News
RNS Announcements
Tanzanian Uranium Exploration Update
24 July 2007
Highlights
- Results show strong subsurface uranium mineralisation present
- Initial assay results show peak intersections of:
- 7 metres at 1,233 ppm U3O8 including 3 metres at 2,607 ppm U3O8
- 7 metres at 549 ppm U3O8 including 4 metres at 843 ppm U3O8
- 6 metres at 507 ppm U3O8 including 2 metres at 1,145 ppm U3O8
- 7 metres at 400 ppm U3O8 including 3 metres at 770 ppm U3O8
- 4 metres at 515 ppm U3O8 including 2 metres at 855 ppm U3O8
- Drilling to recommence early August 2007
Uranium Resources, the AIM listed uranium exploration company, has received positive initial assay results from reconnaissance drilling at the Mtonya uranium exploration project in Tanzania. The results are from the first batch of samples from the 1,648 metre reverse circulation drilling programme conducted in June 2007.
Uranium Resources director James Pratt said, “These are again highly favourable results which indicate the presence of significant subsurface uranium mineralisation in our Mtonya licence areas. The initial drilling programme has achieved its aim of identifying highly anomalous areas and provides us with great encouragement for our future exploration and development programmes. We believe that our area of operation in Tanzania is highly prospective and we hope that the remaining results will emphasise this going forward.”
Shareholders are urged to read the announcement of the company’s farm-in partner, Western Metals Ltd, at www.westernmetals.com.au which includes a number of diagrams that the directors consider important to gain a proper understanding of this announcement.
Drilling Results
Results to date have shown that strong subsurface mineralisation is present. The drilling has indicated multiple mineralised horizons preferentially hosted in sandstone units frequently at or near contact with mudstone units. This is typical for sandstone hosted roll front style uranium deposits such as the Kyelekera deposit in nearby Malawi.
The drill section shown in Diagram 3 of Western Metals’ announcement shows that three mineralised zones are evident above a cut-off grade of 50ppm U3O8 with consistent intersections within these zones above a 100 ppm U3O8 cut-off. The peak intersection of 7 metres at 1,233 ppm U3O8 is located 200 metres from this section on another drilling profile. Deeper drilling in the future will determine if more mineralisation is present below those identified to date. Intersection widths range up to 7 metres, which is encouraging for the economic potential of the area.
Peak intersections above 100 ppm U3O8 cutoff achieved include:
7 metres at |
1,233 ppm U3O8 from surface |
7 metres at |
549 ppm U3O8 from 9 metres |
6 metres at |
507 ppm U3O8 from 6 metres |
7 metres at |
400 ppm U3O8 from 12 metres |
4 metres at |
515ppm U3O8 from 24 metres |
Table 1 contains details of drill holes and intersection summaries.
Table 1: Intersections greater than 100 ppm U3O8
Hole ID |
Collar Co-ordinates (WGS84/S36) |
Intersection |
|||
|
East |
North |
From |
Width (metres) |
ppm U3O8 |
MRC002 |
885604 |
8831694 |
0 |
7 |
1,233 |
Including |
0 |
3 |
2,607 |
||
MRC004 |
885671 |
8831736 |
No significant intersections |
||
MRC007 |
885557 |
8831680 |
No significant intersections |
||
MRC010 |
885753 |
8831564 |
9 |
1 |
120 |
|
12 |
7 |
400 |
||
Including |
|
3 |
770 |
||
|
25 |
5 |
212 |
||
Including |
|
1 |
590 |
||
|
38 |
1 |
130 |
||
|
40 |
1 |
100 |
||
MRC011 |
885732 |
8831556 |
11 |
1 |
390 |
|
37 |
1 |
210 |
||
|
40 |
2 |
220 |
||
MRC012 |
885710 |
8831549 |
9 |
7 |
549 |
Including |
|
4 |
843 |
||
|
25 |
5 |
106 |
||
|
31 |
2 |
175 |
||
|
39 |
4 |
170 |
||
MRC013 |
885683 |
8831499 |
17 |
2 |
445 |
|
40 |
2 |
210 |
||
MRC014 |
885632 |
8831446 |
31 |
1 |
290 |
|
36 |
1 |
170 |
||
MRC015 |
885783 |
8831580 |
6 |
6 |
507 |
Including |
|
2 |
1145 |
||
|
24 |
4 |
515 |
||
Including |
|
2 |
855 |
||
|
35 |
4 |
305 |
||
MRC016 |
885828 |
8831590 |
7 |
1 |
480 |
|
33 |
1 |
250 |
||
MRC017 |
885805 |
8831582 |
5 |
5 |
144 |
|
|
|
27 |
1 |
120 |
|
|
|
33 |
1 |
110 |
|
|
|
35 |
3 |
270 |
Notes on Table 1:
Samples have been collected by riffle splitting dry intervals and representative tube sampling of wet intervals. Samples have been analysed by ICP using laboratory method ME-ICP61s by ALS Chemex laboratory Perth Australia. Certified reference standards and blanks have been included in addition to laboratory control standards. All results are in U3O8 ppm uranium with analysis method accuracy quoted at 10 ppm U3O8. Co-ordinates are WGS84 and have been measured by hand held GPS.
