Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. reported that a new hole at its Murdock Mountain project cut 28.7 meters of the Meade Peak Member, while assays remain necessary to establish the phosphate target's grade and thickness.
The company said MM26-11 reached a total depth of 156.67 meters. It lies about 315 meters southwest along the trend from MM26-10. Drilling began from Pad 13 in October to test whether the target continues beyond the earlier hole.
Core logging found oolitic textures that Nevada Organic Phosphate associates with the Upper Phosphate Zone. Those visual observations do not establish the zone's grade or true thickness in MM26-11; assay results are pending.
The company's geological description characterizes the Upper Phosphatic Zone as 3.4 to 7.6 meters thick within the broader Meade Peak Member. The 28.7-meter figure covers the rock unit, and the Oct. 19 announcement does not say how much of that interval belongs to the narrower phosphate zone.
For comparison, the company reported Aug. 26 that MM26-10 returned a weighted average grade of 10.89% P₂O₅ over 3.60 meters of true thickness. That assay result applies to MM26-10, not the new hole.
Chief Executive Officer Robin Dow said MM26-11 extends the company's interpreted mineralized strike to more than 3.3 kilometers. Assays have not yet confirmed the new hole's contribution to that estimate.
Director Garry Smith said drilling slowed in the Murdock Mountain Formation above the target. He cited clogged core barrels and weaker core recovery, which led crews to advance in shorter runs and spend more time reaming and tripping. The company gave no date for MM26-11 assay results.
