Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/1239546
28 www.resourceworld.com A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 2 0 NICKEL Mark Selby, Chair and CEO of Canada Nickel said, "With exploration activities and mineralogy work well underway, we expect a steady stream of news flow that will underpin an exciting inaugural year for the company." In an April 6 news release, Canada Nickel reported the discovery of a new palladium-platinum zone discovered while drilling the remaining holes from the ini - tial drilling campaign on the main anomaly at Crawford. FPX Nickel [FPX-TSXV] is develop - ing the large-scale Decar Nickel District in central British Columbia which hosts their 100%-owned, PEA-stage, Baptiste awaruite deposit, which the company says, "has the potential to become one of the largest nickel mines in Canada." On February 25, 2020, FPX announced the appointment of BBA Inc. as lead engi - neer and consultant for the preparation of an updated NI 43-101 preliminary eco- nomic assessment (PEA) expected in Q3 or Q4 2020. The company's recent successful leach testing of high-grade nickel concentrates confirmed nickel recoveries up to 99.5%, producing a high-concentration nickel- cobalt chemical solution suitable for electric vehicle batteries. Martin Turenne, FPX President and CEO said, "This testing confirms the potential for the production of nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate from awaruite ore in a simple three-stage process encompassing ore beneficiation, pressure leaching, and solvent extraction." FPX's other 100%-owned nickel proper - ties include the Orca Wale and Klow in BC and the Mich property in Yukon. Garibaldi Resources Corp. [GGI- TSXV; GGIFF-OTC; RQM-FSE] continues to report impressive drill results from their Flagship Nickel Mountain Project near Eskay Creek, in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. This magmatic nickel-copper- rich massive sulphide deposit also includes palladium, platinum, cobalt, gold, silver and PGE rare metals including rhodium. February 21, 2020 reported highlights include, from drill hole EL-19-82, 9.83 metres of massive sulphides grading 7.2% nickel, 3.6% copper and 4.8 g/t palladium- platinum-gold, expanding and thickening the Lower Discovery Zone (LDZ) to the north. Three metres above, in the same hole, is an extremely high-grade 38-cm vein that returned 10.0 g/t palladium, 4.3 g/t platinum, 0.12% cobalt, 3.4 g/t gold, 26.0 g/t silver, 6.5% Ni and 4.8% Cu. The company states, "A total of 84 drill holes have now been completed at Nickel Mountain since the initial discovery in 2017. The extent of the E&L Intrusion and associated nickel-copper-rich mineraliza - tion has yet to be delimited." Garibaldi has several additional explo- ration projects in British Columbia and Mexico. Lundin Mining Corp. [LUN-TSX; LUNMF-OTC; LUMI-Sweden] produces nickel and copper concentrate from their 100%-owned, underground Eagle Mine in Michigan, USA. Production guidance and outlook for 2020 – 2022 for Eagle is 15,000 – 18,000 tonnes of nickel and 15,000 – 18,000 tonnes of copper. The mine pro - duces ~2,000 tpd and transports ore to the Humboldt mill for processing using a three-stage crushing and single stage ball mill process flotation to produce separate nickel and copper concentrates. In September of 2019, Lundin announced an increase in the Probable Mineral Reserve estimate for the Eagle East ore body extending Eagle Mine's life by over a year to mid-2025. The company expects cash costs in 2020 to reduce year-on-year to $1.00/lb nickel after by-product credits as higher grades from Eagle East reduce per pound unit costs. Lundin operations include the Candelaria copper gold mine (Chile), the Chapada copper gold mine (Brazil), the Neves-Covo copper zinc mine (Portugal) and the Zinkgruvan copper zinc mine (Sweden). Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. [NCP-TSX; NCPCF-OTCQB; P94P-FSE] is advancing its 100% owned Nickel Shaw Project towards becoming Canada's next nickel sulphide mine. The Yukon property is host to over 2 billion pounds of nickel, 1 billion pounds of copper, 6 million ounces of platinum group metals (PGMs) and 120 million pounds of cobalt in the measured and indicated categories. The company describes the deposit as large, open pit - table with significant payable metals. A 2019 geophysics program that tested the Quill exploration target area identified several strong conductors that warrant drilling. Nickel Creek reported, April 7, that it has closed tranche 1 of its private place - ment of 13,436,635 units for gross proceeds of ~$672,000 to be used for the investiga- tion of strategic transactions, permitting activities and holding costs, general corpo- rate and working capital purposes, and a 2020 field exploration program. RNC Minerals Corp. [RNX-TSX; RNKLF-OTCQX] has a 28% stake in the JV that owns the Dumont Project in Québec's Abitibi mining camp. RNC describes the Dumont Project as one of the world's largest undevel - oped, permitted and shovel-ready nickel sulphide deposits containing approxi- mately 6.1 billion pounds of nickel in the proven and probable reserve categories and 9.75 billion pounds of nickel resources in the measured and indicated category, enough nickel for a 30-year-mine-life. RNC also has 100% ownership of the producing Beta Hunt gold mine in Western Australia and a 33% interest in Orford Mining Corp. exploring underexplored areas of Northern Québec and the Carolina Gold Belt in the United States. RNC estimates a construction schedule of 2 years after securing financing and completing detailed engineering. Sherritt International Corp. [S-TSX], one of the world's largest producers of nickel from lateritic sources, has opera - tions in Canada, Cuba and Madagascar. The company's Moa Joint Venture (50% Sherritt, 50% General Nickel Company S.A. of Cuba) mines and refines nickel from lateritic sources located in Moa, Cuba and Fort Saskatchewan in Alberta, Canada, pro- ducing class 1 nickel and high-grade cobalt products. In 2019 Moa produced 33,108 tonnes of nickel and 3,376 tonnes of cobalt.