Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : Precious and Base Metal Investing -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: E. Charters who wrote (16647)	8/13/2003 1:59:17 PM
From: Claude Cormier	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 39344

For your information, operating a saprolite Nickel (laterite with low Fe content and no limestone) is very low cost. There are several similar operations in the world. Bruce Robbins named a vew. All are sub $2 per pound. As an example, Anglo American operates the Lome de Hiero nickel laterite (acquired from Jordex in the 1990's). Resource are 35M tons of 1.6% Ni. They produce 17,000 tons of ferro-nickel alloy per year. Cost is sub $1.50/lb. As for Canico in Brazil, they sure can produce a ferro-nickel alloy. But there is probably a better option and it is to add a process (proprietary to Inco) and produce a nickel matte which is even higher garde and keep the cobalt instead of returning it with the slag. The cost of hydro in Brazil are very low. New hydro plant just near Canico property.