qtr Dec Qtr Mar Qtr Jun Qtr Total Total Milled Ore tonnes 156,706 154,517 146,935 152,329 610,487 Grade % 3.9% 4.0% 4.2% 4.0% 4.0% Average Recovery % 89% 88% 88% 88% 88% Total Nickel in Concentrate Produced (i) tonnes 5,379 5,415 5,448 5,433 21,675 Nickel in Concentrate Sold tonnes 5,018 5,386 5,189 5,890 21,483 2018/2019 Stockpiles Sep Qtr Dec Qtr Mar Qtr Jun Qtr Ore tonnes 118,549 101,455 96,114 77,098 Grade % 3.5% 3.7% 3.8% 3.8% Concentrate tonnes 4,462 4,093 5,481 2,390 Grade % 15.4% 15.6% 15.1% 15.1% Contained Nickel in Stockpiles tonnes 4,820 4,413 4,510 3,317 2018/2019 Financial Statistics Sep Qtr Dec Qtr Mar Qtr Jun Qtr YTD Group Production Cost/lb Mining Cost (*) A$/lb 2.24 2.38 2.11 2.24 2.24 Haulage A$/lb 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.07 0.07 Milling A$/lb 0.49 0.51 0.48 0.46 0.48 Admin A$/lb 0.22 0.22 0.20 0.22 0.22 By Product Credits A$/lb (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) (0.03) Cash Cost Ni in Con (***) A$/lb 2.99 3.15 2.82 2.96 2.98 Cash Cost Ni in Con/lb (***) US$/lb (**) 2.19 2.26 2.01 2.07 2.13 Exchange Rate US$ / A$ 0.73 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.72
