Metal Energy Corp. (TSX-V:MERG) has announced its diamond drilling exploration plans for the first quarter of 2022 at its Strange and Manibridge nickel projects.
Drilling is expected to begin the week of January 24 for Strange and late-February/early-March for Manibridge.
The company said the diamond drilling plans include 1,500 metres (m) in two drill holes at Strange to target geophysical anomalies interpreted as ultramafic rock types overlying sedimentary units, typical of Proterozoic Mid-Continental Rift-style nickel deposits.
READ: Metal Energy announces the appointment of Mike Sweeny as the company's vice president, Exploration & Development
In addition, plans call for an initial 3,000m in seven drill holes in and around the historic Manibridge Mine workings, which produced 1.3 million tonnes at 2.55% nickel and 0.27% copper from 1971 to 1977, that will provide the company with modern downhole information specific for understanding high-grade nickel mineralization in the old Mine area.
A permit application for a larger drill program to start in 2Q 2022 is in the works, the company noted.
"We are about a week away from having a drill turning on Strange, kickstarting Metal Energy's exploration programs for the year,” Metal Energy CEO James Sykes said in a statement.
“We are still a young company, having only listed on the TSXV on November 29, 2021, but since then, we've successfully raised over $7 million in cash, and we've hired Mike Sweeny as our Vice-President, Exploration & Development. Mike brings 30 years of nickel exploration and development to the company, essential for us moving our projects forward. We are excited to see what potential exists at Strange as the project has never been drilled down to the appropriate target depths, and we eagerly anticipate the company's inaugural drill program on Manibridge in the coming months.”
Sweeny added: "I am pleased to be joining the Metal Energy team and starting work on the drill program for the Strange project. Having worked in the Thunder Bay area in the past I recognize the excellent potential for discovery of a new nickel deposit within the Midcontinental Rift system. Success with this drill program would keep us busy for many years to come. I'm also anxious to immerse myself in the geology and exploration potential for both the brownfield and greenfield targets at the Manibridge mine site in Manitoba.”
Strange and Manibridge are located in Ontario and Manitoba, respectively. Both projects are within well-established geologic environments, have year-round highway access, and are permitted to drill.
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