NNL hits high-grade sulphides outside big 133.6Mt resource

Nordic Nickel drilling returns more thick disseminated nickel sulphides at the Pulju project in Finland
High-grade nickel sulphide of up to 2.4% also intersected outside the current resource of 278,520t contained nickel
More assays pending, updated resource estimate expected before end of 2023

 

Special Report: Nordic Nickel continues to build momentum towards what is shaping up as a substantial upgrade to resources at its flagship Pulju project in Finland after maiden drilling continued to intersect extensive zones of nickel sulphide mineralisation.

Pulju already has a 133.6Mt resource for 278,520t of contained nickel and 12,560t of contained cobalt at the Hotinvaara prospect, based on historical near surface drilling only.

Despite this, there is plenty of potential for Nordic Nickel (ASX:NNL) to grow resources as Hotinvaara covers just 2% of the 240km2 land package within the underexplored Central Lapland Greenstone Belt (CLGB).

The CLGB also hosts Boliden’s Kevitsa nickel-copper-gold mine and Anglo American’s world-class Sakatti copper-nickel-PGE deposit.

Previous exploration also did not test Pulju’s depth potential, something that the company is taking steps to address with the 28 diamond holes totalling 15,432m that were drilled as part of its maiden drill program this year.

Initial assays from the diamond drilling have already highlighted just how rich Hotinvaara and the broader Pulju project is, with almost all of the first seven diamond holes intersecting wide zones of disseminated nickel mineralisation with grades that equalled or exceeded the resource grade.

This included a top intercept of 199.1m grading 0.22% nickel from 20.9m including 2.15m at 0.83% nickel from 203m.

Drilling in the south-eastern part of the resource also highlighted the exceptional thickness of the nickel sulphide bearing host rock proximal to this region.

 

And now … high-grade nickel

Assays from a further nine holes have now provided the company with even more evidence that previous efforts were only really scraping the surface of Pulju’s potential.

Not only has the drilling returned more extensive zones of disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation, it has also intersected zones of higher-grade massive stringer sulphides outside of the current resource envelope.

Highlights from this batch of assays include:

41.1m grading 0.25% nickel from a down-hole depth of 296.9m including 0.45m at 2.4% nickel and 0.11% cobalt, and 100m at 0.21% nickel from 353m including 0.55m at 1.7% nickel and 0.05% cobalt;
195m at 0.21% nickel from 10m and 107.9m at 0.17% nickel from 330m; and
184m at 0.21% nickel from 34m.

Nordic Nickel says the results reinforce the potential for high-grade, semi-massive and massive nickel sulphides within the extensive areas of disseminated nickel sulphide mineralisation at Hotinvaara.

Additionally, partial leach assaying has confirmed the predominance of nickel sulphide in the assays received to date.

Collar plan showing Nordic’s drilling (green dots) and historical drilling (black dots). Pic: Supplied (NNL).

“We are very encouraged to see zones of high-grade nickel sulphide in these latest assays associated with the extensive zones of disseminated mineralisation which we have been consistently intersecting,” Nordic Nickel managing director Todd Ross said.

“The Phase 1 drilling program has been extremely successful in confirming and expanding the known mineralised footprint at Hotinvaara, laying the foundations for a resource upgrade due by the end of this year.

“In particular, the strong correlation of magnetic anomalism with nickel sulphide mineralisation is extremely encouraging as we look to both expand the existing resource and discover larger accumulations of massive sulphides.

“As our understanding of the mineralised system advances, we will be in a strong position to build on the results of the Phase 1 drilling and target new discoveries, both within, and external to, the Hotinvaara licence area.

“In the meantime, shareholders can look forward to consistent further news-flow as we await final assays from the drilling, an updated MRE and metallurgical testwork results.”

 

What’s next?

Assays are pending for a further five holes from the Phase 1 drill program while the updated resource estimate is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Nordic Nickel, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

The post NNL hits high-grade sulphides outside big 133.6Mt resource appeared first on Stockhead.