Volta Mining (ASX: VTM) has appointed John Hancock, Gina Rinehart’s son, as a non-executive director of the board.
Given that it holds tenements adjacent to Hancock Prospecting’s mining leases in the Pilbara as well as the Hope Downs mining venture with Rio Tinto, this could lead to cooperation or acquisitions in the future.
Hancock was a director of Hancock Prospecting in the late 1990s and was involved in the initial marketing of the Hope Downs project in China, Japan and Europe.
He was also seconded for two years to Iscor’s Sishen Iron Ore Mine and Vanderbijlpark steel works in South Africa.
He will receive a share and option package in lieu of a salary and is expected to lend his skills and experience actively to progress the company.
Volta expects to begin Stage 1 drilling at the Sirius Extension Prospect of its Hancock Ranges Iron Ore Project in the Pilbara in April 2014.
This will test the trend of hematite mineralisation into the Sirius Extension Prospect.
This is a coup for Volta Mining which has emerged as an iron ore player in the Pilbara and the appointment adds a number of permutations and possibilities which could see the lightly capped $3.5 million explorer in a new light.
With drilling set to begin in April in the Pilbara, the cashed up Volta is one to watch right now.
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