Amur Minerals (LON:AMC) says a successful drill season at its Kun Manie nickel prospect in Russia is now complete, which expanded the Maly Kurumkon / Flangovy resource.
A MKFL resource from 2013 will now will be updated upon receipt of final independent analytical results, expected in December this year, the firm said.
The third and final phase of work at the Maly Kurumkon (MK) area of the Maly Kurumkon / Flangovy (MKFL) deposit saw 5,821.4 metres sunk, including two step outs that showed mineralisation at FL extended an additional 400 metres eastward.
Amur chief executive Robin Young said: "We are extremely pleased with the success of the 2015 drill programme.
"We expanded Flangovy an 400 metres eastward, increasing the global resource and have confirmed the continuity and grade over a 1,200 metre long segment of the Maly Kurumkon / Flangovy deposit.
"The increased drill density should allow for a substantial portion of the Inferred resource to be upgraded to Indicated which is suitable for inclusion in the Definitive Feasibility Study."
He added: "The update to the resource estimate will specifically focus on providing a result that will fully allow the company to evaluate various mining considerations.
"As 83% of the metal is contained within high grade lenses, there appears to be substantial potential to utilise underground production which is highly selective and should provide higher grade reserves than are presently reported.
"Once the resource update is complete, a full production schedule for Maly Kurumkon / Flangovy can be generated. This will also provide us with the ability to move more metal forward in the production cycle."
Amur shares added 4.76% to 11p each.