The initial portfolio acquisition is the Walker Ridge Gold Project located just 60 miles (100km) north of the mining hub, Elko, and is accessed via a public access road off of Highway 225. The Walker Ridge Project is sandwiched in-between gold producers and is located just north of the producing Jerritt Canyon gold mines. Total production from the Jerritt Canyon deposits is currently over 8.7 million ounces. The proximity to the Jerritt Canyon Mill and infrastructure is a critical advantage for the Walker Ridge Project.
Soil sampling for pathfinder elements provided the initial impetus to perform exploration at Walker Ridge. Sampling was initially conducted by Tenneco Minerals in 1985 and 1986 with in-fill sampling done by Stratos Gold in 2007. The combined data sets essentially define a large area of strong mercury values surrounded by a halo of high antimony values approximately 6000 ft in diameter.
A large bullseye Gravity anomaly sits under the geochemistry. A 2012 survey found a prominent gravity low that correlates directly with the mercury soil anomaly. Amplitude for the low exceeds two milligals, which represents a significant density reduction. Typical of Carlin Style Gold deposits is the reduced density of the gold bearing strata due to decalcification of the host carbonate rocks.