Tungsten miner Premier African (LON:PREM) said significantly higher amounts of ore at its RHA project in Zimbabwe has been identified by a new pit review.

Premier is assessing how effective using x-ray sorting technology will be at the planned open pit at RHA,

George Roach, chief executive, said: "This re-examination and recompilation of the resource data base is designed to complement test work utilising XRT technology for upgrading of ore in pit.

“The result of this resource review is encouraging and will support bulk mining and in pit upgrading. New ore sources had been found within the proposed pit walls and also outside on the line of the strike.

A full resource update will include the new lodes uncovered, he said.

“Initial test work using XRT sorting technology was most favourable and provided the bulk testing soon to commence meets with the same level of success, a combination of underground and open pit operations with pre-plant feed ore upgrading has the promise of significantly improved throughput and reduced direct operating costs,"

Teething problem have delayed a planned move underground at RHA but ore is still being mined from the 926 level, Roach said, and work on the main shaft main shaft should give access to the 870 level from February.

“At this time, we anticipate RHA operating profitably from this Spring,” Roach said..

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