First Nordic Metals Corp. has announced the commencement of its comprehensive summer and fall exploration program across its 100%-owned Gold Line belt projects in northern Sweden. Key aspects of this program include a large-scale geophysical survey and a regional surface exploration initiative on the Storjuktan Project, along with extensive top-of-bedrock (BoT) drilling campaigns on the Paubäcken and Klippen projects.
Storjuktan project: Geochemical survey and UAV magnetic survey
The Storjuktan Project will see the continuation of a detailed geochemical survey initiated in 2023, where FNM identified a significant 5 km gold pathfinder glacial till anomaly at the Nippas target. The upcoming survey will involve the collection of approximately 38,000 B-Horizon (subsoil) glacial till samples to cover the remaining 23,000 hectares of the project area. Samples will be analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for gold pathfinder elements, with further assays conducted at an external laboratory for anomalous samples.
Additionally, a 25,000-hectare UAV magnetic geophysical survey will be carried out by Radia Oy, covering 5,517 line kilometers with 50-meter spaced lines. This survey will help map the geology and structural features of the project area in detail.
Paubäcken Project: BoT drilling and follow-up
The Paubäcken Project will feature BoT drilling on the Brokojan target, which was identified through 2023 surface till sampling. This target, characterized by an arsenic-copper-zinc-molybdenum pathfinder element anomaly, will undergo up to 100 BoT drill holes. Additionally, follow-up drilling on the Aida target will continue to confirm gold mineralization, focusing on the highest-grade BoT drill sample recorded to date (5.01 g/t Au).
Klippen project: Drilling campaign
The Klippen Project will see up to 120 BoT drill holes aimed at investigating a +5 km by 500 m gold and pathfinder anomaly. This drilling will be conducted along a 2 km zone, based on geophysical data and ice flow direction, to locate the source of the anomaly.
Program budget and future plans
The summer and fall exploration program is budgeted at C$0.5 million. FNM is also preparing for a diamond drilling program of 10,000 to 15,000 meters on its Gold Line belt projects, scheduled to begin in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025.
About the projects
- Storjuktan project: Located strategically north of the Barsele project, it covers 30,000 hectares with over 60 km of the Gold Line structure.
- Paubäcken project: Comprises 17,097 hectares and is positioned between Barsele and Fäboliden, near the Svartliden mine.
- Klippen project: Situated in the southern extension of the Gold Line belt, featuring highly prospective geology for gold deposits.
Gold Line belt geology
The Gold Line belt features an inverted volcano-sedimentary sequence with granitic intrusions in a high-strain structural corridor. Gold mineralization is associated with intense hydrothermal alteration and sulfide minerals, making it highly prospective for orogenic gold deposits.
