WESTERN Areas has more than doubled the size of the mineral resource at its Spotted Quoll nickel deposit.

    The Perth-based company said the revised mineral estimate at the deposit is now 1.05 million tonnes at an average grade of 7.2 per cent nickel for 75,140 tonnes of contained nickel to a depth of 300 metres.

    Western Areas said it is now considering early development of an underground mine that would produce ore concurrently with the latter stages of the open pit, and this could see production significantly exceed the target of 8,000 tonnes a year from the project.

    The company said a mining proposal for the Spotted Quoll open pit has been lodged and, assuming this is approved by the end of 2008, production is expected to commence in the September quarter of 2009.