White Cliff Minerals is now fully approved for exploration at its Coppermine project in Canada following receipt of a positive conformity determination for its licences from the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC).
This approval marks an important step in the project’s permitting process, enabling the company to proceed with appointing contractors and finalising logistical plans for its 2024 exploration initiatives.
White Cliff said that its commitment to responsible resource development is reinforced by this regulatory nod, ensuring that its proposed activities are in line with local, territorial and federal expectations.
With all necessary permits now in place, White Cliff is poised to build on historical exploration efforts that have identified numerous occurrences of copper and silver mineralisation over a 100km structural trend.
The Coppermine project is known for its historical non-JORC, or NI 43-101, and ‘blue sky’ mineral estimates, which will be a focal point of the 2024 exploration programme.
The company plans to utilise airborne sensing and data collection technologies alongside detailed mapping and sampling to pinpoint areas within the licence area for more intensive study and drilling.
Negotiations are ongoing with Canadian service providers for various work programmes, marking the first systematic exploration of the area in many years.
The logistical hub for the project will be established in Kugluktuk, a town situated north-east of the project area, which is accessible by both plane and ship.
As operational planning for the exploration programme progresses, White Cliff will maintain close collaboration with local communities, indigenous groups and stakeholders to ensure that the exploration aligns with community expectations.
Initial steps for the Coppermine project include mobilising field crews for orientation and planning, and acquiring high-resolution satellite data, aerial photography and electromagnetic data.
White Cliff will also explore modern geophysical techniques for targeting, such as MobileMT, and conduct systematic rock and trench sampling.
Drilling will be conducted to test the potential of high-grade structurally controlled and stratiform copper mineralisation.
White Cliff chairman Roderick McIllree said: “With this Nunavut Commission licence approval, we are now fully permitted and can move to finalise our exploration initiatives including contractor selection.
“This milestone was a critical component of our strategic planning phase and is now delivered.
“We can now focus on validating a significant database of historical mineral resources, high-grade outcrop samples, and ultimately prepare for drilling.”
