Nevada Organic Phosphate Confirms Low Heavy Metal Levels in Murdock Mountain Drill Hole MM26-9 Assays

Drill Hole MM26-9 Results and Phosphate Grade Consistency

The announcement details assay outcomes from drill hole MM26-9, which intersected the Upper Phosphate Zone with a reported 10.73% P8O5 grade across a true thickness of 4.48 metres. This result is part of Nevada Organic Phosphate’s ongoing drilling program at the Murdock Mountain site. Detailed assays across multiple intervals within the intersection showed P8O5 grades ranging from approximately 4.8% to 15.1%.

Garry Smith, P.Geo and Director, commented that MM26-9 "intersected a strong 10.73% P8O5 over 4.48 metres (true thickness) of Upper Phosphate Zone, reinforcing both the grade continuity we are working to define across the trend plus confirming continued clean, very low heavy metal contaminant assay results." This supports the company’s exploration model and the Upper Phosphate Zone’s status as a predictable geological unit.

Heavy Metal Assay Results Compared to Organic Fertilizer Standards

The company provided a comparative table showing weighted average heavy metal concentrations from MM26-9 against SUIP #25 standards (adopted by most U.S. states) and California’s maximum allowable limits. For a fertilizer containing 10% P8O5, SUIP #25 sets maximum limits as follows: arsenic 130 ppm, cadmium 100 ppm, cobalt 1,360 ppm, copper 1,360 ppm, mercury 10 ppm, molybdenum 420 ppm, nickel 2,500 ppm, lead 610 ppm, selenium 260 ppm, and zinc 4,200 ppm.

The weighted average heavy metal concentrations from MM26-9 were: arsenic 7.9 ppm, cadmium 3.20 ppm, cobalt 2.2 ppm, copper 23.9 ppm, mercury 0.197 ppm, molybdenum 8.89 ppm, nickel 76.9 ppm, lead 5.0 ppm, selenium 9 ppm, and zinc 245 ppm. All values are substantially below regulatory maxima, including California’s stricter arsenic (20 ppm) and cadmium (40 ppm) limits. CEO Robin Dow stated, "This is another solid intersection from MM26-9 demonstrating that the Upper Phosphatic Zone continues to deliver predictable, consistent P8O5 grades and thicknesses, while also meeting the clean, very low heavy metals content criteria for Organic Certification."

Organic Certification Standards and Regulatory Overview

The release explains the regulatory framework for organic phosphate fertilizer certification in the U.S. The USDA National Organic Program (USDA-NOP) does not publish numeric heavy metal limits for mineral fertilizers like rock phosphate. Instead, organic certifiers rely on USDA-NOP 205.203(c), which mandates that soil and plant amendments must not contaminate soil or crops with heavy metals, alongside state fertilizer laws that generally adopt the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) SUIP #25 Heavy Metal Rule.

To qualify as organic, rock phosphate fertilizers must be mined (not chemically processed), contain no synthetic additives, and maintain heavy metal levels that avoid soil or crop contamination, typically meeting SUIP #25 limits. Nevada Organic Phosphate’s detailed assay data aims to demonstrate compliance with these certification criteria for organic fertilizer market access.

Analytical Procedures and Laboratory Accreditation

All sample preparation and analyses were conducted by ALS Laboratories, an independent ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility for mineral analysis. Samples were prepared at ALS Geochemistry in Elko, Nevada, then analyzed at ALS Geochemistry in Vancouver. ALS operates under stringent quality management systems and undergoes regular audits by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA).

Heavy metal assays employed ME-MS61 trace element analysis, involving near-total four-acid digestion (HF; HNO3; HClO4; HCl) followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). This method detects ultra-trace levels of elements including arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, supporting environmental and processing evaluations.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control Measures

ALS Laboratories implements strict internal QA/QC protocols, including certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates with each sample batch to ensure accuracy and reliability consistent with National Instrument 43-101 standards.

Nevada Organic Phosphate also applies rigorous QA/QC procedures aligned with NI 43-101. The company inserts generically sourced sand blanks every 11 samples (~9.3%) to monitor contamination and uses certified reference materials (CRM), specifically BAM 826-1 phosphate slag standards from Germany’s Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), every 22 samples (~4.5%) or about twice per drill hole. The company confirms these QA/QC results validate the reliability of assay data and phosphate grade integrity.

Project Geology and Exploration Progress

The Murdock Mountain property features a 6.6-kilometre-long organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate bed in northeast Nevada. Additional permit applications extend the potential strike length to over 30 kilometres. The Upper Phosphate Zone is the current focus of drilling efforts, with ongoing work aimed at defining grade continuity along this geological trend.

Garry Smith expressed enthusiasm about advancing Murdock Mountain and evaluating the Upper Phosphate Zone across new permit areas, indicating plans to expand exploration beyond existing drill sites.

Market Positioning and Competitive Advantage

Nevada Organic Phosphate positions itself as a "genuinely differentiated entrant in the fertilizer market," combining consistent phosphate grades with low heavy metal content. CEO Robin Dow emphasized, "We continue to meet our objectives, positioning NOP as a genuinely differentiated entrant in the fertilizer market."

The company highlights Murdock Mountain as "the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate project in North America," with strategic proximity to major highways and railheads facilitating cost-effective transport to markets in California and the East Coast.

Qualified Person Review and Technical Validation

Technical information was reviewed and approved by Garry K. Smith, P.Geo., a director of Nevada Organic Phosphate and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Assays and core logging were independently reviewed by Kenneth N. Tullar, a certified professional geologist (CPG 11142) and Independent Qualified Person for the drill program.

This dual Qualified Person review ensures credibility through independent verification of geological interpretation and assay data supporting grade continuity and low heavy metal content conclusions.

Future Exploration and Development Outlook

While specific timelines for future drilling are not provided, Nevada Organic Phosphate plans to continue advancing Murdock Mountain and initiate evaluation of the Upper Phosphate Zone on additional permitted areas. This suggests ongoing drilling at current sites and expansion into newly permitted regions.

Continued positive assay results position the company for potential progression to resource estimation, permitting, or feasibility studies, signaling advancement toward mineral resource definition and project development.