VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Sep 16, 2014 (Marketwired via COMTEX) — North American Nickel Inc. (NAN) WSCRF, -18.49% (cusip:65704T 108) (the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on the exploration activities at its 100% owned Maniitsoq nickel-copper-cobalt-PGM sulphide project in southwest Greenland. Drilling has recently concluded and demobilization of equipment and crews is in progress. During the 2014 field season, thirty-nine diamond drill holes and one deepened hole totaling 8,773 metres were completed. Assay results have been reported for five holes and results for an additional thirty-one holes are pending. Remaining assay results will be reported at regular intervals over the coming weeks.
REGIONAL EXPLORATION DRILLING
Twenty-two holes totaling 3,725 metres were completed, testing fourteen regional targets located throughout the Maniitsoq property (Figure 1). Nineteen holes intersected prospective noritic and gabbroic rocks. Fourteen of these holes intersected sulphide mineralization for which assay results are pending (Table 1).
Highlights include:
-- three high conductance off-hole anomalies were detected in a fluxgate
borehole electromagnetic (EM) survey of MQ-14-071 at the P-053 target.
The anomalies, which are amongst the strongest responses seen on the
Maniitsoq property, are interpreted to be related to mineralized norite
intersected in the hole.
-- 10 to 50 metre intervals of disseminated sulphides hosted in norite at
P-149, P-136 and P-030 targets
-- 6 metre interval of semi-massive sulphide and 16 metre interval of
heavily disseminated to net-textured sulphides hosted in norite at the
P-013 target
-- decimeter scale semi-massive and massive sulphide veins and stringers
over core intervals of up to 5.5 metres associated with norite in
multiple holes at the P-058 target
IMIAK HILL COMPLEX (IHC) EXPLORATION
Drilling was recently concluded at the IHC with 5,048 metres of drilling completed in seventeen holes and one deepened hole, to test for extensions of mineralization intersected in 2012 and 2013 (Figure 2). Assay results have been reported for five holes at Imiak Hill, and are pending for eleven additional holes from Imiak, Spotty Hill and Mikissoq.
Detailed structural and lithological mapping at the IHC has contributed significantly to the geological understanding of this structurally complex area. Mylonitie zones mapped on surface at Imiak Hill have been projected to depth and appear to correlate with similar mylonite zones intersected in drilling. Initial interpretation indicates the mineralized zones are truncated at depth and additional work is required to better understand the structural complexities of these features at Imiak Hill.
A surface fluxgate EM test survey was completed by Crone Geophysics and Exploration Ltd. on selected lines over the Spotty Hill area in order to evaluate this instrumentation for future use on the project. In addition, fluxgate borehole EM surveys were completed in one hole at Imiak Hill and one hole at Mikissoq.
Imiak Hill Drilling
Seven drill holes totaling 2,445 metres were completed at Imiak Hill to test for extensions of Zones 10 and 30. Assays are pending for one hole, MQ-14-072, which intersected:
-- a 19.5 metre interval from 170.60 - 190.10 metres of net-textured to
semi-massive sulphides, interpreted to be the down plunge extent of Zone
10; and
-- a 1.7 metre semi-massive sulphide interval of Zone 30 mineralization
from 202.75 to 204.50 metres.
Zone 30 is terminated down plunge as a result of interpreted displacement along a mylonite shear zone. Zone 10 was extended an additional 75 metres down plunge from historical drilling, and is structurally terminated at a similar depth to Zone 30. Further data analysis and structural interpretation is on-going to evaluate the mineralization at Imiak Hill.
Spotty Hill Drilling
Seven holes and one deepened hole totaling 2,057 metres were completed at Spotty Hill with assays pending for six holes. The Spotty mineralization plunges steeply to the southeast, as interpreted from both drilling and borehole EM, and consists of:
-- wide zones of disseminated sulphides with internal zones of more highly
conductive, semi-massive sulphides
Borehole EM surveys indicate that the mineralized trend is open in a down plunge direction and more drilling is planned for this area in 2015.
Mikissoq Drilling
Three holes totaling 546 metres were completed at Mikissoq for which assays are pending. Two holes intersected mainly gneissic country rocks and are interpreted to be have been drilled off the plunge of the mineralization. A third hole, MQ-14-073, intersected mineralized norite including:
-- a 45.6 metre interval from 57.75 to 103.41 metres consisting of
disseminated and fractured filled sulphides; and
-- a 5.6 metre interval from 112.93 to 118.56 metres of net-textured to
semi-massive sulphides.
Borehole EM surveys indicate the semi-massive sulphide intersection is located slightly above and right of the main mineralized horizon, which is interpreted to be plunging steeply to the northeast.
NEXT STEPS
The Company is pleased with the progress made in 2014 on this early stage exploration project including expansion of the Spotty Hill and Mikissoq mineralization at the IHC, and significant new sulphide intersections at several regional exploration targets. In addition, new geological and structural interpretations are contributing to a better understanding of the geological model.
