Metal Energy Corp reported that it has intersected nickel sulphide mineralization in every drill hole throughout the initial six-hole, 2,350 metre drill program at its Manibridge project in Manitoba.
The junior company said that intersections had expanded the known mineralized envelope, with two holes filling in the gaps between the mineralized shell, leaving mineralization open at depth.
Confirmation of sulphides ranged from 3.7 metres to 16.8 metres thickness, and a couple of drill holes intersected small occurrences of massive net-textured sulphides, the company said.
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Drill hole MNB004 intersected sulphides over three separate intervals, it added.
Metal Energy drilled within a one-kilometre strike-length of the formerly producing Manibridge mine, which produced 1.3 million tonnes at 2.55% nickel and 0.27% copper in the 1970s. Drilling was cut short due to the expiration of the government drill permits, the firm said.
Metal Energy CEO James Sykes called the first drill program at the project a success.
“We had a 100% nickel-copper mineralization intersection rate in every hole, and we confirmed our model. Most importantly, two holes confirmed nickel-copper sulphide mineralization within gaps of our model,” Sykes said in a statement.
“The nickel-copper sulphide system at Manibridge is completely open at depth which can add a significant amount of bulk tonnage to what's already there. Preparations for our planned 10,000 metre follow-up drill program are underway and we anticipate some exciting discoveries this summer," he added.
Nickel demand growing
The CEO also noted that nickel demand continues to grow, with a projected shortfall of supply over the next decade.
“(We) intend to have Manibridge contributing to the North American electrification supply chain," Sykes said,
A 10,000 metre follow up program is set to begin in June.
Manibridge is located in the prolific Thompson nickel belt of Manitoba.
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