The Keystone Project, owned by U.S. Gold Corp. (NASDAQ:USAU), is located within Nevada’s Cortez Trend, a region renowned for its world-class gold deposits. This project is a district-scale exploration project aimed at uncovering untapped gold resources in one of the US’s most prolific mining regions.
The Cortez Trend has been a focal point for gold mining in North America, hosting several large-scale operations. Similar in size to its renowned cousin, the Carlin Trend, located 50 miles to its northeast, Cortez deposits rank second in the world for their “Carlin-style” sedimentary rock-hosted and porphyry/epithermal formations. Albeit lesser-known, in the last quarter of a century experts have posited the belief that the Cortez fault corridor could be older, larger and far more valuable than the Carlin Trend.
US Gold Corp’s Keystone Project which measures 20 miles over this trend, positions it strategically for bonanza type discovery potential.
Advances in geological understanding and mining technology have enabled companies to continually uncover new resources in the Cortez Trend, reinforcing its reputation as a critical hub for gold mining. Its success serves as a model for exploration efforts in other parts of the world, emphasizing the importance of detailed geological studies and sustained investment.
Keystone Project
Encompassing approximately 20 square miles, the Keystone Project is an under-explored area with complex intrusive-centered gold-bearing hydrothermal systems. U.S. Gold Corp. has consolidated mineral rights over this district, enabling comprehensive exploration efforts. The project’s geology shares similarities with other significant deposits in the Cortez and Carlin Trends, including comparable stratigraphy, lithologic characteristics, structure, and alteration patterns.
Since acquiring the Keystone Project, U.S. Gold Corp. has implemented systematic exploration programs, including gravity surveys, geochemical sampling, geological mapping, and scout drilling. These efforts have identified extensive areas with strong gold and pathfinder geochemistry, indicating the presence of a large epithermal gold system. Notably, the 2019 drilling program in the Nina Skarn target area encountered significant gold mineralization, with one hole reporting two thick intervals of oxidized, cyanide-soluble, gold-bearing skarn mineralization.
In September 2023, U.S. Gold Corp. completed a hyperspectral study of the Keystone Project, utilizing WorldView-3 satellite data to identify near-surface hydrothermal alteration zones. This study led to the discovery of multiple high-priority targets, enhancing the project’s exploration potential. Field investigations and sampling of these hotspots are underway to refine drill targets further.
The Importance of New Mining Projects to Global Economies
Developing new mining projects like Keystone, with its district-scale potential, can significantly impact local and state economies. Such projects often lead to job creation, infrastructure development, and increased tax revenues. In regions like Nevada, where mining is a critical industry, new projects contribute to economic diversification and stability.
As existing mines approach the end of their productive lives, discovering new deposits is needed to ensure the long-term viability of the sector. Newer exploration techniques, such as hyperspectral imaging, advanced geophysical surveys, and machine learning, have enhanced the ability to locate previously hidden reserves, and U.S. Gold Corp. will look to leverage these latest techniques and technologies as it expands the exploration potential of the Keystone Project.