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Corporate Presentation - Heron Resources Limited

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<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

<strong>Corporate</strong> <strong>Presentation</strong><br />

Diggers & Dealers Conference, Kalgoorlie<br />

5 August 2013<br />

ASX: HRR


Forward Looking and Compliance Statements<br />

The material used in this presentation is intended to be a summary of selected geological data, current and<br />

proposed activities, as well as resource estimates based on information available to <strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> at the<br />

time. It does not include all available information and should not be used in isolation as a basis to invest in<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong>. Any potential investor should refer to <strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong>’ ASX releases and statutory reports<br />

before considering investing in the Company.<br />

This presentation includes information relating to a completed independent scoping study, completed<br />

independent resource estimate and a completed pre-feasibility study and includes “forward looking<br />

statements” which include, without limitation, estimates of potential nickel in concentrate production based on<br />

mineral resources and flow-sheets that are currently being evaluated. While the Company has a reasonable<br />

basis on which to express these estimates, any forward looking statement is subject to risk. Risks include,<br />

without limitation: nickel metal prices, foreign exchange rate movements, failure to meet project milestones,<br />

project funding capacity, concentrate off-take contracts and estimates of future capital and operating costs.<br />

The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions to forward looking statements included in<br />

this presentation to reflect events or results after the date of this presentation, except as may be required<br />

under applicable securities laws.<br />

The information in this presentation that is related to Exploration is based on information compiled by David<br />

von Perger who is a member of Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. David von Perger is a full time<br />

employee of <strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong>. David von Perger has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style<br />

of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the exploration activity being undertaking to<br />

qualify as Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of<br />

Exploration Results, Mineral <strong>Resources</strong> and Ore Reserves”. David von Perger consents to the inclusion in this<br />

presentation of the matters based on his information in the form and context that it appears.<br />

Refer <strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong> 2012 Annual Report, page 64, Section 8.0, “Statement of Mineral <strong>Resources</strong>”<br />

and accompanying Attribution Statement.<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

2


<strong>Corporate</strong> Snapshot<br />

Overview<br />

Listed 1996<br />

ASX Code<br />

HRR<br />

Shares on Issue 252.99M<br />

Cash (Jun-13 Qtr)<br />

$39.6M<br />

Listed Investments<br />

$3.3M<br />

Enterprise Valuation<br />

Shares 52 week range $0.120-0.235<br />

Share price (2-Aug) $0.145<br />

Market cap<br />

$36.7M<br />

Cash + Listed Investments<br />

$42.9M<br />

Director<br />

Craig Readhead<br />

Ian Buchhorn<br />

Stephen Dennis<br />

Non-Executive Chairman<br />

Managing Director<br />

Non-Executive Director<br />

Top Shareholders<br />

Ian Buchhorn 18.0%<br />

BHP 14.9%<br />

Vale Inco 12.8%<br />

MBM Chaos 8.2%<br />

Ningbo Shanshan Co Ltd 4.8%<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

3


Key Asset – our Cash & Minerals Portfolio<br />

• Cash and Investments<br />

– $39.6m cash, $3.3m listed investments (asset value equivalent to $0.17 per share)<br />

– Low overheads, generate value through exploration and project “first mover” plays<br />

• Exploration (<strong>Heron</strong> 100%)<br />

– Lachlan Fold Belt, Cadia-style copper-gold, Mallee Bull-style copper, Avoca Tank-style copper-gold<br />

– Albany Fraser Mobile Zone, Nova/Bollinger-style nickel-copper-PGM<br />

– KNP Gold Projects (Big Four, Siberia South), shear-hosted gold<br />

• Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (<strong>Heron</strong> 100%)<br />

– Nickel Laterite Mineral Resource, 727Mt @ 0.72% nickel & 0.044% cobalt, a world-class resource<br />

– PFS Completed by Vale Inco 2009, focus on HPAL, A$34.5m expenditure, Vale Inco earned no equity<br />

– Beneficiated nickel Leach Feed Grade of 1.2 – 1.5% nickel<br />

– Now reviewing alternate processing:<br />

• Simulus Engineers (sulphuric acid process) – test work on three KNP material types commenced<br />

• Direct Nickel (nitric acid process) – finalizing test work ahead of updating scoping study<br />

