First Atlantic Nickel Expands Rpm Zone to 750 Meters IN Width with Second Phase 2 Drill Hole: AN-25-07 Intersects 495 Meters of Visible Awaruite Mineralization
FIRST ATLANTIC NICKEL EXPANDS RPM ZONE TO 750 METERS IN WIDTH WITH SECOND PHASE 2
DRILL HOLE: AN-25-07 INTERSECTS 495 METERS OF VISIBLE AWARUITE MINERALIZATION
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland – (Globenewswire - September 10, 2025) - First Atlantic Nickel Corp.
(TSXV: FAN) (OTCQB: FANCF) (FSE: P21) ("First Atlantic" or the "Company") is pleased to report a
significant expansion of visible awaruite nickel -alloy mineralization at the RPM Zone, part of its 100% owned,
district-scale, 30 kilometer -long Atlantic Nickel Project in Newfoundland (the "Atlantic Nickel Project" or the
"Project"). RPM Drill hole AN-25-07, the second hole of the Phase 2 program, intersected 495 meters of visibly
disseminated awaruite and has expanded the mineralized section located 400 meters north of the RPM discovery
holes up to 750 meters in width. This represents a ~50% increase from the 500-meter width established in Phase
1, confirming the robust lateral extent of awaruite mineralization at RPM. With holes AN -25-08 and AN -25-09
now completed on Line S3, Phase 2 drilling has tested 800 meters of north-south strike length and continues to
demonstrate the scale potential of the RPM Zone as the Company advances toward defining over 1 kilometer of
continuous awaruite mineralization. Concurrent with drilling, Phase 2 prospecting across the 30-kilometer
Pipestone Ophiolite Complex has collected numerous surface rock samples containing visible awaruite for assay
and davis tube metallurgical testing. Additional updates on the Phase 2 program are anticipated within the
coming weeks.
The sulfur-free nature of awaruite (Ni3Fe), a naturally occurring nickel-iron-cobalt alloy already in metallic form,
eliminates the need for secondary processes such as smelting, roasting or acid leaching that are typical of sulfide
or laterite nickel ores. Unlike sulfides, which are not natural alloys, awaruite avoids the challenge of sourcing
smelter capacity - a bottleneck in North America's nickel supply chain. With an average nickel grade of
approximately 76%, awaruite significantly exceeds the ~25% 1 nickel grade characteristic of pentlandite.
Awaruite's strong magnetic properties enable concentration through magnetic separation, as demonstrated by
Davis Tube Recovery (DTR) testing at First Atlantic's RPM Zone drill core. Awaruite eliminates the elect ricity
requirements, emissions, and environmental impacts associated with conventional smelting, roasting or acid
leaching processes of common nickel minerals. Moreover, awaruite's sulfur-free composition removes the risks
of acid mine drainage (AMD) and related permitting challenges commonly posed by sulfide minerals. 2 pose. As
noted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2012: "The development of awaruite deposits in other
parts of Canada may help alleviate any prolonged shortage of nickel concentrate. Awaruite, a natural iron-nickel
alloy, is much easier to concentrate than pentlandite, the principal sulfide of nickel."
HIGHLIGHTS:
● AN-25-07 Expands RPM Zone to 750 Meters in Width: The second hole of the Phase 2 drill program
confirms a drilled width up to 750 meters wide of mineralization, with visibly disseminated awaruite grains
observed throughout a 495-meter intersection.
● 400-Meter Step-Out Success: AN-25-07 was drilled on Line S2, a 400-meter step-out north from Line
S1, demonstrating strong continuity of awaruite mineralization along strike.
1 https://fpxnickel.com/projects-overview/what-is-awaruite/
2 https://focs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Acid-Mine-Drainage-FNEHIN.pdf
● RPM Zone Now Measures 750 Meters Wide x 400 Meters Long: Every hole drilled at the RPM Zone
has intersected large grain visibly disseminated awaruite, with mineralization now traced to depths of up
to 495 meters downhole.
● Phase 2 Expansion Targeting 1 km+ Strike Length: Holes AN -25-08 and AN -25-09, drilled on Line
S3, have extended the tested north-south strike length to 800 meters. The Phase 2 program is designed
to test beyond 1 kilometer.
● Consistent Metallurgical Performance: To date, drilling at the RPM Zone has returned magnetically
recoverable nickel averaging 1.38% in magnetic concentrate, with a mass pull of 9.08%. This results in
an average DTR nickel grade of 0.12% and overall recovery of 51.59% from an average starting grade
of 0.24% over 1,763 meters of continuously sampled core.
● Multiple Updates Expected: The Company anticipates providing additional updates on Phase 2 drilling
and other project developments in the coming weeks.
For further information, questions, or investor inquiries, please call Rob Guzman at First Atlantic Nickel by
phone at +1 844 592 6337 or via email at [email protected].
