Fathom Announces the Start of Winter Trail Access to the Gochager Lake Project

Core Viewpoint - Fathom Nickel Inc. has initiated winter trail access to the Gochager Lake project, which is expected to enhance exploration efficiency and reduce costs significantly [1][4]. Group 1: Project Development - The company has received permission to utilize the access road to the Roy-Lloyd mine, allowing crews to prepare a trail to Benjamin Lake by Christmas [2]. - Following the holiday break, work will continue on historic trails and ice roads to facilitate the transportation of drilling equipment by mid-February 2026 [2]. - A low-frequency electromagnetic geophysical survey will commence in early January to expand the geochemical footprint of the Gochager Lake deposit [3]. Group 2: Cost Efficiency - The winter trail access is expected to reduce reliance on helicopter transport and winter fixed-wing air support, leading to lower overall exploration costs [4]. - The combination of using ice roads and historic trails will allow for more extensive drilling operations at the project [4]. Group 3: Exploration Potential - The Gochager Lake project is part of Fathom's strategy to target magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries, contributing to North American critical minerals supply and supporting the green energy transition [6]. - Historical data suggests an exploration target of 4-5 million tons grading 0.3%-0.4% Ni and 0.08%-0.09% Cu at the Gochager Lake deposit, although this estimate is not well documented [11]. - Fathom has confirmed Ni-Cu grades comparable to historical reports through its drilling efforts, indicating the presence of a significant deposit [11].