Reconnaissance geochemical sampling has been conducted by the Lithium Resource Program of the United States Geological Survey for much of the Western U.S. Sediment, rock, and brine samples have been collected in many states, but this report describes just those solid samples collected in Nevada. Further reports by other members of the Lithium Program will describe water samples from Nevada and samples from other states.
The purpose of the sampling program was to determine if areas of anonalous lithium could be recognized by reconnaissance surface sampling. The results, however, have been indeterminate because most large lithium deposits occur at depth and appear to be formed when deeply buried. Many may not manifest themselves at the surface at all . Nonetheless, the data derived during the surface sampling program will be presented in this report.