Pacific Nickel says its Solomon Islands Kolosori nickel project JORC mineral resource estimate (MRE) has delivered a significant increase in contained nickel, Kallanish notes.

An updated JORC MRE shows Kolosori mineral resource stood at 9.21 million tonnes at 1.46% nickel at a 1% nickel cut off. This shows an approximately 134,000 t of contained nickel, an increase of some 21,000 t over the previously reported MRE.

The MRE also shows Kolosori has 7.08m t of nickel at 1.57% nickel at a 1.2% nickel cut off. This shows an approximately 111,000 t contained nickel, an increase of some 18,000 t over previously reported MRE.

The updated estimate compares with the previously reported JORC MRE of 6.02m t at 1.52% nickel at a 1.2% nickel cut off (approximately 93,000 t contained nickel) reported on 29 September.

The revised MRE provides an increase of 17% in total mineral resource tonnages and a 3% increase in nickel grades above the 1.2% nickel cut-off for an approximate 20% increase in contained nickel.

Further drilling is planned in 2023 to further upgrade inferred resources and to test extensions to the current deposits.

“The increase in resource combined with the revised exploration target and noting that the production is based on wet metric tonnes gives us a clear indication that we are looking at a materially increased mine life for the Kolosori project,” Pacific Nickel chief executive officer Geoff Hiller says. “We look forward to re-establishing a regional exploration program in 2023 to further expand the Kolosori resource base."

He also says the increased grade and tonnage details are now being factored into the definitive feasibility study, due for release in December.