Clean Air Metals Inc (TSX-V:AIR, OTCQB:CLRMF) has announced new appointments to underscore its commitment to sustainable mining at its flagship high-grade polymetallic Thunder Bay North Project in Ontario, Canada.
Kris Tuuttila has been appointed as director of Sustainability, Permitting and Community Relations, while Dr Geoff Heggie has been promoted to vice president-exploration, the company said.
At the same time, the company has initiated a search for a chief operating officer to lead the technical studies to advance the Thunder Bay North Project towards execution. The COO’s immediate priorities will include pre-feasibility level metallurgical optimization as well as investigate options to achieve net zero emissions related to the onset of feasibility studies at the project.
"Following the company's recent $12.5 million financing, these executive appointments signal the company's commitment to sustainable mine development at the Thunder Bay North Project. The project features a rare combination of peer-leading platinum, palladium, copper and nickel grades, proximity to infrastructure and skilled workforce and relatively low initial capital intensity,” Clean Air Metals CEO Abraham Drost said in a statement.
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The company noted that Tuuttila brings 19 years of management experience in environmental consulting for projects across Canada. He has directed multi-disciplinary environmental projects and impact assessments relating to various stages of mine development in northern Ontario, including at the Lac des Iles palladium mine 60 kilometres northwest of the Thunder Bay North Project. Tuuttila has developed meaningful relationships with various Indigenous communities of northwestern Ontario and has been instrumental in signing several partnership agreements to provide economic and training benefits to the area's First Nation communities, it added..
Dr Heggie, who began his career at Clean Air Metals as exploration manager, previously worked on the Thunder Bay North Project for seven years, the company said. He earned his BSc in Geology at the University of Saskatchewan, his MSc at Lakehead University and his PhD at the University of Western Australia. He is an expert in ultramafic/mafic-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposits and on Mid-Continent Rift geology in North America. Previously a senior geologist at Noront, Dr Heggie was involved in the systematic integration of geology and geophysics by the Noront team that resulted in the discovery of the McFaulds No. 8 VMS lenses of the Nikka deposit.
Clean Air Metals also announced the resignation of Dawn Lamswood from the position of vice president-exploration. However, it said Lamswood will continue as senior geological consultant to the company, working closely with Dr Heggie.
“We also extend our best wishes to Dawn Lamswood and wish her all success personally and professionally as she continues to work closely with the company and other clients. Dawn has made a solid contribution to the start-up of the company, which is very much appreciated," Drost added.
The company also said that under its approved Equity Incentive Plan, officers and directors of the company have been granted 1,148,999 Restricted Share Units (RSUs), and 1,400,000 long term incentive (LTI) share options for five years at an exercise price of C$0.30. Total outstanding securities granted under the Equity Incentive Plan for all personnel now stands at 6.49% of issued and outstanding shares.
Clean Air Metals presently has two diamond drills operating at the Thunder Bay North Project focused on increasing drill density within the PEA mine plan in preparation for feasibility studies and large-diameter drill bulk sampling year by year within the proposed PEA mine plan in preparation for metallurgical optimization. A third drill will be mobilized to more remote greenfields exploration sites outside the mine plan area in the search for the source of high-grade massive sulphide intercepts identified in the system.
The company and its First Nation partners at the Fort William First Nation, the Red Rock Indian Band and the Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek have an unparalleled opportunity for regional economic development at Thunder Bay North.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com