Washington Jade - Strategic Metals Assay (September 2018)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edmonds-based company discovers strategic metals near Darrington, WA in jade-associated serpentine deposit.
September 28th, 2018
Edmonds, WA -- Local nephrite jade exploration and mining company, Washington Jade, has recently determined that the serpentine deposit located on one of their federal mining claims near Darrington, WA contains significant quantities of the metals magnesium, cobalt, nickel, chromium, and iron. A series of surface samples collected by Washington Jade and assayed by Activation Laboratories in June of this year revealed average concentrations of 33.22% magnesium oxide, 7.43% iron oxide, 2,067.69 ppm chromium, 1,503.08 ppm nickel, and 89.00 ppm cobalt in the exposed wall of Washington Jade’s serpentine quarry. Anomalous gold of up to 1.180 grams per ton has also been noted at this location. The methods of analysis used were Fire Assay and Major/Trace Elements Fusion Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The U.S. Department of the Interior has recently expressed particular interest in locating domestic deposits of magnesium, chromium, and cobalt as it works to implement President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to break dependence on foreign strategic minerals.
For the past six years, Washington Jade’s primary focus has been on locating, characterizing, and claiming nephrite jade deposits in the Devil’s Mountain Fault Zone of Northwest Washington state. However, recent interest in serpentine minerals from researchers exploring carbon sequestration techniques as well as the lack of domestic supply of many of the metals commonly associated with serpentine deposits prompted the company to more closely assess the possible uses of the large serpentine bands in which their primary mineral of interest, nephrite, forms.
“The magnesium content in particular is very exciting,” said Nathaniel Cook, President of Washington Jade. He elaborated that while the chromium, cobalt, and nickel could most likely be mined profitably regardless of the deposit’s magnesium content, the high concentrations of magnesium in serpentine make it very attractive from both an economic and an ecological standpoint. “Magnesium has all kinds of industrial and agricultural applications, so there’s a consistent, established market for it, but in the last few years a lot of research has come out showing that magnesium oxide naturally sequesters carbon dioxide as well, so it also has potential as a raw material for climate change mitigation efforts.”
The location from which Washington Jade collected this round of samples is a decommissioned quarry historically used for road base in the nearby national forest roads. The serpentine portion of the existing quarry wall is approximately 100 feet tall by 300 feet wide and is open in all directions. The chip samples from this latest round of assays were collected from across the full exposed width of this quarry wall. The quarry includes a large, flat landing of approximately 2 acres which is suitable for use by large trucks and excavation equipment and is directly accessible by national forest road. In its current condition, the quarry could be put into operation almost immediately pending proper permits.
Washington Jade has located similar large serpentine deposits in association with the majority of their 22 existing jade claims using ground-based magnetic survey equipment, though further testing will be required to validate the size and grade of these deposits and to assess their potential for development.
About Washington Jade
Washington Jade, incorporated as Bull Trout Jade LLC, was founded and financed in February of 2012 by Rodney C. Cook, Ph.D., Paul Pigott, and Bull Trout Capital LLC. The company produces, markets, and sells nephrite jade and other gems from its wholly owned jade and gem claims and the claims of its strategic partners. Bull Trout Jade has used Dr. Cook’s proprietary geobotanical exploration model and new technologies to locate, claim, and harvest investment grade nephrite on federal land in the Devil’s Mountain Fault Zone. Further information on the company can be found on their website at www.washingtonjade.com.
Contact
For further information and complete assays, please contact
Nathaniel Cook
President, Bull Trout Jade LLC
632 Maple St.
Edmonds, WA 98020
(425) 530-0226
nathanielccook@washingtonjade.com