Posted by AGORACOM
at 4:38 PM on Thursday, March 18th, 2021
99.99% of the lithium leached in solution after 5 minutes at low temperature and without applying pressure.
completed EV battery characterization for 5 car makers
Pilot Testing Next
St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp. (CSE:SX)(OTC:SXOOF) (FSE:85G1) (CNSX:SX.CN)is pleased to provide an update on the initial testing phase of an array of electric vehicles batteries it received at its testing installations in Québec.
The Company has completed EV battery characterization for the following car makers: Tesla, General Motors (GM), Ford, Toyota, and Nissan. The batteries were sourced from industry aggregators. The Company’s chemists and metallurgists created synthetic powder clones of the metal’s components allowing the testing’s acceleration.
This is in line with the results obtained previously by the Company’s metallurgical team that was able to leach more than 99% of the cobalt and the nickel contained in the batteries. Furthermore, the aluminium foil used to hold the different metals in the batteries’ core remains intact and can be recycled.
The Company expects to confirm these results via a series of pilot tests as it now is in possession of car makers’ specific testing protocols. Testing will be documented and independently confirmed. The Company expects to initiate the next phase, metals purification, in April. The Company hopes to be able to reduce processing time and increase acid re-usage.
EVSX and St-Georges have also identified some of the key equipment required from industrial equipment manufacturers. They expect to be able to receive the electrolysis equipment during the month of May, allowing the manufacture of lithium hydroxide.
The Company had already disclosed on February 22, 2021, that additional tests to optimize the process of recovery of critical elements were to be conducted using synthetic compounds to move the development along faster. Work is ongoing at multiple locations, speeding up delivery and further protecting intellectual property.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 8:43 AM on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021
Chilean Metals Inc. to change its name to “Power Nickel Inc.” to reflect its focus on development of its James Bay High-Grade Nickel Copper Cobalt Palladium “Nisk” Project.
Chilean Metals’ subsidiaries currently holding the Company’s Chilean assets will be separated and spun out as a new public company with all of its existing Chilean assets and sufficient capital for one-year of operations
Chilean Metals will create a new subsidiary Consolidation Gold and Silver Inc. to be spun out as a separate public company where it will hold the option agreement on the Golden Ivan project and sufficient capital for one-year of operations
Shareholders of Chilean Metals will participate in both new public companies and retain their current ownership interest in each Company
Chilean Metals Inc.(the “Company” or “Chilean Metals”) (TSXV:CMX)(OTC PINK:CMETF)(Frankfurt:IVVI) is pleased to announce that the board of directors has approved the Company’s plans to change its name to Power Nickel Inc. and to spin-off two independent public companies to carry forward with its existing Chilean and British Colombia mining assets.
Proposed Transaction Highlights
Chilean Metals to be renamed Power Nickel Inc. and will focus its efforts on the exploration and development of the Nisk project. On February 1, 2021 Chilean Metals completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (CRE)(CRECF)(F12). These estimates at the Nisk project are of a historic resource and the Company’s geologic team has not completed sufficient work to confirm a NI 43-101 compliant resource. Therefore, the estimates cannot, and should not be relied upon.
Table ‑1: Historical Resource Estimate figures for respective confidence categories at the NISK-1 deposit, After RSW Inc 2009: Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Québec.
The information regarding the NISK-1 deposit was derived from the technical report titled “Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Québec” dated December 2009. The key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the mineral resource estimates described above are set out in the technical report.
The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometres of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Chilean is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization historical resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, identifying additional high-grade mineralization, and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries for the electric vehicles industry.
Shareholders of Chilean Metals will receive shares in the two public companies proposed to be separated out by the plan of arrangement, at ratios to be determined by tax and valuation considerations
One public company is proposed to hold all the historic assets in Chile as follows:
The 5600-hectare Tierra de Oro (TDO) property located about 70 Kms south of Copiapo. Historically about $6,000,000 has been spent exploring TDO with the most recent drill program completed and reported in January 2021 which highlighted a 2-metre section that returned 716 grams of silver and .45% copper.
