Nordic Resources has secured three additional exploration licences at its Pulju nickel-copper-cobalt project in Finland, expanding its granted tenure to 46 square kilometres and consolidating 12 kilometres of continuous strike within a key mineralised formation. This strategic move enhances the company’s potential to develop a significant European critical metals resource.
- Three new licences granted: Rooni-Holtti, Saalamaselka, Kaunismaa
- Total granted exploration area at Pulju now 46km²
- 12km continuous strike secured within the Mertavaara Formation
- Rooni-Holtti licence connects existing tenements and shows high-grade historic nickel and copper results
- Ongoing analysis and new targeting tools to guide further exploration
Strategic Expansion of Exploration Footprint
Nordic Resources Limited (ASX: NNL) has announced the granting of three new exploration licences at its flagship Pulju nickel-copper-cobalt project in northern Finland. The licences, Rooni-Holtti, Saalamaselka, and Kaunismaa, expand the company’s granted exploration tenure to 46 square kilometres, securing nearly 12 kilometres of continuous strike within the highly prospective Mertavaara Formation.
This expansion is a significant milestone in Nordic Resources’ strategy to build a district-scale critical metals resource in Europe, a region increasingly focused on securing supply chains for nickel, copper, and cobalt, key components in electric vehicle batteries and clean energy technologies.
Rooni-Holtti: A Licence of Particular Interest
The Rooni-Holtti licence stands out as a pivotal addition, physically linking the existing Hotinvaara and Holtinvaara licences. This area hosts important structural features and multiple geophysical and geochemical targets that have attracted attention due to their potential to host significant mineralisation.
Historic shallow reconnaissance drilling in Rooni-Holtti has intersected some of the highest nickel grades outside the Hotinvaara resource, including a peak assay of 0.58% nickel over 0.25 metres. Additionally, copper trench assays in the licence area have yielded promising results, suggesting potential for resource expansion beyond nickel alone.
Building on a Robust Resource Base
The Pulju project already hosts a substantial nickel-cobalt resource at Hotinvaara, with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate of 418 million tonnes grading 0.21% nickel and 0.01% cobalt, containing over 860,000 tonnes of nickel. Metallurgical testing has demonstrated the ability to produce a high-grade nickel concentrate with payable cobalt, underscoring the project’s economic potential.
By securing these new licences, Nordic Resources is positioning itself to leverage historical data and apply advanced targeting tools developed at Hotinvaara to the broader Pulju district. This integrated approach aims to identify new zones of mineralisation, particularly targeting remobilised and massive sulphide deposits that could significantly enhance grade and scale.
Context Within Europe’s Critical Metals Landscape
Located in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, Pulju benefits from excellent infrastructure, including proximity to Finland’s only nickel smelters and established mining operations such as Boliden’s Kevitsa mine. This strategic location enhances the project’s attractiveness as a future supplier of critical metals to European markets, which are seeking to reduce reliance on overseas sources.
Nordic Resources’ methodical expansion and exploration efforts at Pulju reflect a broader trend in the mining sector, where companies are racing to secure and develop critical metal assets in politically stable jurisdictions with strong environmental and social governance standards.
Next Steps in Exploration
The company is currently conducting detailed analyses of the regional diamond drilling database, integrating new geological insights and geophysical data to refine exploration targets within the newly granted licences. Follow-up drilling campaigns are anticipated to test these targets, with particular focus on the Rooni-Holtti area given its demonstrated potential.
As Nordic Resources advances its exploration program, the Pulju project is increasingly emerging as a cornerstone asset in Europe’s critical metals supply chain, with the potential to deliver significant value for investors and stakeholders alike.
Bottom Line?
Nordic Resources’ expanded Pulju tenure sets the stage for a new wave of exploration that could reshape Europe’s critical metals landscape.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the timelines and budget for follow-up drilling in the newly granted licences?
- How will the company prioritise targets within the large 46km² exploration area?
- What potential exists for discovering higher-grade massive sulphide zones beyond the current disseminated nickel resource?