(Figure 1. The geological block model for the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit illustrating high grade nickel drill hole intersections from previous drilling campaigns. Image via Tartisan Nickel Corp.)
Investors eyeing opportunities in the hot nickel market may have a lot of options, but few check as many boxes as Tartisan Nickel Corp. (CSE:TN, OTC:TTSRF, Forum) when it comes to quality projects, solid results, and stable share structure.
The Canadian mineral exploration and development Company owns the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit, located in the Kenora Mining District, Ontario where the Company has recently contracted Crone Geophysics & Exploration Ltd to complete a surface Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) Survey over targets identified to the north of the known Kenbridge Nickel Deposit. Additionally, the Company recently announced that P & E Mining Consultants Inc. have been engaged to update the Kenbridge Project Preliminary Economic Assessment, (“PEA”). The historic “PEA” spoke of a 2,800 ton per day mill and featured robust economics with an 87% recovery rate for nickel. The Company anticipates having the updated “PEA” made available sometime in May 2021.
Tartisan Nickel Corp. owns a collection of portfolio holdings that have played a significant role in balance sheet enhancement. Tartisan put in play an ambitious business plan in 2017-18 by acquiring Canadian Arrow Mines Limited and then spinning off and monetizing non-core assets for cash, securities and NSR’s. Portfolio holdings include two NSR’s; one on the Kelex-Alexo Nickel Project in Timmins, Ontario and an NSR on the La Victoria Project in north-central Peru. Equity stakes in Eloro Resources Limited (TSXV:ELO), Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited (CSE:NICO), Peruvian Metals Corp. (TSXV:PER) and Silver Bullet Mines Inc. have afforded the opportunity to advance the Kenbridge flagship asset while mitigating dilution.
Tartisan also owns the Don Pancho Manganese-Lead-Silver-Zinc Project in Peru, as well as the Sill Lake Lead-Silver Property in Sault St. Marie, Ontario. The Company recently purchased
a 100% interest in key claims to complete the Sill Lake Lead-Silver Property package. Tartisan is having the Sill Lake NI 43-101 Resource Report updated and is scheduled for completion in March 2021.
Tartisan Nickel Corp. recently initiated
a normal course issuer bid, where it could purchase up to 5,246,456 of the Company’s common shares, representing approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. This will add yet another tool to utilize should the Company deem the timing appropriate.
Stockhouse Editorial caught up with Tartisan Nickel’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Appleby to find out more about Tartisan’s recent developments ….
Thank you for joining us. To begin, can you elaborate on the TDEM surveys that you are undertaking at the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit?
The TDEM survey (Time Domain Electromagnetic Survey) is specifically designed to help identify highly conductive targets such as concentrations of sulphide rich metals. Class 1 nickel sulphide deposits, such as the Kenbridge Deposit, are typically these types of targets. These surveys can be used to look for near surface targets. Additionally, we can utilize the surveying in our diamond drilling work to better define targets near an existing drill hole even if the existing hole did not intersect any mineralization of economic significance. This will help guide our drilling in a more efficient manner.
Can you give us a timeline or update on the results of the TDEM survey?
We plan to have results from the TDEM surveys before we begin a drilling program in early summer 2021. Most likely near the end of May 2021.
For battery and vehicle manufacturers looking for the lowest cost product produced in the most responsible way, do you expect Tartisan will play a critical role in this supply chain, and can you elaborate?
We think that Tartisan does have a role to play. Kenbridge is a Class 1 Nickel Deposit which is “the” preferred metal for the Electric Vehicle market. While it all starts with the deposit, it is also about where the deposit is located, who the stakeholders are and can the deposit be mined in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Canada is one of the world leaders in safe, environmentally friendly mining. We have an MOU in place with the local First Nations which promotes a cooperative and mutually respectful relationship as we do work on the Kenbridge Property in their Traditional Territories.
Tartisan has a well-qualified exploration and mine management team with extensive experience in project management, can you run us through your experience and that of your team?
I have spent thirty plus years in the capital markets and have extensive experience in a variety of disciplines including the mining sector. We have successfully sought out and acquired undervalued and highly prospective assets which we now feel we can aggressively advance in the current metals cycle.
We have been able to assemble a very experienced and capable team to manage the Kenbridge Project. Dean MacEachern has many years of experience in planning and managing exploration programs for nickel sulphide deposits. Alan King is a well known and respected geophysicist and is leading that portion of the program. Both of these gentlemen have several years experience drilling nickel deposits for Falconbridge (now Glencore) and Inco (now Vale) respectively. P & E Consulting is assisting us in the engineering side of the project. They have a vast amount of experience across their entire group in planning out these sorts of projects and are able to draw on various experts for mine planning, environmental and metallurgical work. We expect to grow the team as we continue to advance the project.
Looking six months to a year down the road, what do you predict for the future of your business to excite investors? What upcoming milestones are you targeted to achieve?
We currently have a team updating the Preliminary Economic Assessment Study for the Kenbridge Deposit. We want to have a complete understanding of all the various operating and capital cost inputs for the project in addition to highlighting the key “next steps” for the Company to undertake. This will include environmental and regulatory permitting timelines, identifying critical geotechnical and engineering work that needs to be completed to advance the project towards a production decision. We anticipate having that study completed in the first half of 2021.
As mentioned earlier, we are currently completing ground based TDEM surveys over several targeted areas within a few kilometers of the Kenbridge Deposit. We are planning a 10,000 metre drill program to test additional targets in close proximity to the existing resource as well as targets that will be generated from that geophysical program. We will begin the Tartisan drill program this summer, 2021.
In closing, Thank you for taking the time with me today and in closing we expect to have news flow updating our investors on a regular basis for the balance of 2021 and as we advance the Kenbridge Nickel Project. We are gearing up for what we feel will be an exciting and fruitful time for Tartisan stakeholders.
For more information on this Company, and to keep up with its news releases, visit
tartisannickel.com.
FULL DISCLOSURE: This is a paid article produced by Stockhouse Publishing.