Programme Strategy
Field work in 2006 highlighted many areas of potential with the Henri, Para, Tahbilk, Galway Moysten, and Grandfather anomalies providing initial targets. The June drilling programme tested Henri, Para and Tahbilk and follow-up programmes are planned on these and other known targets.
Diagram 1 in Western Metals’ announcement shows airborne radiometric survey uranium data for the Mtonya area collected in April 2007. This shows multiple anomalies exist in the area with an exposed anomaly trend greater than 7 kilometres by 2 kilometres.
Programme Details
The drilling programme conducted in June totalled 1,648 metres of RC drilling comprising of 29 holes. The maximum hole depth was 98 metres with an average of 56 metres. Ground conditions limited drilling production rates and a decision was made to modify the average planned hole depth from 100 to 50 metres, allowing a greater number of holes to be drilled and an increased area covered in the planned time frame.
Twenty one drill holes were completed on the Henri anomaly where previous trenching work had yielded strong surface mineralisation. Two drill sections, approximately 200 metres apart, were completed in addition to some isolated holes off section.
At Para, approximately 800 metres south of Henri, two sections of drilling with holes spaced at 100 metres were completed. Each section comprised three drill holes.
Two drill holes were completed on the Tahbilk anomaly approximately 700 metres north of Henri.
All holes were geologically logged on site by Western Metals staff. Sampling was conducted on one metre intervals using representative sampling techniques. Delays in the arrival of downhole geophysical equipment has postponed the collection of downhole geophysical data until August. All completed holes have been cased to allow the geophysical surveys to be conducted.
Samples were submitted to the ALS Chemex laboratory in Tanzania for preparation and then dispatched to their Australian laboratory for analysis.
To date results from 11 of the Henri drill holes have been received, with results of the remaining 18 holes expected in the coming four weeks.
Diagram 2 of Western Metals’ announcement shows the drill hole collar locations overlain on ground radiometric contour of >15 times background counts per second (cps). The status of each hole in relation to assay results is highlighted.
During the drilling programme advanced radiation safety management systems were implemented, including training on site for all personnel by an international radiation expert, and site rehabilitation was progressed.
Future Programme
Drilling will recommence in the area in early August with the program planned to further test the anomalies and follow up on the initial results. In addition to drilling, field crews will undertake extensive trenching, sampling and mapping on the Grandfather, Tahbilk, Para, and Henri anomalies. Ground scintillometer surveys will be focused on detailing targets within the 7 kilometre trend that have not been evaluated to date.
This information in this report that relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves is based on information compiled by Dr Joseph Drake-Brockman who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Dr Drake-Brockman is employed by Drake-Brockman Geoinfo Pty Ltd. Dr Drake-Brockman has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Dr Drake-Brockman consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears
**ENDS**
Contacts:
| James Pratt | Uranium Resources plc | Tel 07747 832 043 |
| Ross Warner | Uranium Resources plc | Tel 07760 487 769 |
| Hugh Warner | Uranium Resources plc | Tel +618 9217 3350 |
| Hugh Oram | Nabarro Wells & Co. Limited | Tel 020 7710 7400 |
| Hugo de Salis | St Brides Media & Finance Ltd | Tel 020 7242 4477 |