Québec Nickel Reports Metallurgical Test Program Results from the Fortin Sill Zone
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QUÉBEC NICKEL CORP.
CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE
Symbol "QNI"
QUÉBEC NICKEL REPORTS METALLURGICAL TEST PROGRAM RESULTS
FROM THE FORTIN SILL ZONE
Vancouver, British Columbia, February 1, 2024 – Québec Nickel Corp. (CSE: QNI; FSE: 7lB; OTCQB:
QNICF) ( “QNI” or the “ Company”) announces results from the metallurgical test work program
completed on Ni-Cu-PGE-rich drill core from the Fortin Sill Zone at its 100% owned Ducros Project
near Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Québec. The objective of the scoping-level metallurgical program is to
evaluate the amenability of the Fortin Sill Zone to produce saleable Critical Metals- bearing mineral
concentrate(s).
Highlights:
• Copper concentrate grades of 30% Cu with greater than 90% recovery achieved;
• Nickel concentrate grades of 5% Ni with recoveries averaging 72% realized;
• Ball mill hardness testing indicates the sulphide-rich rocks are classified as “moderately soft”;
• Environmental characterization of the combined tails did not identify any notable leachable
metals.
David Patterson, QNI’s CEO and Chairman, remarks “I’m happy to see these strong test results
confirm what we were thinking as soon as we saw the core come out of the ground at the Fortin Sill
Zone in early 2022. The mineral assemblages and grades found at Fortin are not only quite unique for
the Abitibi, but they also look like they could potentially be processed using conventional
metallurgical processes. In a very short amount of time, we’ve completed several different technical
studies of the host rocks and nickel-copper-PGE mineralization found at Fortin, and all signs suggest
we’re onto to something unique and important here.”
B
ackground
The metallurgical study was initiated in 2023 to follow-up on significant drilling results returned from
the Fortin Sill Zone including 31.00 metres of 0.37% Ni, 0.40% Cu, 176 ppm Co and 0.55 g/t Pt-Pd-Au
in hole QDG-22-09 (see May 16, 2022 News Release), 43.39 metres of 0.24% Ni, 0.25% Cu, 146 ppm
Co and 0.35 g/t Pt-Pd-Au in hole QDG-22-28 (see August 30, 2022 News Release) and 11.80 metres
of 1.44% Ni, 1,49% Cu, 461 ppm Co and 2.79 g/t Pt-Pd-Au in hole QDG-22-29 (see August 30, 2022
News Release).
During the first half of 2023, the Company completed several dedicated HQ-diameter drill holes at
the Fortin Sill Zone that supplied fresh material for the test work program. The metallurgical holes
were designed to twin previously completed holes and targeted three styles and grades of Ni-Cu-PGE
mineralization including:
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• Low grade disseminated and blebby sulphide mineralization with a target average grade of
0.30% nickel + copper;
• Moderate grade blebby to heavily disseminated mineralization with a target average grade
of 0.75% nickel + copper;
• High-grade net texture to semi-massive mineralization with a target grade of greater than
1.50% nickel + copper.
From the metallurgical drilling, three 50-kilogram samples of Ni-Cu-PGE mineralized drill core, each
representing one of the styles and target grades of mineralization, were collected and delivered to
SGS Canada’s Québec City laboratory for the study. Examples of some of the sampled drill core that
was used for this test work program are presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Select photographs of some of the drill core samples provided to SGS Canada for the Fortin Sill Zone
metallurgical study. A – blebby sulphide mineralization from hole QDG-23-29M at 22.00 metres depth (HQ core, long
dimension of photograph is 8 cm); B – net texture sulphides from hole QDG-23-29M at 36.45 metres depth (HQ core,
long dimension of photograph is approximately 6.0 cm); C – disseminated and semi massive sulphides from hole
QDG-23-29M at 36.60 metres (HQ core, long dimension of photograph is approximately 6.0 cm); and D – semi
massive sulphide vein from hole QDG-23-28M at 41.25 metres hole depth (HQ core, long dimension of photograph
is approximately 6.0 cm).
