First Atlantic Nickel releases positive initial DTR metallurgical test results showing high-grade magnetic concentrate.

From GlobeNewswire: 2025-03-13 06:30:00

First Atlantic Nickel Corp. is pleased to share initial Davis Tube Recovery (DTR) metallurgical test results from the drill hole AN-24-02 at its Atlantic Nickel Project. The DTR testing revealed a high-grade magnetic concentrate with an average grade of 1.37% nickel and 1.73% chromium over the 383.1-meter length, confirming the potential for magnetic separation processing.

These results indicate that awaruite nickel mineralization can be effectively concentrated through magnetic separation, reducing the total mass by 90.5% while capturing nickel, chromium, and cobalt. The average recovery rate of magnetically recoverable nickel was 52.4% across the entire drill hole length, showing strong potential for a smelter-free metallurgical process.

The Company’s Phase 2 drilling program is set to begin soon, aiming to target deeper mineralization and expand the mineralized area at the RPM Zone. The drilling program is fully funded by a recently closed strategic raise of $3M, aligning with North America’s critical minerals supply chain requirements and new US Electric Vehicle IRA regulations.

Drill hole AN-24-02 at the RPM Zone intersected visible awaruite nickel mineralization from near-surface to a depth of 394 meters, yielding a magnetic concentrate with an average grade of 1.37% nickel and 1.73% chromium across the 383.1-meter interval. The testing highlights the potential of magnetic separation as an effective processing method for the project’s mineralization.

The Super Gulp Zone, located near the RPM Zone, also showed significant metallurgical potential through DTR testing. Drill hole AN-24-01 intersected awaruite mineralization, producing a magnetic concentrate with an average grade of 0.89% nickel and 1.60% chromium over 293.8 meters. These results support the effectiveness of magnetic separation for disseminated awaruite nickel-iron alloy mineralization.

Awaruite, a natural nickel-iron alloy, offers a cleaner and more efficient processing solution compared to conventional nickel sources. With its smelter-free magnetic separation approach, awaruite could enhance North America’s critical minerals supply chain by reducing dependence on foreign nickel processing entities, aligning with new US Electric Vehicle IRA regulations.

The Company’s forward-looking approach includes a comprehensive metallurgical process development program, focusing on running larger sample sizes through a pilot-scale magnetic separator, evaluating additional processing methods, optimizing recovery parameters, and assessing potential by-product recovery. These steps aim to generate valuable data for future economic studies and flowsheet development.



Read more at GlobeNewswire: First Atlantic Nickel Releases Initial DTR Metallurgical