The exploration program renewed during the summer of 2024 to further expand the mineralization footprint.
FPX Nickel Corp. announced the restart of exploration activities at the property in Mich, located 50 km southeast of Whitehorse in the Yukon.
The company has recently expanded its claims in Michigan by more than 350% and will conduct an extensive surface sampling program during the summer of 2024 with the goal of advancing Mich to drill-ready status.
Reflexes
- FPX has set aside approximately 68 km2 of new land contiguous to the existing Mich claims package, bringing the total area claimed in Mich to 87 km2
- FPX will undertake geological mapping and surface sampling, aiming to expand the footprint of known Awaruite nickel mineralization, from which previous sampling and drilling has generated positive results.
- FPX has been awarded a non-refundable grant under the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program that will be used to offset program costs.
Andrew Osterloh, FPX Senior Vice President of Projects and Operations noted that the initial drilling program in Michigan in 2014 identified long intersections of near-surface awaruite mineralization similar to those at our flagship Baptiste Nickel project.
“Building on our historic work in Michigan, augmented by our advanced understanding of awaruite mineralization and the benefits of mineral processing, we are excited to undertake a new exploration campaign in the expanded Michigan claims package,” he said.
Osterloh added that they hope to better define the geological potential in Michigan in preparation for a future drilling program.
Through staking, FPX has expanded the Mich claims package by approximately 68 km2, bringing the total Mich claims package to approximately 87 km2. Mich’s claims are underlain by serpentinized ultramafic rocks of the Cache Creek Terrane, the same rock belt that hosts awaruite mineralization at FPX’s flagship Baptiste Nickel project in central British Columbia.
The Mich property is located 50 km southeast of Whitehorse, just 18 km from the Alaska Highway. The Mich mineral claims are located in the territories of the Ta’an Kwach’an Council, Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Carcross/Tagish First Nation.
Historic work in Michigan includes field mapping and surface sampling in 2011-13 that defined a 1.3 km long northwest-southeast trending zone of disseminated awaruite mineralization with surface samples ranging from less than 0.02 % to 0.143% Davis tube recoverable (DTR) nickel.
An initial two-hole drilling program, both drilled from the same collar location in 2014, identified long intersections of near-surface awaruite mineralization, including 0.087% nickel DTR over 454 metres. Mineralization remains open in all directions.
A renewed exploration program will be carried out during the summer of 2024 to further refine and expand the footprint of known mineralization in Michigan. Grid-based rock sampling will cover areas of previously identified mineralization and will aim to expand the mineralized footprint to the southeast. All samples will be analyzed for total nickel and DTR content.
Results from both the historical and 2024 work will be synthesized to refine the geological interpretation of FPX in Michigan and will enable detailed planning of a future drilling program.
FPX received a $38,000 non-refundable grant from the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program (YMEP) to partially support 2024 field activities.