The 4300-hectare Zulema property located about 50 Kms southwest from Copiapo and adjoining the Candelaria Mine1 property (Over 950 Million Tonnes Copper, Gold & Silver according to NI- 43101 2018 report on Lundin Mining site)) An exploration program at the property in 2018 highlighted a garnet magnetite skarn with multiple lenses of Copper- Magnetite mineralization. Within the skarn, copper ranged from 0.12- 1.19% Cu and between 0.05 – 0.99g/t Au.
The 9,000-hectare Palo Negro and Hornitos properties located in Region 3 about 30 Kms west of the Candelaria mine. The properties are currently the focus of a number of geophysical programs including magnetics and IP over portions of the property which have previously been highlighted to be of interest.
Assets also include a 3% NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire Cu-Mo deposit, previously sold to a subsidiary of Teck Resources Inc. (“Teck”). Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one third of the 3% NSR for $3 million dollars at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck’s producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine2 in Chile’s First Region.
Consolidation Gold & Silver Inc. will hold the previously purchased option to acquire the Golden Ivan project in the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle is host to numerous past and current mining operations and the region has reported mineral resources that total up to 67 million oz of gold, 569 million oz of silver, and 27 billion pounds of copper. Recent mineral development activity within the local area includes Ascot Resources recently funded Premier Gold mine3 (2.3 Million oz gold), which has received $105 million in project construction financing for the development of renewed operations at the historic exploited Premier Gold deposit. Other notable active projects in the local area include the neighbouring Silverado project, and Red Mountain, and Homestake projects amongst many others.4 Further to the north Pretivm’s Bruce Jack mine5 (4.2 million oz gold), and the neighboring KSM and Eskay deposits also have significant gold, silver, and copper resources that are yet to be realized.
The property hosts two known mineral showings (Gold Ore, and Magee), and a portion of the past-producing Silverado Mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of Silver, Lead, Zinc +/- Gold +/- Copper. Numerous additional mineral occurrences, showings and past-producing mines are located in the immediate areas surrounding the property, further supporting the presence of widespread mineralization in the areas.
The property is relatively underexplored. In 2018 Precision Geophysics completed an 88-line kilometre combined magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry survey on behalf of the vendor (who optioned to Chilean Metals) Granby Gold Inc. Standard magnetic and radiometric data products were prepared and additional interpolate structural analyses were performed on the collected data. A number of areas of coincident magnetic and radiometric anomalism have been identified, additionally ‘structurally prepared’ zones are identified from the structural analysis interpolates. Such characteristics are widely regarded as favorable indicators of widespread hydrothermal alteration aka Porphyries and may aid in vectoring toward any causative source intrusions that may be located on the property. Three preliminary target areas of merit are established as a result of the survey and will be the focus of initial explorations at the site.
Shareholders of the three entities should benefit from increased focus on core opportunities that appeal to each different investor base. As Chilean Metals grew through the acquisition of Nisk and Golden Ivan, it is anticipated that the two new public companies could similarly benefit on a go-forward basis.
Company CEO and Director Mr. Terry Lynch stated, “The result of this proposed transaction will be three stand-alone companies with attractive assets focused on specific opportunities to grow and create value for their shareholders. The driving force behind the change is to communicate in a very clear way our focus on the NISK Battery Metals project. It is rare to find a project with a historical resource that we believe has a credible chance to become a mine. The electrification movement in Automobiles and Industry is growing more and more every day and this growth will be very supportive to the price curves in Nickel, Copper, Cobalt, and Palladium. We look forward to concentrating our efforts on NISK and moving it from Historical resource through the mine development process as quickly as possible.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 5:36 PM on Thursday, February 25th, 2021
Chilean Metals possess a robust portfolio of land packages in Canada and Chile, diversifying in both Base metals and Precious metals markets. Chilean has just made a significant property acquisition in Quebec with the Nisk property, providing the company a High-Grade Historical Nickel – Copper – Cobalt – PGE Resource.