"We congratulate our geological team on the breakthrough discovery at the RPM Zone" stated Adrian Smith,
CEO of First Atlantic Nickel. "Prior operators conducting exploration at the Pipestone Ophiolite Complex missed
the awaruite mineralization in the southern parts of the property, where our team's systematic approach and
unique experience recognized both the geological controls and the distinction between surface expressions and
underlying mineralization. Thanks to Newfoundland's streamlined permitting pr ocess, we have advanced from
discovery to Phase 2 drilling significantly faster than would have been possible in many other jurisdictions. Our
geological team's expertise has been instrumental in understanding this 30-kilometer awaruite system - a rare
nickel alloy that offers the potential to provide a nickel source while eliminating the energy consumption,
environmental impacts, and capacity constraints associated with conventional smelting, roasting and acid
leaching processes of nickel sulfide or laterite ores."
AN-25-07 Drill Hole Details
Drill hole AN-25-07 was collared on Line S2, approximately 400 meters north of the Phase 1 discovery holes on
Line S1 (see Figures 4 and 5). The hole successfully intersected 495 meters of serpentinized peridotite hosting
visibly disseminated awaruite (nic kel-iron alloy) mineralization. Microscope analysis and geological logging
confirmed the presence of awaruite grains throughout the intersection, with grain sizes and distribution patterns
visually consistent with those observed in previous RPM drilling. T he hole ended in mineralization, suggesting
potential for additional extensions further to the west and to depth.
The systematic placement of AN -25-07 on section Line S2 was designed to test the northern and western
continuity of the mineralized system identified in Phase 1. The successful intersection not only confirms this
continuity but significantly expands the drilled width of the mineralized zone to more than 750 meters, an increase
of approximately 50% relative to the 500-meter width established in Phase 1. This substantial width, combined
with the consistent presence of visible awaruite, highlights the potential for a significant volume of bulk -tonnage
style nickel mineralization at the RPM Zone.
Figure 1: Drill core photograph of hole AN -25-07 at 97 meters showing disseminated awar uite nickel -alloy
mineralization (top), with microscope images of awaruite grains up to 647 microns (bottom). Awaruite, a rare,
highly magnetic, and ductile nickel-alloy can be seen disseminated within serpentinized ultramafic rocks present
over significant areas on the Atlantic Nickel Project.
Figure 2: Drill core photograph from hole AN -25-07 at 245 meters showing disseminated awar uite nickel-alloy
mineralization (top), with microscope images of awaruite grains up to 311 microns in size (bottom). Awaruite, a
rare, highly magnetic, and ductile nickel -alloy can be seen disseminated within serpentinized ultramafic rocks
present over significant areas on the Atlantic Nickel Project.
Figure 3: Drill core photograph of hole AN -25-07 at 354 meters showing disseminated awar uite nickel -alloy
mineralization (top), with microscope images of awaruite grains up to 236 microns (bottom). Awaruite, a rare,
highly magnetic, and ductile nickel-alloy can be seen disseminated within serpentinized ultramafic rocks present
over significant areas on the Atlantic Nickel Project.
Figure 4: Cross section image showing the location of AN -25-07, with results pending, extending the zone of
visibly disseminated nickel-alloy mineralization westwards.
Figure 5: RPM Zone drill map showing Phase 2 drilling, with a summary of drilling results to date. Drill holes AN-
25-07, AN-25-08, and AN-25-09 currently being processed, with updates anticipated shortly.
Figure 6: Phase 2 drill cores at the Atlantic Nickel Project.
RPM Zone Overview
The RPM Zone has rapidly emerged as a breakthrough discovery within First Atlantic's 30-kilometer Atlantic
Nickel Project. Located 10 kilometers south of the Super Gulp Zone and 26 kilometers south of the historic
Atlantic Lake Zone, RPM represents a signi ficant discovery of awaruite mineralization within this district-scale
ultramafic belt. Metallurgical test work, including Davis Tube Recovery (DTR), has averaged 1.38% nickel in
magnetic concentrate across all holes completed to date, indicating that the mineralization is amenable to simple
magnetic separation processing.
The expanding footprint of the RPM Zone now measures approximately 750 meters in width by 400 meters in
length and remains open in all directions. The consistency of both visual mineralization and metallurgical
recovery suggests the potential for a large-s cale, bulk-tonnage awaruite nickel target that could be processed
without conventional smelting, aligning with the Company's vision of establishing a clean, onshore North
American nickel supply chain.
Phase 2 Drilling Update
Phase 2 drilling is expanding the mineralized footprint of the RPM Zone. Hole AN-25-07 has proven 750 meters
in width identified with visible awaruite mineralization. With holes AN -25-08 and AN-25-09 now completed, the
RPM Zone has been drilled more than 800 meters in north-south strike length.