Abasca expands Loki graphite resource with project and pit design notes for engineers

Abasca Resources has significantly increased the Loki flake graphite resource in northern Saskatchewan. The resource now stands at 6.99 million indicated tonnes at 8.27% graphitic carbon, equating to 580,000 tonnes contained, and 15.83 million inferred tonnes at 6.93%, totaling 1.1 million tonnes. This expansion precedes a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for an open-pit operation near Highway 914, 15 kilometers south of Cameco Corporation’s Key Lake mill. A prefeasibility study is targeted for late 2026, with concurrent drilling at the nearby Thor zone revealing broad intervals, including 101.8 meters at 4.31% Cg from 66.7 meters, indicating further potential along strike.

Epiroc AB has received a substantial order to supply Pit Viper 351 surface blasthole drill rigs to a major copper mine in Peru, operated by a consortium of leading Chinese investment firms and an Australian global miner. These rigs, designed for large-diameter production holes and high bench heights, will support the mine's expansion phase. For drill and blast engineers, the adoption of a single large-rig platform suggests improved bench productivity and enhanced control over fragmentation and blast patterns.

Copper demand is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades due to electrification, large-scale renewable projects, AI workloads, and hyperscale data centers, all of which require copper-heavy power electronics and modern grid infrastructure. The Copper to the World conference in Adelaide will address this demand, focusing on new transmission build-outs, electric vehicle charging networks, and high-capacity data center cabling, highlighting the ongoing interest in copper supply chains, processing capacity, and exploration portfolios.

Global Lithium Resources is acquiring IGO Limited’s Nova nickel operation in Western Australia through its subsidiary GL1 HoldCo No 3 Pty Ltd. This acquisition aims to expedite the development of the nearby Manna lithium project and reduce initial capital expenditures. The deal provides Global Lithium access to Nova’s existing underground mine, processing plant, and site infrastructure, offering potential synergies in power, camp, haulage, and permitting, as opposed to constructing new facilities at Manna. This transaction reflects a strategic shift towards utilizing established base-metal plants to mitigate risks for new lithium assets.