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Nordic Nickel
Overview
Nordic Nickel (ASX:NNL) is a nickel sulphide exploration and development company focused on becoming a major supplier of sustainably sourced, traceable, high-purity class 1 nickel and battery minerals through its portfolio of highly prospective assets in Finland. A highly credentialed team with a solid track record and experience throughout the mining industry leads the company in executing its exploration and development strategy.
Finland is a Tier-1, mining-friendly jurisdiction with a long mining history in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt. Additionally, the country is incentivising battery mineral projects and is positioned to become a major player in the full battery value chain, making it an ideal jurisdiction for exploration and development.
The European Union Critical Minerals Act includes nickel as a critical mineral and will play a vital role in the transition to clean energy and decarbonization.
Nordic Nickel’s 100-percent-owned flagship Pulju Project already has a JORC-compliant resource estimate of 133.6 million metric tonnes at 278,520 tonnes of nickel and 12,650 tonnes of cobalt. The Pulju Project’s unique mineralisation is amenable to a dual exploration strategy of both near-surface disseminated nickel and deeper high-grade massive sulphide lenses. The project is in an area of known mineralisation and several major discoveries, including the 304-Mt, open-pit nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), gold (Au), Kevitsa Mine, owned by Swedish mining company Boliden, and the world-class 44-Mt Cu-Ni-PGE Sakatti Deposit discovered by Anglo American. Historical drilling has been shallow with no modern geophysics, which Nordic Nickel has now undertaken. Multiple electromagnetic anomalies have been identified and targeted for the 22,000-meter drilling campaign now underway.
The current resource estimate was estimated based on 10,000 meters of historical drilling at the Pulju Project is contained within only 5 square kilometers (2 percent) out of a 240-square-kilometer land package. Since the maiden resource was released Nordic Nickel has completed an additional 15,432-meter drill campaign which has substantially expanded the areas of known mineralization and will see a much larger mineral resource estimate due for release in Q1 2024. Additionally, the company remains focused on targetting Sakatti-style analogues of high-grade massive sulphides and the 2023 campaign is being used now to vector in on the high grade zones.
In 2023, Nordic Nickel secured an exploration licence (EL) for the Pulju Project. The newly granted EL, known as Holtinvaara, is highly prospective for nickel sulphide mineralisation and is three times the size of the Hotinvaara Prospect, which has been the focus of Nordic’s maiden exploration program and the company's resource development activities to date.
Nordic Nickel’s second project, the Maaninkajoki 3 (MJ3) asset comprises 30 square kilometers of exploration licenses and is also in a region of known mineralisation or similar mafic/ultramafic lithologies to the nearby Sakatti deposit. The company has an earn-in agreement to acquire 75 percent of the asset as exploration continues.
A management team with a range of expertise throughout the mining industry builds confidence in the company’s goal to explore its assets fully. Expertise includes corporate administration, geology and international finance.
Company Highlights
- Nordic Nickel is an Australian exploration and development company focusing on its district-scale nickel and battery minerals assets in Northern Finland.
- Finland is a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction with a deep exploration and mining history with mining-friendly regulations and a strategy to become a major player in the European battery value chain.
- The European Union Critical Minerals Act includes nickel as a critical mineral and requires 10% of all critical minerals to be sourced from Europe (when presently there is less than 3%). There are only two producing nickel mines in Europe and they are both in Finland and exploration and development activities will benefit from future EU incentives.
- Nordic Nickel’s flagship Pulju Nickel Project already has a near-surface JORC-compliant resource estimate of 133.6 million tonnes, with 278,520 tonnes of Nickel and 12,500 tonnes of cobalt which is contained in less than 2 percent of the Pulju Project.
- The company’s second Maaninkajoki 3 Project covers 30 square kilometers of exploration licenses, and the company has the option to earn up to 75 percent.
- An experienced management team with a track record and deep expertise in the natural resources industry leads the company.
Key Projects
Pulju Nickel Project
The company’s 100-percent-owned flagship Pulju project covers 240 square kilometers of land in Finland's Central Lapland Greenstone Belt. Nordic Nickel has completed a maiden diamond drilling campaign with 15,423 meters completed since the beginning of 2023.