• Discussions with other groups assessing potential process route optimizations (coordinated by Simulus Engineers)<br />

• Yerilla Nickel-Cobalt Project (<strong>Heron</strong> 100%, Shanshan right to earn 70%)<br />

– Nickel Laterite Mineral Resource, 135Mt @ 0.73% nickel & 0.045% cobalt<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> completed PFS 2008, farmed out to Shanshan 2009, studies continue through Simulus Engineers<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

4


Key Asset – our People<br />

• Board – Non Executive<br />

– Craig Readhead (Non Executive Chairman) corporate and mining lawyer<br />

– Stephen Dennis (Non Executive Director) project management, commercial<br />

• Board – Executive<br />

– Ian Buchhorn (Managing Director) mineral economist, mine geologist<br />

• Senior Management<br />

– Charlie Kempson (GM Business Development) engineering, finance<br />

– David von Perger (Exploration Manager) exploration geologist<br />

– Bryan Horan (Company Secretary and CFO) accounting<br />

• Geologists<br />

– Steven Jones (Senior Geologist) resource geologist, mineral economist<br />

– Lorne McCrum (Project Geologist) exploration geologist<br />

– Kathleen Patrick (Administrative Geologist) statutory compliance geologist<br />

• Consultants<br />

– Legal, database and geophysics<br />

Executive Team completes most projects in-house, including drilling 14,165 metres in 608 holes<br />

during 2012, hence <strong>Heron</strong>’s low burn-rate and cash preservation<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

5


Key Asset – our Track Record<br />

• On sell-side, 17 years of sustained Shareholder value creation, whilst advancing the KNP<br />

– 1996 <strong>Heron</strong> listed on the ASX raising $8M, portfolio of gold and nickel sulphide targets<br />

– 1998 Large high-grade nickel laterite discoveries at Goongarrie South<br />

– 1999 Takeover bid from Centaur – rejected by <strong>Heron</strong> Shareholders<br />

– 2002 Spun out Avoca <strong>Resources</strong> Ltd, 1 for 5 in specie distribution ($0.67 per HRR at AVO merger)<br />

– 2003 Spun out Pioneer Nickel <strong>Limited</strong><br />

– 2005 JV with Vale Inco, then BHP responded by buying out <strong>Heron</strong>’s second largest Shareholder<br />

– 2006 Spun out Rubicon <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong> and Epsilon Energy Ltd (later re-named Azimuth)<br />

– 2006 Back-door listing of iron-ore assets through Polaris Metals <strong>Limited</strong><br />

– 2006 Nickel laterite discoveries at Jump up Dam, implemented Heap Leach PFS<br />

– 2007 Last major capital raisings, at $1.15 per share (to BHP and Vale Inco)<br />

– 2009 Polaris Metals taken over by Mineral <strong>Resources</strong>, netting <strong>Heron</strong> $38M<br />

– 2009 Option on A1 Gold Mine, <strong>Heron</strong> commence gold mine decline development<br />

– 2010 KNP gold tenements sold to Metaliko <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong> netting $2M cash and shares<br />

– 2011 Acquisition of Lachlan copper-gold tenements in NSW, now main exploration focus<br />

– 2012 A1 Gold Mine sold, A1 Consolidated Ltd lists with <strong>Heron</strong> holding 19%<br />

– 2013 Advancing the KNP through Direct Nickel and Simulus Engineers piloting studies<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

6


Strategy – Business Development<br />

• Preferred Investments<br />

– Production mining operation<br />

• The operation benefits from <strong>Heron</strong>’s cash injection, facilitates a step change in the operation<br />

– Near-production mining operation<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> facilitates the equity funding component of the project funding package<br />

– Feasibility stage project<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> funds the resource drill-out and Feasibility Studies to facilitate future project funding<br />

• Preferred Locations and Commodities<br />

– WA – gold, nickel, base metals<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> has good operational experience in the jurisdiction, may complement the KNP<br />

– NSW – copper-gold, base metals<br />

• Complements <strong>Heron</strong>’s extensive Lachlan Fold Belt exploration holding<br />

– International – bulk commodities<br />

• Absolutely essential that common-user infrastructure is available, and minimal sovereign risk<br />

