January 21, 2013

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Jan. 21, 2013) - Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:NOT) announced today that its board of directors received the resignation of Wes Hanson as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Noront. The Board has appointed Paul Parisotto to act as interim President and Chief Executive Officer and has begun a search to identify a permanent President and Chief Executive Officer. Ted Bassett has been appointed lead director during the period of Mr. Parisotto’s appointment as interim President and Chief Executive Officer.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Wes for his efforts and dedication at Noront over the past three years, and in particular, for leading the completion of a positive feasibility study in September 2012 of our Eagle’s Nest Project in the Ring of Fire. This puts the Company in a good position as it transitions into development with a focus on the financing and development of the Project and related infrastructure. All of us at Noront wish Mr. Hanson the best in his future endeavours” stated Paul Parisotto, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Hanson has agreed to continue to be available as a consultant to Noront.

About Noront: Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on development of the high-grade Eagle’s Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit and the high-grade Blackbird chromite deposit, both of which are located in the James Bay lowlands of Ontario in an emerging metals camp known as the Ring of Fire. Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.im-mining.com/

There is a very exciting new mining camp developing in Canada, John Chadwick reports

According to the Ontario Government, “The Ring of Fire is one of the most promising mineral development opportunities in
Ontario in almost a century. Located in Ontario’s Far North, current estimates suggest the multigenerational potential of chromite production,as well as significant production of nickel, copper and platinum.”

The projects will open up economic opportunities in an extremely remote and undeveloped area, an 80 km by 100 km swath of
muskeg, especially for local First Nations communities. Any new infrastructure (community, social, etc.) will further benefitlocal communities. The region will require significant investment in mine and processing infrastructure, the construction and operation of transportation infrastructure and the provision of energy. Rail and all-weather road options are currently being assessed for the transportation corridor.

The exploration and prospecting involves some 16,400 claim units, covering an area of 2,630 km2, with 21 companies currently holding claims in the Ring of Fire belt. The area of most intense exploration is about 20 km long running northeast from Noront’s Eagle 2 prospect to Spider-KWG’s McFauld’s #2. Discoveries include chromite, nickel, copper, zinc, gold and kimberlite. Read the rest of this entry »

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

There is hope for the future of relations between natives and non-natives in Canada. It is embodied in leaders like Glen Nolan, a former Cree chief from Northern Ontario, who is the president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

He doesn’t support the Idle No More movement because he says he’s never been idle. “There are too many examples of [native] individuals and communities who have broken away from the notion that government is there to look out for them,” he said.

Attempting to get at the truth involves abandoning stereotypes and clichés. That is hard when the subject matter conforms to easily attached labels, like Theresa Spence, the chief of another Cree community in Attawapiskat, who points the finger of blame at Ottawa with one hand, while extending the other for more handouts.

It is a welcome reminder when more sober voices like Mr. Nolan point out that many First Nations reject dependency on transfers from the federal government.

Mr. Nolan, now an executive with a junior mining company developing nickel and copper in Ontario’s Ring of Fire, said his time as chief of the Missanabie Cree First Nation north of Wawa was characterized by building strong support networks to encourage education, work and business creation. Read the rest of this entry »

It is no secret that it is my favorite time of year and I am feeling privileged to have once again been part of the coordination and delivery of this year’s Annual Ring of Fire Christmas Fund with Noront and our employee volunteers.

Over the last four years, Noront’s employees, Board of Directors, suppliers and friends have donated their time, resources, services and money to deliver a special celebration of Christmas spirit to the youth under 13 years of age in the communities of Marten Falls and Webequie First Nation.

Santa, his elves, over 700 individually wrapped presents, a singer song writer, a b-boy, two photographers and a feast, were brought to the communities of Webequie and Marten Falls First Nation. Presents were also delivered to those community members living off reserve in Thunder Bay.

Santa, our very own Glenn Nolan, Noront’s VP of Aboriginal Affairs and current PDAC President, sported his moccasins with his traditional red outfit this year! Judging by the looks on the children and parent’s faces I believe that the delivery was once again a huge success. Read the rest of this entry »

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Mining Association member Noront Resources’ Ring of Fire Christmas Fund is once again helping ensure Santa visits three First Nations in the vicinity of its Eagle’s Nest project. Noront’s Christmas Fund will be providing approximately 700 wrapped gifts to every child under the age of 13 in Webequie, Marten Falls and Neskantaga First Nations.

This will be the fourth year the Ring of Fire Christmas Fund, with the involvement of Noront employees and supplier volunteers, has assisted Santa’s transportation. Along with visits to each of the communities, the Christmas Fund takes Santa to Thunder Bay for celebrations and gift giving to people from the Webequie, Marten Falls and Neskantaga First Nations living off reserve in that larger community.