Chilean can earn 80% of the property that already possesses a 43-101resource in Nickel and PGM’s and is a project that is just getting started. Acquiring a project with a resource is a major accomplishment for a junior mining company and Chilean has plans for accelerated development to target the emerging EV Battery market through the development of a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly.
Sit back and have enjoy as Terry Lynch CEO of Chilean breaks down the #next #SmallCap company you need to be aware of.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 7:42 AM on Thursday, February 25th, 2021
Chilean Metals Inc. (“Chilean Metals,” “CMX” or the “Company”) (TSXV:CMX)(SSE:CMX)(MILA:CMX) s pleased to announce it has received TSXV conditional approval on its announced agreement to acquire 80% of the NISK property via a series of option payments and work commitments as further detailed below.
Option Terms:
Grant of first option
Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (“Critical Elements”) (CRE)(CRECF)(F12) has granted to Chilean Metals, as the “Optionee”, the exclusive right and option to acquire, on or before the date that is three (3) years from the TSX.V approval (the “Effective Date”) (the “First Option Period“), an initial 50% Earned Interest in the Property (the “First Option“), free and clear of all Encumbrances other than the Permitted Encumbrances and the Royalty, subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement.
Requirements to Exercise the First Option
In order to acquire the 50% Earned Interest under the First Option, the Optionee must:
a. make cash payments totaling $500,000 to Critical Elements (the “Cash Payments“) on or before the dates set out below: i. a non-refundable amount of $25,000 on the date of execution of the agreement; (COMPLETED) ii. an amount of $225,000 within a delay of five (5) Business Days following the Effective Date; and (COMPLETED) iii. an amount $250,000 within a delay of six (6) months from the Effective Date; b. issue to Critical Elements within five (5) Business Days following the Effective Date, 12,051,770 Shares (the “Share Payment“) of the Optionee. The Shares issued will be issued as fully paid and non-assessable free and clear of all liens, charges, and Encumbrances, and subject only to a four-month and one-day resale restriction under applicable Securities Laws and the policies of the TSXV; c. incur an aggregate of $2,800,000 of Work Expenditures on the Property on or before the dates set out below: i. $500,000 in Work Expenditures on or before the date that is one (1) year from Effective Date; ii. $800,000 in Work Expenditures on or before the date that is two (2) years from Effective Date; and iii. $1,500,000 in Work Expenditures on or before the date that is three (3) years from Effective Date; and
Upon the Optionee having completed the Cash Payments, the Share Payment and incurred or funded the Work Expenditures on or before the expiry of the First Option Period, the Optionee may exercise the First Option by delivering notice to Critical Elements to that effect and confirming exercise of the First Option (the “First Option Exercise Notice“). Upon delivery of the First Option Exercise Notice, the Optionee shall have earned a 50% Earned Interest in the Property.
Grant of second option
Subject to the Optionee having exercised the First Option, Critical Elements also grants to the Optionee the exclusive right and option (the “Second Option”) to increase its Earned Interest in and to the Property from 50% to 80% by incurring or funding additional Work Expenditures for an amount of $2,200,000, including the delivery of a Resource Estimate, for a period commencing on the delivery of the First Option Exercise Notice and ending on the date that is four (4) years from Effective Date (the “Second Option Period”).
Following the exercise of the Second Option, until such time as a definitive Feasibility Study (the “Definitive Feasibility Study“) regarding extraction and production activities on the Property is delivered to the Joint Venture, Critical Elements shall maintain a 20% non-dilutive interest in the Joint Venture and shall not contribute to any Joint Venture costs.
Operatorship
During the currency of the Agreement, except as otherwise contemplated under the Agreement, Chilean Metals shall act as the operator (the “Operator“), and as such, shall be responsible for carrying out and administering the Work Expenditures on the Property, in accordance with work programs (the “Programs“) approved by the Technical Committee. The Operator shall be entitled to receive a management fee equal to 10% of the amount of Work Expenditures incurred on internal work and equal to 5% of the amount of Work Expenditures incurred on contract work carried by third-party contractors or consultants.