• Targeting east and north Asia markets (seek projects in Australia or west coast North America)<br />

M&A is a prime focus for the Company, as a means to fast-track the acquisition and<br />

development of mineral production cash-flow<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

7


Strategy – Exploration<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> Exploration Targets (all 100% <strong>Heron</strong> ownership):<br />

• Copper-Gold<br />

– Widely traded commodities, good mix in that strong global economic activity favours copper,<br />

economic uncertainty favours gold<br />

– Premium exploration belts available in Australia, being the Lachlan Fold Belt NSW (Cadia, North<br />

Parkes porphyry) and Cloncurry NW Queensland (Ernest Henry IOCG)<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> projects acquired through tenement applications, first require identified drill targets in prior<br />

exploration review<br />

• Nickel-Copper-PGM Sulphides<br />

• Gold<br />

– Targeting the Proterozoic mobile belts that flank the Yilgarn Archaean greenstone belts, where<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> has an existing exploration presence<br />

– Commodities complement the KNP nickel laterite<br />

– Current active exploration at Bedonia (EM/geochem anomaly for drill testing)<br />

– Focus is the Kalgoorlie province greenstones, systematically evaluating existing KNP tenure<br />

– Gold exploration alone maintains the KNP in good standing, preserves the KNP asset value<br />

Divested former Exploration Projects are the source of <strong>Heron</strong>’s current robust cash position<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

8


Exploration – Lachlan Copper-Gold 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Mt Allen & Osterley Projects, NSW<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong>’s Mt Allen EL adjoins and immediately<br />

south of the 2012 Mallee Bull copper/gold<br />

discovery (by Peel Mining)<br />

– Mallee Bull copper discovery and Mt Allen :<br />

• both are southern Cobar Supergroup host<br />

rocks, basin margin rift structural settings<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> holds over 1,200km 2 in Cobar<br />

Superbasin under tenure along strike of Mallee<br />

Bull copper pipe discovery and McKinnons<br />

epithermal gold deposit<br />

– Historical gold workings at Mt Allen and<br />

Osterley sampled in <strong>Heron</strong> field<br />

reconnaissance, are the exploration focus:<br />

• Initial Peel Mallee Bull exploration focus was on<br />

Four Mile goldfield, then ground EM defined<br />

deep conductor, RC drill follow up discovered<br />

high grade copper<br />

– Review of historical Mt Allen and Osterley<br />

data identified “walk-up” gold and copper<br />

targets<br />

• Surface gold veins, interpret as pathfinder to<br />

deeper base metal systems (as at Mallee Bull)<br />

• Four target areas for <strong>Heron</strong> soil auger geochem<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

9


Exploration – Lachlan Copper-Gold 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Osterley Project, NSW<br />

– 25km south of Cobar<br />

– Devonian Upper Amphitheatre Group and<br />

Biddabirra sediments<br />

– The Thule Fault is a major fault and has been<br />

the focus of previous exploration<br />

– Recent ground EM by <strong>Heron</strong> has identified a<br />

subtle conductor to the SE of old Geopeko<br />

gossan<br />

– Anomaly on the western edge of a discrete<br />

magnetic low 500m east of Thule Fault<br />

– EM anomaly may be related directly to bedrock<br />

mineralisation or represent a splay structure<br />

that has localised mineralisation<br />

– EM anomaly under deeper soil cover, soil auger<br />

program to provide geochemical coverage, prior<br />

to possible drill testing<br />

Osterley Project, aeromagnetic image showing EM<br />

anomaly and magnetic low (alteration?) target area<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

10


Exploration – Lachlan Copper-Gold 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Girilambone Project, NSW<br />

– Along strike and immediately adjoining 2011 coppercopper/gold<br />

discoveries by Straits <strong>Resources</strong> (ASX:SRQ)<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> drilled four targets based on geology, magnetic<br />

and EM surveys<br />

– Up to 1,080ppm copper returned in the drilling<br />

associated with minor chalcopyrite, <strong>Heron</strong> to follow up<br />

– Recent access gained to the Coolabah target directly<br />

along strike from the Straits Avoca Tank discovery –<br />

copper soil anomaly defined in this area<br />

– Follow-up with targeted RAB programs to map<br />

geology/alteration and target mineralisation<br />

Left: RC drilling November 2012<br />

Below: Typical QMH host (quartzmagnetite-hematite),<br />

with pyrite<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

11


Exploration – Lachlan Copper-Gold 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Gundagai Project, NSW<br />

