Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) has restarted drilling operations on schedule at the Blackbush Deposit within the Samphire Uranium Project south of Whyalla in South Australia.
The drill bit is turning following the completion of a high-resolution ground gravity survey and a trial 3D ambient noise tomography (ANT) survey.
Notably, Alligator is targeting a resource update focused on increasing the indicated category, allowing its planned scoping study to utilise a higher category of resource for the majority of the proposed ISR mining schedule.
Moving forward, the company is actively pursuing innovative geophysical techniques for incorporation into its near-term and long-term resource expansion and exploration strategy.
“Further resource update”
Alligator CEO Greg Hall stated: “With our drilling re-commencing at Samphire, we have decided to undertake infill drilling first and initiate a further resource update targeting an increased indicated category at Blackbush.
“This is to ensure the planned scoping study ISR mining schedule will utilise a majority of indicated resource, in line with ASX guidelines.
“Following our initial drilling work last year and earlier this year, and the conversion of inferred to indicated category from that drilling, our team is targeting those areas showing good mineralisation continuity to best achieve this.
“As Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) is being used to determine grades, data is available within days for the existing resource model, which allows for targeted scoping study completion by end of this quarter.”
Drill program
Alligator’s drilling program comprises up to 100 infill and extensional rotary mud drill holes to complete with the following objectives:
- Target (NYSE:TGT) further conversion of the Blackbush mineral resource from the inferred to the indicated JORC category.
- Follow-up extensions of the known high-grade zones where mineralisation is not closed off.
- Test areas where historical data outside the mineral resource estimate (MRE) area flags the potential for additional accumulations of uranium mineralisation.
Mineral resource update
Alligator has re-engaged Perth-based AMC consultants to update the MRE once there is sufficient data to enable inferred to indicated conversion in the resource model.
AMC will undertake a further update of the Blackbush mineral resource estimate before the end of the December quarter.
The drilling contractors have been secured to continue the drilling program started in the March quarter of 2023 in resource extension areas as well as outside of Blackbush where historical drilling flags potential for accumulations of uranium mineralisation not previously tested.
Geophysics program
Alligator’s recent infill ground gravity work at Blackbush indicates a markedly improved resolution of the Samphire palaeochannel architecture.
A trial ANT survey over Blackbush West and East has been completed. Integration of the data with high-resolution ground gravity and drilling is underway to define the optimum methodology to map the Samphire palaeochannel system.
AGE is actively pursuing innovative geophysical techniques for incorporation into its near-term and long-term resource expansion and exploration strategy.
Furthermore, ANSTO uranium leach and recovery test-work is nearing completion and has taken an extended time to ensure the most accurate recovery curves using various input parameters.
The scoping study is targeted for completion towards the end of the December quarter.