In the event, Chilean Metals exercises the First Option and subsequently elects not to exercise the Second Option, or in the event, the Second Option is terminated, whichever the case, Chilean Metal’s right to act as Operator shall immediately terminate and Critical Elements shall become the Operator for the future conduct of Work Expenditures and Programs on the Property.
Royalty
Following the exercise of the First Option by Chilean, and in addition to the obligations of Chilean under the First and Second Option, if applicable, Critical Elements shall receive, in the event of a Lithium discovery, a royalty equal to 2% net smelter returns (the “Royalty“) resulting from the extraction and production of Lithium products, including Lithium ore, concentrate and chemical, resulting from the extraction and production activities on the Property, including transformation into chemical products. Chilean shall have the right at any time to purchase 50% of the Royalty and thereby reduce the Royalty to 1% by paying to Critical Elements a total cash amount of $2,000,000.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:14 AM on Monday, February 22nd, 2021
Initial tests on lithium-ion batteries successful in the recovery of lithium, nickel and cobalt found as a coating on aluminium foil in the core of the batteries.
Leached more than 99% of the cobalt and of the nickel contained in the batteries.
St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp. (CSE:SX) (OTC:SXOOF) (FSE: 85G1) (CNSX:SX.CN) is pleased to disclose that its initial tests conducted on an array of lithium-ion batteries have been successful in confirming that the selective leach, conducted with its proprietary blend of acids, allows for the recovery of the lithium, nickel and cobalt that are found as a coating on aluminium foil in the core of the batteries.
The Company’s metallurgical team was able to leach more than 99% of the cobalt and of the nickel contained in the batteries. Furthermore, the aluminium foil used to hold the different metals in the batteries’ core remains intact and can be recycled.
Company scientists are comfortable that the results obtained on these metals are repeatable and should scale. Initial lithium test results have been in line with expectations and require additional tests at scale prior to disclosure. These additional tests are ongoing, and results are expected sometime in March.
Fig. 1 The metals in solution, to the left the lithium / cobalt circuit, to the right the nickel copper circuit.
For testing, batteries were dismantled at the Company’s contracted pilot plant facility, CIMMS, under the supervision of qualified chemists and metallurgists. Enrico Di Cesare, St-Georges VP Research & Development, established the protocol and supervised the process. The batteries were dismantled manually, and the cores were immersed in St-Georges’ proprietary leach solution for 30 minutes. The Company expects to optimize and reduce this exposure duration with the aim of bringing it closer to the 5 min leach time required by the Nevada clays. Aluminium was taken out of the solution in its solid form and set aside. No test for residues was conducted on the aluminium in the preliminary tests. Metals were then targeted for recuperation in solution. The powders obtained were tested on-site and sent for independent testing by CIMMS
Posted by AGORACOM
at 8:51 AM on Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
Received formal offer to enter into a partnership to complete a feasibility study on a proposed site and plant to start EV battery recycling operations in 2021
Initiative to recover and recycle key materials from EV batteries in an ecologically sound manner
St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp. (CSE:SX) (CNSX:SX.CN) (OTC:SXOOF) (FSE:85G1) has received a formal offer to enter into a partnership to complete a feasibility study on a proposed site and plant in Baie-Comeau, Québec, where the company could start its EV battery recycling operations in 2021.
The Letter of Intent received on February 16, 2021, from Innovation & Dévelopment Manicouagan underlines the local community’s support for the installing of St-George’s first battery plant. St-Georges has identified a specific site for the recycling battery plant, which is already permitted for similar types of operations. Innovation & Dévelopment Manicouagan proposes defining the parameters of the study to encompass all the financial, strategic, technical, and environmental aspects of the project. The partners expect to initiate work on the study by mid-March. Furthermore, they will assist the company in all of its negotiations and permitting process with the provincial and local governments.
Paul Pelosi Jr., President of St-Georges wholly owned EV battery recycling subsidiary, EVSX Corp, commented: “ Innovation & Dévelopment Manicouagan’s intent to partner with St-Georges to complete this feasibility study, validates our initiative to recover and recycle key materials from EV batteries in an ecologically sound manner. The team at St-Georges has done an outstanding job of pulling everything together expeditiously … we are purposefully setting a fast pace, now and in the future, for the development of our battery recycling technology.”
