Kibby Basin, Nevada "LITHIUM PROJECT" Geophysical Review

KIBBY BASIN PROPERTY
GEOPHYSICAL REVIEW
WORK PROPOSAL
CBA Gravity Looking Northeast
James L. Wright M.Sc.
June 6, 2016

J. L. Wright Geophysics 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
PRIMARY DATA SETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
INTERPRETATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SUMMARY AND WORK PROPOSAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION
Public domain geophysical data are analyzed over the Kibby Basin property with the intent of
providing an overview suitable to support subsequent exploration activities. In addition to
geophysical data, geologic data are also integrated along with topographic data as both 7.5’
quadrangle and digital elevation (DEM) products. The gravity data are extracted from the Great
Basin Geoscience database developed by the UGSG and reported upon by Ponce (1997).
Airborne magnetic data are a combination of three surveys flown between 1978 and 1985 by the
USGS as part of the National Uranium Resources Evaluation (NURE) program and two
subsequent detailed surveys termed the Cedar Mountains and Monte Cristo surveys.
The geophysical data are processed to produce the basic data types and interpreted to provide a
structural-lithologic frame work. The interpretation integrates the geophysical, topographic and
geologic data sets. Recommendations as to additional work are also set forth. All processed data
types and interpretation products are provided in both the MAPINFO and ARCGIS GIS
applications. The report and GIS files are located on a DVD at the rear of the report. A
README file on the DVD explains the file / folder organization.
FIGURE 1: Kibby Basin Location over Nevada Topography, Counties and Main Highways
The Kibby Basin property is presented in Figure 1 along with county boundaries, towns and
main roads in southwestern Nevada.

PRIMARY DATA SETS
Gravity:
Figure 2 presents the complete Bouguer anomaly of gravity at 2.50 g/cc over the topography.
The current property position is shown as a black rectangle. A prominent gravity low, as
expected, correlates with the basin center flanked by highs in the outcrop areas to the east and
west. Average station spacing is variable but on the order of two kilometers with significant
gaps. Such coverage is adequate for large scale analysis but completely inadequate for property
scale work.
FIGURE 2: CBA Gravity @ 2.50 g/cc and Station Posting over Topography

Airborne Magnetic:
Figure 3 shows the mosaic of three surveys merged to form the airborne magnetic data base. The
Cedar Mountains and Monte Cristo data were acquired on east-west and north-south lines
respectively with a spacing 0.5 miles and using draping. The NURE data were acquired on one
mile spaced lines with no draping. Clearly the Cedar Mountains and Monte Cristo data are of
superior quality.
FIGURE 3: Magnetic Survey Coverage Index Map over Topography
The Monte Carlo data are the best quality, so were selected as the primary data set. Level
shifting of the Cedar Mountains survey downward was required to match the Monte Carlo data.
The NURE data were first level shifted, followed by a linear increase of 70 nT applied to the
data from south to north. Finally, all three data sets were gridded and merged. A good merge is
observed.

FIGURE 4: RTP Magnetics over Topography
Processing of the merged data included generation of the total magnetic intensity (TMI) grid,
which was then reduced-to-pole (RTP) with a USGS algorithm. Figure 4 presents the RTP image
over topography. The Kibby Basin property is depicted with a black rectangle. The basin is
revealed as a gap in the band of east-west elevated magnetic values.
Geology:
Geology over the property and surrounding area is covered by Ferguson et. al (1953) in the
Coaldale 15’ quadrangle geologic map. Figure 5 presents the portion of the geologic map
covering the property and geophysical data sets. Three rock units are labeled on the map: Ji –
Jurassic intrusions, Tol – older volcanics and QTb – young basalt units.

FIGURE 5: Coaldale 15’ Quadrangle Geologic Map
INTERPRETATION
An interpretation is presented over the gravity and airborne magnetics in Figures 6 and 7
respectively. Structures are depicted with dashed lines with line width indicating magnitude.
Sense of movement is indicated with either arrows or up down labels. Interpreted outlines of the
Ji and Tol are denoted with colored polygons. Finally, mapped outcrop of the QTb are depicted
with brown hatched polygons.
Examination of the gravity reveals a distinctive pattern to the basin. That is, the northern portion
trends northwest-southeast with a relatively shallow amount of basin fill. The central portion of
the basin rotates to north-south and deepens considerably; finally, the southern portion of the
basin shallows and returns to a northwest-southeast orientation. Hunsaker (2016) notes the
complex structure evolution of the area with supporting references to Hardyman et. al. (1990),
Oldow (2003) and Oldow et. al. (2009). This complex basin geometry can be accounted for by a
left lateral shear couple as depicted with the two west-northwest directed structures labeled with
sense of displacement arrows. These structures bound the north and south edges of the central

basin. Between the two lateral displacement structures is a zone of extension typified by at least
four high angle normal faults oriented approximately north-northeast. High angle normal
displacement along these structures is interpreted to have formed the main central basin. Such
fault geometry is indicative of an overall trans tensional environment and termed a pull-apart
basin. Figure 8 shows a three dimensional block diagram of such a basin’s formation.
A large area of QTb is mapped within the basin near the southern lateral fault. The occurrence of
a large area of QTb within the basin indicates additional QTb could well be encased with the
basin fill and possibly play a role in ponding and/or controlling the distribution of lithium brines.
FIGURE 6: CBA Gravity overlain by Interpretation

FIGURE 7: RTP Magnetics overlain by Interpretation
FIGURE 8: Example of Left Lateral Pull-apart Basin.

