Nicola Mining Inc. Commences Exploration Drilling At New Craigmont Copper Project
NIM.V
Published on 06/20/2025 at 11:35
Nicola Mining Inc. announced commencement of the 2025 Exploration Diamond Drilling Program (the " 2025 Program") at its New Craigmont Copper Project ("New Craigmont"), near Merritt, BC. Exploration Target Generation Activities. Five priority exploration targets, three of which are included in Nicola's 2025 program, have been identified through collaboration in 2025 with ALS Geoanalytics (GoldSpot Discoveries Ltd.; "GoldSpot") using AI-based methods to analyze and correlate geophysical and geochemical data from Nicola's large exploration database.
Target A. correlates well with the West Craigmont/WP target area where several holes were drilled in 2024. Drilling in 2024 revealed favourable alteration with follow-up potential. Target B. is a new, undrilled target identified by the GoldSpot analysis.
Target C. responds with the MARB/CAS target area where positive results from the 2024 Exploration Program made it a high priority target. Target D corresponds with the important Titan Queen MINFILE showing. Historic and subsequent drilling and mapping in 2016 support more drilling.
Target E is another new target from the Goldspot analysis that is added to the 2025 Program. Nicola continues to work with GoldSpot to refine the 2025 Exploration Program that will include collection of X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) data under the guidance of GoldSpot to ensure consistent, high-quality data acquisition aligned with New Craigmont's exploration goals. This new data will contribute to the development of exploration targets and improve understanding of skarn and porphyry-style mineralization.
Diamond Drilling Plans. Exploration plans for the 2025 Program include 4,000-5,000 metres of diamond drilling at the MARB/CAS, West Craigmont/WP, and two new target areas generated by ALS GoldSpot. The purpose of the 2025 Program is to collect geological data for target development for a potential porphyry copper system at New Craigmont.
Drill core will provide valuable information on lithology, structure, alteration and mineralization, and multi-element analysis. Drilling at MARB will follow-up near-surface porphyry-style copper-mineralization with holes designed to test a vertical mineralization trend at depth. Near surface skarn at CAS discovered in 2024 is characteristic of mineralization observed in the Embayment Zone.
Additional drilling in the 2025 Program will investigate potential continuity along trend between MARB, CAS and the Embayment Zone. Draken is a high-priority, undrilled target consisting of a cluster of copper showings discovered from Nicola's field program in 2023. Outcrops of Guichon Border Phase quartz diorite contain porphyry style quartz-feldspar veinlets with weak copper oxide minerals.
Exposures at Draken exhibit some of the best-developed porphyry-style alteration documented on the New Craigmont property, and the target also coincides with high resistivity and high chargeability geophysical response. Summary. Nicola's objective for 2025 is to continue to target for porphyry systems by conducting the following: Acquire an enhanced suite of geochemical data for more targeting studies with GoldSpot.
Expand the extent of mineralization observed at the MARB and CAS targets. Test two new targets at West Craigmont, including Draken. Test two new targets generated by GoldSpot in the centre of the property.
The estimated budget for the 2025 Program is $1.5-2 M. Nicola anticipates drilling to conclude sometime in September. The Company will provide a separate news release on exploration at its high-grade silver Treasure Mountain Project.