Summary of Metallurgical Study Results
Upon preparing a master composite sample from the three variability samples, the four samples were
subjected to a metallurgical test program which included amongst other protocols, comminution,
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floatation and environmental test work.
The Bond ball mill grindability test (i.e. comminution), which is used to estimate net power
requirements for a potential mill grinding circuit, was performed on the master composite sample.
Results from this test show the Fortin Sill Zone rocks are “moderately soft”.
The results from the floatation test work program demonstrate that the mineralized rocks at the
Fortin Sill Zone are amenable to producing two distinct mineral concentrates, namely a high-grade
copper + gold + palladium concentrate and a moderate grade nickel + cobalt + platinum concentrate.
Copper grades ranging from 28.0 to 29.3% Cu at recoveries ranging from 89.2% to 92.9% were
achieved from the four samples. The nickel concentrate grades were relatively low at about 5% Ni for
the four samples tested. Nickel recoveries improved significantly from the batch tests and ranged
from a low of 48.2% in the low-grade sample to 77.5% in the high-grade sample.
A subsample of the combined tailings from the four locked cycle tests was submitted for basic
environmental characterization including leachable metals and acid base accounting (ABA).
Environmental characterization of the combined tails did not identify any notable leachable metals
but found the sample to be possibly acid generating.
Mo
re detailed information discussing the results of this study can be found appended to the end of
this New Release.
Qualified Person
Gary DeSchutter, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person (“QP”) as defined under National Instrument 43-
101 ( “NI 43-101”), has reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical content of this news
release.
About Québec Nickel Corp.
Québec Nickel Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, and
developing critical metals (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) projects in Québec, Canada. The Company has a 100%
interest in the Ducros Property, consisting of 282 contiguous mining claims covering 15,293 hectares
within the eastern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Québec, Canada. Additional information
about Québec Nickel Corp. is available at www.quebecnickel.com.
The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE
nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
David Patterson
Chief Executive Officer and Director
1 (855) 764-2535 (QNICKEL)
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CAUTIONARY AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All
statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts that address events or developments
that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects,”
“plans,” “ anticipates,” “ believes,” “ intends,” “ estimates,” “ projects,” “ potential” and similar expressions, or
that events or conditions “will,” “would,” “may,” “could” or “should” occur. Although the Company believes the
expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those in forward-
looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic,
market, or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future
performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-
looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the
Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws,
the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs,
estimates, opinions, or other factors should change.
Additional Details of the Fortin Sill Zone Metallurgical Program Results
Sample Preparation
Upon receipt at SGS’ laboratory, each of the three 50-kilogram samples of drill core was first stage-
crushed to 3.3 millimeters (6 mesh), from which 20 kilograms was taken from each sample to create
a master composite sample. A 10-kilogram split of the master composite sample was used for Bond
Work Index (BWI) testing. The remainder of the four samples (low-grade, moderate-grade, high-
grade, and composite) were crushed further and split into multiple sub samples that were used for
all subsequent test work.
Head Characterization
For each sample, a single test charge was randomly selected from which a ~150 g subsample was
riffled, pulverized, and submitted for chemical characterization for the metals of interest. The head
grade for each of the four samples is presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Head assay results for each of the four samples from Fortin Sill Zone.
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Ball Mill Grindability Test
Bond Work Index (BWI) testing was completed on the 10-kg split of the Fortin Sill Zone composite
sample at a closing size of 150 µm (100 mesh). The results were compared to SGS’ internal database,
which comprises over 9,000 BWI data points (Figure 2), and at a BWI of 12.5 kWh/t, the Fortin Sill
Zone mineralized rocks can be categorized as being “moderately soft”.
Rougher Tests
Four rougher tests were first completed on the composite sample to define the optimal floating
conditions, then the best conditions were applied to the low, moderate and high-grade samples. The
variables evaluated include collector type, gangue mineral depressant dosage and addition location
in the circuit, as well as addition of copper sulphate as nickel activator.