“Every year our volunteers enjoy going above and beyond their tasks to spread the Christmas cheer to the youth of the communities we work with,” said Kaityln Ferris, Manager Corporate Responsibility for Noront. “Judging by their smiling faces, we think providing a wrapped gift for each child at Christmas and providing individual recognition is very important.” Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.cim.org/en.aspx

Noront Resources plans to build a “model mine for the future”

The Eagle’s Nest site, situated in the wetlands of the James Bay Lowlands, first appeared problematic to develop: the lack of exposed bedrock posed obvious logistical and environmental challenges. Noront’s solution was to develop a subsurface mine plan in which much of the milling facilities would be housed in a series of underground chambers.

“We have a unique situation,” says Paul Semple, Noront’s COO, “and I think we’ve come up with an innovative solution.” For Eagle’s Nest, the subsurface mine plan is possible because of the high competency of the subsurface waste rock – a granodiorite – that is much stronger than concrete and can support large open chambers. The chambers themselves will vary in size, with the largest spanning 16 metres.

The waste rock created by these excavations will be used for roads, concrete and foundations for a base camp.

Producing its own aggregate also allows Noront to control certain logistical and economic risks. “It just made common sense on a lot of fronts,” says CEO Wes Hanson. “Ultimately, I think it’s going to be a cheaper means of construction.” Making larger underground chambers is much less expensive than transporting construction materials by plane or winter road; fewer materials are needed, and much of it is already on site. Read the rest of this entry »

The staff of Noront Resources, in cooperation with North-South Partnership for Children, is proud to present the Fourth Annual Ring of Fire Christmas Fund. Thanks to the support of the Noront Board of Directors, suppliers, employees, and friends, we raised over $55,000 during the first three years, giving children under 12 in the communities of Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations a wrapped Christmas gift. This year, we have extended the Christmas Fund to the Neskantaga First Nation!

In addition to wrapped gifts, previous years’ funds introduced a mentorship initiative, which brought two former NHL hockey players to Webequie First Nation. We are hoping to continue this initiative by bringing a Canadian mentor to the communities again in 2012.

All donations made online at www.northsouthpartnership.com will receive tax receipts. Read the rest of this entry »

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North. Ian Ross is the editor of Northern Ontario Business ianross@nob.on.ca.

A provincial toll road may be in the offing for mining companies hauling ore out of the Ring of Fire. Noront Resources said in its discussions with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, among the options on the table with Queen’s Park are a toll charge being assessed based on each company’s “proportional usage.”

That’s just fine with Noront since its concentrate shipments will be less than seven per cent of the road’s entire haul. The province has committed to financing a north-south haul ore road out of the James Bay lowlands’ mining camp, and has further assured Noront that the road will be open to all mining companies, not just Cliffs Natural Resources.

The other option under government consideration involves the companies ponying up money for the road corridor. The cash-strapped Ontario government has also appealed to Ottawa for infrastructure capital.

Noront president and CEO Wes Hanson said a final decision on how the road will be built and financed has yet to be decided. Read the rest of this entry »

 Northern Ontario’s First Nations Voice: http://wawataynews.ca/

The environmental assessment (EA) for Noront Resources’ Eagle’s Nest Ring of Fire project is nearing completion of its Terms of Reference.

In a Wawatay News article (Ring of Fire judicial review hits more delays, Sept. 13) it was reported that Noront’s EA has been put on hold. That is incorrect. In fact, the company is close to completing its Terms of Reference for the EA.
 
Noront President and CEO Wes Hanson submitted the following statement to Wawatay News following publication of the article:
 
“The Environmental Assessment for it’s flagship Eagle’s Nest project is in fact underway and NOT delayed due to the change in the road route proposed by Cliffs and the Ontario Government. The Company is currently completing the final copy of the Terms of Reference, which outlines the work that needs to be done in order to complete the Environmental Assessment. Read the rest of this entry »

http://resourceswire.com/

Noront Resources Ltd V.NOT announced September 5 the results of a 43-101 feasibility study of its Eagle’s Nest nickel-copper-PGM mine at McFaulds Lake in the Ring of Fire, northern Ontario. Based on metals prices of $9.43 per pound copper, $3.60 per pound copper, $1,600 per ounce platinum, $599 per ounce palladium and $1,415 per ounce gold, the study forecasts an aftertax net present value (NPV) of $543 million (at an 8% discount rate), a 28% aftertax internal rate of return (IRR), a $609-million initial CAPEX, plus a $160-million life-of-mine sustaining CAPEX and a three-year payback period.
 
Eagle’s Nest contains proven and probable resources of 11.1 million tonnes grading 1.68% nickel, 0.87% copper, 0.89 grams per tonne platinum and 3.09 g/t palladium. The mine is forecast to produce one million tonnes per year, producing 150,000 tonnes of nickel-copper concentrate annually over 11 years, at $97 per tonne or $2.34 per pound of nickel equivalent.

Noront President/CEO Wes Hanson spoke to Kevin Michael Grace September 5, 2012.

RW: What’s your path to production?
 
WH: In addition to the technical and social risks associated with building any mining project, on top of it for the juniors you always have a challenge of how you’re going to finance construction. We are fortunate enough that the capital costs aren’t overly onerous. We’re only looking at a range of $600 million. Read the rest of this entry »

Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal is a magazine that showcases the mining expertise of North Bay, Timmins and Sudbury.

