Cordero shows gallium values

At the Cordero property, near McDermitt, Nev., Gold Canyon Resources (GCU-V) has uncovered gallium values in the range of 200 grams per tonne — purportedly the highest such grades so far encountered at surface in North America.

The initial sampling program returned up to 223 grams gallium per tonne. The high values were from zones that had not been sampled by the previous operator, privately held Tech Industries.

Confirmation sampling in zones that had been tested by the previous operator returned 146 grams.

The gallium mineralization is hosted in a fault zone, known as M, which is 1.7 km long and 135 metres wide. The gallium is in an oxide mineral assemblage that persists to a depth of as much as 150 metres. Gold Canyon believes the gallium can be recovered by solvent extraction-electrowinning.

Past mining and sampling on the M zone indicate an average grade of 83 grams per tonne.

Gallium, a metal normally produced as a byproduct in zinc mining or aluminum smelting, is used in electronic applications. Current prices are quoted above US$4,000 per kg, though, historically, they have averaged US$500 per kg.