Bulk sample at Raglan (June 08, 1992)

Activity at the Raglan nickel-copper property in northern Quebec increased dramatically with the decision by Falconbridge last year to proceed with $35 million in advanced exploration and development work.

The metals producer, owned jointly by Noranda (TSE) and Trelleborg AB of Sweden, discussed the project in its latest annual report:

Throughout the spring and summer months (of 1991) more than 100 people were on site, including up to 25 local Inuit employees. Most of the activity has been at Katinniq, the site of the major orebody situated in the centre of the Raglan property.

By year-end, a ramp had been driven more than 1,800 metres underground at Katinniq and 500 tonnes of ore was excavated and sent south for metallurgical testing. Pilot plant work at Lakefield Research has confirmed the laboratory metallurgical tests and shown that high-grade concentrates can be produced with good recoveries.

During the summer of 1991, a new camp at Katinniq was completed and satellite telephones installed. In addition, the airfield at the old Donaldson camp was upgraded and extensive road surveying completed. The Raglan team also completed and exhaustive baseline environmental study of the region. By year end, estimated ore reserves at Raglan were 17.7 million tonnes grading 3.15% nickel and 0.88% copper.

In mid-March, the icebreaker M.V. Arctic completed a test run to the harbor closest to Raglan, significantly extending the shipping season. Raglan project analysis has shown that nickel concentrates can be produced at internationally competitive costs from an 800,000-tonne per year mining operation producing 125,000 tonnes of concentrate containing 20,000 tonnes nickel and 5,000 tonnes copper.