- Rafaella Resources (RFR) successfully delivers first production from underground operations at the Santa Comba Tungsten Project in Spain
- The pilot plant has been successfully installed and first production has been achieved using high-grade stockpiles from 1985 operations
- To scale up operations, Rafaella will be undertaking a drilling campaign consisting of 12 holes
- These holes will be used to install piezometers to measure the water table which is key in hydrological modelling
- Rafaella is trading up 1.25 per cent at 8.1 cents at 2:47 pm AEDT
Rafaella Resources (RFR) has successfully delivered first production from underground operations at the Santa Comba Tungsten Project in Spain.
In March, Rafaella announced it had decided to bring forward its plan for underground development at Santa Comba.
The pilot plant has been successfully installed and first production has been achieved using high-grade stockpiles from 1985 operations.
To scale up operations, Rafaella will be undertaking a drilling campaign consisting of 12 holes.
Reverse circulation (RC) drilling will be undertaken by Sondeos y Perforaciones Industriales del Bierzo.
These holes will be used to install piezometers to measure the water table which is key in hydrological modelling.
To date, six of the 12 holes have been drilled for 764 metres out of a planned 1550 metres.
Additionally, Rafaella has become the newest member of the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Alliance.
The CRM Alliance is a body for producers, traders and associators for critical raw materials and was created to advocate the importance of critical raw materials for the European economy.
Managing Director Steven Turner commented on the delivery.
“The successful and safe delivery of the pilot plant, working closely with the authorities to ensure that all permits and approvals were obtained, is a testament to the capabilities of the growing team at site and in Madrid,” Mr Turner said.
“This is the first real step in bringing the Santa Comba tungsten and tin mine back into production, 36 years from when the underground mine was last commercially operated.”
Rafaella was trading up 1.25 per cent at 8.1 cents at 2:47 pm AEDT.