Como-based nickel company GME Resources Ltd has purchased surplus heap leaching equipment from Heron Resources Ltd demonstration plant at the Jump-up Dam project, which was placed on care and maintenance earlier this year.
GME said the equipment was relocated over the last week from Heron's mine site to Kalgoorlie, where it will be tested and commissioned prior to relocating to GME's Hepi mine area, which is part of the NiWest nickel laterite project.
Earlier this year, Heron stopped investigations into a heap leaching operation to extract nickel after it found that it was no longer commercially viable.
Heron managing director Mathew Longworth said studies into the more commonly used atmospheric leaching process is ongoing.
Both Mr Longworth and GME managing director David Varcoe would not say how much the overall purchase due to confidentiality agreements.
Mr Varcoe said once refurbishment is of the equipment has been completed, it will be relocated to NiWest near Leonora in September before trials start the following month.
The trial will consist of a single heap leach of around 4000 tonnes of ore, and forms part of a larger development strategy for NiWest, which is projected to deliver 30-35,000t of nickel metal each year.
