Resources Top 5: The nickel stocks running hotter than a shearer’s armpit

Conico hits ~55m of “significant sulphide mineralisation” in very first hole at ‘Ryberg’ nickel-copper project
Poseidon Nickel now up 107% in 2021, and 380% over the past 12 months.
Pacific Nickel completes infill drilling at advanced ‘Kolosori’ DSO project

Here are the biggest small cap resources winners in early trade, Monday July 26.

POSEIDON NICKEL (ASX:POS)

(Up on no news)

Nickel is hot right now, thanks to taste maker Elon Musk, and WA based Poseidon is one stock that could benefit.

This $421m market cap nickel-gold play is up 107% in 2021, and 380% over the past 12 months.

It is targeting first nickel production in 2022.

Last week it was also spruiking the “robust” 150,000oz gold and 375,000oz silver ‘Windarra’ tailings project.

A feasibility study ‘base case’ predicts net profits of $30.6 million over a 45-month production period, assuming a conservative gold price of US$1,750/oz.

CONICO (ASX:CNJ)

The explorer hit about 55m of “significant sulphide mineralisation” in its very first hole at the ‘Ryberg’ nickel-copper project in Greenland.

Drill core will be processed and assayed as soon as possible, the company says. Results are anticipated to be received in 4-6 weeks.

The second drill-hole is near completion, while rigs have been established on holes #3 and #4.

The ~$50m market cap stock is up 60% year-to-date, and 380% over the past 12 months.

CZR RESOURCES (ASX:CZR)

(Up on no news)

This iron ore-gold explorer has five projects in WA in JV with famous prospector Mark Creasey, who is also a major shareholder.

On the CZR board is David Flanaghan, who led the development of Atlas Iron from explorer into significant Pilbara iron ore producer.

He’s hoping to do it again at CZR. The explorer’s main focus is moving the ‘Robe Mesa’ DSO deposit towards a DFS and approvals for mining during 2021.

The $46m market cap stock is down 35% year-to-date.

PAN ASIA METALS (ASX:PAM)

(Up on no news)

In mid-July, the recently listed tungsten-lithium explorer kicked off 24-hour-a-day drilling at its ‘Reung Kiet’ project in Thailand.

“Compelling” lithium drilling results at Reung Kiet supported a move to double shift drilling, the company says.

“This will allow PAM to accelerate the additional infill and extensional drilling required in order to support the objective of estimating a Mineral Resource in accordance with the JORC Code 2012 – which is anticipated later this year.”

PACIFIC NICKEL MINES (ASX:PNM)

The first stage of infill drilling – designed to increase confidence in a resource prior to development — at the advanced Kolosori nickel DSO (direct shipping ore) project in the Solomon Islands is now complete.

Stage two will kick off in the next week or so.

“The completion of the initial drilling program and engineering studies are very positive for the development of the Kolosori project, and we remain on track to apply for the necessary Mining and Environmental licences next month,” Pacific Nickel chief exec Geoff Hiller says.

Late June, PNM returned thick, high grade results – like 8m at 2.8% nickel – from drilling at its ‘Jejevo’ project, also in the Solomon Islands.

Nickel laterite ores from DSO operations – a low-cost way to get into production — provide feedstock for nickel pig iron production suitable for Chinese stainless-steel producers, Pacific Nickel Mines says.

Few alternative sources of nickel laterite ore globally exist outside Indonesia (higher jurisdictional risk) and the Philippines (lower grade) to satisfy demand from the domestic Chinese producers.