Almaden Minerals Ltd. (TSX:AMM)(NYSE Amex:AAU) has reported that a surface geologic mapping and rock sampling program has commenced on its wholly owned BP project located in Elko and Eureka Counties, Nevada.
The sampling will focus on altered debris flow shale and strataform barite bearing jasperoid units that outcrop throughout the property area.
The 100% owned BP project is comprised of 207 claims in Mineral County Nevada in an area identified during a helicopter borne prospecting program in central Nevada conducted earlier in 2010. This prospecting program utilised geological models and Aster satellite imagery to target unrecognised Carlin type mineralisation. J.D. Poliquin, chairman of Almaden commented, "Our prospecting and project generation programs continue to yield results and we are very excited about the acquisition of the BP project in Nevada. We look forward to planning detailed work and drilling based on the results of this property scale work now underway."
The claims cover an area of jasperoid and clay alteration developed in an exposed debris flow in lower plate rocks, the geologic succession that hosts many of the important gold deposits in northern Nevada. The alteration and host rocks are typical of that of major Carlin type deposits in Nevada and the prospect is located roughly 30 miles from the Carlin district along the Carlin trend. The prospect is located nearby good access but off roads and no evidence of past work was noted in the area except for several small barite workings. No significant gold values were returned from the reconnaissance sampling however these rock samples did have anomalous trace elements typical of Carlin type systems.
Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph. D., P. Eng., the President and CEO of Almaden, and a qualified person under the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, reviewed the technical information in this news release.