Canadian North Resources Inc. Reports Extraction Rates of 99% Nickel, 98% Cobalt and 90.6% Copper in the Second Set of Bioleaching Tests for the Ferguson Lake Project in Canada
Original announcement by tmx on
- Company
- Canadian North Resources Inc.
- Ticker
- CNRI
- Exchange
- TSX
- Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Primary commodity
- Nickel
- Secondary commodities
- Cobalt, Copper, Palladium, Platinum, Gold
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-13 19:13:05 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Canadian North Resources reported high metal extraction rates from its second set of bioleaching tests at the Ferguson Lake Project, achieving up to 99% Ni, 98% Co, and 90.6% Cu. The tests suggest a self-sustaining process that generates sufficient heat and acid, potentially enabling low-energy, low-cost mineral processing. Initial cyanide leach testing on the bioleaching residues also showed strong recoveries for gold and palladium.
Reasoning: The second set of bioleaching tests demonstrated exceptionally high extraction rates for Ni, Co, and Cu at low temperatures, with the potential for a self-sustaining, low-energy metallurgical process.
Positive factors
- High metal extractions (99% Ni, 98% Co, 90.6% Cu)
- Self-sustaining bioleaching process (generates own heat and acid)
- Low temperature operation (52-65°C) reduces energy requirements
- High PGM and gold recoveries from bioleaching residues
Negative factors
- Bench-scale testing only (not pilot scale)
Facts used in scoring: 9
Classification and evidence
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: The bioleaching process is described as a metallurgical process for the recovery of metals from massive sulphides.
Evidence · text
“bio-metallurgical technology”
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 3 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 9. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (9)
bioleachingFerguson Lake · copperRecovery: 65.2 %Head Grade: 1.08Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- bioleaching
- Processing Route
- bioleaching
- Sample
- J10228 52C massive sulphide, 18 days
Recovery
- Recovery
- 65.2 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 1.08
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 65.2% Cu recovery at 18 days is relatively low compared to later tests.
Evidence · table
“65.2”
Context: 1.08
Tags used in scoring
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 65.2% is below the weak band (80%)
bioleachingFerguson Lake · nickelRecovery: 81.5 %Head Grade: 0.97Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- nickel
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- bioleaching
- Processing Route
- bioleaching
- Sample
- J10228 52C massive sulphide, 18 days
Recovery
- Recovery
- 81.5 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.97
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 81.5% Ni recovery at 18 days.
Evidence · table
“81.5”
Context: 1.08
bioleachingFerguson Lake · cobaltRecovery: 86.8 %Head Grade: 0.095Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- cobalt
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- bioleaching
- Processing Route
- bioleaching
- Sample
- J10228 52C massive sulphide, 18 days
Recovery
- Recovery
- 86.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.095
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 86.8% Co recovery at 18 days.
Evidence · table
“86.8”
Context: 1.08
bioleachingFerguson Lake · copperRecovery: 90.6 %Head Grade: 1.08Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- bioleaching
- Processing Route
- bioleaching
- Sample
- J10245 65C massive sulphide, 55 days
Recovery
- Recovery
- 90.6 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 1.08
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High copper extraction rate achieved at 65°C.
Positive factors
- 90.6% Cu recovery
Evidence · table
“90.6”
Context: 1.08
bioleachingFerguson Lake · nickelRecovery: 99 %Head Grade: 0.97Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- nickel
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- bioleaching
- Processing Route
- bioleaching
- Sample
- J10245 65C massive sulphide, 55 days
Recovery
- Recovery
- 99 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.97
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Near-total nickel extraction.
Positive factors
- 99.0% Ni recovery
Evidence · table
“99.0”
Context: 1.08
Tags used in scoring
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 99% is at or above the exceptional band (90%)
bioleachingFerguson Lake · cobaltRecovery: 99.3 %Head Grade: 0.095Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- cobalt
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- bioleaching
- Processing Route
- bioleaching
- Sample
- J10245 65C massive sulphide, 55 days
Recovery
- Recovery
- 99.3 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.095
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Near-total cobalt extraction.
Positive factors
- 99.3% Co recovery
Evidence · table
“99.3”
Context: 1.08
cyanide leachFerguson Lake · goldRecovery: 83.5 %Head Grade: 0.004Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- CN leach
- Sample
- J10227 MS55 Res CN Leach Residue
Recovery
- Recovery
- 83.5 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.004
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Good gold recovery from bioleaching residues via cyanide leach.
Positive factors
- 83.5% Au recovery from residues
Evidence · table
“83.5”
Context: 0.004
cyanide leachFerguson Lake · palladiumRecovery: 82.2 %Head Grade: 0.325Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- palladium
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- CN leach
- Sample
- J10227 MS55 Res CN Leach Residue
Recovery
- Recovery
- 82.2 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.325
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Good palladium recovery from bioleaching residues via cyanide leach.
Positive factors
- 82.2% Pd recovery from residues
Evidence · table
“82.2”
Context: 0.325
cyanide leachFerguson Lake · platinumRecovery: 40.8 %Head Grade: 0.324Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Ferguson Lake
- Commodity
- platinum
- Region
- canada_nu
- Reported Region
- Nunavut, Canada
- Ticker
- CNRI
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- CN leach
- Sample
- J10227 MS55 Res CN Leach Residue
Recovery
- Recovery
- 40.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.324
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- RPC
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Platinum recovery is significantly lower than other metals in the residue leach.
Negative factors
- Low platinum recovery (40.8%)
Evidence · table
“40.8”
Context: 0.324
How Atlas produces this analysis
Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.