The Sharon Claims, Esmeralda County, Nevada

The Sharon Claims, Esmeralda County, Nevada were officially filed on during November 1999 as lode deposits by myself and two other partners. We are working directly with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology to study this new type of precious metals deposit associated with zeolites and precious metals. This is the first discovery of large zeolites in the State of Nevada and some will be featured in the upcoming publication Minerals of Nevada. There will also be feature articles prepared for the Mineralogical Record and Rocks and Minerals magazines sometime in the future (TBD).

We have now confirmed our geologic model and have key indicators identified for our hybrid gold/silver deposit which is similar to the Bear Mountain complex near Beatty, Nevada which was explored by Cordilleran Exploration Company of Nevada. Some unique features about our site include the relatively gentle topography which is amenable to study and development much more readily than mountainous terrain. Some of the key indicators are also siomilar to the Carlin deposit in northern Nevada making this site an excellent case study since it may divluge things about other potential targets. We have made contact with ASARCO and plan further contact with Anglo Gold and Glamis Gold as well. This site has all the makings of a world class gold/silver deposit with the volcanic and carbonate hosted depostits present in an ancient caldera complex.

We have a block of 6 contiguous claims centered on an area of argillic alteration 5000 feet long by 3000 feet wide minimum. This area displays multiple vertical mineralized fault structures. Soil anomaly samples are as follows: As 119ppm, Br 141ppm, Cl 178ppm, Cu 25ppm, Fl 3200ppm, Hg .109ppm, Mo 36ppm, Sb 14ppm, Pb 19ppm, Se 1.4ppm, Te 0.09ppm, Tl 8.2ppm, U 1ppm, Zn 27ppm, Li 4ppm, Au 0.049ppm, Ag 0.85ppm

Hydrothermal breccias are common, fault structures display multiple movements and remineralization, chalcedonic silica present with marcasite and fluid petroleum inclusions.

To date we have found analcime, chabazite, calcite, barite, fluorite, quartz, native silver, jarosite, mordenite, hydrocarbons, argentite, and several unidentified minerals. To see pictures of some of the interesting zeolites and other minerals we have found click the picture below.



This deposit is a hybrid epithermal hot springs sinter deposit which has essentially "punched" through a sedimentary hosted environment. One of the unique features of this site is that it is the result of a northwest/southeast high angle fault and a crosscutting east/west fault which caused the formation of hot springs and sinter a long, long time ago. This is clearly volcanic in origin and occurs in a ring fracture zone of a caldera complex wherein meteoric water deposited a multitude of minerals including precious metals. To see a diagram of this type of deposit please click here.

Currently (February 2000) we have a second series of assay samples being evaluated to determine the geochemistry of the deposit and the gold and silver values. In the samples collected there were visible sulfides, mercury (cinnabar) and petroleum inclusions with fairly weighty specimens from the primary surface veins. Preliminary results look extremely promising with anomalous values for silver and gold. A rough assay performed on a single specimen by the NBMG indicated values of 1 ppm gold and about 48 ppm silver. These translate into roughly 1.5 ounces per ton of silver and 0.056 ounces per ton of gold. A second assay produced results assaying at higher values. A third assay including trace element analysis is being performed to provide a total chemistry for the deposit.

An inferior total chemistry test was performed using aqua regia which does not produce complete picture of the mineralization but a report was generated. The levels have a correction factor of 3-5 but are already at levels above what is considered economical without full elemental analysis. We are running a new ICPMS using tri-acid digestion and another complete report will be generated. Despite the inferior test used for the preliminary ICPMS the deposit has anomalous levels of manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, thallium, uranium and vanadium. The data suggest that this area is geologically similar to the Carlin Trend which has Roberts Mtn Thrust terrain and Golconda terrain with a silica rich intrusive. Per chief chemists at two independent labs the tellurium, thallium and uranium levels alone warrant exploratory work since the levels are above even what is seen at the Carlin Trend mines. Gold values from three vein samples spaced 300 feet apart yielded 15, 49 and 15 ppm and silver 25, 85 and 29 ppm. More as data become available.

A Note on the Claims: In Nevada the removal of any minerals from a claim is regarded as theft and is punishable as a felony with a minimum 5 year prison term. As the deposit becomes developed we will gladly hold group tours to collect minerals from our claims. Until such time however please respect the claims and the mineral rights since we are trying to generate a full geological picture of the site with the NBMG and mining companies.