GTI Energy Ltd (ASX:GTR) has concluded the year’s drilling at its ISR uranium projects in Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin, increasing the total trend length to 7.5 miles and edging the company closer to the publication of its first mineral resource estimate next year.
There were 103 mud rotary exploration drill holes completed comprising 70 holes at the Thor prospect and 33 holes at Odin, Teebo and Loki prospects, 29 of which encountered uranium mineralisation.
The 33 holes have discovered an additional combined 2.65 miles of ISR amenable uranium mineralised roll front trends, with the best hole returning 0.78 grade thickness (GT) against the targeted 0.2 GT cut-off.
Further drilling may be conducted in early 2023, subject to weather conditions.
Exploration drilling areas at the Great Divide Basin.
Encouraging results at Teebo and Loki
Drilling at Thor had discovered an additional 1.39 miles of uranium roll front trend, which increased the total for the prospect to 4.85 miles.
Meanwhile, at Odin, Teebo and Loki, which are within 10 miles of Thor, a total of 9,208 metres of drilling were completed, comprising 18 holes at Odin, 10 at Teebo and five at Loki. All encountered uranium mineralisation.
Results at Teebo and Loki were particularly encouraging, where 14 of 15 holes encountered uranium mineralisation.
Of the 33 drill holes, six met both grade and GT cut-off with an average of 0.45 GT, which is 2.25 times the targeted cut-off, 13 met grade cut-off but not GT, 10 had trace mineral while four were barren.
Drilling across the three claims to date has confirmed and refined about 14,000 feet of the targeted 37,000 roll front trends interpreted from the historical data.
Significantly, the results have confirmed that trends are present in the targeted locations and that mineralisation is below the water table at potentially viable depths for ISR mining.
Significant progress
“The strike rate for this round of exploration drilling at Odin, Teebo and Loki has been excellent with uranium mineralisation present in about 90% of holes to date,” GTI’s executive director Bruce Lane said.
“Results at Loki have identified new roll front uranium mineralisation at viable ISR depths. It’s exciting to see strong results at Loki in such close proximity to UR Energy’s Lost Creek.
“Drilling this year in the Great Divide has increased our total roll front trend length to 7.5 miles and represents significant progress towards our goal of delivering a maiden resource statement in 2023.”