First Quantum Minerals Ltd has a 100% interest in the Trident Project (Sentinel and Enterprise mines), through a subsidiary operating entity, FQM Trident Ltd. (formerly Kalumbila Minerals Ltd.)
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Summary:
The Trident Project Area, including the Sentinel and Enterprise deposits, is located on the western end of the Lufilian Arc.
Enterprise is located in the northwest of the Trident Project area, and is hosted within a sequence of sedimentary units which form part of the Katangan System.
Deposit Type
Enterprise is a hydrothermal nickel deposit with mineralization hosted in a sequence of shale and siltstone units. These units have been preferentially mineralized due to rheological and geochemical interactions with mineralizing fluids. Enterprise mineralization has an unusual lack of spatial control from mafic intrusives and the primary source of nickel remains unclear.
The deposit is characterized by a series of relatively shallow dipping bodies covering an area of 1,000 meters by 500 meters in the main deposit area and approximately 800 meters by 300 meters in the southern deposit area. Enterprise mineralization has an unusual lack of spatial control from mafic intrusives and the primary source of nickel remains unclear. Lithologies, alterations and structural deformation (faulting and folding) were modelled from core logging, early pit mapping and multi-element geochemical data.
Mineralization
Nickel sulphide minerals include vaesite (NiS2), pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8, millerite (NiS), nickeliferous pyrite ([Fe,Ni]S2), bravoite ([Ni,Fe]S2) and carrollite (Cu[Co,Ni]2S4). Sulphide mineralization occurs within, or as an alteration halo to quartz-kyanite ± talc veins and vein breccias. Sulphides are concentrated within altered black shales and to lesser amounts in proximal siliciclastic rocks. Hydrothermal mineralization appears related to a series of deep seated structures having an extensional regime. The dominant control on the location of mineralization is a combination of structure, rheology and chemistry. Black shales host most mineralization and are a favourable rheology for brittle deformation, as well as being a reductant for oxidised hydrothermal fluids. Other siliciclastic units can be mineralized, but typically at lower concentrations than the black shale. Minor copper mineralization underlies nickel mineralization located 350m below surface. Copper grades of up to 2.80% have been intersected by drilling with intersepts of 5 m having 1.27% Cu (ENTDD0120) and 14 m having 1.72% Cu (ENTDD0019) as examples. Copper minerals include chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite.
A wide range of Nickel bearing sulphide minerals are present including vaesite, pentlandite, millerite, nickeliferous pyrite, bravoite and violarite. Sulphide mineralization occurs within, or as an alteration halo to quartz-kyanite talc veins and magnesite veinlets. Sulphides are concentrated within altered black shales and to lesser amounts in proximal siliciclastic rocks.
Alteration
Regional alteration is not significantly different from alteration proximal to sulphide mineralization. The siliciclastic part of the host sequence is modified to quartz-talc-kyanite-magnesite. Black shales within the siliciclastic package are quartz-kyanite ± talc altered and contain sulphide mineralised veins. Some holes preserve the transition from black shale to a quartz-kyanite rock, proximal to quartz-kyanite-sulphide veins. Black shale in many places is difficult to recognise, as it has been locally transformed to a quartz-kyanite rock in mineralized zones. Layered specular hematite–talc rock is characteristic of the host sequence, and likely to represent an early stage of the alteration paragenesis. Hematite has been removed/destroyed where sulphide mineralization occurs.
Commodity Production
The Enterprise nickel mine delivered first production and sales of nickel concentrate during 2023 and enabled the declaration of commercial production on June 1, 2024.
| Commodity | Units | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
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Nickel
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t
| .... | .... | .... |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.
^ Guidance / Forecast.