Nickel sulphide explorer Nordic Nickel (ASX:NNL) has encountered further potential sulphide mineralisation from an ongoing maiden diamond drilling (DD) program at its flagship Pulju Nickel Project in northern Finland.
The company says visual observation of the drill core indicates the presence of widespread sulphide mineralisation, and increases the known footprint of prospective host rocks.
Adding on, Nordic Nickel notes it is ‘highly encouraged’ by these visual observations of drilling completed to date, and that the prospective ultramafic rocks are widespread, with multiple intrusive and subvolcanic phases evident and continuing to a greater depth than ever previously drilled.
“visual analysis of the drill core [is] confirming broad intercepts of sulphide mineralisation and indicating an expanded footprint of prospective host rock units”
Drilling is currently ongoing within the historically defined Hotinvaara Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) area, with 2 drill rigs now operating at the project in order to uncover the company’s primary target of massive nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) sulphide mineralisation of a similar style to the neighbouring ‘world-class’ Sakatti deposit.
To date 1 drillhole (HOT001) has been completed and 2 more (HOT002 and 03) are currently progressing as planned, with 22,000m of drilling expected to be completed over the next 14 months.
Commenting on the results, Nordic Nickel Managing Director Todd Ross said: “An exciting start to our drilling at Hotinvaara, with visual analysis of the drill core confirming broad intercepts of sulphide mineralisation and indicating an expanded footprint of prospective host rock units. We are now eagerly awaiting assay results, which are expected to be received within the next eight to ten weeks.
These digital drillholes will help enhance our understanding of the broader geology at Hotinvaara to plan ongoing drilling and exploration programs over the next 14 months.”
The company also notes the presence of volcanic and sedimentary units has provided key chemical and physical characteristics that have contributed to the localisation of sulphide mineralisation, presumably sourced from intruding ultramafics.
In addition, it is reported drillhole HOT003, which is targeting multiple geophysical targets, has intersected sulphide minerals of variable intensity, with the minor intervals containing more intense disseminated, net-textured, semi-massive, and veined sulphides.
With drilling still ongoing at Hotinvaara, Nordic Nickel announces its Geological Team is currently reconciling the geophysical models with observed lithologies and sulphide zones in order to improve the company’s understanding of the Hotinvaara prospect geology.
First assays are expected to be received by the company in the next 8-10 weeks.
Nordic Nickel is an ASX-listed company focused on uncovering and developing sustainably sourced, high purity class 1 nickel sulphides in Finland. The company’s flagship Pulju project is situated in Finland’s Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, and represents a district-scale 240km-square land package.
Other assets included in the company’s portfolio include the Maaninkijoki 3 Project which is also located in northern Finland.
