Disseminated on behalf of Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) (OTCQB: NOPFF) and may include paid advertising.
- Heavy metal assays from Murdock Mountain fall well below limits typically used for highly sought U.S. organic fertilizer certification, clearly supporting eligibility under USDA National Organic Program standards applied by certifiers.
- Independent laboratory testing followed ISO-accredited and NI 43-101–aligned QA/QC protocols, with assays confirming consistency of phosphate grades and thickness in the Upper Phosphatic Zone.
- Murdock Mountain represents a rare North American sedimentary phosphate deposit suited to direct application, and ongoing drilling is planned to further define scale and continuity of the resource.
Nevada Organic Phosphate (CSE: NOP) (OTCQB: NOPFF), a Canadian based leader in organic sedimentary phosphate exploration, reported assay results on January 12 that address one of the central questions facing its Murdock Mountain project in northeast Nevada: whether the phosphate-bearing rock meets the contaminant thresholds required for organic fertilizer certification in the United States. According to the company’s news release, heavy metal contaminant assays from the Upper Phosphatic Zone at Murdock Mountain were well below the limits typically applied by certifying bodies when evaluating mineral fertilizers for organic use (https://ibn.fm/DSelU).
For organic producers in the U.S., certification is governed by the USDA National Organic Program (“USDA-NOP”). While the USDA-NOP does not publish specific numeric limits for heavy metals in mineral fertilizers such as rock phosphate, certifiers rely on a combination of USDA-NOP rules and state fertilizer regulations. In practice, most states apply the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials’ SUIP #25 Heavy Metal Rule, which sets contaminant limits based on phosphorus content.
If a mined phosphate product does not exceed those limits and contains no synthetic additives or chemical processing, it is generally considered acceptable for organic use. Nevada Organic Phosphate said its assay results meet these criteria, addressing a key regulatory hurdle for the project.
CEO Robin Dow said the results validate the company’s underlying exploration thesis. “Demonstrating our proof of concept required showing that the Upper Phosphatic Zone delivers predictable, consistent P₂O₅ grades and thicknesses, while also meeting the criteria for Organic Certification,” Dow said in the release. “We have now achieved all of these objectives, positioning NOP as a genuinely differentiated entrant in the fertilizer market.”
The Upper Phosphatic Zone is the focus of the company’s current drilling program at the Murdock Mountain Property in Elko County, Nevada. The zone lies within the Meade Peak Member of siltstone and phosphorite and has been identified as a 3.4- to 7.6-metre-thick horizon targeted for raw rock phosphate suitable for direct application.
In late December, the company reported its first phosphate assays from the property. Initial results showed grades in the range typically considered appropriate for organic sedimentary phosphate, including 10.23% P₂O₅ over 5.12 metres in hole MM25-1 and 11.2% P₂O₅ over 4.7 metres in hole MM25-3. Additional assays, including results from subsequent drill holes and further contaminant testing, are expected to be released as laboratory work is completed.
Director and P.Geo Garry Smith said the contaminant data adds an important dimension to those earlier results. “These contaminant assay results confirm that the Upper Phosphatic Zone is not only eligible for Organic Certification, but also exhibits the scale and continuity required for significant resource potential,” he said, adding that further drilling is planned in the coming months.
All analytical work was carried out by ALS Laboratories, an independent laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for mineral analysis. Sample preparation was completed in Elko, Nevada, with final analysis conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS inserted certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates in each batch, and the company implemented its own QA/QC procedures consistent with NI 43-101 standards.
The company’s focus on organic certification reflects a broader shift in agricultural inputs. Organic farming standards prohibit many conventional chemical fertilizers, creating demand for naturally occurring mineral amendments that can replenish phosphorus without introducing synthetic compounds or excessive contaminants. Nevada Organic Phosphate’s project is aimed squarely at that niche.
The company describes Murdock Mountain as a sedimentary phosphate bed extending approximately 6.6 kilometres, with additional permit applications that could extend the strike length to more than 30 kilometres. If confirmed through continued drilling, the deposit would represent one of the few known large-scale sources of organic sedimentary phosphate in North America.
Unlike many phosphate operations that rely on open-pit mining and chemical processing, the company has indicated that future development would likely use an underground approach, similar to coal seam mining, accessed from the side of the mountain. This reflects the project’s geology, with phosphate-bearing layers located beneath substantial limestone overburden.
Nevada Organic Phosphate positions its material as “raw” or “direct-ship” phosphate, meaning it could be applied to soil with minimal processing. Research summarized on the company’s website emphasizes the role of rock phosphate and mineral “rock dust” in replenishing soils with slow-release nutrients and trace elements, particularly in organic and regenerative farming systems (https://ibn.fm/PlqBR).
Such approaches align with a broader movement in U.S. agriculture toward reactive, naturally occurring phosphate sources rather than highly soluble chemical fertilizers. For organic producers, access to a domestic supply of compliant phosphate remains limited, increasing attention on projects like Murdock Mountain.
The company plans to continue drilling through much of 2026 to further define the extent and consistency of the Upper Phosphatic Zone and to support future technical studies. Additional exploration is also planned on newly permitted areas adjacent to the current drill program.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.NevadaPhosphate.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to NOP are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/NOP
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