Nickel Rock Resources Files Notice of Work Application for the Hard Nickel Project Next to the Decar Nickel Project of FPX Nickel Corp.
Nickel Rock Resources Files Notice of Work Application for the Hard
Nickel Project Next to the Decar Nickel Project of FPX Nickel Corp.
February 10, 2021: Vancouver, BC, Canada; Nickel Rock Resources Inc. (“the Company”) TSX-V:
NICL, OTCQB: NICKLF is pleased to announce that our consultant has filed a Notice of Work
application for a multi-year area-based work permit for Nickel Rock Resource’s Nickel Project. The
Company’s prospective land position adjoins to the west of the Decar Nickel Project owned by FPX
Nickel Corp. The Company now controls a 100% interest in over 13,704 hectares in the district.
nickelrockresources.com/hardnickelgroup.
The proposed work program consists of trenching, surface exploration diamond drilling, camp
construction, and other exploration activities such as soil sampling, rock sampling, prospecting, and
geological mapping. The company proposes a 12-man, helicopter-supported camp to be built in a
cirque on the north slope of the un-named mountain immediately west of Mount Sydney Williams
next to a sub-alpine lake at the headwaters of Van Decar Creek. The camp location was selected based
on past exploration camps at this same location and will be used to accommodate field personnel.
About the Hard Nickel Project
The subject claims are partially underlain by rocks like those hosting the Decar project of FPX
Nickel where mineralization includes nickel, cobalt, and chromium. Previous exploration suggests
that at least some of the nickel mineralization occurs as awaruite which is a naturally occurring
nickel-iron alloy important in the manufacture of environmentally efficient batteries for the electric
vehicle markets globally. The mineral awaruite is both highly magnetic and very dense and is
therefore amenable to concentration by mechanical processes including magnetic and gravity
separation. This style of deposit is unique and presents considerable metallurgical and processing
cost saving advantages.
Significantly, the awaruite found is found in a serpentinized ultramafic rock. In 2018, G. Dipple at
the University of British Columbia began the Geoscience BC funded research project “Carbon
Mineralization Potential Assessment for BC” scheduled for completion in early 2021. In late 2020 a
preliminary assessment report was published. One of the key items from the report was “The use of
reactive serpentinite tailings from nickel mining as a carbon sink has the potential to make nickel
mining carbon neutral or a net carbon sink.” The presence of serpentinized ultramafic rocks has
been repeatedly documented in the areas covered by the claims of the Nickel Rock Projects, as well
as at FPX Nickel Corp.’s Decar Project (Dipple, G. et.al., Geoscience BC Report 2020-15).
The Company has seen the commodity spot price for nickel to be in a steady uptrend while world
stockpiles have been on the decline and EV manufacturers are calling for more supply of nickel
because nickel quantities are increasing in batteries as they increase the amount of charge a battery
can hold, thus allowing the EV’s to travel greater distances. One such company is Tesla Inc.
(NASDAQ: TSLA), the world’s leading EV manufacturer. Tesla’s Founder, Elon Musk, stated that a
large contract would be signed if a company could produce nickel with a lowered carbon
footprint by using more environmentally friendly ways of mining. His comments made waves
in the nickel space and several juniors have benefited from his comments and surged 2 to 3 times
their value.
Nickel Rock Resources Inc.
1220 – 789 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1H2
604- 428-5690
www.nickelrockresources.com
2
Clayton Valley Project, Silver Peak, Nevada
The Company is exploring for lithium clays and brines within its project area of 118 claims covering
over 930 hectares (2,300 acres). The property stretches in a northwest direction from the
evaporation ponds of Albemarle Corporation NYSE: ALB. It has been widely reported that
Albemarle is planning to double its lithium production by 2025 by committing between US$30
million and US$50 million in additional investment on the property. In 2021, Albemarle plans to
commence exploration of clay and evaluate technology that could accelerate the viability of lithium
production from clay resources in the region.
Clayton Valley lithium mineralization occurs both in brine and in montmorillonite clays within
sediments to a depth of over 150 meters. Recent metallurgical testing indicates low-cost processing
can be achieved by leaching with low acid consumption (125 kg/t) resulting in lithium recoveries of
over 85%. These high extractions prove the dominant lithium-bearing minerals present are not
hectorite, a refractory clay mineral which requires roasting and/or high acid consumption to
liberate the lithium. Testing by other companies on their lithium clay properties, including Lithium
Americas (Thacker Pass Project, Nevada), Bacanora Minerals (Sonora Project, Mexico), Ioneer
(Rhyolite Ridge Project) and Cypress Development (Clayton Valley Project) have all indicated that
economic extraction of the lithium may well be possible.
Qualified Person
Jacques Houle, P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by NI 43 - 101, is responsible for the technical
information contained in this release. Readers are cautioned that the information in this press release
regarding the property of FPX Nickel Corp is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the
property of interest.
About Nickel Rock Resources Inc. www.nickelrockresources.com
The Company is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company active in the exploration for nickel-
iron alloy in British Columbia and lithium in Nevada. Nickel Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian based
exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company’s
maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV)
market.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
“Robert Setter”
Robert Setter, President & CEO
604- 428-5690
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release
may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future
events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical
facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and
security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those
statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from
forward-looking statements.