Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) has delivered high-grade intersections from sonic core drilling at Blackbush Deposit within the Samphire Uranium Project in South Australia.
The company has received assays from a further four holes, as phase one sonic core drilling continues to confirm high-grade uranium over anticipated intervals and validates prompt fission neutron (PFN) grades at Blackbush.
To date, the best grade thickness (GT) result is 5.1 metres at 2,080ppm uranium for a GT of 10,608 in sonic hole 014.
Encouragingly, the correlations between rotary-mud, sonic core and historical drilling demonstrate coherent multi-level high-grade zones, confirming the robustness of the uranium grades obtained.
Moving forward, a detailed Samphire Project workflow plan has been established for the next two to three years, and detailed costing and identification of required resources are underway.
“Excellent consistency”
Alligator CEO Greg Hall said:“The correlation between Alligator’s new drilling results (both PFN and assay) and the historical drilling dataset is coming together very well and is indicating excellent consistency and continuity of the mineralised zones.”
“Work on developing a regional exploration strategy is highlighting significant opportunities for extension of the Blackbush resource and within AGE’s wider tenement holding.
“I thank our team for the detailed and quality data analysis work being done, which is invaluable for our understanding of the Samphire mineralisation.
“This is important for the upcoming resource review and update work and in creating opportunities for additional discoveries.”
Pre-development work
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has begun uranium leach and ion exchange (IX) extraction test-work on the ISR-amenable uranium mineralisation from Blackbush West.
This work, in conjunction with a re-estimated JORC-compliant resource, will form the basis for a scoping study expected to be completed by end of the September quarter.
Furthermore, engagement with the SA State Government has started to map the approval pathway for a retention lease application and operational program for environment protection and rehabilitation (PEPR) for a field leach trial (FLT) at Blackbush East.
Hall adds: “AMC consultants have been secured to undertake the JORC compliant re-estimation of the Blackbush resource later this quarter.
“This exercise will use a higher cut-off grade in the ISR amenable resource core than the previous global Blackbush resource.
“The goal will be to target a more likely mineable portion of the overall global resource, as well as upgrade a portion of the resource confidence level from inferred to indicated status.”
Forward exploration strategy
Multiple open positions of high-grade zones not adequately tested by recent drill programs will be targeted in follow-up rotary-mud drilling in the December quarter pending completion of a cultural heritage survey.
Re-investigation and drilling of the eastern part of the Blackbush Deposit (Blackbush East) will also be undertaken.
The framing of a regional exploration strategy to target resource extension has started and will include selecting and planning relevant geophysics in line with consultation with pastoralists.
Work already undertaken shows significant potential for extensions of the Samphire paleochannel in the immediate area around Blackbush, including district-scale extensions within AGE’s tenement package.