Initial tests with two different sulphide collectors (xanthate and dithiophosphate) with the addition
of a gangue mineral depressant (Depramin C) at each of the five rougher stages showed no significant
difference in nickel and copper recoveries to the combined rougher concentrate (tests #F1 & F2). An
increase in a sulphide collector dosage from 25 g/t to 70 g/t, a single 500 g/t addition of the gangue
mineral depressant in the primary grind, along with an addition of a copper sulphate as an activator
in test F3, resulted in a dramatic improvement in nickel recoveries from sub 20% to over 60% (Table
2). Substantial boosts to recoveries of cobalt and palladium are also noted in test F3. Test F4 included
a selective copper collector (dithiocarbamate) at the copper floatation stage and additional sulphide
collector (dithiophosphate) in the nickel circuit further increased nickel recoveries from 63% to 72%.
Figure 2. BWI results from the Fortin Sill Zone composite sample compared to the SGS database.
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Table 2. Rougher flotation results for the Fortin Sill Zone mineralized samples. Tests #1-4 were performed on the
Fortin Sill Zone composite sample to determine the optimal conditions. Tests #7-9 were completed on the low,
moderate and high-grade samples using the optimal conditions.
Cleaner Tests
A total of nine cleaner tests were completed, three on the composite sample and two each on the
low, moderate and high-grade samples to determine if nickel and copper grades and recoveries could
be improved. Different combinations and amounts of sulphide collectors, gangue mineral depressant,
and varying regrinding times were evaluated and in general, there was no significant impact on nickel
recoveries by increasing retention time.
Locked Cycle Tests
Based on the results of the rougher and cleaner tests, four different locked cycle tests were
completed on the composite and the three grade variability samples as per Figure 3. For each of the
low, moderate and high-grade samples, separate nickel and copper concentrates were produced. The
locked cycle tests gave excellent copper performance, achieving copper grades ranging from 28.0%
to 29.3 % Cu at recoveries ranging from 89.2% to 92.9%, which are in-line with the results from the
composite sample (Table 3). Nickel concentrate grades average 5% between the four samples and
recoveries range between 48.2% in the low-grade sample to 77.5% in the high-grade sample.
Cobalt and platinum primarily followed and behaved like the nickel, while gold and palladium mostly
followed and behaved like copper. Gold and palladium contents for the copper-rich concentrates
range from 6.22 g/t Au (low grade sample) to 9.85 g/t Au (high grade sample) and 7.25 g/t Pd (low
grade sample) to 11.42 g/t Pd (high grade sample). The cobalt and platinum contents of the
concentrates vary between 0.07% Co (low grade sample) and 0.16% Co (high grade sample) and 3.46
g/t Pt (low grade sample) and 6.21 g/t Pt (moderate grade sample) all at low to moderate recoveries.
A comparison of sulphide nickel (NiS) and total nickel (Ni) assays suggests that losses due to non-
sulphide nickel minerals are minimal.
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Figure 3. The locked cycle flowsheet developed for the Fortin Sill Ni-Cu-PGE Zone rocks.
Table 3. Locked cycle test metallurgical projections for the Fortin Sill Zone Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization.
