Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) has made strong progress with drilling activities at Samphire Uranium Project, south of Whyalla in South Australia.
The company has completed drilling five of the 14 planned sonic core holes within the uranium-bearing zones at Blackbush deposit, with drilling continuing in subsequent holes.
Promisingly, the quality of the sonic core recovered within and around the uranium-bearing sediments is exceptionally good and will assist in enhancing understanding of the geological interpretation and hydrogeology.
“Best value data”
Alligator CEO Greg Hall said: “Our team has worked hard to establish the right core handling, recording and logging techniques and quality control systems to ensure best value data will be obtained from this drilling work.
“This is important for us to be able to tie in the previous historical drilling results into an updated resource estimate next year.
“The drilling and core processing is being undertaken under established radiation safety and environmental management protocols.
“I thank our team and the drilling crew for their focused work so far.”
Sonic core hole BBS21-001 from 70 to 75 metres depth at Alligator’s Whyalla core shed prior to geological logging and sampling.
Ongoing activities
Alligator is undertaking detailed geological logging and core sampling with samples to be packaged and sent to an Adelaide-based laboratory for analysis to obtain accurate assays for uranium and other minerals.
A hand-held scintillometer survey of the core has detected extensive zones of radiation emanation where anticipated by nearby historical drilling.
Hole locations have been designed to add high-quality geochemical data within the Blackbush higher-grade uranium zone which is needed for the targeted increased confidence level of the JORC-compliant resource being sought by Alligator and to tie in the historical probe-logged resource data.
Composite samples from selected core within various holes are now also being accumulated, with the composite samples to be sent to The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in New South Wales for updated uranium leach and IX extraction test work to be undertaken.
After delays due to extensive rain, drilling is now proceeding at a good pace, with pre-collar drilling through barren overlying sediments down to approximately 50 metres, followed by sonic coring down to the end of the hole in the underlying hard granite.
Planned sonic core holes – final locations may vary depending on active field decisions.
Forward plan
Alligator anticipates assay results from its drill program to take at least six weeks due to high laboratory workloads.
The ANSTO test-work will feed into the resource modelling and compilation of a scoping study, to be undertaken during the first half of next year.
All core is chilled to reduce the risk of changes due to oxidation, and samples selected for the ANSTO composite leach testing are vacuum sealed at the drill rig immediately after being drilled and chilled to maintain core integrity and entrained groundwater.
Following the sonic core drilling, up to 40 rotary mud holes will be drilled in early 2022 with uranium results obtained by Prompt Neutron Fission (PFN) and gamma probe – holes will be designed and located for both resource confidence and potential extensional work.