First Cobalt Corp reports high grade cobalt assays from a sampling program of the historic muck piles from the past producing Bellellen Mine on its Greater Cobalt Project in Ontario, Canada. The program commenced in July 2017 as part of field mapping programs and reconnaissance of new areas with the objective of identifying and prioritizing areas for future exploration and drilling.
A significant number of samples returned high-grade cobalt mineralization.
Disseminated pyrite ore texture of some cobalt-rich mineralization has not been previously described in the Cobalt Camp. Widespread mineralization of this type would be amenable for bulk mining and would support First Cobalt's vision for operations in the Cobalt Camp
High values of copper present as chalcopyrite are also co-incident with cobalt associated with calcite veining.
Dr. Frank Santaguida, Vice President, Exploration commented:
"Bellellen contains a different style of mineralization compared to Keeley-Frontier that at first looked uninteresting but in fact contains high cobalt grades. This suggests that a more complex structural-hydrothermal setting may exist here than was previously considered."
Mining at Bellellen Mine began in 1909. The Bellellen mine contained high cobalt content relative to silver, thus it struggled to be economically viable in a silver mining era. Production from the Bellellen Mine peaked in 1931 with intermittent production to 1943 when 12.3 tons of ore were shipped containing 9.25% Co and 11.55% Ni. Two mine shafts are still visible with underground material piled nearby.