All of the reported core holes were drilled as infill holes in the Horsetrail deposit to confirm the continuity of the mineralization within the inferred mineral resource. Mineralization was encountered in all the holes and comprised disseminated to blebby intercumulus pyrrhotite and pentlandite, with local net-textured intervals, hosted by dunite and wehrlite of the Turnagain ultramafic complex. The total nickel values reported below include nickel in both sulfide and non-sulfide minerals. Comparison of analytical results over the past four years indicates that sulfide nickel values range from 60 to 90 percent of total nickel
values. Only nickel sulfide minerals are expected to be recovered by froth flotation. Resource estimates will be updated after the 2007 drilling program is completed.
�Hole 07-181 was designed to pass 65 metres beneath the 235.9 metres grading 0.30 nickel reported in hole 05-106 (see News Release December 13, 2005). The mineralization in hole 05-106, which started 3 metres below surface, has now been extended to at least 230 metres below surface. This intercept, and the others reported here, have increased confidence in our interpretation of the geology and mineralization.� said Mr. Jarvis.
DDH�s 06-175 to 06- 183 were drilled as infill holes within the Horsetrail deposit:
| | | | Length | Total |
Hole # | | From (m) | To (m) | (m) | Ni % | Co % |
| | | | | | |
07-176 | | 6.4 | 160 | 153.6 | 0.27 | 0.015 |
| incl. | 16 | 88 | 72 | 0.35 | 0.018 |
| 200 | 228 | 28 | 0.28 | 0.019 |
| 280 | 316 | 36 | 0.21 | 0.01 |
| | | | | |
07-177 | | 48 | 104 | 56 | 0.25 | 0.013 |
| | 136 | 160 | 24 | 0.26 | 0.016 |
| 200 | 280 | 80 | 0.33 | 0.014 |
| | | | | |
07-178 | | 16 | 32 | 16 | 0.3 | 0.012 |
| | 76 | 192 | 116 | 0.35 | 0.018 |
incl. | 76 | 104 | 28 | 0.46 | 0.02 |
and incl. | 156 | 188 | 32 | 0.4 | 0.017 |
| 200 | 216 | 16 | 0.21 | 0.014 |
| 272 | 360 | 88 | 0.25 | 0.017 |
| 376 | 424 | 48 | 0.27 | 0.017 |
incl. | 400 | 420 | 20 | 0.37 | 0.021 |
| 448 | 483.1 EOH | 35.1 | 0.24 | 0.013 |
| | | | | |
07-179 | | 11.3 | 36 | 24.7 | 0.26 | 0.011 |
| | 80 | 104 | 24 | 0.24 | 0.011 |
| 120 | 272 | 152 | 0.3 | 0.016 |
| 280 | 296 | 16 | 0.25 | 0.016 |
| 364 | 424 EOH | 60 | 0.24 | 0.019 |
| | | | | |
07-180 | | 144 | 160 | 16 | 0.2 | 0.012 |
| | 176 | 188 | 12 | 0.22 | 0.009 |
| 216 | 324 | 108 | 0.32 | 0.017 |
incl. | 236 | 260 | 24 | 0.44 | 0.02 |
and incl. | 316 | 317.1 | 1.1 | 1.33 | 0.099 |
| 332 | 416 | 84 | 0.26 | 0.014 |
incl. | 356 | 372 | 16 | 0.34 | 0.014 |
and incl. | 392 | 404 | 12 | 0.36 | 0.015 |
| | | | | |
07-181 | | 72 | 364 | 292 | 0.28 | 0.015 |
| incl. | 72 | 84 | 12 | 0.39 | 0.014 |
and incl. | 104 | 120 | 16 | 0.35 | 0.017 |
and incl. | 192 | 224 | 32 | 0.42 | 0.021 |
| | | | | |
07-182 | | 132 | 152 | 20 | 0.24 | 0.012 |
| | 188 | 276 | 88 | 0.3 | 0.017 |
incl. | 212 | 228 | 16 | 0.41 | 0.018 |
| 312 | 336.5 EOH | 24.5 | 0.23 | 0.017 |
| | | | | |
07-183 | | 48 | 252 | 204 | 0.29 | 0.018 |
| incl. | 92 | 128 | 36 | 0.34 | 0.02 |
and incl. | 180 | 208 | 28 | 0.39 | 0.02 |
| 284 | 348 | 64 | 0.28 | 0.018 |
incl. | 324 | 344 | 20 | 0.34 | 0.016 |
| | | | | |
True widths are estimated to be approximately 80 percent of reported core intervals.
Samples for analysis were generally 4 metres in length of split NQ-size core. Reference pulps with known nickel and copper values were inserted every 25 core samples and rock blanks inserted every 30 samples to monitor laboratory performance as part of the QC/QA program.
Total nickel, copper, cobalt and sulphur values were determined by ICP emission spectrometry following four acid digestion of a representative pulp sample. All analytical work was conducted by Acme Analytical Laboratories
Ltd., an ISO 9001 registered facility, located in Vancouver. IPL, an ISO 9001 registered facility, also located in Vancouver, is carrying out check analyses on ten percent of the samples.
The Turnagain Nickel Project resource has been estimated in early 2007 (see February 12, 2007 News Release for details) at a measured and indicated resource estimated at 428.5 million tonnes grading 0.23% total nickel (0.17% sulfide nickel) and 0.011% cobalt and an additional inferred resource of 742.9 million tonnes grading 0.23% total nickel (0.17% sulfide nickel) and 0.011% cobalt. Sulfide nickel grades are based on ammonium citrate-hydrogen peroxide leach analyses. Ammonium citrate-hydrogen peroxide leach analyses for nickel provide a good estimate of nickel grades present in sulfide form and display good correlation with recoveries in
metallurgical flotation tests. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Drilling continues with two drills doing infill and step-out holes in the Horsetrail, Norththwest and Duffy areas. A helicopter-supported drill is testing a number of exploration targets as detailed in the July 25, 2007 News Release. A fourth drill is being mobilized to the property and will be used in the Horsetrail and Northwest areas for drilling several deep holes targeted for greater than 700 metres (2,296 feet), and for the collection of approximately 1000kg (2205 lbs) of PQ-sized (2.5 inch diameter) drill core for a variety of crushing, grinding and abrasion testwork.
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Neil Froc, P.Eng., a qualified person consistent with NI 43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Hard Creek Nickel Corporation
�MARK JARVIS�
MARK JARVIS, President