Quebec Nickel Corp (CSE:QNI, OTCQB:QNICF) has revealed new data derived from its final airborne VTEM survey at its Ducros nickel-copper-platinum group elements (PGE) property in Quebec.
The company said that it has identified coincident electromagnetic and magnetic targets at the Fortin Sill nickel-copper-PGE showing, which has never been drilled.
In addition, the survey revealed several high-quality coincident electromagnetic-magnetic anomalies in the central part of the property, also in an area that has not seen any drilling.
Quebec Nickel told investors that preliminary interpretation of the data suggests that “multiple” regional-scale structures are present throughout the Ducros property that could act as deep-seated conduits for the emplacement of the Ducros grabbo and ultramafic sill complex.
WATCH: Quebec Nickel Corp updates on drill program at its nickel-copper-platinum Ducros Project
The firm said it plans to use the new magnetic data to complete a detailed structural analysis of the geology at Ducros, which in turn will aid in the prioritization of future drill targets.
As a result of the preliminary review of the VTEM data, the company said it is making arrangements to mobilize a second diamond drill to the project, which will focus on testing the numerous coincident electromagnetic-magnetic anomalies at the Ducros Ultramafic Sill Complex target and other areas on the property. The permits for this work are already in place, and the drilling is expected to start later this spring. Quebec Nickel said it is planning to sink a total of up to 7,000 metres at the targets.
Quebec Nickel’s vice president of exploration, Gary DeSchutter, told shareholders that the data will help guide the firm to drill the best targets at Ducros.
“I'm especially looking forward to the start of drilling at the Ducros Ultramafic Sill Complex target area, where it looks like we have quality geophysical anomalies associated with more than 30 line-kilometres of mafic and ultramafic sills, none of which have ever been drilled,” DeSchutter said in a statement. “It's about to get a lot busier as our work programs start to ramp-up, and I know our Val-d'Or-based team is up to the challenge."
CEO Dave Patterson echoed DeSchutter’s enthusiasm, saying: "Now that we have these new geophysical data, we are going to start our Phase II drilling program soon and will begin to test the many other high-quality nickel targets at Ducros.”
Quebec Nickel is set to get started on 2D and 3D inversion modelling of the VTEM and magnetic data that will be used to guide the Phase II drilling program.
Ducros consists of 280 contiguous mining claims covering 15,147 hectares within the eastern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec.
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