Tartisan Nickel Corp () () (FRA: 8TA) told investors it has started preparing for a first pass drilling program on the flagship Kenbridge nickel project in Ontario as the company updates the surface and drilling electromagnetic survey results.

As previously reported, the company hired Crone Geophysics & Exploration Limited to conduct a surface time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) survey at Kenbridge North, which is 2.5 km (km) north of the Kenbridge deposit, as well as geophysical surveys at Kenbridge known. deposit.

READ: Tartisan Nickel to complete geophysical surveys on Kenbridge flagship nickel-copper-cobalt project

Drill survey results from two historic drill holes at the deposit suggest that the conductive material continues at depth and north of the deposit, Tartisan said.

These results will aid in the identification of drill targets and will focus on targets with the highest conductivity and potentially higher sulphide concentrations, he added.

Meanwhile, the results of the surface TDEM survey at Kenbridge North showed a strong conductor called KBN1, which appears to extend for a minimum of 400 meters with a bearing direction similar to that of the Kenbridge deposit.

A second conductor, named KBN2, has also been identified at Kenbridge North, which will need to be monitored as part of the next exploration program.

Tartisan said the drilling is aimed at increasing the resource estimate and the overall nickel and copper grade of the Kenbridge deposit.

A 2020 resource update for the project showed a Measured and Indicated (M&I) resource of 7.5 million tonnes (Mt) of 0.58% nickel and 0.32% copper for a total of 95 million pounds of contained nickel.

Mineralization at the deposit is open at depth and along strike.

In February 2021, the company announced that P&E Mining Consultants would update a previously released Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Kenbridge,

A 2008 PEA showed that the mine life average nickel recovery was 86% and the recovery was 84.6 million pounds. The pre-tax net present value (NPV) was set at $ 253 million and the pre-tax internal rate of return (IRR) was 65%.

The new PEA will identify “critical next steps Tartisan must take to move the Kenbridge deposit to a bankable feasibility study, including permitting, geotechnical, environmental and geological issues,” the company said.

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