Project Highlights:
- Prolific Resource Estimate with Expansion Potential: The current JORC-compliant resource estimate indicates 133.6 million tonnes for 275,520 tonnes of contained nickel and 12,560 tonnes of contained cobalt. Since the maiden resource was released Nordic Nickel has completed an additional 15,432-meter drill campaign which has substantially expanded the areas of known mineralization and will see a much larger mineral resource estimate due for release in Q1 2024. Additionally, the company remains focused on targetting Sakatti-style analogues of high-grade massive sulphides and the 2023 campaign is being used now to vector in on the high grade zones.
- Encouraging Historical Drill Results: Past drill results, including 51 drill holes for both near-surface and deeper high-grade sulphides, have produced encouraging results.
- Near-surface:
- 97 meters at 0.33% Ni from 102 meters
- 122 meters at 0.25% Ni from 33 meters
- 108 meters at 0.26% Ni from 98 meters
- Massive sulphide intersections:
- 0.26 meters at 9.61% Ni, 0.17% CuCu and 0.36 % cobalt from 147.37 meters
- 0.90 meters at 4.98% Ni%, 0.03 % Cu and 0.14 % cobalt from 190.40 meters
- 0.32 meters at 5.03% Ni%, 0.06 % Cu and 0.24 % cobalt from 45.7 meters
- Near-surface:
- Promising Geology: The regional geology of the project is amenable to rich nickel deposits. The presence of ultramafic rocks mirrors the Sakatti and Kevitsa deposits. The project contains a 35-kilometer continuous prospective strike with considerable blue-sky potential as exploration continues.
- Newly Granted Exploration License: The new Holtinvaara exploration licence is highly prospective for nickel sulphide mineralisation and is three times the size of the Hotinvaara Prospect, which has been the focus of Nordic’s maiden exploration program and the company's resource development activities to date.
- Significant Assay Results: Nordic Nickel completed 28 diamond drill holes for 15,432 meters as part of its maiden drilling program. Assays have returned extensive zones of nickel sulphide mineralisation, including zones of higher-grade massive stringer sulphides.
- Some highlights from the 2023 maiden drill campaign include:
- 91.7m @ 0.22% Ni from 1.6m; and
- 164.15m @ 0.20% Ni from 216m; and
- 26.4m @ 0.59% Ni from 412.6m, including:
- 6.1m @ 0.74% Ni from 412.6m; and
- 4m @ 0.77% Ni from 420m; and
- 3.35m @ 0.91% Ni from 428m, including:
- 1.2m @ 1.02% Ni from 428m; and
- 2m @ 0.52% Ni from 433m
- 125.7m @ 0.19% Ni from 152.3m; and
- 54.25m @ 0.22% Ni from 319.55m, including:
- 5.8m @ 0.57% Ni from 322.25m
- 99.1m @ 0.22% Ni from 4.7m
- 64.3m @ 0.19% Ni from 220.3m; and
- 57.35m @ 0.17% Ni from 331.9m
Maaninkajoki 3 (MJ3) Nickel Project
Nordic Nickel’s MJ3 Project covers 30 square kilometers of exploration licenses. The asset is subject to an earn-in agreement, which gives the company the right to acquire up to 75 percent of the project over two stages. The project is highly prospective for both intrusive-hosted and komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide mineralization.
Management Team
Todd Ross - Managing Director and CEO
Todd Ross has over 24 years of experience in finance, derivatives and corporate advisory within the natural resources sector. He is the former managing director and head of Western Australia for BNP Paribas. Ross is a specialist in project and acquisition financings across a range of commodities across multiple jurisdictions. His previous roles include senior positions at BNP Paribas, Westpac, Royal Bank of Canada, CBA and Oakvale Capital. Ross holds a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from FINSIA.