Chilean Metals sold its Copaquire property to Teck Resources Limited for $C3,033,500, with CMX retaining a 3% NSR (net smelter return) royalty on production.
Teck developing Copaquire triggers royalty
Royalty a potential near term cash flow if sold
100-% owner of five Projects in the prolific iron-oxide-copper-gold belt of northern Chile
Commenced drilling on the Tierra De Oro Project
Phase 1 of drilling at its Tierra de Oro has returned 716g/t Silver 0.453% Copper over 2m
Key Projects:
Niska: PGM/Battery Metals, Chibougamau Quebec
Measured Resource:
1,255,000T at 1.09% Ni; 0.56% Cu; 0.07% Co; 1.11 g/t Pd and 0.20 g/t Pt
Indicated resource:
783,000T at 1.00% Ni; 0.53% Cu; 0.06% Co; 0.91 g/t Pd and 0.29 g/t Pt
Inferred resource:
1,053,000T at 0.81% Ni; 0.32% Cu; 0.06% Co; 1.06 g/t Pd and 0.50 g/t Pt c
About the NISK Property
The NISK property comprises two discontinuous blocks comprising a total of 90 mineral claims fora total of 4,589.11 ha.
NISK-1 block comprises 86 mineral claims for a total of 4,375.55ha, while
the smaller NISK-2 block comprises 4 mineral claims for a total of 312.56 ha. Together these comprise the NISK property comprising a total of 90 mineral claims for a total of 4,589.11 ha,
The NISK property lies approximately 284 km by road north of the mining town of Chibougamau
45 km east of the Nemiscau airport, in the James Bay territory of Quebec.
NISK Deposit is open at depth and along strike and poised for expansion
Future Work: Chilean plans to further advance the previously defined historic resources with confirmation drilling, additional infill, and resource definition drilling commencing in Q2.
An updated resource estimate will be prepared upon completion of the additional drilling.
Surface exploration is also contemplated for other prospective targets on the property.
Golden Ivan Project
3 kilometers East of Stewart, BC
Heart of the golden triangle.
Property hosts two known mineral showings:
(Gold Ore and Magee)
Portion of the past-producing Silverado mine,
Mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of silver, lead, zinc, plus/minus gold and plus/minus copper.
Predominantly all share transaction with $1.8m of work commitments
About the Golden Ivan Property
The Golden Ivan property is situated toward the south of British Columbia’s prolific ‘Golden Triangle
The Golden Ivan property is located approximately 15km south west of the Red Mountain Gold/Silver deposit and 30 km south of the historic Premier Gold mine.
Several mineralized veins of the Porter–Idaho Deposit strike onto the Golden Ivan property’s
The property is under explored, however 3 anomalies identified for future exploration
Future Exploration:
The initial phase of exploration is anticipated to include:
systematic geological structural and alteration mapping
geochemical sampling across the property to determine any local areas of anomalism
ground-based geophysics to confirm local structural trends
initial drill program expected in the summer of 2021.
Previous Work:
The property hosts two (2) known mineral showings (Gold Ore, and Magee),and a portion of the past producing Silverado Mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939.
Mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of Silver, Lead, Zinc +/- Gold +/- Copper.
Numerous additional mineral occurrences, showings and past procuring mines are located in the immediate areas surrounding the property, further supporting the presence of widespread mineralization in the areas.
In 2018 Precision Geophysics completed an 88-line kilometre combined magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometry survey on behalf of the vendor Granby Gold Inc. Standard magnetics and radiometric data products were prepared and additional interpolate structural analyses were performed on the collected data.
A number of areas of coincident magnetic and radiometric anomalism have been identified, additionally ‘structurally prepared’ zones are identified from the structural analysis interpolates.
Such characteristics are widely regarded as favourable indicators of widespread hydrothermal alteration aka Porphyries, and will likely aid in vectoring toward any causative source intrusions that may be located on the property.
Teck Royalty
Chilean Metals sold its Copaquire property to Teck Resources Limited for Cad. $3,033,500, with CMX retaining a 3% NSR (net smelter return) royalty on production.
