The Conversation (0)
Moab Minerals Limited (ASX: MOM) (Moab or the Company) is pleased to provide an update of activities at the Manyoni Uranium Project in Tanzania, Africa.
Highlights:
- An extensive core drilling program (60 holes) has commenced at the Manyoni Uranium Project.
- Objective of 60-hole Stage One drilling is to verify historical drill results, obtain additional geologic and bulk density information, and carry out preliminary metallurgical test-work to ascertain the optimum processing pathway for the project.
- Strategically located just 5km north of Manyoni town, the Manyoni Uranium Project enjoys convenient access to modern railway and sealed highway infrastructure, as well as readily available power and water resources.
- The Manyoni Uranium Project was previously explored, and extensively drilled, by Uranex Ltd from the early 2000’s until 2013. The project did not proceed due to the low price of uranium at that time.
- Mineral Resource Estimation will be carried out by Snowdens/Optiro following successful completion of the Stage One program.
- Phase two drilling, involving a further 100 holes, will follow on and is designed to locate extensions to the known mineralisation at Manyoni.
Moab Managing Director, Mr Malcolm Day, commented: “I visited the Manyoni Uranium Project last week and am excited to report that drilling has started. The Company only settled the transaction on 9th July and in less than two months has been able to ‘hit the ground running’. The drilling program is expected to run over the next few months with most of the assay results available in November/December. I look forward to updating shareholders in coming months in regard the advancement of the Manyoni Uranium Project”.
About the Manyoni Uranium Project
Tanzania Uranium Projects (Moab 94.00%)
On 12 March 2024, the Company announced the acquisition of a package of advanced uranium projects in Tanzania (refer ASX Announcement 12 March 2024) (Acquisition). The Company completed the Acquisition on 9 July 2024.
The Acquisition includes the Manyoni and Octavo Uranium Projects, covering a total of 216 km2. The projects are strategically located just 5km north of Manyoni town, the Manyoni Uranium Project enjoys convenient access to modern railway and sealed highway infrastructure as well as readily available power and water resources.
The Manyoni Uranium Project was previously explored, and extensively drilled, by Uranex Ltd from the early 2000’s until 2013.
Project Location
The Manyoni Uranium Project tenements are located in the Republic of Tanzania (pop. 65 million), Africa, approximately 100km northwest of the capital city of Dodoma (pop. 765,000). The location of the uranium project at Manyoni is shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Core drilling underway at Manyoni uranium project
Figure 1. Location of the Manyoni Uranium Project
Figure 2. Location of Manyoni Tenements
Geological Setting and Uranium Mineralisation
The tenements are located in the central part of the Tanzanian Archaean Shield, which is a stable platform of granite-gneiss terrane with marginal greenstone belts. Radiometrically “hot” granites have been subject to erosion over geological time and have contributed uranium and other metals into the pluvial streams and lakes which drain the shield.
In the Manyoni area the uranium is deposited in a shallow playa lake system as schröckingerite (in the lake sediments) and carnotite in the granitic saprolite below the lake sediments. The mineralisation varies from flat lying to shallowly dipping as it follows the direction of the palaeo- drainage to the south-east while the average depth to the top of mineralisation varies from 3m to 10m.
Validation Drilling (Stage One Drilling)
Moab has completed a substantial review of historic databases that were acquired from the property vendors. Moab has appointed Resource specialists Datamine/Optiro to assist the Company with planning a program of Validation drilling designed to verify historical drill results. A program of 60 drill holes involving PQ Triple Tube core drilling adjacent to old drill holes that contained uranium mineralisation is planned to commence in the 1st Quarter FY2024/2025. The objectives of the program include:
- Twinning of a statistically valid number of drill holes which provides the highest core recovery and sample quality. An estimated 60 drill holes to an average depth of 15m are planned. This program is designed to address historical assay reliability.
- Strict QA/QC controls will be implemented so as to provide a statistically valid means of verifying uranium grades.
- Bench scale metallurgical test work on a representative suite of bulk samples from the above drill program.
- Additional bulk density measurements to verify historical records and to expand the database for different mineralized domains.
- Improved understanding of the geological controls on uranium grade distribution.
It is estimated that this initial program will be completed in 2nd Quarter FY2024/2025. On completion of the Validation drilling program the information will be used to update the wire-frame model for mineralized domains thereby facilitating resource estimation, depending on results.
