Awaruite on Display: First Atlantic will exhibit drill core and various samples of awaruite nickel-cobalt alloy (Ni₃Fe) from the Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project at its booth throughout the two-day conference. 77.62% Nickel and 1.69% Cobalt: Electron microprobe analysis by SGS Canada Inc. confirmed that awaruite from the RPM Zone averages 77.62% nickel and 1.69% cobalt. Drilling Ongoing at Alloy Max: Drilling continues across the Alloy Max North and Alloy Max South target areas, new large-scale awaruite targets up to 7 km north of the
RPM Zone within the 30 km Pipestone Ophiolite Complex. Geologic Hydrogen Initiative Advancing: A newly received supplemental exploration permit authorizes drilling, wellbore water injection for formation integrity testing, and ground geophysics, advancing the Company’s stimulated geologic hydrogen initiative at the wholly owned Pipestone XL Project. Smelter-Free Pathway: Awaruite can be processed by magnetic separation and flotation into a high-grade concentrate of approximately 60% nickel without smelting, roasting, or high-pressure acid leaching, directly addressing the conference’s central processing-gap theme. Constrained Midstream Smelting Capacity: Only two operational
nickel smelters remain in North America, both in Ontario, while the Carnegie Endowment projects a U.S. nickel shortfall of more than 740,000 tonnes by 20355. Low-Carbon, Low Energy, No Acid Mine Drainage: Awaruite’s sulfur-free, magnetic, and metallic composition enables concentration by magnetic separation and flotation without the risk of acid mine drainage, and requires no secondary midstream smelting or high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL). This results in lower energy requirements, reduced emissions, and a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional nickel processing. New Website and Upcoming
White Paper: The Company has relaunched its website at www.fanickel.com and expects to publish a white paper on its plan to help onshore the North American nickel and cobalt supply chain.
First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt, awaruite, Pipestone XL, nickel-cobalt alloy, Ni-Fe-Co, SGS Canada, magnetic separation, flotation, nickel smelters, Critical Minerals for Defence 2026, Toronto, stimulated geologic hydrogen initiative, white paper
So they’re saying they can make nickel stuff without smelters? That sounds like magic lol. Hope they’re not leaving out the part where it costs more.
I don’t really get the “awaruite” word, but the article says 77% nickel and like 1.6% cobalt right? That seems low cobalt. Why not just say it’s basically nickel? Also hydrogen drilling sounds wild.
Wait if they’re using magnetic separation and flotation, does that mean you can just put a magnet to rocks and get nickel? Like at home? I feel like that can’t be how it works but I guess the conference people would know.
Two operational nickel smelters left in North America and they’re in Ontario?? That’s crazy. But I’m also skeptical about “no acid mine drainage” because mining always has some mess, right? I’ll look at the website later but I’m not holding my breath.