A National Priority: Talon Metals Steps-Up to Find More Domestic Nickel and Other Critical Minerals

The USA’s transition to green renewable energy sources necessitates a robust and secure domestic supply chain for critical minerals. Nickel, and cobalt are among these essential elements (USGS currently excludes copper from the list), playing a pivotal role in the production of batteries and other technologies that underpin the green energy revolution. 

The global nickel market is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to Fortune Business Insights, the market size was USD 33.31 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow to USD 59.14 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% during the 2021-2028 period. 

The United States is home to only one operating nickel mine, the Eagle Mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is owned and operated by Canadian Lundin Mining. Eagle began production in Fall 2014 and through 2021 produced 317 million pounds of nickel and 313 million pounds of copper.

In the heart of Minnesota, Talon Metals Corp (TSX: TLO) is making strides in the nickel mining sector with its Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project. The project is located in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex, a region known for its rich mineral deposits. Talon is the 51% owner and operator of the project, with an option to earn up to 60% from its JV partner Rio Tinto

The Tamarack Project has a storied history dating back to the early 1900s where the property was purchased by Henry Ford for its lumber. Over the years, the project has seen significant exploration and development. Rio Tinto purchased the land package from Ford and explored for nickel/copper from 1995 to 2013, after which Talon Metals took over the reins as the majority owner and operator.

The geology of the Tamarack region is particularly interesting, with a variety of mineral-rich formations. The project area is characterised by the presence of nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide mineralization, which has been the focus of Talon’s exploration efforts.

Recently, the company announced a significant discovery in the Raptor Zone, a previously unexplored area within the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. 

A new drill hole, 23TK0482, intersected a 4.21-meter section of semi-massive nickel sulphide at a shallow depth of approximately 296.3 metres. This discovery is particularly exciting as it represents a 450-metre step-out from the nearest drill hole, opening up new possibilities for exploration.

Brian Goldner, Chief Exploration and Operations Officer of Talon said: “This intersection reminds me of our first discovery in the Tamarack Resource Area in 2008. At that time, we were drilling coarse grained nickel mineralization of similar size to the current drill hole, trying to figure out where it came from. It took 42 holes to make that first discovery back then, but today we have the benefit of our in-house drilling team and our in-house geophysics team with industry leading technology to guide further exploration in the Raptor Zone.”

The drill results have shown promising nickel grades, with similar textural characteristics to the high-grade nickel mineralization found in the Tamarack Resource Area. The company is awaiting assay results to confirm the exact nickel, copper, and cobalt grades of this new discovery.

Henri van Rooyen, CEO of Talon, commented on the discovery, stating, “This is just one more signal that there is more nickel in America. While we have started the process of permitting an underground mine in the Tamarack Resource Area, we are committed to continuing to search for more high-grade nickel deposits in Minnesota and Michigan.”

 

Another nickel mine developing in Minnesota is the NorthMet Project, owned by PolyMet Mining. This project, located in the Duluth Complex in northeastern Minnesota, is in the permitting and financing stage. Once operational, it will be the first mine to commercially produce copper, nickel, and other precious metals in the region.

Projects like Talon’s Tamarack and PolyMet’s NorthMet underscore the potential of the U.S. domestic mining sector in supporting the transition to green energy. As the demand for critical minerals like nickel continues to rise, these mines will play an increasingly important role in meeting the security needs of the country.