Building an underground mine in one of the world’s largest wetlands regions 350 kilometres from the nearest transportation infrastructure poses several challenges. Without an obvious source of aggregate, how do you construct surface infrastructure, and with no roads, how do you get the ore to market?
 
Noront Resources, a junior mining company based in Toronto, faced these precise challenges following the discovery of its Eagle’s Nest deposit in the Ring of Fire, an 80 kilometre by 100 kilometre swath of muskeg in Northern Ontario that has been described as one of the most significant mineral bearing areas to be discovered in Canada.
 
“If (Eagles Nest) was beside a highway or a railway, it would be in production now,” Noront Resources president Wes Hanson told delegates at the MassMin 2012 conference in Sudbury earlier this summer. “Unfortunately, we are located 350 kilometres north of any existing infrastructure. We also happen to be located in the James Bay Lowlands, which is devoid of any topographic relief. There are no construction materials for aggregate, no rock outcrops. Building traditional surface facilities will be extremely challenging, so we’ve decided to construct our mill underground.” Read the rest of this entry »

Sep. 4, 2012

Toronto, Ontario, September 4, 2012. Noront Resources Ltd. (“Noront” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to announce the results of an updated National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101″) compliant Feasibility Study (“FS”) for a stand alone nickel, copper, platinum group element (“Ni-Cu-PGE”) mine and mill complex exploiting the Company’s 100% owned Eagle’s Nest deposit (the “Project”), McFaulds Lake, James Bay Lowlands, Ontario. The results of the independent study, completed by Independent Consultants1 under the supervision of Micon International (“Micon”), confirms that Eagle’s Nest offers robust economics.
 
FEASIBILITY STUDY HIGHLIGHTS:

A Discounted Cash Flow (“DCF”) based on the Assumed Metal Prices2 indicates:
•an after tax Net Present Value at an 8% discount rate (“NPV(8%)”) of $543 million;
•an after tax IRR exceeding 28%;•an estimated initial capital investment of $609 million;
•an estimated life of mine sustaining capital cost of $160 million;
•estimated operating costs (including road access fees) of $97 per tonne or $2.34 per pound of nickel equivalent or -$0.31 per pound of nickel net by-product credits;
•an estimated mine life of 11 years; and
•a capital payback period of under 3 years based on a 100% equity project.

Read the rest of this entry »

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Mining Association member Noront Resources is busy this summer broadening the foundation for future So You Think You Know Mining video entries.  The company is spearheading The Mining Movie Making Summer Camp in several Aboriginal communities in partnership with DAREarts, Engage Learn and the OMA.

The hands-on community based program provides three days of sharing stories about rocks, minerals, the environment and traditional territories.  Then students work to collaborate and create their own Aboriginal community video, which hopefully becomes a future entry to the OMA’s SYTYKM high school video competition.

The first camp, which was held earlier this month, involved more than 40 students from the Simon Jacob Memorial Education Centre in the Webequie First Nation.  The second camp was held in the Marten Falls First Nation and later in August a camp is scheduled to be held in the Long Lake #58 First Nation.  In the Fall, the team aims to take the program to other communities in the Ring of Fire area. Read the rest of this entry »

Founded in 1898, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) is a technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries.

Leanne Hall, vice-president, human resources, Noront Resources Ltd.

When Leanne Hall takes on an assignment, she does two things: “I always look at it from the eyes of different stakeholders,” she says, “and I always try to leave places in a better position than where I originally found them.”

These approaches have shaped her career in human resources and corporate social responsibility, which is now focused on developing the workforce to support Noront Resources’ Eagle’s Nest mine, currently under development in northern Ontario. Prior to joining Noront, Hall headed Woodland HR Inc. in northern Alberta, where she seized on the skills shortage and the province’s privatization and expansion of its career and employment services to carve out a niche for herself. “At the end of 14 years, we had assisted over 20,000 people in northern Alberta with their career and employment goals,” she says.

Hall explains that she used a “grassroots” approach. It involved meeting one-on-one and asking people what they had always dreamed of doing, uncovering their skills and talents, developing a career plan, and matching them with employment that could fulfill those dreams. In an economy where cyclical oil prices hit hard at times, she says, it’s important to love what one does; that is what makes it possible to thrive. Having a career plan not only helps achieve this, it aids retention at companies that smooth their employees’ path to advancement. Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

The chief of Webequie First Nation says the situation with junior mining company Noront Resources Ltd was all a misunderstanding.

Webequie Chief Cornelius Wabasse voiced his disappointment when Noront announced they would be delaying their feasibility study following Cliffs Natural Resources decision to move its ferrochrome plant to the Sudbury area.

Noront had been working on a feasibility study for its deposit containing copper and nickel. The company was proposing an east-to-west, all-season road that would run from Pickle Lake to the Ring of Fire area. But the company believes the province might be making an eventual commitment to the north-south road proposed by Cliffs.
That decision is a major factor in the delay.

While the series of events may have led to some friction between the First Nation community and Noront, Wabasse said they will remain open to development and continue to work with the company. Read the rest of this entry »