First Cobalt Corp has resumed exploration at its Iron Creek cobalt-copper project in Idaho with a geophysical survey to outline mineral extensions, it said on Monday.

The move comes as the cobalt market continues to strengthen as North America aims to become less reliant on foreign supply, the Toronto-based junior said in a statement.

Iron Creek is a high grade underground primary cobalt deposit with an indicated resource of 2.2 million tonnes at 0.3% cobalt equivalent (0.3% cobalt and 0.6% copper) for 12.3 million pounds of contained cobalt and an inferred resource of 2.7 million tonnes at 0.3% cobalt equivalent (0.2% cobalt and 0.7% copper) for an additional 12.7 million pounds of contained cobalt.

The survey, which is expected to take around three weeks to complete, will trace the Iron Creek cobalt and copper resource over the current 900-metre strike extent of the deposit and assess historical geophysical anomalies found within the stratigraphic footwall below the resource. Results will be interpreted and released later this year in anticipation of a planned drill program at Iron Creek in 2021.