Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/832998
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 7 www.resourceworld.com 13 Western USA. Parratt said, "There is nowhere near the level of activity in the adjoining states. California has good endowment, but politically it is a very difficult place to work. Utah has good endowment; there is activity there, same for Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Arizona and Alaska. But if you add those up, Nevada dominates in discovery potential and in actual production." Parratt explained that the Carlin-type gold deposits found in Nevada are large deposits capable of yielding mines that pro- duce a million ounces of gold a year. That is what the big global companies are looking for. Barrick and Newmont both have sub- stantial positions in Nevada producing multiple millions of gold ounces per year. New discoveries of those types are still being made: Barrick has its Gold Rush Deposit which is a relatively new big deposit that is in the process of being evaluated for econom- ics and development and the Long Canyon property of Newmont is a new, Carlin type, mineral system discovery. For frequency and number of big deposits within the United States says Parratt, "Nevada is the place to be". As for challenges for miners in the Western USA, Parratt says that the pace of permitting has been slowing in the United States, particularly during the Obama administration. He said that since the election there is an expectation that there may an initiative to change that. "To explore and make discoveries, says Parratt, you need permits to get out and drill, so if permits can be granted in a bit shorter time frame, more drilling can be completed and hope- fully discoveries can be made". The following companies are exploring and developing proper- ties in the Western USA. Abacus Mining and Exploration Corp. [AME-TSXV] optioned the Willow copper-gold project (up to 75%) in Nevada from Almadex Minerals Ltd. and is currently compiling and digitizing past work and has planned a field program including in-fill soil geochemistry, IP geophysics, a soil spectrometric sur- vey, a ground magnetic survey, mapping, and follow-up diamond drilling. Adamera Minerals Corp. [ADZ-TSXV] is exploring for high-grade gold deposits in northeastern Washington State. It has drill permits for targets at its Cooke Mountain Project where modelling and data compilation of a 2 km long electromagnetic (VTEM) anomaly (Big Banana) indicated two strong conductors (CM-W-1A and CM-W-1B) that come together and form a cur- vilinear target. The company states the structure is the primary ore control at the past producing Lamefoot gold mine (607,225 oz of 7.3 g/t gold,) 2 km north. A drill program testing eight to 10 targets is expected to begin shortly. Alba Minerals Ltd. [AA-TSXV; AXVEF-OTC] is earning from Noram Ventures Inc. a 25% interest in the Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada with plans to increase their interest in the property to 50%. Alix Resources Corp. [AIX-TSXV] is exploring the White The Soledad gold mine in Kern County, California, 50/50-owned by Golden Queen Mining and Gauss Holdings LLC. Photo courtesy Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd.