Lode Claims Files At Jackpot Gold And Lithium Properties
VANCOUVER - CAT Strategic Metals Corporation filed 32 of its new Lithium-target lode claims with the BLM Reno, Nevada office. These claims, located in northeastern Elko County, were properly staked on what CAT interprets to have been open ground for CAT by Certified Professional Geologists and Qualified Persons. In addition, CAT staked six (6) new lode claims for lithium in the NW part of its work area, contiguous with its existing Jackpot Lithium claims, and 3 more claims contiguous to the SW. The northern claims are along the northern boundary of the Opal Springs rhyolite flow dome-(caldera?), which post-dates the Jarbidge Rhyolite. The Jarbidge Rhyolite is of a similar age as the rocks of the McDermitt sequence that holds the giant Thacker Pass lithium deposit.
The host rocks for lithium deposits in this Jackpot region, which may extend over an area of more than 40 square miles (10,360 hectares), are hosted by the eastern equivalent of the Humboldt Formation (Ts3) sedimentary and tuffaceous rocks of suggested "late to very late Miocene age", post-dating the Jarbidge Rhyolite. The source of the lithium may be lithium-rich volcanically-derived Opal Spring hydrothermal fluids that were fed upward into the overlying sediments and poorly-lithified sedimentary rocks along northerly-, northeasterly-, and northwesterly-trending feeder faults.
The Idavada Volcanics (Tts) tuffites-ignimbrites-sediments overlie the Jarbidge Rhyolite and Humboldt Formation sequences on the north side of the Opal Springs Fault. Previous geologic mapping by Coats shows the Opal Springs fault going through the area of CAT's new northern claims. CAT is investigating if it was a feeder fault for lithium mineralizing hydrothermal fluids.
CAT received additional regular- and screen-fire bulk sample assays from samples taken from the Stag's Leap porphyry (PCD) and diatreme exploration target on its Gold Jackpot claims. These surface samples contained local elevated gold, copper, tellurium, and lead to in excess of 0.4% Pb. North is up on these figures, and the grid boxes are 500 by 500 meters each.
It is interpreted that the high Pb and Zn values are indicative of a Pb-Zn halo above a PCD/Diatreme intrusive-related body containing Cu-Au-Ag-Te mineralization. Sericitized, pyritic quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes are present immediately to the south of this highly mineralized area. The widespread high copper and gold values over a wide area atop this target could mean that a body of PCD/Diatreme mineralization could be present at a shallower depth than previously thought. An IP survey atop this target by Zonge Geosciences for CAT showed an anomalous zone of electrical conductivity at an undetermined depth. This promising target has never yet been tested at depth by drilling.