The project is situated in the Table Mountain district of the Stillwater Range and includes many historical mine workings, including the Gilberts Silver, Gold and Lead mine. Moreover, the historic Lovelock Nickel-Cobalt mine is 5 km to the west and is reported to have produced over 500 tonnes of high-grade nickel and cobalt-bearing ore between 1883 - 1890. It was discovered circa 1880 and the primary cobalt mineral is cobaltite. Furthermore, neighbour Global Energy Metals Limited (TSX-V:GEMC) recently intersected Ni-Cu-Co mineralization with phase one drilling at their Lovelock mine property (0.23% Ni, 0.64% Cu, 0.088% Co), which is in very close proximity to the VSR project area.
The project area is composed of a geologically complex suite of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and covers portions of the Humboldt igneous complex in west-central Nevada. The complex is comprised of Triassic and Jurassic limestone overlain and intruded by igneous diorites, gabbros and basalts. The intrusive and extrusive rocks composing the Humbolt igneous complex are part of a larger lopolith which rests upon the Boyer Ranch orthoquartzite. The lopolith is interpreted to be an allochthonous block, which was displaced eastward from its original arc environment and over upon the underlying Star Peak carbonate sequence. Continuing igneous and volcanic activity within the area has continued as evidenced by Miocene dikes cutting older Jurassic units. These veins and dikes are generally derived from more felsic magmas and have a distinctly different geochemical character than the Humboldt assemblage. Moreover, an active hydrothermal system beneath the claims may enhance mineralization along active outcropping faults.
A 2019 surface sampling program of 44 samples identified high nickel values with anomalous values of associated elements. The project area remains largely untested and is prospective for Au, Pb, Ni and Co.