Marcello Cardaci - Non-executive Chairman
Marcello Cardaci is the former partner of Gilbert & Tobin’s Corporate Advisory Group. He has 25 years’ experience advising public and private equity fundraisings, M&A and divestment. Cardaci has extensive experience in capital raisings, takeovers, schemes of arrangements and joint ventures. His current directorships include ASX-listed Altamin Limited and Manhattan Corporation Ltd. Cardaci holds law degrees (BJuris, LLB) and commerce (BCom).
Robert Wrixon - Executive Director
Robert has over 20 years of experience in corporate strategy, mining M&A and mineral exploration. He is the director of Starboard Global Ltd, private equity and incubation of projects in the metals and mining sector. His current directorships include Rafaella Resources Ltd, Emmerson PLC. Wrixon holds a PhD in mineral engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Juho Haverinen - Non-executive Director
Juho Haverinen has over ten years of experience in planning and overseeing mineral exploration in Finland and is currently head of exploration for Magnus Minerals Oy. He has significant experience in Finland with exploration joint ventures with major multinational mining companies and is a member of the board of the Finnish Mining Association (FinnMin) and a board member of Magnus Minerals Oy. Haverinen holds BSc and MSc geology degrees from the University of Helsinki.
Aaron Bertolatti - Company Secretary and CFO
Aaron Bertolatti is a qualified chartered accountant and company secretary with over 15 years of experience. He has significant experience in the administration of ASX-listed companies, corporate governance and corporate finance. He was previously CFO of Highfield Resources Ltd and American Pacific Borates.
Vern Langdale - Country Manager, Finland
Vern Langdale is a mining veteran with 38 years of experience across various roles in mining projects and mines from many countries. He studied mining engineering at the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall, England and started his career working in gold mines in the Goldfields of Australia. Langdale has been involved with building and commissioning mines often in challenging and remote locations in China, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. In 2018, he moved to Finland with Nordic Gold. Langdale worked as director of operations for Endomines AB at its US and Finnish operations, where he provided support in the re-start of its mining operations. He was also mine manager at the Nordic Gold in Finland. He was the project manager for Jac Rijk Al Rushaid in Saudi Arabia, where he coordinated the work of a multi-lingual and multi-national workforce for the largest gold mining project of the Ma’aden Gold Group.
Pekka Tuomela - Sustainability & ESG Manager, Finland
Pekka Tuomela has a master of science in geology from the University of Oulu, Finland and an impressive career spanning over 20 years in exploration and mining projects in Finland and internationally, at all project phases. Tuomela has a solid understanding of the Finnish environmental and mining permitting regime, mining ESIAs and associated ESG/CSR sustainability practices including stakeholder communication. In addition, he advises on mineral intelligence and mineral economics policy and strategy matters.
Deeper Drilling Discovers Substantially Thicker Mineralisation at Horden Lake; Corresponding DHEM Results Indicate Exciting Depth Continuity
Highlights
- Step-out drilling and DHEM results discover material resource growth potential at the Horden Lake deposit
- Step-out drilling delivers 32.1m @ 1.2% CuEq1, representing a substantially wider copper zone down plunge in HN-24-98
- 32.1m @ 1.2% CuEq (0.57% Cu, 0.19% Ni, 0.08g/t Au, 0.13g/t Pd) plus additional 0.04g/t Pt, 192ppm Co, 8.2g/t Ag from 264.3m. Includes 14.2m @ 1.79% CuEq from 275.9m.
- Deepest hole in this zone, 70-90m diagonally down-plunge from the two nearest historic holes.
- Strong down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) plates project extensions of mineralisation at depth
- HN-24-98 plate indicates the highly conductive mineralised zone extends equally each way along strike, up-dip 170m, and is more responsive below the hole, extending 225m down-plunge.
- HN-24-96 stacked plates indicate the hole hit the edge of a strongly mineralised zone which sits deeper and to the north of the previously reported 17.1m @ 0.58% CuEq and 11.9m @ 1.39% CuEq.
- These first two plates link over 300m of strike extent which remains open down-plunge. Additional DHEM survey results pending.
- Shallow infill drilling delivers 33.8m @ 0.81% CuEq from 38m in HN-24-100
- Results again highlight the significant Au, Ag, PGM and Co by-products never previously assayed.
