Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP; OTCQB: NOPFF) reported that heavy metal assays from the Upper Phosphatic Zone at its Murdock Mountain project in northeast Nevada are significantly below the maximum limits required for organic fertilizer certification, a finding that could bolster the company's position in the growing market for sustainable agriculture inputs.
The company disclosed that drill hole MM26-9 returned weighted average concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and other regulated metals that are well under the thresholds established by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) SUIP #25 guidelines and California standards. The same drill hole intersected 10.73% P₂O₅ over 4.50 meters of drilled thickness, indicating consistent phosphate grades.
Nevada Organic Phosphate emphasized that these results reinforce the consistency of phosphate grades, thicknesses and low contaminant levels across the Upper Phosphatic Zone as the company advances exploration at Murdock Mountain. The assay work was completed by ALS Laboratories under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation, and the company's quality assurance and quality control procedures, including the use of blanks and certified reference materials, support the reliability of the reported analytical results.
The Murdock Mountain project is believed to host the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate deposit in North America, with a phosphate bed 6.6 kilometres long and additional applications extending the potential strike to over 30 kilometres. The project is situated close to the main highway to Montello/Elko, Nevada, and near a rail head to California, which could facilitate transport to key agricultural markets.
For the organic fertilizer industry, low heavy metal content is critical because organic certification standards prohibit the use of synthetic additives and require naturally low levels of contaminants. Nevada Organic Phosphate's results suggest that its phosphate rock could be used directly in organic farming without costly processing to remove heavy metals, potentially offering a competitive advantage over conventional phosphate sources that often contain higher levels of cadmium and other toxic elements.
The implications extend beyond the company. As global demand for organic food continues to rise, farmers require certified organic inputs. If Nevada Organic Phosphate can develop a scalable source of low-metal phosphate, it could help meet this demand and reduce reliance on imports. The project's location in Nevada, with access to transportation infrastructure, positions it to serve the U.S. market, which is the largest consumer of organic products worldwide.
Investors may view these assay results as de-risking the project. The consistency of low contaminants across the Upper Phosphatic Zone suggests that the deposit may be suitable for certification, potentially increasing its value. The company is a junior exploration firm, and positive technical results are a critical step toward future development.
For more information on Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc., visit the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/NOP. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/l73AJ.
