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Operations
Mineral-rich Solomon Islands
offers Axiom a multitude of
opportunities.
The Solomon Islands archipelago represents a
double chain of islands that span 1300km in the
western part of the Pacific Ocean. Both chains
follow a northwest/south-east alignment and
comprise nearly 1000 islands in total.
This archipelago forms part of an arc with a line of
very specific volcanic rocks known as the ‘Andesite
Line’. This circumscribes the Pacific Ocean in a
clockwise direction, from New Zealand to Chile
1
,
and is commonly known as the Pacific Rim of Fire.
Being bounded by these major tectonic plate
boundaries has resulted in the presence of
favourable geological structures as well as rock
types that are conducive to hosting gold-copper
massive sulphide systems and nickel-cobalt
deposits.
As such, this area is considered fertile ground
for large tonnage gold and copper deposits – for
example Gold Ridge, Lihir and Panguna. Axiom
Mining has two major projects located within the
Solomon Islands archipelago – the Isabel Nickel
Project and the West Guadalcanal Project.
Isabel Nickel Project
Tenements:
Kolosori (PL 74/11)
San Jorge (PL 01/15)
Ownership:
80% Axiom KB Limited Mining
20% interest held by the original
landowning tribes
Location:
Santa Isabel Island (Kolosori tenement)
San Jorge Island (San Jorge tenement)
Area:
42km
2
(Kolosori)
36km
2
(San Jorge)
From an orientation drilling program in November
2014 to a Maiden JORC Mineral Resource
estimate and its upgrade in a little over a year—
Axiom has proven that we have the capability
and determination to deliver.
After receiving a favourable outcome in the Solomon
Islands High Court, Axiom commenced drilling on
the Kolosori tenement and intersected high grade
nickel laterite.
References
1 Neall. V.E., Trewick.S.A. 2008. The age and origin of the Pacific
islands: a geological overview, Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society of Biological Sciences.
The Isabel nickel deposit shows high mineability, which
means a quick transition from ground to market. The
main area of nickel-cobalt mineralisation occurs from the
surface and is free from human habitation, and as such
mining development will have minimal social impacts. The
deposit is also located close to the shore line, allowing
easy seaborne access to regional processing hubs.
In early 2015, the Project achieved the grant of a
Prospecting Licence for the adjacent San Jorge tenement.
In mid-2015, Axiom commenced a resource definition
drilling program designed to facilitate mining operations.
At the same time, development activities progressed
at an accelerated pace, including camp refurbishment
works, recruitment and training of a local workforce,
and preparations to commence initial exploration on
the San Jorge tenement.
On 30 September 2015, Axiom announced a Maiden
JORC Mineral Resource estimate from part of the Kolosori
tenement, based on 542 drill holes with 6864m of core
samples and 7859 assayed intervals.
9
AXIOM MINING LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT 2015