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OD6 Daily Timeframe Chart as of 12 May 2026
OD6 Metals (ASX: OD6) Rediscovers 1940s Big Jim Fluorspar Lode at Quinn Project in Nevada — Historic Grades Up to 98.6% CaF₂ From a Third Deposit System
A 1947 USGS report, a surface landmark called "Big Rock," and targeted field reconnaissance have led OD6 Metals to the Big Jim Fluorspar Lode — a historically mined high-grade vein system at the Quinn Fluorspar Project in Nevada, approximately 220 km north of Las Vegas. The 1940s-era reports document grades up to 98.6% CaF₂ from the main lode and 60% CaF₂ from footwall breccia, with historic workings mapped over more than 220 metres and open to the north and south. OD6's field team confirmed the location and visually estimates the main lode at 85–95% CaF₂ over approximately 2 metres width. Big Jim is the third extensive fluorspar system on the Quinn Project — joining Mammoth (~9,000m² area) and Horseshoe (~3,000m² area). No drilling has been conducted at any of them. The stock moved +15.2% to $0.190 on 12 May 2026.
What Was Found — And What Remains Unverified
| Source | Data | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 Goulet & Jones report | Main lode: 94.6%, 96%, 98.6% CaF₂; footwall breccia: 60% CaF₂ | Historic — 1940s wet chemistry, unverified by OD6 |
| 2026 OD6 field observations | Main lode: 85–95% CaF₂ (~2m width); breccia: 40–60% CaF₂ (~2m, base not observed) | Visual estimates — explicitly disclaimed as no substitute for assays |
| 2026 OD6 rock samples | Multiple collected, sent to ALS Global Reno | Assays pending |
| Metallurgical samples | Collected for optical sorting, crushing, grinding, flotation | Testwork underway |
The main lode is hosted in limestone beneath a jasperoidal (silica-rich) lithocap, dipping shallowly to the west — a geometry that presents a direct drill target. Individual veins are approximately 2 metres wide in the main lode. A second lode ("Rocket") was observed at approximately 1 metre width, and a third referenced in historic reports has not been located. Historic workings extend over 220 metres (700 feet) with high-grade fluorspar reported throughout.
All headline grades are from 1940s reports. The company cannot independently attest to the nature or accuracy of the historic analytical work. Modern assays from OD6's 2026 sampling are pending.
Three Fluorspar Systems on One Project — All Undrilled
Quinn now hosts three identified fluorspar deposit systems, all at the surface mapping and sampling stage:
Big Jim (this announcement): >220m of historic workings, grades to 98.6% CaF₂, open along strike, located ~1 km NNE of Horseshoe.
Mammoth: High-grade fluorspar (>40% CaF₂) mapped over ~9,000m² in replacement/breccia style.
Horseshoe: High-grade fluorspar (>40% CaF₂) mapped over ~3,000m² in replacement/breccia style.
No drilling has been conducted at any target. Drilling requires US Forest Service permitting — the project sits on National Forest land outside designated Wilderness Study Areas. OD6 holds an option to acquire Quinn (announced 4 March 2026) with a 2% NSR on future production.
Why Fluorspar — US 100% Import-Reliant on a Critical Mineral
The United States is 100% import-reliant on fluorspar, which is designated a US Critical Mineral with applications across semiconductor manufacturing (as a precursor to hydrofluoric acid), battery technologies, nuclear fuel, and defence. Modern fluorspar projects generally consider grades above 20% CaF₂ economic, with some companies suggesting viability above 8% CaF₂ — context that makes the 60–98.6% historic grades at Big Jim noteworthy if confirmed by modern assays.
OD6's broader portfolio includes Splinter Rock Rare Earths in Western Australia (Indicated 119Mt at 1,632 ppm TREO + Inferred 563Mt at 1,275 ppm TREO) and Gulf Creek Copper-Zinc in NSW (historic high-grade Cu mine with 2025 maiden drilling).
Risks & Considerations
Every grade cited in this announcement is either from 1940s wet chemistry or a 2026 visual estimate — neither constitutes modern laboratory assay data. The 98.6% CaF₂ headline is 79 years old. OD6's new rock sample assays from ALS Global are pending and will be the first modern analytical data for Big Jim.
No drilling has been conducted at Big Jim, Mammoth, or Horseshoe. The size, geometry, grade distribution, and continuity of all three systems at depth are unknown. No Mineral Resource or economic study exists. The project is under an option agreement (not yet acquired), and drilling requires Federal land permitting through the US Forest Service.
The main lode is reported at approximately 2 metres width — relatively narrow, though the footwall breccia (lower contact not observed) may add additional width. A third lode referenced in historic reports has not been located in the field.
Key Dates & Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1934 | Big Jim originally discovered by Frank and Joe Perkins |
| 1947 | Goulet & Jones document grades to 98.6% CaF₂ |
| 4 March 2026 | OD6 announces Quinn option agreement |
| 12 May 2026 | Big Jim rediscovery announced; stock moved +15.2% |
| Pending | New rock sample assays from ALS Global |
| Underway | Metallurgical testwork |
| TBC | Systematic sampling, mapping, drill target definition |
| TBC | US Forest Service drill permit application |
Price Data
- Previous Close: $0.165
- Close Price (12 May 2026): $0.190
- Change (12 May 2026): +15.2%
- 52-Week Range: $0.020 – $0.233
Notable Price Levels
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$0.233 — 52-week high. At ~23% above the announcement-day close, the Big Jim rediscovery has not been sufficient to recapture the prior peak — suggesting the market is waiting for modern assay confirmation before pricing in full re-rating potential.
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$0.190 — announcement-day close, within 7.3% of the $0.205 session high. A moderate intraday fade but the stock held in the upper portion of the range — more constructive than many micro-cap announcements in this series.
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$0.165 — undisturbed close. A retracement here would fully unwind the Big Jim rediscovery premium.
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$0.020 — 52-week low, set before the Quinn option and the broader fluorspar/critical minerals thematic. A return here would reverse the entire OD6 re-rating arc.
Summary
OD6 Metals has rediscovered the historically referenced Big Jim Fluorspar Lode at the Quinn Project in Nevada — a high-grade vein system with 1940s reports documenting grades up to 98.6% CaF₂ from the main lode and 60% CaF₂ from footwall breccia, with historic workings extending over 220 metres and open along strike. The stock moved +15.2% to $0.190 on 12 May 2026. Big Jim is the third fluorspar system on the Quinn Project alongside Mammoth and Horseshoe — all three are undrilled and at the surface mapping stage. OD6's 2026 field team confirmed the location and visually estimates the main lode at 85–95% CaF₂ over approximately 2 metres width, with new rock samples sent to ALS Global (assays pending). All headline grades are from 1940s-era reports and have not been verified by modern laboratory analysis. The US is 100% import-reliant on fluorspar, which is designated a Critical Mineral. Drilling requires US Forest Service permitting.
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