McNickel drilling confirms surface find

That section came within a broader interval of 53 ft grading 0.36% nickel and 0.16% copper.

Although it is still too early to determine the detailed structure and depth of the mineralization, the company is encouraged by the fact that initial drilling has confirmed previous surface results.

A large-tonnage, low-grade deposit model is being envisaged by McNickel for the prospect in the Lac St. Jean area.

Assay results from only seven of fifty holes drilled so far on the 40-claim property have been received by the company which has an option to earn a 60% interest in the claims.

President John McAdam said assays done on the massive sulphide- bearing sections of the core have ranged from 0.70% to 1.0% nickel, averaging 0.86% nickel and 0.20% copper. The less-massive sections contained 0.10% to 0.80% nickel, and average about 0.40% nickel and 0.18% copper, while disseminated mineralization returned grades of about 0.2% nickel, he said.

Initial drilling along a 1,000-ft wide section in the vicinity of the original surface showing has outlined numerous mineralized zones consisting of disseminated to massive pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite in gabbro and anorthositic rocks, said McAdam.

The mineralized zone is reported to have a thickness of 200 ft and a shallow dip of about 25 degrees.

The zone has a strike length of some 11,500 ft on the property, making drill testing an extensive undertaking.

According to McNickel, the current $1-million exploration program is expected to reach completion by the end of September.

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