Who else is going to bring you a Broken Hammer? (January 02, 2006)

Sudbury-based explorer Wallbridge Mining (WM-T, WLBMF-O) has unveiled the first resource estimate for the Broken Hammer polymetallic zone at its Wisner property, a 64/36 joint venture with Falconbridge (FAL.LV-T, FAL-N) in Ontario’s Sudbury basin.

As calculated by consultants Roscoe Postle Associates, the Broken Hammer zone contains an inferred resource of 251,000 tonnes grading 1.56 grams palladium per tonne, 1.62 grams platinum per tonne, 0.61 gram gold per tonne, 1% copper and 0.1% nickel.

RPA recommends that the partners take a bulk sample from the deposit to confirm the estimate and determine the density of sampling that would be required to upgrade the resource classification.

Wallbridge says initial metallurgical work by SGS Lakefield Research on 150 kg of drill core from the Broken Hammer zone showed good recoveries of copper and platinum group elements in response to flotation as practised at Falconbridge’s Strathcona mill in Sudbury. However, nickel recoveries were low, owing to the low nickel grade.

As well, initial gravity concentration results were said to be encouraging, particularly with respect to platinum. Platinum assay results were highly variable, with nugget effects.