Burley Minerals Ltd (ASX:BUR) has bolstered its management team with two new hires as it launches the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the Yerecoin Iron Project in Western Australia.
Frank Hoppe joins the team as exploration manager while Stewart McCallion will lend his expertise as Burley’s feasibility study manager.
In tandem, the recently-listed materials stock is engaging with geological, metallurgical, engineering, environmental and marketing consultants as it prepares to evaluate Yerecoin’s technical and financial viability.
At present, focus remains firmly fixed on the PFS’ critical path items, which will help Burley firm up a timeline to deliver the all-important initial study.
Experience to enhance capabilities
Burley Minerals managing director Gary Powell said: “We are delighted to have Stewart and Frank join the Burley Minerals team, with their collective experience enhancing the board and management’s existing capability in iron and base metals exploration, feasibility, development and operations.
“The Yerecoin project has had extensive studies completed to date confirming the project can deliver a premium sinter feed iron concentrate and the iron price is significantly stronger than when these studies were initially completed.
“The PFS will be aimed at both the technical and financial viability of the project that has multiple existing infrastructure options.”
Two new managers
Incoming feasibility study manager Stewart McCallion boasts more than 20 years of experience in the resource industry.
The new joiner’s worked with a range of mineral commodities, including iron, gold, copper, nickel and zinc.
While working on the client side and as a contractor, McCallion has been involved at all stages of the project life cycle, from exploration to greenfield and brownfield development, operations and site rehabilitation.
He has worked on a number of projects both in Western Australia and internationally, including with Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.
Burley believes this experience will help the feasibility study manager determine business objectives, critically evaluate opportunities and risks and manage multidisciplinary teams.
In addition, incoming exploration manager Frank Hoppe has a proven record of discovery, project evaluation and development across iron ore, gold and base metals deposits, mainly in Western Australia.
He brings significant experience across the planning, coordination and supervision of exploration programs in Archean, Proterozoic, Palaeozoic and Cainozoic terranes for iron ore, gold, base metals and mineral sands.
Hoppe also brings substantial experience in resource development, including metallurgical, geotechnical and hydrological studies and developing field and safety procedures.
PFS underway
When Burley prepared to list in May of this year, it committed to launching a PFS for the Yerecoin Iron Project.
Since then, the ASX-lister has received a number of expressions of interest and proposals to complete the geological, metallurgical, engineering, environmental and marketing portions of the PFS.
Now, Burley is putting together its consultant team to help prepare the study as it firms up the critical path items.
In tandem, management has reviewed the previous studies on the project, prepared by Cliffs Magnetite and Radar Iron, and is putting together a gap analysis and series of work programs.
Yerecoin Iron Project
Burley listed on July 7 after it acquired a 70% interest in Novarange Pty Ltd, sole owner of the Yerecoin asset.
Exploration to date has defined significant JORC 2012-compliant magnetite resources within the project, totalling 247 million tonnes at 29.9% iron, or a 68.1% iron concentrate grade at 32.1% Davis Tube Recovery.
A number of historical studies have also been completed, assessing the technical and economic viability of an operation.
Burley is also exploring Yerecoin’s known ultramafic rocks, which bear similarities to the Julimar-Gonneville discovery setting and are located within Australia’s newest nickel-copper-platinum group element province.