Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) continues to progress evaluation of the Samphire Uranium Project in South Australia and is aiming to increase its tenure in the highly prospective area.
The company has applied for two additional exploration licences surrounding the Samphire Project tenure, which would take its landholding from 370.7 square kilometres to 551.8 square kilometres once granted.
In addition, AGE has also kicked off resource re-estimation and a scoping study at the Blackbush deposit.
The company has received assays from six remaining holes in a phase one sonic core drill program, which validate the consistency of uranium grades previously reported from the Blackbush West deposit.
The best grade thickness (GT) result received was 4.33 metres at 0.289% (2,892ppm) triuranium octoxide for a GT of 12,522 in sonic hole BBS21- 010, with most intersections continuing to be above the initial estimated GT cut-off of 2,000.
Looking ahead, ANSTO test-work on the representative core is well underway with promising results so far.
“Palaeochannel location interpretation”
Alligator CEO Greg Hall said: “The review and updated interpretations of the available gravity data, along with review of historical drill logs in detail plus our recent sonic and rotary mud drilling is providing additional clarity on the palaeochannel location interpretation.
“We will continue this work as we plan our next drilling program for later this year.
“ANSTO test-work is showing very promising initial leach results, with further work continuing."
Expanded tenure
Alligator Energy is seeking two new mineral exploration licences (2022/0026 & 2022/0025) surrounding its current tenements EL 5926 and 6350.
This will further stabilise the tenure in this region, particularly as the company’s regional exploration strategy is highlighting significant opportunities for extensions of the Samphire palaeochannel system which hosts the Blackbush and Plumbush resources.
An in-house re-interpretation of the existing ground gravity data, along with current and historical drilling data, has been undertaken.
This work confirms that the palaeochannel hosting the known deposits is part of a much larger palaeochannel system, with approximately 50 lineal kilometres of channels identified for investigation between Blackbush and Plumbush resources.
Location map of exploration licence applications.
Sonic core assays
AGE’s assays continue to validate the presence of high-grade uranium in anticipated intervals within unconsolidated basal sands of the Tertiary Kanaka Beds 55 to 80 metres below the surface in the Samphire palaeochannel system, consistent with the company’s initial estimated GT cut-off of 2,000.
Receipt of these results has been added to the data provided for the resource re-estimation by AMC Consultants (Perth) to assess what portion of the 32 million pounds global inferred resource in the ISR amenable portion of the Blackbush deposit can be upgraded to an indicated category.
Forward plan
AGE has planned further ground gravity surveys to extend this coverage within EL 6350 and 5926, to investigate the high likelihood of further expansion of the palaeochannel system, an area of more than 200 square kilometres.
Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (Adelaide) has been engaged to commence a scoping study on the Blackbush deposit.
Results from the AMC resource estimation and the completion of ANSTO leach/ion exchange recovery test-work will drive the delivery date of the study as they are critical inputs.
The scoping study is planned to be delivered next quarter.