Highlights from the mineralogical assessment include:
- 94% of the nickel within the CEZ is contained within nickel sulfide (pentlandite) and nickel alloy minerals.
- 72% of the copper within the CEZ is contained within copper sulfides (chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite).
- 80% of the nickel within the UEZ is contained within nickel sulfide (pentlandite) and nickel alloy minerals.
- 75% of the copper within the UEZ is contained within copper sulfides (chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite).
Millrock President and CEO
Methodology – Metal Content
Two composite samples from hole FL-003 were created for the UEZ and CEZ. Each composite was comprised of six quarter-core sample intervals spread across the mineralized zones. The anticipated metals content for each of the composited samples was calculated using historical assays from the work done by INCO in 1997 (Table 1). Historical logging and sampling of the INCO drill core was done under the direct supervision of
Table 1. Sample intervals, historical grades, calculated composite grades, and actual assay results from mineralogical study for selected samples from hole FL-003 to create composites for the CEZ and UEZ.
Composite 1 - | |||||||||
Sample | Hole ID | From ft | To ft | Ni ppm | Cu ppm | Co ppm | Pd ppb | Pt ppb | Au ppb |
FX536263 | FL-003 | 758 | 763 | 1900 | 1800 | 290 | 164 | 105 | 10 |
FX536264 | FL-003 | 763 | 768 | 1900 | 1870 | 260 | 162 | 80 | 14 |
FX536270 | FL-003 | 793 | 798 | 2500 | 1270 | 220 | 164 | 80 | 10 |
FX536274 | FL-003 | 813 | 818 | 3000 | 1560 | 240 | 206 | 80 | 52 |
FX536277 | FL-003 | 828 | 833 | 2300 | 820 | 180 | 118 | 50 | 16 |
FX536281 | FL-003 | 848 | 853 | 3200 | 1460 | 210 | 132 | 50 | 24 |
CEZ Calculated Grade (Historic Assays) | 0.25 | 0.14 | 0.02 | 0.157 | 0.072 | 0.023 | |||
New Assays Results from Composite Samples | 0.25 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 0.173 | 0.043 | 0.068 | |||
Composite 2 - | |||||||||
Sample | Hole ID | From ft | To ft | Ni ppm | Cu ppm | Co ppm | Pd ppb | Pt ppb | Au ppb |
FX536768 | FL-003 | 257 | 262 | 1690 | 385 | 141 | 82 | 42.5 | 2 |
FX536772 | FL-003 | 283 | 288 | 1500 | 340 | 120 | 71 | 33 | 2 |
FX536084 | FL-003 | 347 | 350 | 2397 | 938 | 146 | 128 | 55 | 14 |
FX536086 | FL-003 | 400 | 405 | 2636 | 918 | 154 | 132 | 65 | 16 |
FX536798 | FL-003 | 415 | 420 | 1975 | 630 | 133 | 83 | 36 | 12 |
FX536253 | FL-003 | 708 | 713 | 2000 | 940 | 220 | 146 | 70 | 24 |
UEZ Calculated Grade (Historic Assays) | 0.20 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.104 | 0.049 | 0.009 | |||
New Assays Results from Composite Samples | 0.23 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.135 | 0.031 | 0.095 |
Methodology Mineralogical Study
The mineral processing work was completed by the
Initial Mineralogical Study Results
Nickel sulfide and nickel alloys accounted for ~94% of the total nickel within the CEZ composite sample (only 5.1% of total nickel in silicates). Pentlandite was the principal nickel bearing sulfide and carried ~92% of the total nickel in the CEZ composite. Pentlandite content was measured at 0.68% by weight. The remaining potentially recoverable nickel was in the nickel alloys and nickel metal, which accounted for ~2% of the total nickel. Sulfur is higher in the CEZ (1.32%) and there is an increased amount of pyrrhotite (1.78% by weight). Interlocking between pentlandite and pyrrhotite was rarely observed, which will be favorable to the pentlandite separation from pyrrhotite.
Nickel sulfide and nickel alloys accounted for ~80% of the total nickel within the UEZ composite sample (18.9% of total nickel in silicates). Pentlandite was the principal nickel bearing sulfide and carried ~64% of the total nickel in the CEZ composite. Pentlandite content was measured at 0.44% by weight. The remaining potentially recoverable nickel was in the form of nickel alloy and nickel metal, which accounted for ~16% of the total nickel. Sulfur is lower in the UEZ (0.49%), likely due to the decrease in pyrrhotite. These results are summarized in Table 2 below.
Table 2. Summary of Ni-Fe-S deportment of
Nickel Deportment | CEZ | UEZ | ||
Ni-Fe Sulfides | 92.2 | % | 64.1 | % |
Ni-Fe Alloys | 2.1 | % | 16.7 | % |
Sulfide-Hydroxide | 0.6 | % | 0.3 | % |
Silicates (Olivine) | 5.1 | % | 18.9 | % |
Total Potential Recoverable Nickel | 94.3 | % | 80.8 | % |
% Ni from chemical analysis | 0.25 | % | 0.23 | % |
% S from chemical analysis | 1.32 | % | 0.49 | % |
Weight % pentlandite | 0.68 | % | 0.44 | % |
Weight % pyrrhotite | 1.78 | % | 0.55 | % |
Copper sulfides accounted for ~71% to 75% of the total copper within the CEZ and UEZ composites. Chalcopyrite is the dominant copper sulfide and accounts for ~67% to 71% of the copper in the composite samples. Bornite, chalcocite, cuprite, malachite, and azurite were also present, in the composite samples. The remainder of the copper (~24% to 28%) was present in valleriite (Cu-Fe-Mg sulphate). The copper sulfide contents were 0.31% by weight in the CEZ and 0.14% by weight in the UEZ. These results are summarized in Table 3 below.
Table 3. Summary of Cu-Fe-S deportment of
Copper Deportment | CEZ | UEZ | ||
Chalcopyrite | 66.8 | % | 70.7 | % |
Bornite | 1.0 | % | 1.7 | % |
Chalcocite/Covellite | 3.5 | % | 2.9 | % |
Cuprite, Malachite, Azurite | 1.1 | % | 0.2 | % |
Valleriite | 27.5 | % | 24.5 | % |
Total Potential Recoverable Copper | 72.4 | % | 75.5 | % |
% Cu from chemical analysis | 0.16 | % | 0.07 | % |
Weight % Cu Sulfides | 0.31 | % | 0.14 | % |
An additional composite sample from the
Quality Control – Quality Assurance
Millrock adheres to stringent Quality Assurance – Quality Control (“QA/QC”) standards. Core samples are kept in a secure location at all times. In this case, the samples were assayed at the Bureau Veritas laboratory in
Qualified Person
The technical information within this document has been reviewed and approved by
About
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Gregory Beischer”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164
Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information, including but not limited to execution of further deportment studies. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include without limitation the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programs on schedule and the success of exploration programs.
“NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE
Source:
2022 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source