Montezuma Mining Co. Ltd. updated resources at its Butcherbird manganese project in Western Australia, with contained manganese increasing 2.7% compared to the previous estimate.

Resources at Butcherbird are estimated to total 180.8 million tonnes at 10.8% manganese, which includes an initial indicated resource at Yanneri Ridge comprising 22.5 million tonnes at 12.0% manganese. The estimate uses cutoff grades of 8% manganese and 10% manganese.

The previous estimate was completed in 2011 and outlined inferred resources of 70.2 million tonnes at 11.4% manganese, using a 10% manganese cutoff, and 110.3 million tonnes at 10.6% manganese, using an 8% manganese cutoff.

Montezuma said the higher-confidence indicated resources at Yanneri Ridge will form the basis of commercial studies planned after the completion of ongoing hydrometallurgical flowsheet design work.

The company recently agreed to divest exploration license E38/2889, part of its early stage Yamarna gold project in Western Australia, to Gold Road (North Yamarna) Pty. Ltd. after deeming it a noncore asset.