North Elko Lithium Project
Location, Status & Access
The North Elko Lithium Project (NELP) is located about 70 kilometers (44 miles) north-east of Wells, Nevada, and consists of 442 mineral claims covering 37 square kilometers or 14.25 square miles. It is 100% owned with no royalties outstanding.
Property History & Recent Activity
In 2023, Surge Battery Metals Inc. (Surge) made a major lithium in clay discovery on claims that are immediately adjacent to and tied onto the western portion of the NELP claim block. Surge will be conducting its fourth drill campaign in the summer of 2025, and is working toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment. Surge has reported an indicated lithium resource of 11.24 million tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading an average of 3,010 ppm Lithium. Surge has stated that this is the highest-grade lithium in clay resource in North America,
Geology, Mineralization & Work Done
Following the lithium discovery by Surge, Peloton used an airborne hyperspectral minerology mapping technology that identified smectite, hectorite and illite clays in outcrop across the current NELP claim block, suggesting a near surface clay layer exists under most of the property. Smectite, hectorite and illite clays are the predominant lithium bearing minerals at Thacker Pass within the McDermitt Caldera in western Nevada which is the largest known measured and indicated lithium resource in the United States.
After review of the hyperspectral results in 2023, the company embarked on an ambitious staking plan, increasing the ground position from an original 88 claims in the area to the current 442 claims.
In 2023 and 2024 the Company conducted a multi-faceted exploration program at NELP which culminated in receiving a preliminary geophysical report on NELP which shows an underlying layer, interpreted as clay-rich, across almost the entire 37 square kilometer property.
Exploration concluded to date includes airborne hyperspectral imaging, a property wide soil geochemistry survey, geologic mapping, prospecting and sampling, X-Ray Diffraction analysis of over 500 surface samples, and the tTEM surface geophysical survey. A summary of results from each phase follows:
- Hyperspectral imaging data shows clay bearing layers outcropping at surface across almost the entire property
- Soil geochemistry analysis shows an elevated lithium anomaly (up to 18 times background) covering over 25+ square kilometers
- Geologic mapping confirms NELP is within an alkaline paleolake (ancient lake) environment, within a structural graben bounded by northerly-striking normal faults
- X-Ray Diffraction analysis shows NELP is within bedded alkaline lake sediments and volcaniclastic rocks. The mineralogy of the bedded volcanic rocks is consistent with magmas which are likely additional sources of lithium.
- X-Ray Diffraction has also shown the presence of rare earth minerals and additional analysis is being conducted in that area.
- iTEM surface geophysics shows an underlying layer, interpreted as clay rich, across almost the entire property
The Company has now received approval for two drilling permits at NELP, each allowing up to 5 acres of disturbance or 10 acres in total. A total of 24 drill pads are permitted and additional pads could be added by an amendment to either of the drill permits.
Click Here for the Chronology of Exploration at the North Elko Lithium Project.
Upcoming
The Company plans a two-phase program to follow on the success of 2023-24 exploration. Phase 1 involves drilling 24 shallow holes to a depth of 100 feet, to test the near surface clay layer across a broad area. Phase 2 involves additional staking and permitting, drilling an additional 16 shallow holes, and 4 deeper holes to determine the overall thickness of the clay layer. These programs are being scheduled for the summer of 2025.
Ground Position – Peloton and Surge Battery Metals
Geology Map and Claim Outline
Soil Geochemistry Survey Shows Elevated Lithium Over Large Area
Pink Circles are 50 ppm to 370 ppm Li
The Texas Canyon claim block (north-western portion of NELP) is also prospective for uranium and hosts a past producing uranium mine. Texas Canyon was featured at the 2022 Geologic Society of Nevada Symposium. Click here for Texas Canyon Uranium.
The Golden Trail claim block (north-eastern portion of NELP) is also prospective for gold and silver. Golden Trail was featured at the 2015 Geologic Society of Nevada Symposium. Click here for Golden Trail.
Images below are from staking the NELP claim block during 2023 and 2024.
