Clayton Valley Lithium Project Exploration Program Results

VANCOUVER - Nickel Rock Resources Inc. reported the analytical results of an initial exploratory drilling program on their Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Esmeralda County, Nevada.  This strategic land package, covering approximately 2,300 acres (930 ha), directly adjoins a western portion of lithium producer Albemarle’s evaporation ponds and is nearby Cyprus Development Corp.’s 5,430-acre Clayton Valley Lithium Clay Project. The exploration program consisted of three reverse circulation holes totaling 356 meters (1155 feet).  The holes were intended to test the presence of lithium bearing clay members of the lakebed sediments.  

Drillhole RCV-01, drilled to a depth of 130 meters (425 feet), designed to twin a geothermal gradient hole drilled by a previous explorer.  Results of this hole correlated with the log of the previous hole including intervals of volcanic ash and dark green clay. The hole ended in alluvial gravel made up of metamorphic rocks shed from the Silver Peak Range.  The hole did not reach the planned depth of 183 meters due to poor ground conditions but did assess the lake sediment target section.  Assay results from this hole showed mixed results with only the top 6 meters (20 feet) of the hole returning more than 75 ppm Li.  The average grade of the interval 0-6.1 meters was 309 ppm Li.  Two water samples were collected from the borehole at 99 meters (325 feet) and 129 meters (425 feet) ran 31.4 and 41.0 mg/L Li, respectively.  

Hole RCV-02 was drilled about 1260 meters north of RCV-01.  RCV-02 was drilled to a depth of 136 meters (445 ft) and penetrated a section consisting primarily of rhyolitic volcanic ash and interbedded sediments.  RCV-02 penetrated a 4.5 meter section of dark green clay from 105.1 to 109.7 meters (345-360 ft) before entering the metamorphic alluvium.  Poor drilling conditions and high-water flows ended the hole before reaching the target depth but after successfully evaluating the lake sediment section.

Analytical results from this hole fared better than the RCV-01 with the interval 0 - 36.6 meters (0-120 feet) averaging 196 ppm Li.  Within this interval, and from 18.3 to 25.9 meters (60 - 85 feet) an elevated Li zone was intersected averaging 279 ppm Li with the single best interval in this hole being 332 ppm between 18.3 and 19.8 m (60 - 65 feet).  Water samples at 74.6 meters (245 feet), 105.1 meters (345 feet), and 137 meters (450 feet) ran 20.5, 21.0, and 32.8 mg/L Li, respectively.  

Hole RCV-03 was designed to look for a perched section of volcanoclastic sediments beneath an alluvial fan.  Previous water well logs indicated a layer of clay, ash, and silt beneath the alluvium and above the bedrock.  While drilling, this hole encountered metamorphosed dolomite at a depth of 56 meters (185 feet) about the projected elevation of the sedimentary section.  The hole lost circulation in an apparent karst horizon at 65.5 meters (215 feet) and was terminated at 79.2 meters (260 ft) without regaining sample return.  Since the target sediments were not encountered, this hole was not assayed.

Drill chip samples were partially dried at the drill sites for two days in the case of RCV-01 and overnight in the case of RCV-02 before being picked up by a driver for Paragon Geochemical.  The samples were transported to the Paragon laboratory where they were dried, crushed, and pulverized.  Analysis was by ICP- Mass Spectrometry following an aqua regia leach using a 0.5 gram sample aliquot.

Envelopes of standard material obtained from Minerals Exploration Geochemistry of Lamoille, Nevada were inserted into the sample stream at roughly 30.5 meters (100 foot) intervals.  The eight standard samples returned lithium values ranging from 482 to 599 ppm Li with an average of 557 ppm Li.  The analytical variability of about 20% is a bit high and is possible the small aliquot size and aqua regia leach may have played a role in this.  However, the values are acceptable for an early stage program. Other elements showed a similar range of values while others were within much tighter limits.

Water samples were collected by the project geologist and delivered to the ALS Global sample preparation lab in Elko, Nevada April 5.  Samples were filtered and analyzed by a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-OES methods by ALS Global.  Standards were not inserted into the sample stream. A sample of drill make up water taken from the Silver Peak municipal well was used as a background sample; it ran 70 micro grams per liter (70 parts per billion).

Ali Alizadeh, Company Director, said, “The Clayton Valley area is booming again for lithium clay exploration.  With our current exploration program completed, we will be able to lay the groundwork for a more significant exploration program budget and program in the future.  We are excited about this opportunity in Nevada for our lithium clay project and this reverse circulation drilling program has been helpful in identifying important geological information on the sedimentary layers.  This will assist us in planning future exploration on our strategically located project next to Albemarle, Pure Energy and near Cypress Minerals in Clayton Valley”.