Based on the success of the current exploration program, the Company anticipates another robust exploration program in 2015 consisting of drilling, airborne and ground geophysics, regional prospecting and geochemical sampling, and an expansion of detailed structural and lithological mapping.
Quality Control
Drill core assay results are evaluated as part of a Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedure that includes the use of matrix matched multi-element, certified standards with known precious and base metal values and blank standards to determine accuracy and precision of analytical results. Core sample analysis was completed by SGS Laboratories of Vancouver, Canada. Three methods of analysis were used to determine element concentrations in the rock samples submitted to SGS. These were 1. A multi-element scan subsequent to a four-acid digestion and ICP/ICP-AES finish; 2. Au, Pt and Pd lead fire assay on a 30 gram sample with ICP-AES finish; and 3. Samples with greater than 1.00% Ni or Cu were re-analyzed by Sodium Peroxide Fusion ICP-AES calibrated for ore grade detection limits.
Qualified Person
All technical information in this release has been reviewed by Dr. Mark Fedikow, P.Geo, who is the Qualified Person for the Company, President and Interim CEO, North American Nickel Inc.
About North American Nickel
North American Nickel is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Maniitsoq, Greenland and Sudbury, Ontario.
The Maniitsoq property in Greenland is a Camp scale project comprising 3,601 square km covering numerous high-grade nickel-copper sulphide occurrences associated with norite and other mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Greenland Norite Belt (GNB). The greater than 75km-long belt is situated along, and near, the southwest coast of Greenland, which is pack ice free year round.
The Post Creek/Halcyon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the past producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of KGHM International Ltd. The property lies along the extension of the Whistle Offset dyke structure. Such geological structures host major Ni-Cu-PGM deposits and producing mines within the Sudbury Camp.
Statements about the Company’s future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbours created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from the expected results.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Roozendaal, Director
North American Nickel Inc.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Table 1: Summary of Regional Exploration Holes.
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Target Drill Hole Comments
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P-149 MQ-14-041 approx. 50m interval of disseminated sulphides
and approx. 0.5m of net-textured sulphides in
norite.
MQ-14-042 approx. 6m interval of disseminated sulphides in
norite.
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P-157 MQ-14-043 approx. local sections of disseminated sulphides
in amphibolites.
MQ-14-045 Local intervals of disseminated in amphibole
gneiss
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P-161 MQ-14-046 Meter scale interval of disseminated sulphides in
meta-gabbro.
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P-146 MQ-14-047 Norite containing two approx. 5m intervals of
finely disseminated sulphides.
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P-136 MQ-14-048 approx. 13m and approx. 28m intervals of
disseminated sulphides in norite.
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P-081 MQ-14-049 Norite and orthogneiss; no significant
mineralization.
MQ-14-050 Magnetite-bearing norite; no significant
mineralization.
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P-004 MQ-14-051 approx. 4m interval of disseminated to net-
textured sulphides in norite.
MQ-14-061 Norite with no significant mineralization
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P-058 MQ-14-053 Several narrow (0.5-5cm) massive sulphide veins
in norite.
MQ-14-054 approx. 5.5m zone containing decimeter to meter
scale intervals of semi-massive to massive
sulphide veins and stringers in leuconorite.
MQ-14-057 approx. 1.5m zone containing decimeter scale
intervals of semi-massive and massive sulphide
veins and stringers in leuconorite.
MQ-14-059 approx. 1.5m zone mineralization as in MQ-14-057
and in norite.
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P-059 MQ-14-055 Norite and orthogneiss; did not intersect target;
off-hole anomaly at 125m.
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P-048 MQ-14-64 Locally magnetic diabase dyke cutting
orthogneiss, no significant mineralization.
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P-013 MQ-14-066 approx. 6m semi-massive sulphide zone in norite;
numerous other decimeter scale intervals of net-
textured to semi-massive sulphides in norite and
leuconorite.
MQ-14-068 approx. 16m interval of heavily disseminated to
net-textured sulphides in norite.
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P-013 SE MQ-14-069 Norite and gneisses; did not intersect target;
off-hole anomaly at 50m.
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P-030 MQ-14-070 Three 10-15m intervals of disseminated sulphides
within wider 108m interval of weakly disseminated
sulphides in norite.
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P-053 MQ-14-071 approx. 16.5m interval of disseminated sulphide
in norite; including two narrow cm scale
intervals of chalcopyrite-rich, net-textured
sulphides in sheared leuconorite.
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To view Figures 1 and 2 please click on the following link:http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/NAN0916.pdf
Contacts: North American Nickel Inc. Jaclyn Ruptash Corporate Communications 604-986-2020 or Toll free: 1-866-816-0118