– Big Ben Prospect, gold<br />

• Shear zone 10-50m wide, 500m strike quartzlimonite-pyrolusite<br />

stockworks hosted by white<br />

intensely phyllic altered porphyry dyke<br />

• Recent <strong>Heron</strong> drilling:<br />

– 20m @ 1.58g/t gold from 27m<br />

includes 1m @ 23.7g/t gold<br />

– 8m @ 1.07g/t gold from 25m<br />

– 1m @ 5.32g/t gold from 81m<br />

– 4m @ 1.04g/t gold from 25m<br />

Coarse gold panned in several intervals<br />

– Califat/Snowball Prospects, copper/gold<br />

• VMS-related, massive sulphide lodes, mined<br />

historically<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> rock-chip samples: 10.2 - 84.3g/t gold with up<br />

to 4.4% copper<br />

• Ground-based EM survey commenced in mid July to<br />

generate drill targets<br />

– Basin Creek Prospect, copper<br />

• High grade copper in historic drilling, peak 4.5m @<br />

18% copper<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> is planning ground-based EM with drill followup<br />

to test any conductors<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

12


Exploration – Lachlan Copper-Gold 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Sussex Project, NSW<br />

– 50km east of Cobar<br />

– Large, complex magnetic high<br />

within Ordovician Girilambone<br />

meta-sediments<br />

– Lies along the north-west<br />

extension of the Gilmore Suture,<br />

major mineralized crustal fault<br />

– 10km NE of the Mt Boppy Gold<br />

mine<br />

– Reconnaissance auger sampling<br />

has defined a large staellite<br />

copper/zinc/nickel anomaly and<br />

a another more discrete<br />

copper/gold /arsenic anomaly<br />

– Follow-up infill and extensional<br />

soil auger sampling currently<br />

underway.<br />

Sussex Project, major regional aeromagnetic<br />

anomaly on Gilmore Suture, <strong>Heron</strong> soil<br />

auger anomalies, follow-up current<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

13


Exploration – Northwest Queensland 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Cloncurry Copper Project, Qld<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> applications for 15 tenements<br />

covering 1,717km 2<br />

– IOCG alteration styles confirmed, magnetic<br />

anomalism, silicification, REE anomalism,<br />

basis for applications<br />

– Tenement application focus on Proterozoic<br />

copper-polymetallic mining centres near Mt<br />

Cuthbert, Mammoth East, Ernest Henry,<br />

Eloise East and Maramungee<br />

– District-scale reconnaissance sampling has<br />

been completed by <strong>Heron</strong>, confirmed largescale<br />

alteration systems<br />

– Target generation studies completed,<br />

extensive areas defined for soil geochemical<br />

survey<br />

– Mammoth East Prospect, previous<br />

reconnaissance drilling intersected high-level<br />

quartz veining with strong gold, copper and<br />

lead anomalism, drill-ready for <strong>Heron</strong><br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

14


Exploration – Nova-Style Nickel-Copper 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Albany Fraser Mobile Zone, WA<br />

– Bedonia Nickel Project<br />

• Magnetic and ground EM<br />

anomalies identified<br />

• Bedrock conductors at margin of<br />

mafic intrusive bodies<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> auger nickel and copper<br />

anomalies<br />

• Tenements also host <strong>Heron</strong>’s<br />

coal occurrences in palaeochannels,<br />

1999 identified 650Mt<br />

coal Exploration Target<br />

– Rocky Gully Nickel Project<br />

• Strong Ni-Cu-PGM anomalism in<br />

laterite identified in previous<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> drilling<br />

• Mafic/ultramafic intrusive plugs<br />

identified<br />

• <strong>Heron</strong> drilled in 2009, data reinterpreted<br />

on basis of Sirius<br />

Nova-Bollinger discovery<br />

• Seeking JV partner to progress,<br />

while <strong>Heron</strong> focus remains on<br />

Bedonia<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

15


Exploration – Nova-Style Nickel-Copper 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Bedonia Nickel-Copper-PGM Project<br />

