Cornish Metals plc (AIM: TIN) reported further construction and underground progress at its South Crofty tin project in Cornwall, United Kingdom, alongside drilling that identified a new tungsten zone.
Dewatering has now reached more than 400 meters below surface, while work continues on the New Cook’s Kitchen shaft and planned processing facilities. South Crofty remains under development and has not restarted commercial production.
Dewatering Passes 400 Meters
Cornish Metals said dewatering and shaft refurbishment remain on track to reach the 400-level, approximately 730 meters below surface, during the first half of 2027.
The new service winder has been mounted on its foundation at the New Cook’s Kitchen shaft. The production winder has also arrived, and mechanical installation is underway inside the completed winder building.
Underground, crews have completed 260 meters of development across the Conveyor Drive and Bunker Drive on the 25-level.
At surface, bulk excavation for the proposed processing plant is substantially complete, with civil work now underway. The company has increased orders for mechanical equipment and expects to place most of them by year-end.
A temporary construction village and project laydown areas are operational, while a new workshop and stores facility opened at Bartles Foundry in September.
The Bartles project cost approximately £6.8 million and received grant support of up to £4.2 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Drilling Extends Tin Lodes
Cornish Metals also completed 2,330 meters of surface drilling across two holes at Roskear West.
Both holes intersected known Roskear lodes near their predicted positions. The company said the results confirmed that tin mineralization continues west of the current Mineral Resource Estimate.
Hole SDD26_001A returned 0.79 meters grading 4.18% tin. Hole SDD26_002 intersected 1.51 meters grading 1.46% tin, including 0.33 meters at 5.71% tin.
Several previously unmodeled tin-bearing structures were also encountered. Cornish Metals said the mineralization remains open to the west, although further drilling would be required before any additional material could be incorporated into a resource estimate.
Tungsten Zone Falls Outside Current Resource
Hole SDD26_002 also returned 8.58 meters grading 1.41% tungsten, equivalent to 1.78% tungsten trioxide. The interval included 0.52 meters grading 15.15% tungsten, or 19.10% tungsten trioxide.
The company also reported high-grade copper mineralization at shallower depths.
Tungsten and copper were not primary targets of the program and are not included in South Crofty’s current Mineral Resource Estimate or production guidance. Cornish Metals said it will assess the results through its wider exploration program, while tin remains its principal focus.
All reported drilling intervals represent downhole lengths. True widths have not yet been calculated, and the economic significance of the tungsten and copper mineralization remains undetermined.
Production Restart Still Ahead
South Crofty is permitted for underground mining and construction of processing and supporting infrastructure. The company’s development plan forecasts approximately 4,700 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate annually during the first five years of full production over an initial 14-year mine life.
Those figures remain projections. The latest update did not confirm that production had restarted or provide a new commissioning date. Construction, dewatering, shaft rehabilitation, equipment installation and financing execution must continue before South Crofty can operate as a producing mine.
Sources
- Cornish Metals — Operations Update for the South Crofty Tin Project
- Cornish Metals — Positive Assay Results from Roskear Drilling
- Cornish Metals Investor Hub
Editorial Disclosure
This article was prepared from publicly available company disclosures. Mining Markets Report received no compensation from Cornish Metals plc for its preparation or publication and has no disclosed business relationship with the company.
The author and publisher do not hold securities in Cornish Metals plc. The reported results, development schedule and technical interpretations were supplied by the company and have not been independently verified by Mining Markets Report.
All reported drill intervals are downhole lengths, and true widths have not been calculated. The tungsten and copper mineralization is not included in the current Mineral Resource Estimate or production guidance. Its potential recoverability and economic significance have not been established.
Statements concerning construction, dewatering, exploration, resource expansion, production rates, costs and mine life are forward-looking and subject to technical, financing, permitting, execution and market risks. South Crofty has not restarted commercial production.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Mining investments can be highly speculative. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult a qualified financial professional. Read the full Mining Markets Report disclaimer.