- Demonstrates continuity of the wide zone of shallow open-pittable copper mineralisation.
- Significant depth extension via drilling and DHEM in the southern zone
- The lesser-drilled southern zone now demonstrates potential to match or possibly exceed the central zone where economic resources extend to 550m (still open), 50-60% deeper than currently defined in the south.
- Only ~30% of the strike length has been drilled below 220m, yet this deeper area already hosts ~30% of the current JORC resource.
- Assays from 25 holes remain pending, including multiple step-out and DHEM results across zones of open mineralisation.
Managing Director, Mr Fairhall said:
“These results show clearly the tremendous potential for Horden Lake to deliver substantial exploration upside, with hole 98 showing the copper zone expanding at depth with one of the best intersections on the project.
Most excitingly, we couple this with very strong DHEM conductors indicating this mineralisation has continuity along strike and clearly extends at depth.
It is important to highlight that drilling has defined high grade mineralisation to over 550m in the central zone (and still open), and we now see no reason why the southern zone cannot achieve a similar, or possibly better, result. We have a significant amount of news-flow in the pipeline and we shall release further assays as they become available, along with downhole EM results where surveyed.”
Overview
Horden Lake is a copper dominant Cu-Ni-Au-PGM-Co Project located 131km north-northwest of Matagami, in Quebec Canada. The Project hosts an indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate of 28mt at 1.5% CuEq, as a result of over 52,464m of drilling already completed on the property. Pivotal has recently completed a 7,097m / 34 hole diamond drilling campaign. 1,317m / 6 holes have been reported prior to this announcement.
The objectives of the drilling program were to infill missing by-product multi-element assay information, target resource expansion potential (which remains open at depth across its full extent) and collect a distribution of metallurgical sample for a complete test work program. Downhole EM surveys have also been completed to dimension future exploration potential and targeting.
The results of drilling in HN-24-98 together with HN-24-93 and HN-24-94, and DHEM across HN24-98 and HN-24- 96 provide strong evidence of substantial resource growth potential at depth. This southern portion of the deposit has only a couple of holes below ~200m vertical depth. In the central portion, drilling has defined continuous zone of resources to approximately 550m.
Figure 1: Drill plan map with significant 2024 results, Horden Lake Cu-Ni-Au-PGM Project
Drill Hole and DHEM Discussion
Reported results are focused in the southern portion of the Horden Lake deposit. Hole HN-24-98 was designed to test step out potential, whilst holes HN-24-99 and HN-24-100 were shallower holes designed to infill continuity and collect by-product assay information not taken previously. DHEM survey results for HN-24-98 are also reported here, along with the survey results of HN-24-96 (assays reported on 10 June 2024).
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Pivotal Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
First Two Step-out Holes Extend High Grades at Horden Lake
Highlights
- High grade copper mineralisation extended down-plunge in hole HN-24-97, the first step-out hole reported from the 2024 drill program.
- 21.5m @ 0.98% CuEq1 (0.56% Cu, 0.12% Ni, 0.07g/t Au, 0.09g/t Pd) plus additional 0.03g/t Pt, 119ppm Co, 8.3g/t Ag from 266.1m
Including 7.2m @ 1.56% CuEq from 280.4m - Deepest hole in this zone, 80-110m diagonally down-plunge from the two nearest historic holes
- 21.5m @ 0.98% CuEq1 (0.56% Cu, 0.12% Ni, 0.07g/t Au, 0.09g/t Pd) plus additional 0.03g/t Pt, 119ppm Co, 8.3g/t Ag from 266.1m
- HN-24-96 extends downwards and infills high grade mineralisation in 130m gap between previously drilled holes.
- 17.1m @ 0.58% CuEq (0.25% Cu, 0.1% Ni, 0.03g/t Au, 0.06g/t Pd) plus additional 0.03g/t Pt, 95ppm Co, 3.9g/t Ag from 203m
Including 5.1m @ 0.95% CuEq from 206.6m - 11.9m @ 1.39% CuEq (0.42% Cu, 0.33% Ni, 0.03g/t Au, 0.13g/t Pd) plus additional 0.04g/t Pt, 230ppm Co, 4.8g/t Ag from 229.7m.
