A replacement part was brought in from Illinois and delivered to the site. The company said it expected drilling to resume in early October.

The breakdown is an example of how problems with support equipment can shut down drilling, even when the rig itself is in working order. At remote drilling sites, keeping that water flowing can be difficult, especially when a truck breaks down and replacement parts have to be shipped in from hundreds of miles away.

The water tanker is one of two trucks used to support drilling at Murdock Mountain, according to the company.

"A brief delay was encountered while replacing the transfer case in the six-wheel-drive water tanker, one of the two trucks that supports drilling operations," said Garry Smith, a director of Nevada Organic Phosphate. "The replacement part has now arrived on site, and we expect drilling to resume shortly."

Smith thanked the drilling crew and field workers for keeping downtime to a minimum while the truck was being repaired.

Drilling Continues Along Phosphate Trend

Nevada Organic Phosphate is continuing its 2026 exploration program at Murdock Mountain, where crews are drilling to determine how far the phosphate deposit extends and gather more information about its thickness and grade.

The company previously reported that hole MM26-10 intersected the Upper Phosphate Zone, extending the known strike of phosphate mineralization to more than 3 kilometers.

The next hole, MM26-11, is being drilled another 315 meters along the same trend. The company is examining the extent of the phosphate-bearing rock and how its thickness and grade vary across the property.

According to Nevada Organic Phosphate, the Upper Phosphate Zone is believed to be a relatively flat-lying sedimentary layer within the Meade Peak Member of the Phosphoria Formation.

Crews will collect geological samples and drilling data from MM26-11 to help plan the next phase of exploration. Laboratory results have not yet been released.

"With MM26-11 now underway, we are continuing to advance our exploration objectives in a measured and systematic manner," said Robin Dow, CEO of Nevada Organic Phosphate. "Each drill hole contributes valuable information that helps guide the next stage of technical assessment that is needed to support future development decisions of the Murdock Mountain Project."

Water Truck Breakdown Delays Drilling

The delay at Murdock Mountain shows how a problem with a support vehicle can stop work at a drilling site, even if the rig itself is running properly.

Drilling contractors working in remote areas depend on water trucks and other support equipment to keep their rigs operating. When one of those vehicles breaks down, crews await repairs or replacement parts before they can get back to work.

At Murdock Mountain, the replacement transfer case had to be brought in from Illinois. The company did not say how long drilling was stopped or how much the repair cost.

Nevada Organic Phosphate reports that its Murdock Mountain property contains a sedimentary phosphate bed stretching approximately 6.6 kilometers across northeastern Nevada. The company has also filed additional applications covering areas that could extend the potential phosphate trend to more than 30 kilometers.

With the replacement part delivered, crews are expected to return to drilling MM26-11 and continue collecting samples.