First Class Metals plc (FCM) has been granted further exploration permits for its Enable and McKellar properties from the Ontario Ministry of Mines.
COLLABORATION
The three-year permits are effective until 16 November 2026 and will allow stripping, trail cutting and diamond drilling.
Enable, with proven mineralisation and historical showings including Perch Lake reporting 1.85ppm gold, will initially undergo stripping.
McKellar contains a “plethora of historic showings” including gold, silver, a rare earth elements-bearing diatreme, and a >400m mineralised trend, open along strike, containing >4% zinc as well as associated anomalies in lead and copper.
FCM said that previous work by Noranda postulated this anomalous structure was a potential volcanic massive sulphide.
“I am gratified and humbled that the relationship with the First Nations with whom we interact has been recognised in the granting of these permits,” added chief executive Marc J. Sale.
“Currently we now have six permits, along with three memorandums of understanding and an exploration agreement signed with four separate First Nation groups.
“These permits will enable us to conduct focused exploration efforts, with the ultimate aim of further refining delineating drill targets and commencing drilling operations.
“The mutual respect and collaboration we have fostered with the First Nations is of utmost importance to us, and we are honoured to have made such significant progress across the majority of our portfolio.”
FCM’s active permits cover Sunbeam (two) for stripping and channel sampling; Zigzag focused on hard rock lithium/critical metals; Esa, predominately gold; and North Hemlo for gold, base and battery metals.