When someone mentions gold jurisdictions in the United States, most people immediately think of Nevada. And why not? Gold operations in Nevada are among the most prolific in the world and that’s made the state a leading gold producer.
It’s got rich geological formations, including the Carlin Trend. Also, there’s mining-friendly regulations and a supporting infrastructure.
Additionally, Nevada’s stable political environment and skilled workforce attract major mining companies like both Barrick Gold Corporation (TSX: ABX) (NYSE: GOLD), Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT), and developing mid-tier companies like Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB) (OTCQX: CXBMF).
Then there’s also the various innovations in mining technology and techniques that have also enhanced the efficiency and profitability of gold extraction in the region. Consequently, Nevada continues to be a hub for gold mining operations, contributing significantly to both the state and national economy.
And it’s going to continue to be that way.
What most people don’t think about, and maybe they should, is that Nevada really isn’t the only gold bearing state. Instead, maybe investors should look towards Idaho.
Idaho has a rich history with gold and it’s a popular destination for mining operations in its own right. The state’s rugged terrain and diverse geology host significant gold reserves, particularly in regions like the Boise Basin and Silver Valley.
Idaho’s long-standing mining tradition is just as old and respected as the one in Nevada, dating back to the 1860s gold rush.
Here a few companies pulling gold out of the ground in Idaho.
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Land package expansion offers new possibilities
Gold Lion Resources Inc. (CSE:GL) (CNSX:GL.CN) (OTC:GLIOF) (FWB:2BC) recently staked additional ground to the southwest of its Robber Gulch gold property in Burley, Idaho.
The company made the announcement on Thursday that this was a result of its recently completed work program showing its gold-in-soil anomaly extension from its original claim. The anomaly trends to the south beneath a thin cover of post-mineral volcanic rocks and makes another appearance south of the basalt flows.
A second program of mapping and rock sampling has been completed. Several significant new outcroppings of Carlin-type alteration, including decalcification, silicification, and jasperoid alteration, were observed in many locations to the south, along the strike from the strongest portion of the soil anomaly.
Barren talus boulders that have shed off the post-mineral basalt outcrops upslope appear to have diluted the gold-in-soil values over the altered outcrops. We collected eighty-one rock samples and have submitted them for geochemical analysis. We will release the results upon receipt.
Robber Gulch map. Image from EMX Royalty Corp.
EMX Royalty Corp. (TSXV: EMX) has optioned the project. The primary target at Robber Gulch is Carlin-style oxide gold mineralization.
In 2019, EMX Royalty Corp. conducted a reconnaissance program that identified broad areas of alteration surrounding several mineralized north-south fault structures within the exposed Oquirrh Formation units.
The alteration zones outward from the mineralized faults, with jasperoid developing along the structures and grading outward to decalcification and silicification, along with brecciation and quartz veining.
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NevGold holds gold in Idaho, but has recently discovered copper
NevGold Corp. (TSXV:NAU) (OTCQX:NAUFF) (Frankfurt:5E50) is a company that splits its time between Nevada and Idaho, and has since moved on from being a straight-up gold miner to a polymetallic explorer.
It owns the Nutmeg Mountain in Washington County outright after buying out its option agreement with GoldMining Inc. (TSX: GOLD) (NYSE:GLDG) in January.
Nutmeg is located in Western Idaho, approximately 80 kilometers north-northwest of Boise and about 20 kilometers east of Weiser, Idaho. The project benefits from its proximity to road, power, and water infrastructure. Nutmeg is a low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver deposit with geology similar to several other epithermal deposits in the Western USA. Before 2012, over 70,000 meters of historical drilling were conducted at Nutmeg, including 934 core, RC, and rotary holes.
Nutmeg Mountain in Idaho. Image via NevGold Corp.
The Nutmeg property covers approximately 1,724 hectares and includes 210 federal unpatented lode mining claims, 12 patented claims, and 2 leases of private land. The center of the property is located at approximately 116° 42.8’W latitude, with the property extending along the crest and western slopes of Nutmeg Mountain.
It’s latest deal doesn’t actually involve gold, though.
Positive results from a recent geological review and 3-D model show evidence of potential for a copper porphyry at the Zeus Copper Project.
The Zeus Project shows strong similarities to the Hercules Silver Corp. (TSXV: BIG) copper porphyry discovery at the Hercules Project.
Both projects contain Triassic age plutons, which likely the source of the copper porphyry. Additionally, it includes Olds Ferry terrane rocks, such as the Hercules Rhyolite and Lower Huntington Formation.
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Challis Gold Project dates back to 1920’s
U.S. Gold Corp‘s (NASDAQ: USAU) Challis Gold Project is an epithermal gold-silver deposit located in Idaho, with historic exploration dating back to the 1920s. The company believes the project has potential for significant resource development.
While there is a historic inferred mineral resource of over 313,000 ounces of gold, U.S. Gold Corp is currently working on a plan of operations to outline further exploration activities and potential drill programs. They are aiming to develop a better understanding of the gold resources and expand their knowledge of the project’s geology.
The company has been busy working on fulfilling that plan of operations since 2021.
Challis Gold Project in Idaho. Image via U.S. Gold Corp.
The Challis Gold Project is located about 75 kilometers southwest of Salmon, ID. It’s also approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Revival Gold Inc.‘s (TSXV: RVG) (OTCQX: RVLGF) Beartrack Project, within the Tertiary Challis Volcanic Field.
The project features a low sulfidation gold-silver epithermal vein and stockwork deposit, which is localized along intersecting northwest-northeast trending shear structures in a window of sedimentary rocks exposed through the Challis Volcanics.
Historically, the project has a 43-101 resource of approximately 313,825 ounces of gold at a grade of 1.22 g/t Au and a low strip ratio at Johnny’s Point. Idaho, ranked 8th by the Fraser Institute, stands higher than any Canadian jurisdiction in mining attractiveness.
Nearby Idaho mining areas include the Stibnite gold project, Beartrack gold project, Delamar silver-gold mine, Coeur d’Alene silver-zinc-lead mines, Black Pine gold mine, and Thompson Creek molybdenum mine.
US Gold’s latest news is actually about its recent infusion of USD$4.9 million from shareholders, which the company intends to use to develop a copper-gold resource in Wyoming.
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U.S. Gold Corp. and Calibre Mining are both sponsors of Mugglehead news coverage
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