TUNGSTEN deposits at a new metal mine in Hemerdon are more than 20 per cent larger than expected, a new report has revealed.

Wolf Minerals, which is constructing the £130m tungsten and tin mine at Drakelands, said the drilling results suggest there is potential to increase the ore reserves by 15 to 23 per cent within the existing planning permission.

The drilling results indicate that an additional four to six million tonnes of ore may be available to be mined from the project as a result of steepening the open pit walls and broadening the open pit perimeter.

The drilling programme completed a total of 1,140 metres around the perimeter of the Hemerdon open pit and was designed to provide additional geotechnical information to optimise the slope angles for the open pit.

Wolf Minerals managing director, Russell Clark, said: 'Initial analysis suggests this could be the case, and we will now undertake detailed design work and reserve re-estimation.

For more on this story, see this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette