UK-based strategic mining firm Knights Bay Oryx Ltd (KBO) has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Knights Bay Mining and Trading LLC (KBM), has successfully completed drilling an initial set of holes at its nickel laterite project within Mineral Block 21 in the Wilayat of Ibra, North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, Oman.
This development marks a significant milestone for the company as it seeks to tap into the project’s potential, given the strategic importance of nickel in the global energy transition.
Under an agreement with Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals, signed in March of the previous year, Knights Bay secured the concession rights to a 1,400 square kilometer area in Ibra. This block is believed to contain a potentially world-class nickel laterite deposit, along with cobalt, chrome, and iron ore credits.
Knights Bay has stated that the initial drill holes have validated the geological formations and historical data previously collected on the nickel laterite sequence within Mineral Block 21. This drilling represents the first phase of a planned 27-hole program aimed at exploring three target areas to verify mineral continuity, historical data, and geological interpretations. This will form the foundation for a more detailed resource definition drilling program.
The Ibra nickel laterite project spans approximately 280 square kilometers and has previously seen small-scale mining focused on iron-rich materials used as cement additives. Knights Bay is now concentrating on proving the presence of nickel laterites in this targeted area.
The project is expected to offer substantial economic benefits and contribute to global environmental efforts. Although definitive lab results from the drilled cores are still pending, preliminary analysis of samples from existing small mines in the area shows an average grade of 1% nickel and 477 parts per million (ppm) cobalt.
In collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the core samples from the initial drilling have been field-logged and are being processed at SQU’s Earth Science Ophiolite Research Centre, adhering to international best practices. This collaboration aims to enhance mining expertise and knowledge within Oman’s industry.
Additionally, a large sample of the laterite ore has been sent to South Africa for metallurgical testing, further supporting the project’s development.
