Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) has intersected more uranium mineralisation in a drilling program underway at the Blackbush deposit within the Samphire Uranium Project south of Whyalla in South Australia.
The results are expected to support an increased confidence level in a further Blackbush mineral resource estimate (MRE) update targeted for later this year.
Standout assays include:
- 1.78 metres at 0.45% (4,569ppm) pU3O8 from 61.70 metres;
- 1.18 metres at 0.25% (2,557ppm) pU3O8 from 69.68 metres; and
- 1.12 metres at 0.26% (2,696ppm) pU3O8 from 73,95 metres.
Preparations for the field recovery trial (FRT) at Samphire are well underway with one rig solely focused on the installation of groundwater monitor and extraction/injection wells.
Looking ahead, Alligator’s proposed drilling for the next four months, with two drill rigs now on site, is focused on further infill and step-out drilling and installation of monitor and extraction/injection wells for the FRT at Blackbush.
Improved confidence
Alligator’s CEO Greg Hall said: “The 2023 drilling program set to span seven months has had a great start.
“After a three-week field break in late April/early May, to enable the pastoralist to manage the lambing season, we are now back on the ground operating with two drill rigs.
“Drilling this year within the Blackbush deposit is providing us with improved confidence in the quality and continuity of the uranium mineralisation and this creates a great platform for the field recovery trial and our plans for an updated JORC mineral resource estimate towards the end of 2023.
“Our recently announced scoping study production schedule was limited by the currently indicated resource quantum and our targeted increase in this will enable the evaluation of an enhanced schedule and study.
“Further to this, our experienced roll-front mapping capabilities auger well for the identification of additional uranium mineralisation in the planned step-out drilling as part of this year’s work.”
Drill program
Alligator’s uranium resource drilling resumed with the installation of three basement groundwater monitoring wells over several weeks underneath the Blackbush FRT area required for Retention Lease approvals and monitoring requirements during FRT operation.
So far this year, 36 holes have been drilled for 3,116 metres, testing the target Kanaka Sands.
The recent drilling, as well as planned drilling for the next four months, is focused on close-spaced infill drilling to 25 metres to finalise locations of the FRT test wellfields.
Also, the company is conducting infill drilling in the inferred resource envelope of Blackbush East and Blackbush West.
Field recovery trial
Final design and costing for the FRT plant and related infrastructure is now complete with procurement for long capital lead items underway.
The South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) recently advised that the Retention Lease application has been accepted and assessment will commence subject to some additional baseline descriptions and data on the groundwater characteristics and flow dynamics of aquifers in the application area.
Hall added: “Alligator is continuing its recruitment of experienced ISR management and technical expertise and is very pleased to have secured a full-time experienced ISR process engineer to work with our EPCM contractor for the field recovery trial as well as ongoing processing design work.
“Preparations for this trial continue with commitments being made for long-lead time items and DEM initiated public consultation for our Retention Lease application expected to occur in the coming weeks.”