NAN gets permit for Storliden

A Swedish company owned 38% each by Boliden (BOL-T) and South Atlantic Resources (SCQ-V) has received a permit to mine the Storliden copper-zinc deposit, near the town of Mala in the Skelleftea mining district of northern Sweden.

A prefeasibility study is attempting to establish optimum mining and processing methods. The deposit has been tested by 74 drill holes totalling 12,370 metres, which resulted in a resource of 1.8 million tonnes averaging 19% zinc and 4% copper, plus 0.28 gram gold and 28 grams silver per tonne.

Once the prefeasibility study is completed this month, the project will advance to feasibility, which will include underground development. An environmental permit is required before construction can begin, and a hearing to obtain this will be held in May. Annual production is expected to average 25,000 tonnes zinc and 11,000 tonnes copper over a 6-year mine life.