– 60km west of Nova-Bollinger Ni-Cu discovery<br />

(ASX:SIR)<br />

– Coincident ground EM and magnetic anomalies<br />

– Coincident nickel and copper soil auger<br />

anomalies<br />

– Drilling expected to commence in August<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

16


Exploration – Nova-Style Nickel-Copper 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Rocky Gully – Nickel-Copper Project<br />

– 85km NW of Albany<br />

– Strong Ni-Cu-Co in laterite (this is<br />

uniquely diagnostic at Nova discovery)<br />

– Ni-Cu sulphides identified in <strong>Heron</strong> RC<br />

chips (again diagnostic of Nova)<br />

– Ground-based EM completed<br />

– Seeking a JV partner<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

17


Exploration–Eastern Goldfields Gold Targets 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

Targets mainly on KNP Tenure<br />

• Big Four Gold Project, WA (KNP)<br />

– Drilling beneath old gold workings targeting<br />

porphyry units within Siberia Ultramafic<br />

– Discussions with local miners underway,<br />

reviewing tribute mining to open up ore<br />

• Siberia South Gold Project, WA (KNP)<br />

– Strong gold-in-soil results along strike from<br />

old workings<br />

– RAB drilling recently completed - visual<br />

mineralization, results pending<br />

• Horse Rocks Gold, WA (non KNP)<br />

– Significant broad zone of gold anomalism in<br />

historical drilling<br />

– RAB drilling follow-up planned<br />

Left:<br />

panned<br />

gold from<br />

Big Four RC<br />

drilling<br />

samples<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

18


Exploration – EGF Gold Targets 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Big Four Gold Project – <strong>Heron</strong> highgrade<br />

gold intercepts<br />

– 6m @ 5.28g/t gold from 53m<br />

– 2m @ 33.6g/t gold from 108m<br />

– 10m @ 4.3g/t gold from 32m<br />

– 15m @ 2.27g/t gold from 28m<br />

– 9m @ 4.69g/t gold from 14m<br />

– 3m @ 10.47g/t gold from 44m<br />

– 4m @ 20.14g/t gold from 108m<br />

– 6m @ 8.58g/t gold from 125m<br />

– 8m @ 5.93g/t gold from 78m<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

19


Exploration – Mt Zephyr Gold/Base-Metals 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Contiguous greenstone tenure<br />

– 200km 2 , 80km north northeast of<br />

Leonora<br />

– Distal VMS system over 5km of strike,<br />

deeper drilling required<br />

• Paul’s Find Prospect (pending tenure)<br />

– Rich coarse gold in laminated quartz<br />

vein identified by prospector (>30oz<br />

gold nuggets recovered)<br />

• Gale Gold Prospect<br />

– Newcrest drilled and identified broad<br />

low grade gold and copper, drilling<br />

planned by <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• Zephyr North Prospect<br />

– Deep <strong>Heron</strong> diamond hole intersected<br />

magnetite skarn with minor copper<br />

Above: magnetic image with<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> tenements and key<br />

prospects<br />

Left: Paul’s Find – some of the<br />

gold recovered by prospector<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

20


Strategy – Kalgoorlie Nickel Project 100% <strong>Heron</strong><br />

• KNP Option Value<br />

– A world-class mineral resource, PFS completed by the World’s leading nickel company in Vale Inco,<br />

~$100 billion in-ground value – such an asset in a $37M market cap company such as <strong>Heron</strong><br />

represents significant option value<br />

– KNP Option Value will continue to be preserved by <strong>Heron</strong>, through targeted development studies<br />

• High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) Technology<br />

– HPAL is the proven technology for nickel laterite processing, so is bankable<br />

– Any future HPAL development of the KNP by <strong>Heron</strong> will unequivocally be as a partnership, most likely<br />

with a downstream Stainless Steel Materials end-user<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> strategy is to optimize existing industry-accepted laterite technologies and apply to the KNP<br />

• Technology Partnerships and Alternatives<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> aiming for lower capex cost development of segments of the KNP, facilitated by <strong>Heron</strong> and a<br />

specialist technology partner<br />

– Simulus Engineering<br />

– Direct Nickel<br />

– Heap Leach<br />

– Iron Nickel Segregation Roast<br />

In 2007 at the end of the “mid 2000s Nickel Cycle”, the market value of <strong>Heron</strong> (essentially<br />

the KNP value) was up to $350 million<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