Ni
(%)
NiS
(%)
Cu
(%)
Co
(%)
Au
(g/t)
Pt
(g/t)
Pd
(g/t)
Mg
(%) Wt. Ni NiS Cu Co Au Pt Pd Mg
LCT1 Comp Cu 2nd Cl Conc 1.87 1.61 29.2 0.07 9.94 4.33 9.55 0. 66 3.1 7.8 7.5 91.5 6.7 63.6 23.7 51.5 0.2
Ni 3rd Cl Conc 4.71 4.57 0.52 0.18 1.29 1.70 1.92 2.80 12. 0 76.9 82.8 6.3 66.0 32.2 36.4 40.3 3.0
Ni 1st Cl Scav Tail 0.45 0.39 0.07 0.02 0.06 0.26 0.11 13.1 7. 8 4.8 4.6 0.6 4.0 0.9 3.6 1.4 9.2
Ni Rougher Tail 0.10 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.26 0.05 12.6 77. 2 10.5 5.2 1.6 23.3 3.2 36.2 6.7 87.6
LCT2 LG Cu 2nd Cl Conc 1.40 1.24 29.3 0.07 6.22 3.46 7.25 0. 85 2.1 9.2 11.3 92.9 7.8 61.3 26.0 58.0 0.1
Ni 3rd Cl Conc 5.12 4.93 0.88 0.27 2.00 2.14 2.17 5.88 3. 0 48.2 63.6 4.0 40.0 28.1 22.9 24.7 1.4
Ni 1st Cl Scav Tail 0.35 0.27 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.17 0.09 13.4 7. 2 8.0 8.5 0.4 7.9 0.9 4.4 2.6 7.6
Ni Rougher Tail 0.12 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.15 0.04 13.0 87. 8 34.6 16.6 2.7 44.4 9.7 46.6 14.6 90.8
LCT3 MG Cu 2nd Cl Conc 2.63 2.01 29.1 0.12 12.8 6.21 7.54 0. 57 2.3 15.7 12.8 89.2 12.6 74.5 36.3 51.4 0.1
Ni 3rd Cl Conc 4.81 4.61 1.12 0.22 1.51 2.37 2.34 3.12 4. 4 55.1 56.1 6.5 43.4 16.8 26.4 30.5 1.3
Ni 1st Cl Scav Tail 0.28 0.28 0.06 0.01 0.05 0.17 0.09 11.7 10. 0 7.4 7.8 0.9 6.4 1.2 4.3 2.5 10.8
Ni Rougher Tail 0.10 0.10 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.16 0.06 11.4 83. 4 21.8 23.2 3.4 37.6 7.4 33.0 15.5 87.9
LCT4 HG Cu 2nd Cl Conc 4.36 3.21 28.0 0.16 9.85 4.79 11.42 0. 57 5.8 13.6 11.2 90.4 13.6 82.5 23.7 50.5 0.3
Ni 3rd Cl Conc 5.53 5.23 0.53 0.20 0.39 1.66 2.08 1.46 26. 2 77.5 81.7 7.7 75.1 14.7 36.9 41.4 3.7
Ni 1st Cl Scav Tail 0.52 0.45 0.10 0.02 0.04 0.48 0.22 15.6 8. 7 2.4 2.3 0.5 2.6 0.5 3.6 1.4 13.3
Ni Rougher Tail 0.20 0.14 0.04 0.01 0.03 0.71 0.15 14.3 59. 3 6.5 4.8 1.4 8.7 2.3 35.9 6.7 82.7
Test # Product
Grade Distribution (%)
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Environmental Testing
A subsample of the combined tailings from the four locked cycle tests was submitted for basic
environmental characterization including leachable metals and acid base accounting (ABA).
The solid fraction of the sample was partially digested in accordance with the moderately aggressive
Quebec Ministry of the Environment Protocol M.A. 200 – Met 1.2 digest. Environmental
characterization of the combined tails did not identify any notable leachable metals (Table 4).
Table 4. ICP/OES/MS Elemental Analysis - Quebec MA.200 - Met 1.2 Digest.
Acid base accounting (ABA) testing was completed using the Quebec Acisol 1.0 method to assist in
determining the propensity of the solids to generate acidic conditions. The ABA test provides
quantification of the total sulphur, sulphide sulphur, and sulphate concentrations present and the
potential acid generation (AP) related to the oxidation of the sulphur concentration. The test method
determines the neutralization potential (NP) of the sample by initiating a reaction with excess acid,
then back titrating to pH 7.0 with NaOH. Carbonate concentrations will also be analyzed, and
Carbonate NP values will be determined. The balance between the AP and NP assists in defining the
potential of the sample to generate acid drainage.
Results of the ABA test on the combined flotation tail are summarized in Table 5. With a NP/AP ratio
of 2.61, the Combined Tail sample is possibly acid generating and results should be verified via
mineralogical characterization.