Nordic Nickel (ASX:NNL) announced an expansion of its exploration efforts in Finland, with a new 3,000-metre diamond drilling program commencing immediately.
The campaign focuses on the company's Kopsa and Kiimala Trend gold projects and is strategically designed to gather data ahead of scheduled mineral resource estimate updates planned for later in the year.
At the Kiimala Trend, drilling will prioritise infill and extension work at the Angesneva deposit, which currently boasts a near-surface indicated resource of 147,000 ounces at 1.19 grams per tonne gold.
Furthermore, the program includes exploratory drilling at the Vesipera prospect and other untested targets within the Kiimala area.
The drilling is scheduled to wrap up in May, timed to align with the completion of ongoing metallurgical testing at Kopsa.
Once all drill assay results and metallurgical data are received, NNL intends to compile updated mineral resource estimates for both Kopsa and Angesneva.
NNL's assets in the region represent a substantial resource inventory of 34.3 million tonnes at 1.11 grams per tonne gold equivalent, totalling 1.23 million ounces.
Notably, 66% of these resources fall within the measured and indicated categories, and all three projects feature shallow mineralisation potentially amenable to open-pit mining.
The Kopsa deposit is the largest, with 814,800 ounces of gold equivalent located between 0 and 150 metres below the surface.
The company is also evaluating near-term production options, aided by the proximity of two existing mills in the region.