Canada-focused explorer White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) has appointed John Hancock as a strategic advisor to the board.
Hancock is the grandson of the late Lang Hancock, founder of private iron ore producer Hancock Prospecting.
Lang Hancock is credited with discovering iron ore in the Pilbara in 1952 during his “flight of discovery” and for spending more than eight years of his life working to persuade the Australian and state governments to lift their respective bans on export and tenements.
He was also known as the “flying prospector”, having been the first in Western Australia to use light fixed wing aircraft to explore successfully for minerals.
The news edged shares up over 23% today to an intra-morning high of $0.016.
John Hancock’s experience in the mining and exploration industry began more than 40 years ago visiting Pilbara iron ore prospects with his grandfather.
During the 1990s he was part of marketing missions representing the Hope Downs Iron Ore project to customers and investors in China, Japan and Germany.
After two years working in South Africa with Iscor Mining, now Kumba Iron Ore – a subsidiary of Anglo American, and on return to Australia completing an MBA, Hancock transitioned to the role of investor.
White Cliff says over the last two decades he has built a record of successful early stage investments in lithium and uranium, including substantial holdings in Vulcan Energy (ASX:VUL) and Aura Energy (ASX:AEE).
Hancock also works as a senior advisor to The Lind Partners, a US fund that during his tenure has deployed more than $500m to small-cap companies in both Australia and Canada, particularly in the mining industry.
He has an estimated net worth of $2.44 billion, ranking him 47th on the Financial Review’s Rich List in 2023.
White Cliff has appointed Hancock to assist in the growth of its project portfolio in the coming 12 months.
Hancock says he has been searching for an early stage investment in copper to complement his exposure to lithium and uranium.
“Copper is a vital ingredient to a clean energy transition and as my grandfather said, ‘minerals don’t grow on trees, every year you need to find more’ and today this means searching further and further afield,” he says.
“White Cliff have secured a large holding in an area with historical production and exciting preliminary indications which led me to become an investor and now strategic advisor to the board.”
Last week, White Cliff announced it had visually observed further widespread, iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) and uranium mineralisation during its maiden fieldwork program at the Great Bear Lake Project in northern Canada
The company says four large IOCG hydrothermal systems have now been identified and sampled within the project area, with all prospects visibly mineralised with chalcopyrite, bornite and associated copper secondary minerals.
White Cliff has also started works at its Nunavut Copper-Silver-Gold Project.
The company has outlined a “three-project portfolio” strategy for Canada in conjunction with expanding exploration at its existing Great Bear Lake and Coppermine River projects.
Managing Director Troy Whittaker says Hancock has an extensive international network and is a successful resources veteran with deep roots within the mining industry.
“Attracting someone of John’s experience and calibre is a great development for White Cliff,” he says.
“I look forward to working with John as we execute this next corporate step and continue to unlock the untapped potential of all of the company’s projects.”
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: John Hancock