21


Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Feasibility<br />

• Excellent Resource and Infrastructure<br />

– 727Mt grading 0.72% nickel and 0.044% cobalt (at<br />

0.5% Ni cog), JORC 2004 Mineral Resource<br />

– Screen beneficiated feed grade 1.2-1.5% nickel<br />

– Located within 100km radius of Kalgoorlie<br />

– All gas, road, rail, port infrastructure present<br />

– Ravensthorpe HPAL nickel laterite technically<br />

successful re-commission, industry confidence for<br />

HPAL<br />

• Vale Inco completed PFS in 2009<br />

– $34.5 million expenditure, immensely valuable<br />

Feasibility Study data set;<br />

• >95,000 metres drilled, deliver JORC resource<br />

• Metallurgical assessment HPAL (-Heap Leach)<br />

– 2.5Mtpa beneficiated leach feed, up to 36Ktpa<br />

nickel production over a 34 year mine-life<br />

– Opex US$4.42/lb of nickel (after cobalt credits)<br />

– Pre-production capex US$1.5 billion (in 2009)<br />

• Vale Inco PFS 2009 commentary:<br />

“one of the most prospective nickel laterite tenement<br />

packages in the world”<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

22


Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Screen Beneficiation<br />

• Project Attributes<br />

– Screen beneficiation of the nickel laterite is what makes these projects<br />

work (screening is both low capex and opex, “project-maker”)<br />

– Flow-sheet utilised successfully at both Ravensthorpe and previously at<br />

Cawse<br />

– Screen out hard barren silica material, increases nickel leach feed grade<br />

by a factor of 1.5 – 2.0 times<br />

Screened rejects<br />

Silica fragments 60% of output<br />

Reject grade 0.3% Ni<br />

Scrubbed slurry<br />

into pilot plant trommel<br />

screen deck<br />

Run-of-mine siliceous ore,<br />

yellow-brown limonite and coarse<br />

silica<br />

Head grade<br />

0.7 - 0.8% Ni<br />

Screened slurry<br />

Limonite 40% of output<br />

Leach Feed Grade<br />

1.2 - 1.5% Ni<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

23


Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Simulus Engineers<br />

• Simulus Engineers<br />

– Simulus will trial its patented process (Carbon<br />

Friendly Nickel Production - CFNP) for the<br />

recovery of sulphuric acid and other reagents in<br />

nickel laterite hydrometallurgical processing<br />

– Recovery of reagents in nickel laterite<br />

processing has potential to generate substantial<br />

cost savings in plant construction and operation<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> has provided three bulk KNP and Yerilla<br />

laterite samples to Simulus in Kewdale,<br />

Western Australia for the initial test work<br />

– The test work will generate inputs for a Scoping<br />

Study to estimate the potential benefits which<br />

may be achieved through applying the Simulus<br />

technology to the KNP at a commercial scale<br />

– If successful, the initial test work and Scoping<br />

Study is intended to lead into a closer<br />

partnership between <strong>Heron</strong> and Simulus<br />

through CFNP under which the technology will<br />

be further developed<br />

Part of equipment being used by Simulus at their Kewdale<br />

facility – Image courtesy Simulus Laboratories<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

24


Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Direct Nickel<br />

• Direct Nickel<br />

– Emerging hydrometallurgical process for<br />

extracting nickel from laterite deposits<br />

– Substantially lower capex and opex<br />

compared with existing HPAL operations<br />

– The process is capable of treating the full<br />

laterite profile, from limonitic to saprolitic<br />

ores using a single flowsheet<br />

– Five samples of KNP-Highway goethite and<br />

goethite-silica ore have been tested in both<br />

fresh and saline process water<br />

– Extraction of nickel via the Direct Nickel<br />

process has mostly been 96-99%<br />

– A new round of testwork commissioned,<br />

aimed at identifying where the chlorine<br />

reports post leaching<br />

– Next stage will be updated Scoping Study<br />

– Development Target<br />

50Mt at 1.2% nickel leach feed, 3Mtpa plant<br />

32Ktpa nickel, capex around A$1 billion<br />

Image courtesy Direct Nickel, pilot plant at CSIRO, South Perth<br />

• Direct Nickel uses nitric acid to leach nickel laterite<br />

ores<br />

• Unique feature is ability to recover ~95% of reagents,<br />

thus reducing operating costs<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

