Vammala Nickel Belt

The 90km long Vammala Nickel Belt in SW Finland comprises a number of mafic-ultramafic intrusions (1.89-1.87 Ga) which host three past producers (Stormi, Kylmäkoski and Ekonjoki) with a combined historic production of over 9 million tons, as well as a number of partially explored copper-nickel deposits. Magnus has claim applications covering two copper-nickel deposits with resources at surface, Sääksjärvi and Suokko, and a claim reservation over a third deposit, Rauskulma. The Sääksjärvi deposit has a drill-indicated resource of 3.8 Mt of 0.25% Ni and 0.33% Cu as disseminated to semi-massive sulfides in olivine peridotite and olivine pyroxenite within a layered gabbroic intrusion measuring 250m by 200m; it has been tested to a depth 150m and is open along strike and at depth. The deposit dips 10 to 15 degrees east from surface to 150m and steepens downward, as well as thickening significantly to over 100m at 200m depth. On the surface, the deposit is associated with boudinaged pods of ultramafics, which join at a depth of 150m to form one body. Higher-grade zones are present. The Soukko deposit, located 3.5km north of the past producer Stormi Mine (7.5 Mt. Of 0.68% Ni + 0.42% Cu), was discovered in 1985.The property comprises three closely spaced bodies of nickeliferous peridotite: Sievari, Soukonoja and Mylyoja. A total of 41 holes, representing 7,305m, were drilled on the 3 peridotite bodies. Of those, 22 holes totaling 3,038m at Sievari, which is well mineralized at its SE contact, indicated a resource of some 50,000 tons of 0.44% Ni + 0.25% Cu. Despite the low over all grade, several sections exceeding 1% Ni were encountered over a meter or two. Drilling tested the ultramafic bodies and contacts from surface to the 100m level. The Rausakulma deposit was found in 1990 as a follow-up to testing of an airborne anomaly following ground geophysical surveys and prospecting in the area of known nickel mineralization and nickel boulders. The work outlined a relatively large ultramafic body, measuring 600m x 50 – 150m with an unknown depth. The intrusion has large portions of highly serpentinized peridotite and the contact rocks are very sulfidic and siliceous. The drilling of 23 holes totaling 4,129m indicate a resource of 375,000 tons of 0.36% Ni, 0.49% Cu with a cut-off of 0.2% Ni or 36,000 tons of 0.68% Ni + 0.95% Cu with a cut-off of 0.5% within a mineralized zone from 90m below surface to 150m level.