Teck has the right to purchase one third of the NSR for Cad. $3,000,000, thereby presenting the Company with near-term cash flow potential.
The royalty, whether 3% or reduced to 2% through Teck exercising its right,
has potential to provide significant future benefit to the Company in terms of non-dilutive exploration funding and/or
dividends to our shareholders,
may provide a model for the Company’s future accretive growth.
Copaquire is located in Chile’s 1st Region, 125 kms south of its capital city, Iquique, on upland plateau in a very well-endowed mineral neighbourhood and readily accessible via well-maintained all-weather roads.
The project adjoins Teck’s Quebrada Blanca mine, where leachable copper reserves will be depleted by 2016 at current production and reserve levels (Teck website). Anglo-Xstrata-Mitsui’s colossal Collahuasi copper mine also lies nearby.
Copaquire boasts two 43-101-compliant resources:
Sulfato South (dominantly copper)
Cerro Moly (dominantly molybdenum)
Tierra de Oro
Tierra Del Oro (Land of Gold) project in 3rd Region of Atacama about 75 km south of Copiapó, Chile.
Future work involves a targeted Geophysics
Coordinate 2nd drill program in Q3
Previous exploration data generated by both the company and other historic operators have been compiled and 8,660 training points were subjected to evaluation by Windfall’s propriety CARDS AI model. CARDS uses data mining techniques to analyze compiled exploration data and to identify areas target zones with high statistical similarity to known “signatures” of areas of copper, gold, and silver mineralization (Figures 3 and 4 below). A total of thirteen (13) prospective target zones were identified by the prediction analysis, of which in Phase 1 the company has elected to drill test two of the zones.
The ‘Chanchero’ Zone has previously been identified as being prospective for copper porphyry-style mineralization. The area comprises a 0.75 square kilometers zone of argillic and quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration hosted by augite-hornblende diorite to granodiorite with roof pendants of hornblende monzonite. The area was surveyed by 3-D Induced Polarization (IP) methods in 2008 and generated a chargeability anomaly greater at than 50MV/V at its core which is open at depth. The area was the focus of four (4) core holes that proposed to intersect the chargeability anomaly longitudinally and at depth. A two-meter sample at 120 m depth had a grade of 716 g / t Silver and 0.453% Copper was intersected in hole 3 on the figure below.
Figure 1: Locations of 4 Proposed drill holes at the Chanchero target, relative to the outline/projected shape of the greater at than 50MV/V chargeability anomaly as defined by the 2008 3-D Induced Polarization survey.
The ‘Cobalt’ zone is an AI generated target Gold anomaly that occurs along a pronounced structure and is located along strike from existing shallow artisanal gold workings. A single core hole was orientated to intersect the structure at depth below the projected level of the adjacent historical workings. No material results were generated at this target during the drilling.
Figure 3: Tierra De Oro property CARDS target model-A for Gold anomalism.
Figure 4: Tierra De Oro property CARDS target model-A for Copper anomalism.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 11:07 AM on Tuesday, September 1st, 2020
Investment Highlights
Kenbridge property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper
The deepest hole extends to 838.4 metres, intersecting mineralization grading 4.25% nickel and 1.38% copper over 10.7 metres
The deposit remains open at depth
Tartisan completed a Spectral Analysis Survey that identified the Kenbridge Deposit, and has shown a possible extension and three additional trends
Owns 17.5 (21.8 fully diluted) percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property and are drilling their Iska Iska Pollymetallic project in Bolivia
Tartisan currently owns close to 4 million ELO shares
Tartisan owns close to 1,700,000 shares in Class 1 Nickel (CSE:NICO)
Tartisan vended the Alexo- Kelex asset to Class 1 Nickel, who recently listed on CSE
Kenbridge Ni Project (ON, Canada)
Advanced stage deposit remains open in three directions, is equipped with a 623m deep shaft and has never been mined
Preliminary Economic Assessment completed and updated returned robust project economics and operating costs including a NPV of C$253M and cash costs of US$3.47/lb of nickel net of copper credits
Plans for Kenbridge include updating PEA, advancing the project through to feasibility and exploring the open mineralization at depth
Recent News
Company has completed a Spectral Analysis Survey
Survey covered the patented and single-cell mining claims that make up the historic land position which contains the Kenbridge Deposit and the surrounding area, identifying several new exploration targets not only for nickel, copper, cobalt, but also for potential gold occurrences
Analysis Survey shows the distribution and intensity of up to 304 minerals, with the first pass showing up to 16 minerals
Each mineral can be classified into an exploration relevance for base metals, precious metals and industrial metals
Tartisan CEO Mark Appleby said, “the survey picked out the Kenbridge Deposit, and has shown the possible extension to the Kenbridge Deposit and three additional trends that relate directly to underlying geology and structure implicit in the Kenbridge Deposit. Of significant interest, the survey found two gold trends as well, which include the Violet and Nina historic gold occurrences. One of the occurrences is almost 54 hectares in size and covers almost all of three of our staked claims on the border of the Kenbridge property.”
