Mar 15 2013
North American Nickel Inc. (CUSIP: 65704T 108) - North American Nickel ("NAN") is pleased to announce that it has received the first results of metallurgical studies performed by SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS"). SGS, using QEMSCAN analysis on samples of mineralized drill core from NAN's 100% owned Maniitsoq Ni-Cu-Co-PGE sulphide project in southwest Greenland, has clearly identified the nickel mineralization as being pentlandite.
This is a positive first step for the metallurgy of Maniitsoq because pentlandite is the principle nickel mineral in the world's nickel sulphide camps.
On the completion of these metallurgical studies by SGS, NAN hopes to establish the macro parameters that will guide subsequent larger scale metallurgical testing of the multiple surface and near surface Ni, Cu, Co and PGM bearing sulphide prospects located within Maniitsoq's 75 km by 15 km Greenland Norite belt.
The QEMSCAN analysis is conducted in three stages with stage one now complete and stage two and three in progress and results expected in April.
John Pattison, North American Nickel's Chief Geologist states: "Stage one, the field stitch (FS) imagery, covers only small sections of core, but the results are very encouraging as we can now confirm medium and coarse-grained pentlandite in two of the three samples. We look forward to receiving the results of the particle mineral analysis (PMA) as they will provide us with an indication of the liberation characteristics of the sulphides. While the Maniitsoq project is at a relatively early stage, it is not too early to begin investigating the metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, as we plan for success in drilling several targets in 2013."
The three stages of the QEMSCAN analysis are:
- Field stitch (FS) imagery of polished core samples to determine localized mineralogy and textures in two dimensions.
- Particle mineral analysis (PMA) of larger, coarse crushed core samples to determine mineralogy, grain size distribution and spatial characterization including liberation of sulphide minerals.
- Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) for quantitative mineral chemistry to determine any solid solution including nickel in pyrrhotite and silicates.
Below are stage 1 field stitch images of polished sections made from three samples of mineralized drill core:
To view Qemscan Field Stitch Images please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/NAN0314.pdf
Two are from the Imiak Hill zone and one from the Spotty Hill zone. These images are colour maps of the minerals in the polished sections. While the field of view is relatively narrow, they do show important textures and characteristics of the mineralization. For each image the total percent mass of each mineral species identified is listed in a table below the image.
Imiak Hill sample L163163 contains almost 15% pentlandite and the majority appears to be coarse to medium grained with lesser amounts occurring as exsolution flames in pyrrhotite.
Sample L163164 also from Imiak Hill contains a large amount of chalcopyrite in addition to pentlandite. In this sample the majority of the pentlandite is associated with chalcopyrite and is medium to coarse grained.
The upper left half of Spotty Hill sample L163593 is dominated by pyrrhotite with intercumulus orthopyroxene. Pentlandite occurs as fine grains and exsolution flames in the pyrrhotite.
Qualified Person
All technical information in this release has been reviewed by Dr. Mark Fedikow, P.Geo, who is the Qualified Person for the Company and President of North American Nickel Inc.
Source: http://www.northamericannickel.com