Mining company completes sampling in Esmeralda

Here are this week’s updates on projects and efforts involving the mining industry in the region.

Cypress carries out sampling in Esmeralda

Cypress Development Corp. has compiled surface sampling results from the company’s 1,280-acre Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project in Esmeralda County.

The site is on the south flank of “Angel Island” and immediately southeast of the Albemarle Silver Peak lithium brine mine, the company said.

The area shares a western boundary with claims controlled by Pure Energy Minerals, which has identified a lithium resource at its northern resource area, Cypress said.

Cypress’ “Glory” and “Angel” claims are within 0.5 of current and past producing lithium brine wells belonging to the Albemarle Silver Peak mine, the only lithium mine in North America.

“The Silver Peak area is one of the oldest mining areas in Nevada having produced substantial amounts of silver, gold and other minerals,” Cypress said in its announcement.

“The Silver Peak mine began operations in 1967 to mine lithium by low-cost evaporation ponds and has produced lithium since then.”

Lithium brines have been extracted from shallow levels within the basin for almost 50 years, Cypress said.

“The majority of these brines have been pumped from subsurface aquifers on the flanks of Angel and Goat Islands,” the company said in its update.

Pure Energy Minerals wins honor

A mining company with ties to Esmeralda County is being recognized as the mining sector’s top performing company.

Pure Energy Minerals Limited earned the recognition in the 2016 TSX Venture 50.

Market capitalization growth, share price appreciation and trading volume were among the factors considered.

“It is an honor to receive recognition from the TSX Group which validates the hard work and dedication of our management team and fully-engaged board of directors,” Pure Energy CEO Robert Mintak said in a company announcement. “We look forward to continuing to deliver value to our shareholders in the year ahead.”

Pure Energy is involved with about 9,324 acres in three main claim groups in the southern half of Clayton Valley in Esmeralda County.

It is next to the only lithium producing mine in North America, Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine.

BLM seeks nominations for awards program

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for the 2016 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards.

The deadline to submit nominations is April 12.

“These awards exemplify what the new legacy of mining has become in the West,” Michael Nedd, BLM assistant director for energy, minerals and realty management, said in a news release. “They highlight responsible mineral development that protects and restores the environment while meeting modern needs for these raw materials.”

The awards fall under five categories: the Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award, the Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award, the Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award, the Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award, and the “Fix A Shaft Today” Award.

The awards are to be presented this fall in Las Vegas.

Contact reporter David Jacobs at djacobs@tonopahtimes.com