- Nickel demand is expected to double by 2030, creating a need for North America to ramp-up domestic supply
- Fathom Nickel explores Saskatchewan’s nickel belt, a prolific metal region with untapped potential
- Drilling at Fathom’s Gochager Lake property has identified promising nickel mineralization at depth, while the footprint at Albert Lake has expanded to 90,000+ hectares
Nickel is the silent workhorse of the clean energy revolution. Essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy infrastructure, demand for this vital metal is skyrocketing. Plus, let’s not forget the expansive utility of nickel as a base metal integral to the world for centuries that isn’t going away either. To that point, North America faces a significant challenge: a looming nickel supply shortage.
Nickel plays a crucial role in high-performance lithium-ion batteries, the cornerstone of electric vehicles (“EVs”). Its ability to store energy efficiently and handle extreme temperatures makes it a key component. Furthermore, nickel is used in wind turbines, solar panels, and the electricity grid infrastructure needed to support a transition to clean energy. Meeting global climate goals will be nothing short of impossible without nickel.
A Supply Chain Under Strain
While demand for nickel is projected to nearly double by 2030, global supply is struggling to keep pace. The majority of nickel production comes from Indonesia and the Philippines, raising concerns about geopolitical dependence and potential supply chain disruptions. Additionally, environmental regulations and complex permitting processes can slow down new mine development in these regions.
North America, with its ambitious clean energy goals, is heavily reliant on imported nickel. The U.S. is deeply dependent upon Canada, importing 40% of its nickel in 2022 from its northern partner. Going forward, the U.S. will look even more to Canada as the country aims to bring more clean technology production within its borders. Relying upon Asian sources creates a significant vulnerability and hinders efforts to build a secure and sustainable clean energy future. Developing robust domestic nickel supplies is crucial for reducing far-East dependence and ensuring a steady flow of this critical metal.
North American nickel nirvana may be unearthed in the vaunted Trans-Hudson Corridor (“THC”) in Saskatchewan, Canada. This region boasts a world-class nickel belt with a long history of successful mining. Existing mines in neighboring Manitoba and Quebec demonstrate the potential of the THC. However, vast swathes of this promising region remain underexplored.
Fathom Nickel: Seizing the Opportunity
This is where Fathom Nickel (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) steps in. A junior exploration company with a massive land package, Fathom is strategically positioned to capitalize on the untapped potential of the Saskatchewan nickel belt. Their portfolio comprises two highly prospective properties: the Gochager Lake Property and the Albert Lake Property. Combined, Fathom’s two properties in Saskatchewan consist of 66 individual mineral claims totaling 113,080 hectares.
Gochager Lake and Albert Lake: Historic Properties with Modern Potential
The Gochager Lake Property boasts a historic nickel-copper-cobalt deposit. Past drilling identified significant mineralization, offering a strong foundation for further exploration with modern techniques. Additionally, the property hosts the Mal Lake nickel occurrence and the Borys Lake zinc-lead-copper deposit, showcasing a diverse mineral assemblage.
Through March 30, 2024, the company has completed four drillholes totaling 1,779 meters drilled, with more drilling completed early in April. Complete assays results are expected by the last week of May. Drilling continues to expand the historic Gochager Lake deposit at depth with intersections of semi-massive to massive sulphide mineralization. For instance, the first four drillholes of the campaign all intersected significant mineralization and semi-massive mineralization has been confirmed to depths of 423 meters (drillhole depth), the deepest known mineralization at Gochager Lake ever.
Another interesting fact: Fathom’s intercept of 58.2 meters at Gochager grading 1.49% Ni, 0.38% Cu, and 0.11% Co was listed by Northern Miner Magazine as the 8th best nickel intercept worldwide in 2023.
The Albert Lake Property, which started as a 10,000-hectare project that Fathom has expanded to over 90,000 hectares, sits in a strategic location within the THC, with nearby historical showings of nickel mineralization. The property is located within the Rottenstone Domain, which defines the western margin of the Trans-Hudson Corridor. The knock originally on the project was never the quality of mineralization, only its small size. However, Fathom didn’t view the historic production (26,000 tons: 3.28% Ni, 1.83% Cu, 9.63 g/t Pd-Pt+Au) as an outlier, but rather a small discovery in a much larger system. And that’s exactly what they are proving by increasing the footprint 8x and subsequently discovering two new associated mineralization trends.
Investing in a Sustainable Future
Investing in Fathom Nickel offers the opportunity to participate in the next generation of a vital North American nickel supply chain. Their focus on the underexplored Saskatchewan nickel belt aligns with the growing demand for clean energy metals. By exploring and developing these resources, Fathom could contribute to a more secure and sustainable future for North America’s clean energy ambitions.
North America must reduce its dependence on foreign sources and bolster its own domestic resources through new discoveries, which falls right into Fathom’s wheelhouse.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.FathomNickel.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FNICF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/FNICF
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