History and Development

1935 – California Chemical Co completed the first geologic survey and exploration of magnesite in the Needles area, digging 60 trenches and drilling four diamond drill holes, yielding positive results.

1941 – Basic Magnesium, Inc. examined and mapped the property.

1942 – Defense Plant Corporation mapped the deposit and analyzed 27 samples (results confidential); The US Geological Survey (USGS) visited to conduct studies.

1943 – Charles Vitaliano of the USGS conducted further mapping at Needles and Capitan. A private owner leased the site for production, opening a small quarry with two shafts before operations ceased.

1950 – Vitaliano published his results in a report (the Vitaliano Report) in the California Journal of Mines and Geology, showing magnesium grades up to 46.3%.

1985 – The California Geological Survey classified the area as having significant measured or indicated resources with high purity.

2020 – Kraemer Consulting Natural Resources (the Kraemer Report) estimated deposit size utilizing satellite images and figures from the Vitaliano Report.

2020-2022 – SWCA Environmental Consultants conducted site visits and published reports on environmental permitting; Dr. Lawrence Snee visited to support the development of an exploration program using historical documents and rock samples assayed at ALS labs.