Giroux Project
Host of the Past-Producing
Giroux Nickel Mine
The Giroux Project consists of 12 patented claims and 36 unpatented mining claims with a combined area of 390 hectares (965 acres), located 60 miles south southeast of Hawthorne, Nevada, less than 1 mile off a main state highway with easily accessible year-round access.
The Project is located in close proximity to past producing mines such as Marietta, Moho, Camp Douglas and Candelaria and has been held by private interests throughout its history.
Ownership: 100%
Project Highlights
- Extensive Historical Workings consisting of shafts, adits, sub- levels and open pits.
- Located in the Candelaria Mining District within Mineral County Nevada, in close proximity (10 miles) to the largest open pit silver producer in the history of Nevada.
- Historical Production of Nickel, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Barite. Reported as the highest grade nickel production in the history of Nevada (Mining Districts and Mineral Resources of Nevada, Lincoln, 1923).
- Property consists of 49 Claims (incl. 12 patented claims covering historical mine workings) totaling 980 acres.
- Recent Regional Surface Sampling Program by Current Owner yielded significant results. Highlights include: 1.17 % Ni -1.6 %Ni-1.7%Ni-3.9%Ni.
- Property is Drill Ready, Previous Exploration Programs completed; consisting of Geological Mapping, Prospecting, Surface Sampling and Geophysics.
- Located 1 km from main interstate highway, existing secondary roads provide easy access to the whole property.
HISTORY
GEOLOGY
EXPLORATION POTENTIAL
History
The Property hosts the past producing Giroux Mine, the mine is reported to have produced high-grade nickel ore in the late 1800s (Mining Districts and Mineral Resources of Nevada, Lincoln, 1923). This places the Giroux Mine as one of two historical high-grade nickel producing mines in Nevada. Historical production of copper, silver, gold, zinc, and barite also exist on the property. The Giroux property contains numerous historical workings consisting of underground workings with multi-level vertical shafts, several adits at different sub-levels, open prospect pits, and an existing road network providing access to the historical workings.
Seven miles east from the Giroux Project, along the trend in similar rock types is the past producing Candelaria Mine, one of the largest open pit silver mines in the history of Nevada. During the modern open pit mining, the metals of interest were silver, gold, zinc, copper, lead and antimony. The non-metals were barite.
Geology
The Giroux Project is located within the Walker Lane shear zone and consists of sediments with numerous felsic intrusives. Silicified fault zones and trends have been explored and mined via shafts, pits, and adits. At least one shaft is reported to have a depth of over 700 feet. Of particular interest is the presence of an overthrust nickel bearing serpentinite formation. In addition to nickel mineralization, the property contains gold, copper, silver, as well as lead-zinc and barite mineralization.
Exploration History
A regional geological mapping and sampling program by the property’s current owner yielded significant results. Historical grab sampling result highlights include: 1.17% Ni, 1.6% Ni, 1.7 % Ni, 3.9% Ni. taken from outcrops, old workings and mine dumps. A Geophysical program has been completed on the Property by the current owner, indicating several potential drill targets.
In 2020, Smooth Rock completed Phase I of the Giroux exploration program that consisted of reconnaissance prospecting, geological mapping, surface trenching, sampling, and relocating historical workings. This reconnaissance program provided accurate modern data to assist in the planning of the initial 2021 drill program. Drilling will focus on the surface exposures around the historical workings throughout the property, confirmed by the Company’s 2020 regional geological mapping and sampling program. The initial drill program is expected to occur later in 2021.
