SPC Nickel Corp. has wrapped a substantial portion of its 2026 summer field work at the company’s fully owned 496 km² Muskox Cu-Ni-PGM Project in Nunavut, completing both deep-penetrating magnetotelluric (MT) surveys and the first phase of ground electromagnetic (EM) work. The work is designed to turn geophysical responses into ranked, drill-ready targets for a focused 2027 campaign.
Field programs and what was completed
The company mobilized crews to the region this spring and carried out two complementary geophysical programs during the summer months. The MT survey, which images conductive zones at depth beneath the Muskox intrusion, was carried out along an approximately 17 km by 3.5 km corridor with a total coverage of about 60 km². Stations were placed at 300 to 600 metre intervals on east–west lines spaced roughly 1 km apart. Data acquisition began on July 7, 2026 and was completed by August 10, 2026.
In parallel, SPC Nickel completed Phase 1 of a helicopter-supported surface time-domain EM (TDEM) survey that revisited conductors identified by airborne HELITEM work the company ran in 2025. That program, undertaken over a 30-day period, delivered 56 line-kilometres of ground EM across five grids: three over the main Muskox Intrusion and two focused on a feature described as the Feeder Dyke.
- MT survey area: ~60 km² across a 17 km × 3.5 km corridor
- MT station spacing: 300–600 m; line spacing: ~1 km
- Ground EM Phase 1: 56 line-km across five grids
- Mobilization to Kugluktuk: May 30, 2026; demobilized July 2, 2026
Integration and modelling
Quantec Geoscience Ltd. has produced preliminary two-dimensional resistivity pseudo-sections for each MT line. SPC Nickel intends to integrate those results into a three-dimensional inversion model of the intrusion to better constrain conductive zones at depth.
Similarly, each ground EM anomaly is being modelled independently using plate models to define size, position and conductance. The outputs from both MT and EM modelling will be merged into the company’s geological framework to produce ranked targets for drilling in 2027.
"The vast scale and potential of the Muskox Intrusion demands a methodical, science-based approach to target generation," said Grant Mourre, president and chief executive officer of SPC Nickel, adding the integrated MT and ground EM data should yield a clearer three-dimensional picture of the intrusion and its feeder dyke.
Local access and logistics
SPC Nickel mobilized its crews through Kugluktuk late in May and demobilized in early July for the initial helicopter-supported work. The use of helicopters for the TDEM program enabled access to multiple grids across rugged terrain and limited the need for extensive surface infrastructure. That approach can reduce on-the-ground disturbance while allowing more flexible coverage of target areas.
Why the work matters for Nunavut
Exploration programs of this scale have several implications for the territory. If modelling successfully narrows targets and a 2027 drill program proceeds, there will be increased demand for local logistics, employment and supporting services during future seasons. The Muskox Intrusion has been of interest to exploration companies for its potential to host copper, nickel and platinum group metals — commodities with broad industrial uses and potentially important roles in low-carbon technologies.
For communities, such activity raises questions about training and contracting opportunities, environmental oversight and engagement with Indigenous rights holders. Detailed permitting and consultation will be needed before any drilling or development moves forward.
Next steps for SPC Nickel
Phase 2 of the ground EM program was scheduled to begin in mid-August 2026, continuing targeted testing of high-priority anomalies. SPC Nickel aims to synthesise EM and MT results into a 3-D model that reduces exploration risk and informs a more focused drill program planned for 2027.
| Program | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Magnetotelluric (MT) | ~60 km² coverage; Jul 7–Aug 10, 2026; station spacing 300–600 m |
| Ground EM Phase 1 (TDEM) | 56 line-km; 5 grids; helicopter-supported; May 30–Jul 2, 2026 |
As the data are modelled and integrated, SPC Nickel and its consultants will be seeking to convert geophysical anomalies into a short list of high-conviction targets. Those results will be closely watched by investors and by communities in the western Kitikmeot region that could be affected by exploration and any future development.
Further details and technical results are expected as two- and three-dimensional models are completed and interpreted. In the interim, the company says the 2026 work has advanced its understanding of the Muskox Intrusion and positioned it to pursue a disciplined drilling program in 2027.