The RTP magnetics are presented in Figure 7 overlain by the interpretation. Prominent magnetic
highs correlate with the Ji and Tol rock units. As noted by Albers and Stewart (1972), large
bodies of Jurassic intrusions occur in this portion of Nevada as eastern outliers to the main Sierra
Nevada batholith. Depicted on the figures is an interpreted distribution of the Ji based upon the
magnetics. A large extension to the east and south from the small outcrops is interpreted, which
is down faulted into the basin by two of the north-south directed normal faults. On the east side
of the main basin, a large area of Tol is mapped which correlates relatively well with strong
magnetic values. An interpreted distribution based on the magnetics is depicted a defined with a
square hatched polygon. As with the Ji to the west, the Tol is also down faulted into the basin.
Based upon this interpretation, it is reasonable to infer the Ji and Tol; plus lesser contributions
from the Dunlap, Luning, and Excelsior formations form the bottom of the basin. Filling the
basin would be the less dense Esmeralda formation (Te) and Quaternary material including
gravels and playa deposits. As noted previously, bodies of QTb could well be found within the
gravel fill.
SUMMARY AND WORK PROPOSAL
The interpretation indicates a genetic model for the central basin in which north-northeast
directed normal faults accommodates left lateral extension by forming a pull-apart basin. These
normal faults form the east and west boundaries to Kibby Basin. Furthermore, the genetic model
suggests additional normal faults should be present forming a number of steps down into the
basin on both the east and west sides. Clearly, a strong density contrast exists between basement
rocks (i.e. Ji, Tol, etc.) and the basin fill (i.e. Te, Qal). A detailed gravity survey is
recommended to map the central basin in sufficient detail so as to permit generation of a three
dimensional model of the basin fill.
FIGURE 9: Proposed Gravity Stations over Topography

Figure 9 shows proposed gravity stations over topography. A total of 433 stations are involved.
These include 500 m square grid coverage over the central basin and property flanked to the
north and south by1000 m staggered grid coverage. Further afield are regional stations shown in
blue along available roads. Regional stations are required to determine the large scale trend in
which the detailed coverage sits. The regional stations are provision pending a review of the
public domain USGS data, which could replace some of the stations. Once the gravity data are
acquired, a three dimension of the Kibby Basin will be constructed.
REFERENCES
Albers, J. P. and Stewart, J. H., 1972, Geology and mineral deposits of Esmeralda County,
Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Bulletin 78.
Ferguson, H. G., Muller, S. W. and Gathcart, S. H., 1953, Geology of the Coaldale Quadrangle,
Nevada: United States Geologic Survey Map GQ-23.
Hardyman, R.F., John, D.A., and Oldow, J.S., 1990, Tectonic Framework of the Central Walker
Lane Regions; Yerington to Tonopah, Nevada in Buffa, R.H., and Coyner, A.R., eds., Geology
and Ore Deposits of the Great Basin – Field Trip Guidebook Compendium: Great Basin
Symposium, April 1990, Geological Society of Nevada, Reno, Nevada.
Hunsaker III, E. L., 2016, Technical report describing the Kibby Basin property, centered
431624E – 4243747N UTM 83 11N in Esmeralda County, Nevada: Belmont Resources Inc.
company report.
Oldow, John S., 2003, Late Cenozoic Displacement Partitioning in the Northwestern Great
Basin, in: Brown, H. Gassaway, ed. Regional Geology & Gold Deposits of the Silver Peak Area,
Mineralization Hosted by Metamorphic Core Complexes, Geological Society of Nevada Special
Publication 38, p. 113-152.
Oldow, J.S., Elias, E.A., Ferranti, L., McClelland, W.C., and McIntosh, W.C., 2009, Late
Miocene to Pliocene synextensional deposition in fault-bounded basins within the upper plate of
the western Silver Peak–Lone Mountain extensional complex, west-central Nevada, in Oldow,
J.S., and Cashman, P.H., eds., Late Cenozoic Structure and Evolution of the Great Basin–Sierra
Nevada Transition: Geological Society of America Special Paper 447.
Ponce, D. A., 1997, Gravity data base of Nevada, U. S. Geological Survey Data Series DDS-42.

Kibby Basin, Nevada "LITHIUM PROJECT" Geophysical Review

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