25


Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Heap Leach Review<br />

• Bulong Heap Leach Study<br />

– Conceptual study completed by <strong>Heron</strong>(consultant ex heap<br />

leach project manager from a northern Goldfields nickel<br />

laterite operation)<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> Bulong is site for leaching operation, assuming:<br />

• High grade saprolite Boulder Block pit, >2% nickel<br />

• Minable material estimated at 20Mt @ 1.2% nickel<br />

• 600,000tpa local acid supply (KNS and local roaster)<br />

• 1.3Mtpa ROM feed at 70% nickel recovery<br />

• Mixed sulphide produced ,suitable for BHP Kwinana<br />

• 15 year mine life<br />

– High level economics:<br />

• Capex A$127M (+/- 50%)<br />

• Opex US$ 3.64/lb nickel<br />

– Study demonstrates economic potential at Boulder Block<br />

– Discussions ongoing with BHP regarding acid supply<br />

– Discussions current with local owners of site<br />

infrastructure and additional resources<br />

– Benefits from the current Simulus study<br />

Schematic heap-leach layout from <strong>Heron</strong>’s<br />

Jump Up Dam 2008 PFS study<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

26


Kalgoorlie Nickel Project – Iron Nickel Studies<br />

• Iron-Nickel Sinter<br />

– The high iron content of the goethitedominated<br />

KNP nickel laterite has long been<br />

recognised<br />

– Goongarrie South – 2011 estimated high<br />

iron mineral resource 48.5Mt @ 41% iron<br />

and 0.65% nickel, with 7.6% alumina at 35%<br />

iron cut-off<br />

– Bench scale roasting tests at Oretest, Perth,<br />

feed grade around 50% iron, 1.2% nickel<br />

Generated a magnetic separated sinter<br />

product with up to:<br />

• 73% iron<br />

• 3.7% nickel<br />

• 49.5% mass recovery<br />

– Next step, evaluate potential market<br />

acceptance of the product<br />

Goethite-rich nickel laterite<br />

within old chrysoprase pit south of Goongarrie South<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

27


Investment Summary<br />

• Strong cash position<br />

– $39.6M cash, $3.3M in listed equity investments – company not constrained when opportunities arise<br />

– $0.17 per Share cash + shares asset value, robust proposition together with the high quality exploration assets<br />

– Compact management team, low overheads, low burn-rate, high skill sets, first-mover track-record<br />

• Business Development<br />

– Focus is M&A where <strong>Heron</strong> cash can add value to a target company or asset<br />

– Priority targets: WA – gold-base metals, NSW – copper-gold-base metals, International – bulk commodities<br />

• Exploration – excellent portfolio, well funded drill-focussed exploration<br />

– Copper-gold (Cadia/Mallee Bull/Avoca Tank target styles), Lachlan Fold Belt central NSW, 100% owned –<br />

aggressive phase of exploration currently underway, continual target generation, expeditious drill testing<br />

– Nickel-copper (Nova-Bollnger style), Albany Fraser Mobile Zone southwest WA, 100% owned – initial drilling<br />

program expected to commence in August<br />

– Active drilling, 14,165 metres in 608 holes during 2012, similarly aggressive drilling in 2013<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong>’s strong cash backing limits any downside exploration risk<br />

• Projects<br />

– Kalgoorlie Nickel Project, 100% ownership, one of the world’s largest undeveloped nickel laterites, ~$100<br />

billion in-ground metal value, PFS completed, enormous medium to long-term option value<br />

– <strong>Heron</strong> is investing in technologies with the potential to enhance the value of the KNP<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

28


www.heronresources.com.au<br />

Contact:<br />

Ian Buchhorn<br />

Managing Director<br />

1/37 Ord Street<br />

West Perth WA 6005<br />

T: +61 892 154 440<br />

M:+61 418 831 624<br />

ibuchhorn@heronresourcces.com.au<br />

<strong>Heron</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Limited</strong><br />

29

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