DISCLOSURE: Tartisan Nickel Corp. is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 10:06 AM on Thursday, August 27th, 2020
SEOUL (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk has suggested the U.S. electric carmaker may be able to mass produce batteries with 50% more energy density in three to four years, which could even enable electric airplanes.
SEOUL (Reuters) – Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk has suggested the U.S. electric carmaker may be able to mass produce batteries with 50% more energy density in three to four years, which could even enable electric airplanes.
His comments came as speculation is growing about announcements at Tesla’s anticipated “Battery Day” event where it is expected to reveal how it has improved its battery performance.
“400 Wh/kg *with* high cycle life, produced in volume (not just a lab) is not far. Probably 3 to 4 years,” Musk tweeted on Monday in response to a Twitter thread by Sam Korus, an analyst at ARK Investment Management LLC, about why Musk keeps hinting at a Tesla electric plane.
Researchers have said the energy density of Panasonic’s (6752.T) “2170” batteries used in Tesla’s Model 3 is around 260 Wh/kg, meaning a 50% jump from the current energy density which is key to achieving a longer driving range.
Musk said last year that for electric flight to work, the energy density of batteries needed to improve to over 400 Wh/kg, a threshold which may be achieved in five years.
The electric car manufacturer also showed an image where a number of dots are clustered in line formations, sparking speculation among media and fans about what it will reveal at the event. (here)
South Korean battery expert Park Chul-wan said the image may hint at “silicon nanowire anode,” a breakthrough technology which can potentially increase both battery energy density and battery life sharply.
Panasonic Corp (6752.T) earlier told Reuters that it plans to boost the energy density of the original “2170” battery cells it supplies to Tesla by 20% in five years.
Tesla is also working with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) (300750.SZ) to introduce a new low-cost, long-life battery in its Model 3 sedan in China later this year or early next year, with the batteries designed to last for a million miles of use, Reuters reported in May.
Tesla has said its Battery Day will take place on the same day as its 2020 annual meeting of shareholders on Sept. 22.
A very “limited number of stockholders” will be able to attend both of the events due to pandemic-related restrictions, Tesla said, and a lottery will be held to select attendees.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:29 AM on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020
“I’d just like to re-emphasize, any mining companies out there, please mine more nickel,” said Musk
Nickel is arguably the single most important metal component in EV batteries.
In the popular imagination, lithium is the element that powers EVs. However, as Elon Musk has pointed out, the term “lithium-ion batteries” is something of a misnomer, because they don’t really contain that much lithium. “Although [they’re] called lithium-ion, the actual percentage of lithium in a lithium-ion cell is approximately 2%,” Musk explained at Tesla’s 2016 shareholder meeting. “Technically, our cells should be called nickel-graphite, because the primary constituent in the cell as a whole is nickel.”
