Target type: Alligator Ridge-type gold mineralization down-dip and along strike of jasperoids that control mineralization at old surface workings, hosted by the calcareous shales of the Chainman Formation and/or the Pilot Shale formation.

Geology: Mineralization at Tamberlaine (and at the nearby Taylor silver mine) is hosted in Devonian through Mississippian shelf carbonates and silty clastic rocks of the Guilmette through Chainman Shale Formations, rock types similar to rocks that host most of the disseminated gold mineralization in northeast Nevada and in particular at the Alligator Ridge mine. At Alligator Ridge, over 1 million ounces of gold were produced in the early 1980’s mainly from the Pilot Shale formation. The main area of old workings is covered by five unpatented mining claims not controlled by Molycor. However potential for gold mineralization under shallow alluvial cover exists along strike both to the SE and NW, on claims controlled by Molycor that, to Molycor’s knowledge, have never been drilled. Rock chip samples contained gold up to 1.7 g/t with silver up to 40 g/t ton and high base metals. These samples give an indication of potential under the alluvium on Molycor claims to the NW and SE.

 


Target Detail: A 2006 program of regional mapping and outcrop sampling prompted a recommendation for a biogeochemical survey over the sagebrush-covered pediment surrounding the surface mineralization at the old Tamberlaine district. The program was designed to identify alluvium covered targets along strike (NW-SE) of the Tamberlaine mineralization and also along strike of other mineralized trends identified in the course of outcrop mapping along the range front. Approximately 630 sagebrush samples were collected in a two-phase survey. Samples were collected on 250 m x 100 m centers in the first pass program with follow-up sampling on 250 m x 50 m centers to better define the anomalies.

Three drill targets, the Mosi trend, the Champion trend and the Tamberlaine trend, were identified. Biogeochemical data show two prominent NE-trending zones of gold-enriched sagebrush samples at the northern end of the claim block with spatially coincident arsenic, antimony and mercury anomalies - a mineral assemblage common to other disseminated gold deposits in northeast Nevada. These two clusters of anomalies are on trend with structures controlling mineralzation at the Mosi pit and at the Champion zone (a small, but highly mineralized, silicified zone covered by the Champion patented claim but not controlled by Molycor). A similar, but smaller, group of anomalies was identified along the Tamberlaine trend to the NW and SE of the old manganese workings.

A geophysical survey (gradient array resistivity run in conjunction with gradient array spontaneous potential) was done over a 2 square mile area covering the best of the biogeochemical anomalies. The survey has added information about structure, host rock stratigraphy, alteration and vein sulfide mineralization that compliments outcrop mapping and enhances and better defines the biogeochemical targets. The location of host rock stratigraphy under the alluvial cover, especially the shale/limestone contacts, is critical in targeting the drill holes since this is the stratigraphic position of the typical disseminated gold deposit.

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The resistivity data, in addition to providing evidence of possible silicification, has apparently mapped these contacts north of the Tamberlaine trend and to the east and to the southwest of the Mosi and Champion trends. Also, SPG and resistivity anomalies are coincident with the biogeochemical anomalies at the Champion and Mosi trend targets.