Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP; OTCQB: NOPFF) reported that heavy metal assays from the Upper Phosphatic Zone in drill hole MM26-9 at its Murdock Mountain project remain well below the maximum limits generally used for organic fertilizer certification. The company said the weighted average concentrations for arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and other regulated metals were significantly below the thresholds established under AAPFCO’s SUIP #25 guidelines and California standards, while the drill hole returned an intersection grading 10.73% P₂O₅ over 4.50 meters of drilled thickness.
The company said the results reinforce the consistency of phosphate grades, thicknesses and low contaminant levels across the Upper Phosphatic Zone as it advances exploration at Murdock Mountain. Nevada Organic Phosphate added that the assay work was completed by ALS Laboratories under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and that company quality assurance and quality control procedures, including the use of blanks and certified reference materials, support the reliability of the reported analytical results.
The significance of these low heavy metal levels cannot be overstated for the organic fertilizer market. Organic certification standards, such as those from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, impose strict limits on contaminants. Nevada Organic Phosphate's ability to demonstrate that its phosphate rock naturally meets these thresholds positions the company to supply a premium product to the growing organic farming sector, which demands inputs free from synthetic additives and heavy metals.
The Murdock Mountain project, located in northeast Nevada, hosts what the company believes to be the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate project in North America. The project's proximity to transportation infrastructure, including a main highway to Montello/Elko and a rail head to California, enhances its development potential. The company's exploration efforts continue to define the resource, with the latest assays confirming the Upper Phosphatic Zone's consistency.
For investors, these results reduce technical risk by validating the grade and purity of the deposit. The combination of high phosphate content (10.73% P₂O₅) and low contaminants could allow Nevada Organic Phosphate to command a price premium in the organic fertilizer market, which is experiencing robust demand growth due to increasing consumer preference for organic food and sustainable agricultural practices.
The company's quality control procedures, including the use of blanks and certified reference materials, add credibility to the assay results. As Nevada Organic Phosphate progresses toward a preliminary economic assessment and potential development, these findings underscore the project's potential to become a strategic domestic source of organic phosphate fertilizer. Further updates on drill results and resource estimates are anticipated as the company continues its exploration program.