More recently, Musk reiterated the importance of nickel, and made what sounded to some like an urgent plea for more of the stuff. “I’d just like to re-emphasise, any mining companies out there, please mine more nickel,” said Musk during Tesla’s latest quarterly conference call. “Wherever you are in the world, please mine more nickel and…go for efficiency, obviously environmentally-friendly nickel mining at high volume. Tesla will give you a giant contract for a long period of time, if you mine nickel efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive way.”
However, meeting the expected surge in demand for element #28 may not be so easy, because of various supply-side issues. In a recent interview with Kitco News, Michael Beck, Managing Director at Regent Advisors, said he sees something of a “perfect storm” brewing in the nickel trade.
A Tesla Model 3 contains around 30 kilograms of nickel, Beck told Kitco’s Michael McCrae. “Nickel is probably the single most important metal component in battery fabrication. It’s where all of the energy is stored, and increasingly battery chemistries are being refined to allow the inclusion of as much nickel as possible. The more nickel, the higher the energy density of the battery.”
The spotlight on nickel is a recent development. Nickel prices collapsed in 2007, and there’s been little development of new capacity since then, says Beck. “In this intervening almost 12 years there was no material investment in new nickel capacity. The last 12 years has been a drawdown of excess inventory, and that’s coming to an end. The ramp-up of demand is just beginning.”
The long lead time for bringing new nickel mines into production is another constraining factor. “It takes 7 to 10 years to bring on new nickel projects,” says Beck. “So, you have the makings of a perfect storm. You have a baked-in structural deficit for the next 12 years…you have inventories in the next 18 months going down to almost zero. You also have this new demand source that never existed for nickel.”
Above: Ken Hoffman, senior expert at McKinsey, weighs in on Tesla’s need for nickel in order to expedite the EV revolution (YouTube: Kitco NEWS)
All that would seem to add up to an investment opportunity for somebody. “In the universe of metals, [nickel is] our favorite,” says Beck. “We think in the next two to three years you’re going to see a major up-tick of the nickel price…as shortages emerge, and that’s what’s going to be required to get new investment in the sector.”
So, what companies are poised to take advantage of the coming nickel rush? “Maybe the most interesting in the larger cap of established players is Norilsk,” says Beck. “They’re the number-two nickel producer, and they’re based in Russia. That’s probably the single best large-cap way to get exposure to nickel. It’s a major producer of the metal, and when nickel goes up, their share price goes up accordingly. At the smaller cap end of the spectrum, there are a bunch of smallish nickel explorers and emerging developers.”
Over the next few years, Beck believes that nickel shortages will emerge, and most companies with nickel exposure will benefit. However, there’s another factor in play. Tesla and other EV-makers are naturally eager to get their raw materials from sustainable sources. The industry has invested much effort and cash in cleaning up its supply chain for cobalt. Elon’s recent plea for nickel specified that it needed to be mined in an environmentally sensitive way. (Norilsk, by the way, has recently been involved in not one but two oil spills in Russia’s Arctic region.)
Vancouver-based Giga Metals quickly responded to Elon’s appeal, saying that it has a source of environmentally-responsible nickel in development. As Matthew Hall reports in Mining Technology, Giga Metals owns a property called Turnagain in north-central British Columbia, which it says is one of the largest undeveloped sulphide nickel projects in the world, and also contains cobalt.
Canada has plenty of nickel mines, but Giga Metals has a unique vision for the Turnagain mine. “Our goal is to be the world’s first carbon-neutral mine,” said Giga Metals President Martin Vydra. “We plan to use power from BC Hydro’s clean energy grid, which will involve more capital expenditure than the alternatives, but is the right thing to do.”
Above: Tesla’s Model 3 (Source: EVANNEX; Photo by Casey Murphy)
“If you want environmentally-responsible nickel, I really think you have to look at sulphide deposits in first-world jurisdictions such as Canada and Australia,” said Giga Metals CEO Mark Jarvis. “Canada has several very large, low-grade, open-pittable sulphide nickel deposits waiting to be developed, including Canada Nickel’s Crawford deposit, Waterton’s Dumont deposit and our own Turnagain deposit. Canada has some of the toughest environmental regulations in the world, so if you buy your nickel from Canada, you can be assured that this part of your supply chain is ethically sourced.”
