By Lynnel Reinson Communications
Tartisan Nickel Corp. (CSE:TN, OTC:TTSRF, FSE:8TA) is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on battery metals headquartered in Toronto, Ont. Tartisan’s flagship project is the wholly-owned Kenbridge Nickel-Copper Deposit, located in the Kenora mining district of northwestern Ontario. The company’s portfolio also includes two polymetallic projects in Ontario, the Sill Lake Lead-Silver Project and Turtle Pond Night Danger Nickel Project. Tartisan Nickel is poised to help deliver the critical metals necessary for the North American supply chain and the global transition to clean energy.
President and CEO Mark Appleby describes how the company saw the opportunity in 2018 to reposition Tartisan upon acquiring their flagship Kenbridge Project as part of the Canadian Arrow Mines Limited deal.
“We saw the need for battery metals and the looming adaptation of electric vehicles,” said Appleby to the Northern Miner.
Since acquiring the Kenbridge Project, Tartisan Nickel Corp. has directed its focus towards the three critical metals— nickel, copper, and cobalt—in advancing work on their Kenbridge Project.
Tartisan Nickel Corp. has updated the mineral resource estimate and completed a preliminary economic assessment and is now looking to get permits in place and further defining and expanding the mineral resource, which is open at depth and along strike. Definition drilling to bring the inferred ore deposits into the indicated category is a near-term goal as one-million tonnes plus could move into the indicated resource calculation.
Tartisan benefits from existing infrastructure such as the 622 metre, three-compartment shaft sunk by Falconbridge in 1954 that remains in good condition. Access is game-changing when attempting to develop a mining project; atop the benefit of this existing shaft, the Kenbridge road is being refurbished and developed to allow all-season access to the main deposit.
Dean MacEachern, Tartisan’s geological advisor for the Kenbridge project, was a part of both Falconbridge and Canadian Arrow Mines during the periods they each held the asset, prior to the global adoption of large batteries and electric vehicles that began driving the significantly increased demand for nickel.
“At the top of the Kenbridge deposit, it’s more disseminated and as you go deeper into the zones, it gets more semi-massive and massive. It gets narrower but the grade gets better,” said MacEachern to the Northern Miner.
This variable grading in the deposit will allow Tartisan to more readily accommodate price variations for nickel, and with the pre-existing shaft, MacEachern says that the expected capital expenditure will be substantially lower than other similar projects.
“It’s under $140 million to get started. That compares with a lot of large low-grade deposits that will take $2 billion to get going,” said MacEachern.
The asset has undergone extensive drilling and surveying since 1937 with 100,000-plus metres of surface and underground drilling conducted, including 11,700 metres drilled by Tartisan in 2021. The results of the drilling are a measured and indicated resource of 117 million pounds of nickel (Ni), 66 million pounds of copper (Cu), and a million pounds of cobalt (Co).
Necessary next steps for the project are refurbishing and upgrading the road to the main deposit; Tartisan has retained Northwest Solutions Inc. to build out this all-season access to the Kenbridge project. Northwest Solutions is an Ontario-based services company offering forestry, mining, and environmental services, as well as training, project management support, and communications consulting services (Newsfile). A family owned-and-operated business since 2014, Northwest Solutions has designed an all-season access solution and now provides support to Tartisan Nickel, including permitting and project management assistance. Brandi Shorthouse is the road project’s finance and communications manager, and Kevin Shorthouse is the road project’s design and road permitting project manager, bringing unique expertise to the endeavour, as well as their connection to the local area, which Tartisan CEO, Mark Appleby believes will provide tremendous value to the Kenbridge project.
When attempting to refurbish and put in an all-season road, as well as potentially building out the larger project as a whole, local community and First Nations support are key to the success of any project. Appleby first addressed how much he and the company value the relationships that they have built in the area. In support of these relationships, Tartisan Nickel named Greg Edwards as the overall project manager for Kenbridge and as the company’s First Nations liaison. Edwards has been consistent in his desire to work with, build, and support good relationships with the First Nations near the project: Naotkamegwanning First Nation, formerly known as the Whitefish Bay First Nation, Northwest Angle #33 First Nation, and Northwest Angle #37 First Nation. Since 2007, the company has been engaged with Treaty #3 and recognized the First Nations’ rights to lands, seeking their consent, agreement, and continuing to engage all First Nations in our area of influence.
As part of Tartisan’s ongoing practices and ongoing community relations, the Kenbridge project received a blessing in an October 2021 ceremony conducted by an elder from one of the First Nations. With current road upgrades underway, Tartisan will be a part of the next ceremonial blessing occurring this autumn. Working with First Nations and engaging local companies for the Tartisan project, Tartisan intends to continue advancing project goals and hiring local First Nations personnel whenever possible. Looking at 2024-25, Appleby says that there are multiple, on-going initiatives coming together. Alignment with Indigenous communities, summation of the baseline studies for project permitting, and the commencement of all-season access construction.
“These, combined with new geophysical initiatives and a drill program, will lead to expansion of the Kenbridge Resource Estimate and support a substantially higher enterprise value,” said Appleby. “Our efforts should prove to have a profound impact on increasing shareholder value and make for exciting times over the next 24 months.”
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