Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/99312
tainty in Europe and the debt problem in the US seemingly out of control, investors have fled risk, creating a selloff in all risk assets. Resource assets in general were sold off, and the juniors hardest hit, with share prices down across the board. Political situations in Latin America and Africa have to be taken into account as well with governments claiming large shares of mining profits. Investors shouldn't ignore these jurisdictions, but a much closer look at the situation is warranted. An important factor to consider is that many of the resource companies are based in Canada, and the share prices are denominated in Canadian dollars. Canada Pioneers of a New Eco-Friendly Style of Nickel Suite 906 – 1112 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2S1 20 www.resourceworld.com Tel: 604.681.8600 Fax: 604.681.8799 e-mail: info@firstpointminerals.com has avoided the global debt crises and the Canadian economy remains strong. Canada remains poised for long-term growth, assisted by a young and growing population along with a strong resource base to complement the manufacturing and high technology sectors. Are we finally seeing the beginning of a rebound? The short answer is yes and no. It may be a while before there is a broad lift in the markets, but by the time the markets have rebounded, the better quality companies will be trading at much higher prices. Junior resource companies are not high on many investors' lists of favored investments, making this a good time to buy them. PETER GRANDICH – THE GRANDICH LETTER The "Mother" of all gold bull markets remains fully intact and 2012 shall prove to be little more than a pause that refreshes. First Point Minerals (FPX-TSX) is rapidly advancing a unique style of nickel mineralization in British Columbia, elsewhere in Canada and around the world – a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy called awaruite. Neither sulphide or lateritic, First Point's flagship 49%-owned Decar project in central B.C. is a grassroots discovery that represents a potential new source of nickel supply in the form of a naturally occurring "stainless steel." Decar represents a promising target for bulk-tonnage, open-pit mining. The deposit contains little or no sulphide, meaning it has little or no capacity to generate acid mine drainage. Initial metallurgical test work demonstrates the nickeliron alloy is recoverable using low-risk, conventional, physical processing methods – two-stage grinding and magnetic separation, followed by gravity concentration – anddoesnotrequirechemicalreagents,therebysignificantly reducing another potential environmental impact. A Preliminary Economic Assessment evaluating the technical and economic viability of the Decar project is due to be completed in Q1 2013. Beyond Decar, First Point's ongoing global search for additional nickel-iron alloy targets has resulted in new discoveries in Western Canada, Australia and Norway, all 100%-owned by First Point. To find out more about First Point Minerals, visit: www.firstpointminerals.com DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013