Including 7.8m @ 2.1% CuEq from 229.7m
- 17.1m @ 0.58% CuEq (0.25% Cu, 0.1% Ni, 0.03g/t Au, 0.06g/t Pd) plus additional 0.03g/t Pt, 95ppm Co, 3.9g/t Ag from 203m
- Mineralisation now defined to 200-230m vertical depth in the vicinity of these holes. This is less than half the ~550m depth that mineralisation has been defined to in the central part of Horden Lake.
- Significant gold, silver, palladium, platinum and cobalt metals delineated once again, which were not assayed in this part of the deposit during previous drill campaigns.
- Consistent news-flow ahead, including results from the remaining 5,780m / 28 diamond drill holes and downhole EM surveys to be released, followed by a mineral resource update and metallurgical test-work in H2.
Managing Director, Mr Fairhall said:
“Down plunge extensions are a key pillar of the significant upside story at Horden Lake. The southern flank of the deposit has only been drilled to around 200m, whereas mineralisation is defined to ~550m in the central portion. These high grade results in the south demonstrate the strong potential for resource growth at depth, with the deposit remaining completely open across its full strike extent. In addition, we anticipate increasing the metal content of the resource through inclusion of the significant palladium, gold, cobalt, platinum and silver assays we are seeing which were never before assayed for in this portion of the deposit.
We have a significant amount of news-flow in the pipeline as we release further assays and the results of downhole surveys as they become available.”
Overview
Horden Lake is a copper dominant Cu-Ni-Au-PGM-Co Project located 131km north-northwest of Matagami, in Quebec Canada. The Project hosts an indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate of 28mt at 1.5% CuEq, as a result of over 52,464m of drilling already completed on the property. Pivotal has recently completed a 7,097m / 34 hole diamond drilling campaign. 705m / 4 holes have been reported prior to this announcement.
The objectives of the drilling program were to infill missing by-product multi-element assay information, target resource expansion potential (which remains open at depth across its full extent) and collect a distribution of metallurgical sample for a complete test work program. Downhole EM surveys have also been completed to dimension future exploration potential and targeting.
Figure 1: Drill plan map of the Horden Lake Cu-Ni-Au-PGM Project
Drill Hole Discussion
Holes HN-24-96 and HN-24-97 were designed to test step out and infill the deeper extensions in the southern portion of the Horden Lake deposit. Table 1 contains the significant intersections, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing the spatial distribution of historical and new drill hole pierce points.
Table 1: Significant intersections. Lower cut 0.3% CuEq over 1.5m (max dilution 5m). Higher cut 1.1% CuEq over 1.5m (5m max dilution).
Figure 2: Longitudinal section looking southeast through the Horden Lake deposit
Hole HN-24-97 is located 140m down-plunge from the 2024 hole HN-24-95 (refer ASX announcement 16 May 2024), and 80m and 110m respectively diagonally down-plunge from holes previously drilled holes H25315 and H26812. Mineralisation falls within one wide intersection of 21.45m grading 0.98% CuEq (0.56% Cu, 0.12% Ni) from 266.1m (Figure 3). Higher grade intersections include 7.17m grading 1.56% CuEq (1.10% Cu, 0.13% Ni) from 280.38m, which includes 4.53m grading 2.05% CuEq (1.48% Cu, 0.18% Ni) from 282.15m. Mineralisation between 266.1 to 282.85 occurs within meta-pyroxenites, meta-gabbros, and mafic dykes and one semi massive sulphide zone. The highest grade zone, 282.85 to 287.55 m occurs within the metasediments with one massive sulphide mineralisation and included a single assay of 4.08% copper over 0.66m at 282.85m. Whilst an inferred zone of mineralisation above 0.3% CuEq was interpreted in this zone, no higher grade zone extended to this area and this intersection shows very encouraging extensions of high grade mineralisation at depth.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Pivotal Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Nordic Nickel Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects