The math is simple, bulk tonnage grades win almost every time. They also have way more leverage to the nickel price. The $10 per ton cost is based on what Mark has said in his interviews (it may even be $8 which effects it huge) the Underground mining costs I am using based on research
As much as Canada Nickel Company has been hawking the nickel potential of its Crawford Project, the junior miner has also been discussing how the project can be a transformative mine of the future with a zero carbon footprint.
The Toronto mine developer has been promoting Crawford as one of the largest nickel sulphide discoveries in the world since the 1970s. Due to the nature of the deposit and how it can be processed, Canada Nickel believes the metal can be treated in a very low-carbon way. That should be pleasing to federal regulators in permitting the project.
Crawford is shaping up to be a large-volume, low-grade nickel deposit, processing 120,000 tonnes of ore a day over a 25-year mine life. The cost to build Crawford is US$1.2 billion.