Hard Creek Nickel funds Carbon Sequestration Research
(Vancouver) -- Neil Froc, Executive Vice President of Hard Creek Nickel
Corporation (TSX.V � HNC), announced today that the Company has committed to
providing up to $60,000 in funding for two research projects under the
supervision of Dr. Michael Hitch, Ph.D., P.Geol.,
Assistant Professor with the Norman B. Keevil
Institute of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia. This
research will consist of defining the economics of new mining protocols for
the Turnagain Project which employ CO2
capture and storage (CCS) and then developing new resource and mine planning
models utilizing the sequestration potential of mine waste rock materials.
The Turnagain project, which is 100% owned by Hard Creek, is
located in British Columbia about 1350 km northwest of Vancouver and 70 km east of Dease Lake. Nickel and copper sulfides
were first identified on the property in about 1956. Falconbridge
Nickel Mines completed the first exploration programs from 1966 to
1973. Exploration to date on the Turnagain property
has included geological mapping, geophysical and geochemical surveys and more
than 75,620 metres
(248,100 feet)
of diamond drilling in 304 drill holes. Host rocks for the mineral
resource are predominantly the magnesium silicates olivine and serpentine.
�We
are taking a proactive stance towards the management of our potential green
house gas emissions,� said Mr. Froc. �We
believe the research will put us in a better position to demonstrate
effective carbon offsets and this will enhance the financial performance of
our Turnagain Project.�
�I
am excited about the opportunity to work with the support of Hard Creek
Nickel on these two research projects,� said Dr. Hitch. �The level of
commitment to this research is testimony to Hard Creek�s forward thinking and
progressive stance on the important aspects of CCS. Clearly they
recognize that there is the potential to enhance the Turnagain
Project and to more effectively utilize the mineral resource in their
possession.�
The
two research projects explore the opportunity for using mine waste rock and
tailings as a medium for capture and storage of CO2 gas. The
unique aspect of this research is the premise that CCS can be achieved
through the process of mineral carbonation of magnesium silicate minerals at
ambient temperatures and pressures. As a result of this new found use
of what has been traditionally considered mine waste materials, a new
technology is emerging whereby these materials may now have an enhanced value
at a mining operation.
This
realization of value presents itself in several ways to the mine
operator. Firstly, traditional mining and material movement
methodologies become obsolete in terms of the economics of waste versus
ore. Under operating conditions, materials that have enhanced sequestration
potential (i.e. those with enhanced CCS characteristics) will be mined in a
different manner than non-reactive materials. Trucking, crushing,
placement and other costs will now be applied to this material.
A
second realization of value may exist in the reactive materials� capacity to
consume carbon and its value to other CO2 emitters and their
ability to use this material to manage their own emissions.
The
determination, mining, placement and operation of CCS reactive rock materials
employ not only a new way of looking at traditional waste rock but also a new
assignment of values. These new values will be ultimately utilized
under cap and trade programs designed to reduce green house gas emissions and
credit those involved with CCS.
The Turnagain deposit has been recently estimated (see
December 10, 2007 News Release for details) with the measured and indicated
resource estimated at 489 million tonnes grading 0.22% total nickel (0.16%
nickel in sulphides) and 0.012% cobalt and an additional inferred resource of
560 million tonnes grading 0.20% total nickel (0.15% nickel in sulphides) and
0.011% cobalt. The mineral resources of the Turnagain
deposit were classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards and Best
Practices referred to in NI 43-101 which have a reasonable expectation of
economic extraction.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Hard Creek Nickel Corporation
�Mark Jarvis�
MARK JARVIS, President
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
accuracy or adequacy of this news release.
1060 � 1090 W. Georgia St., Vancouver,
BC, Canada
V6E 3V7
T: 604-681-2300 F: 604-681-2310
E: info@hardcreek.com W: http://www.hardcreeknickel.com
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