RPM(US:RPM) Globenewswireยท2025-09-10 10:00Core Insights - First Atlantic Nickel Corp. has reported a significant expansion of visible awaruite nickel-alloy mineralization at the RPM Zone, increasing the mineralized section's width to 750 meters, a 50% increase from the previous 500 meters established in Phase 1 [1][6][8] - The Phase 2 drilling program has successfully tested 800 meters of north-south strike length and aims to define over 1 kilometer of continuous awaruite mineralization [1][6][22] - Awaruite, a naturally occurring nickel-iron-cobalt alloy, offers advantages over traditional nickel ores, including a higher average nickel grade of approximately 76% and the elimination of conventional smelting processes [2][31] Company Developments - The RPM Zone has emerged as a significant discovery within First Atlantic's 30-kilometer Atlantic Nickel Project, with drilling confirming a mineralized footprint of approximately 750 meters in width and 400 meters in length [20][21] - The company has completed holes AN-25-08 and AN-25-09, further extending the tested strike length and demonstrating the scale potential of the RPM Zone [1][22] - The geological team's systematic approach has led to the recognition of awaruite mineralization that previous operators overlooked, contributing to the project's rapid advancement [5][31] Metallurgical Insights - The drilling at the RPM Zone has returned magnetically recoverable nickel averaging 1.38% in magnetic concentrate, with a mass pull of 9.08%, indicating the mineralization's amenability to simple magnetic separation processing [6][20] - Awaruite's properties allow for smelter-free processing, aligning with the company's vision of establishing a clean, onshore North American nickel supply chain [31][32] Future Outlook - The company anticipates providing additional updates on the Phase 2 drilling and exploration progress in the coming weeks, indicating ongoing developments in the RPM Zone [1][23]