The pilot program follows bench-scale studies conducted by the ARPA team under the direction of Dr. Estibalitz Ukar, Research Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin.
Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel said, “We have been very pleased to work with Dr. Ukar and her team at the University of Texas at Austin as they developed a novel carbon sequestration approach to store large volumes of CO2 and create the potential, by pre-carbonating material before it is mined, to both reduce the costs and to improve the value from processing the material. We look forward to the results from this next stage of testing in a real-world field trial.”
Bench-scale studies of the Crawford ultramafic rocks have demonstrated that the magnesium-rich mineral brucite captures CO2 by transforming into secondary minerals such as magnesite and nesquehonite. Building on these findings, the month-long pilot will inject carbon-enriched water sourced from the Crawford site into a 400 metre deep well within the ultramafic body to evaluate large-scale carbon capture under natural conditions
The CO2-to-rock mineralising process is anticipated to begin within hours of the injection, with most of the CO2 turning into solid rock within six months. The pilot will use various monitoring techniques, including groundwater sampling, seismic sensors, gas detectors, and satellite-based surface tracking.
Dr. Ukar, said, “Canada Nickel has been an exceptional partner in this work, providing site access, geological data, and active collaboration. Their support of this pilot exemplifies their commitment to responsible mineral development, scientific innovation, and climate action. By advancing novel methods for permanent CO2 storage and supporting technologies that can scale globally, Canada Nickel is helping chart a sustainable path forward for the mining sector.”
This initiative is independent of Canada Nickel’s In-Process Tailings (IPT) Carbonation Program and represents a key step in expanding the Company’s carbon capture and storage capabilities. Results from this study will help guide future post-mining carbon sequestration strategies, further strengthening Canada Nickel’s vision for a Zero Carbon Industrial Cluster in Timmins.