First Atlantic Nickel Step-Out Drilling Expands RPM Zone Mineralization to 500 Meters in Width with Large Awaruite Grains Up to 1,000 Microns
First Atlantic Nickel Step-Out Drilling Expands RPM Zone Mineralization to 500 Meters in Width with
Large Awaruite Grains Up to 1,000 Microns
Vancouver, British Columbia – (Globenewswire - December 10, 2024) - First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FAN)
(OTCQB: FANCF) (FSE: P21) ("First Atlantic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a significant expansion
of the awaruite mineralization at the RPM Zone within its 100% owned, district-scale, 30 kilometer-long Atlantic
Nickel Project in Newfoundland (the “Atlantic Nickel Project” or the “Project”). Step- out drilling has intersected
visibly disseminated, sulfur -free nickel -alloy (awaruite) mineraliz ation across a width of approximately 500
meters, substantially increasing the width of the newly discovered RPM Zone. Large, elongated awaruite grains,
measuring up to 1,000 microns, have been identified, underscoring the Project’s exceptional mineralizat ion
quality and potential.
Highlights:
● Significant Expansion of RPM Zone: Step-out drilling has confirmed visually disseminated awaruite
mineralization over a lateral width of approximately 500 meters, contained within serpentinized peridotite
host rock. There is potential for further expansion in both width and along the strike.
● RPM-DDH003: A 200-meter step-out hole, drilled eastward from RPM-DDH001, intersected 378 meters
of core displaying visual nickel -alloy (awaruite) mineralization, thereby confirming an expansion of the
mineralized zone to 500 meters wide. Throughout this interval, large awaruite grains ranging from 200 to
600 microns were observed, including large elongated grains up to 1,000 microns.
● RPM-DDH002: Drilled away from the initial discovery hole RPM -DDH001, RPM-DDH002 extended the
awaruite mineralization by approximately 300 meters laterally. Awaruite with grain sizes up to 400
microns were observed throughout the hole, which reached a depth of 234 mete rs before encountering
a fault.
● Pending Phase 1 Drilling: Additional drill core from Phase 1 Drilling at the RPM Zone is currently being
processed at the company's new Drill Core Processing & Storage Facility in Grand Falls-Windsor,
Newfoundland. Updates are anticipated shortly.
● Mineralization Open in All Directions: The RPM Zone remains open for drilling in all directions, with
mineralization appearing more substantial to the east and poised for further expansion along strike.
● Phase 2 Drilling Commences: Permits for the upcoming Phase 2 drilling in the RPM Zone and
throughout the 30 km ophiolite nickel district have been submitted and are anticipated to be granted in
time to initiate Phase 2 drilling this winter. This secondary phase aims to explore deeper mineralization,
extending both strike length and width.
For further information, questions, or investor inquiries, please contact Rob Guzman at First Atlantic Nickel
by phone at +1 844 592 6337 or via email at [email protected]
RPM Zone - Significant Expansion
Drilling in the RPM Zone has confirmed the presence of disseminated awaruite mineralization across an
impressive width of approximately 500 meters, with significant potential for further growth in both width and strike
length, as the zone remains open and untested in these directions. Drilling has consistently encountered visible
awaruite mineralization in all holes within the RPM Zone, with visible grain sizes typically ranging from 100 to
600 microns and occasionally reaching up to 1,000 microns. Phase 2 drilling will focus on increasing the strike
length and width to fully explore the potential size of RPM Zone. A cross -section (Figure 1) illustrates the
significant potential for awaruite mineralization at the RPM Zone, with serpentinized peridotite ultramafic hosting
visible awaruite, generally corresponding with a high magnetic geophysical anomaly.
Figure 1: Cross Section Map of RPM Drill Holes 1,2,3 with Drill Core Photos of Awaruite Mineralization at respective
locations downhole (see additional Figures below for more detailed core images).
RPM Drill Holes 2 & 3
Drill Hole RPM-DDH003 is a substantial 200m step-out hole east of RPM-DDH001, which successfully expanded
the nickel-alloy awaruite mineralization to a lateral width of approximately 500 meters within the zone (Figure 1).
The hole reached a depth of 378 meters, with visible awaruite mineralization observed throughout the drill core.
Notably, large elongated awaruite grains measuring up to 1,000 microns were identified at a depth of 180 meters,
while grains ranging from 200 to 600 microns were commonly observed disseminated throughout the hole. These
coarser-grained awaruite occurrences suggest that the mineralization expands and becomes more significant
towards the east, remaining open in this direction and providing substantial width for expansion along strike.
Drill Hole RPM-DDH002 was drilled from the same location as hole 1, but in the opposite direction to the west,
aimed to test the western extension of the mineralized zone. This hole extended the zone up to a width of
approximately 300 meters, encountering visible awaruite mineralization with grain sizes ranging up to 400
microns. The hole reached a depth of 234 meters downhole before ending in a heavily gouged and faulted zone.
Phase 2 drilling will be optimized for increased- depth drilling capabilities, and further drilling to the west will be
extended to better test the extent of the mineralization.
Figure 2: Core sample from drill hole RPM-DDH003 at a depth of 32 meters, displaying visibly disseminated
awaruite. The lower images depict magnified views of awaruite grains, showing surfaces that are both smooth
and grooved, with grain sizes varying between 284 and 611 microns.
Figure 3: Core sample from drill hole RPM-DDH003 at a depth of 100 meters, showing visible awaruite. The
lower images detail magnified views of awaruite grains, which exhibit both smooth and grooved surfaces, with
grain sizes ranging from 422 to 651 microns.
Figure 4: Core sample from drill hole RPM-DDH003 at a depth of 180 meters, featuring visible awaruite. The
lower images showcase magnified views of the awaruite grains, displaying smooth and grooved surfaces, with
an elongated awaruite nickel-alloy grain up to 1,000 microns in size forming as fracture filling.
Figure 5: Core sample from drill hole RPM-DDH003 at a depth of 362 meters, where awaruite is visibly
present. The lower images present magnified views of the awaruite grains, which show smooth and grooved
surfaces, with grain sizes ranging between 550 and 607 microns.
Figure 6: Core sample from drill hole RPM-DDH002 at a depth of 41 meters, showing visible grains of
awaruite. The lower images present magnified views of the awaruite grains under a microscope, with sizes up
to 428 microns.