White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) advances high-grade copper exploration in Nunavut

White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) advances high-grade copper exploration in Nunavut

January 15, 2025 Off By MarketOpen

White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) has achieved a major milestone in its journey to unlock the potential of the Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada.

The issuance of a Class A Land Use Permit by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) clears the way for the company to commence its maiden drilling campaign in March 2025.

This achievement follows a positive screening decision by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB), affirming the project’s compliance with stringent regulatory and environmental standards.

Strategic Partnerships Strengthening the Path Forward
To execute this ambitious program, White Cliff Minerals has enlisted Aurora Geosciences, a leading exploration consultancy with over four decades of experience operating in Canada’s challenging northern terrains.

Aurora’s deep expertise in geology and geophysics is expected to provide critical insights into the high-grade potential of the Rae Copper Project.

Commenting on the development, White Cliff Managing Director Troy Whittaker said,

“Significant approval inroads were made over the Christmas period, with a positive screening decision provided by the Nunavut Impact Review Board and the subsequent issue of our Class A Land Use Permit from CIRNAC.

Over the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to providing updates on our drill targeting and award of contracts associated with drilling at the Rae Project.”

Exceptional Copper Potential with a Rich Historical Context
The Rae Copper Project boasts historic resource estimates of 4.16 million tonnes at 2.96% copper, but recent exploration results suggest the potential for even more impressive findings.

During its 2024 campaign, the company uncovered copper rock chip assays exceeding 60%, positioning Rae as one of the most prospective copper projects in the region.

These results are further supported by the project’s location in a geological hotspot identified as Canada’s highest probability zone for hosting iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) uranium deposits.

The project’s strategic position enhances its importance, both nationally and within the broader resource development narrative.

Preparing for a Transformative Campaign
With the public review period for its water licence application now closed, White Cliff anticipates a positive decision from the Nunavut Water Board by February 2025.

Final preparations for the drilling campaign are well underway, including the selection of contractors and drill targeting.

Mobilisation is scheduled to begin shortly thereafter, marking a pivotal moment not only for White Cliff but also for the greater region, which has not seen drilling activity in over a decade.

Whittaker emphasised the company’s readiness:

“We are now focused on the safe and efficient mobilisation to Rae, for what will be the first drilling campaign in the greater region in a decade.”

Charting a Path to National Significance
The Rae Copper Project’s combination of high-grade assays, favourable location, and historic resource data positions it as a key player in the evolving landscape of critical mineral exploration.

Moreover, the project aligns with increasing global demand for copper, driven by renewable energy technologies and infrastructure development.

As White Cliff Minerals prepares to break new ground, the company is not only pursuing its immediate exploration goals but also contributing to the broader narrative of sustainable resource development in Canada.

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