Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE, OTC:ALGEF) has kicked off its 2024 drilling program at the Nabarlek North Project within the Alligator Rivers Uranium Province (ARUP) in the Northern Territory, Australia.
The Nabarlek North Project targets unconformity-style uranium deposits in the Lower Cahill Formation, a geological structure akin to those found at the Ranger, Jabiluka and historic Nabarlek sites.
Culmination of two years’ work
This year’s campaign is the culmination of two years of systematic exploration, including geochemical testing, reconnaissance mapping and high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys.
The program, which will involve up to 5,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling across 10 locations, is being executed by Topdrill, a Western Australia-based contractor experienced in the ARUP region.
All necessary approvals, including cultural clearances, have been secured.
What’s more, the initiative is also supported by a Northern Territory Government co-funded stratigraphic drilling program, valued at A$100,000.
The drilling is expected to take four to six weeks, with final laboratory assays and analysis anticipated by November 2024.
About Nabarlek North
The Nabarlek North Project represents a highly prospective but under-explored region within the ARUP, characterised by a Proterozoic unconformity with cover sediments that have previously deterred exploration.
The project is less than 7 kilometres north of the historic Nabarlek uranium mine, which produced 24 million pounds of U₃O₈ at an average grade of 1.84%.
Alligator Energy’s exploration strategy has evolved in 2024 to focus on regional and tenure-wide targets, including a comprehensive airborne survey and geological mapping.
The current RC drilling campaign will test specific structural and lithological targets across the tenure, with a strong focus on replicating successful exploration models from nearby uranium deposits.
Results from the 2024 drilling program will be integrated into the ongoing geological model for Nabarlek North, guiding future exploration activities.
Support from traditional owners
Alligator CEO Greg Hall said: “We are very pleased to commence this year’s drilling program across an extended area within our Nabarlek North tenure package.
“This year’s program brings together new geophysical datasets, two years of intensive geochemical sampling and reconnaissance mapping - including within areas that have seen little if any ‘boots on the ground’ activity.
“Along with step-out drilling to follow up on our encouraging 2023 results north of the U40 prospect, we are making some bold but strategic tests of features sharing similarities to some of the known deposits within the Alligator Rivers Uranium Province.
“It should be a very exciting couple of months, and we are again very grateful for the continued support from the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Northern Land Council, and to the NT Government through their co-funded exploration initiative program.”