Exploration Drilling (Stage Two Drilling)
In addition to the above drilling, Moab is planning to undertake an exploration drilling program that is designed to locate extensions to the known mineralisation at Manyoni. This will be based on grid drilling on a 400m x 400m and 200m x 200m pattern around the known mineralisation. The Manyoni uranium mineralisation is at shallow depth, varying from 3m to 15m to the top of mineralisation, and flat lying. Moab has executed a drilling contract for a minimum of 1500m of PQTT core drilling covering Stages one and two drilling, with the option to drill an additional 1500m.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from MOAB Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
MOM:AU
Moab Minerals Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects
GET YOUR FREE INVESTOR KIT
Moab Minerals
Investor Insight
With its high-quality uranium assets in Tanzania, as well as a highly experienced corporate and in-country management team, Moab Minerals presents a compelling case for investors evaluating opportunities in the rapidly growing uranium market.
Overview
Moab Minerals (ASX:MOM) is an exploration company with the primary goal of developing its uranium assets in Tanzania. On the 8th July 2024 the company announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Katika Resources, a Tanzanian company, that holds the Manyoni and Octavo uranium projects. The Manyoni project was previously explored by Uranex Ltd from the early 2000’s until 2013. The Octavo uranium project is adjacent to Rosatom’s world class Nyota uranium deposit (Mkuju River project), which was formerly held by ASX listed Mantra Resources before the AU$1.02 billion takeover in 2011.
Tanzania is an emerging jurisdiction for large-scale uranium mining, with significant uranium deposits identified in recent years. Significant Tanzanian deposits include Namtumbo (Mkuju), Bahi, Galapo, Minjingu, Mbulu, Simanjiro, Lake Natron, Manyoni, Songea, Tunduru, Madaba and Nachingwea. Of these projects, Mkuju River is the largest, boasting a mineral resource of 8,500 tons U3O8 and, once operational, will be the country’s first operating uranium mine.
With a high-calibre team of highly experienced mining and business leaders with successful track records, and a Tanzanian based team of technical experts, Moab is well positioned to deliver on its commitment to expedite the exploration and development of its uranium projects in Tanzania.
Company Highlights
- Moab Minerals is a uranium exploration company developing its primary uranium assets in Tanzania - Manyoni and Octavo.
- Tanzania is an emerging jurisdiction for large-scale uranium mining, with significant resource identified in recent years.
- Positive outlook for uranium, with demand expected to increase by 28 percent in 2030, and 51 percent by 2040.
- The company is looking to start drilling again in July/August to validate historical drill results from Uranex (early 2000’s-2013) and to test extensions of the known mineralization at Manyoni.
- Additional upside exists from Moab’s uranium-vanadium asset (REX project) located in Colorado and within trucking distance of the White Mesa Mill.
Key Projects
Manyoni Uranium Project
The Manyoni Uranium Project is strategically located just outside of the town of Manyoni in the Republic of Tanzania, and benefits from established infrastructure such as a modern railway and highway system, as well as available power and water resources.
Manyoni is located in the central part of the Tanzanian Archaean Shield, a stable platform of granite-gneiss terrane with marginal greenstone belts. The uranium is deposited in a shallow playa lake system as schröckingerite (in the lake sediments) and carnotite in the granitic saprolite below the lake sediments. The mineralization varies from flat-lying to shallowly dipping as it follows the direction of the palaeo-drainage to the south-east. The average depth of the mineralized interval is 10 metres.
The Manyoni uranium project was extensively explored and drilled by its previous owner, Uranex (ASX:UNL), now Magnis Energy Technologies (ASX:MNS).
Moab has executed a binding agreement with AuKing (ASX:AKN) to acquire four highly prospective prospecting licences immediately adjacent to the Manyoni uranium project, representing the consolidation of all of the Manyoni uranium deposits for the first time in over 10 years. Stage one 105-hole core drilling program is underway and will be followed by the stage two program of 100 exploration core holes. Moab intends to release its maiden JORC (2012) mineral resource estimate in 2025 following the completion of preliminary drilling activities. A scoping or preliminary feasibility study is planned to be completed in the same year.
A validation drilling program has been completed at the Manyoni project with the first batch of the assay results expected in February/March 2025. The acquisition of additional surrounding tenements from AuKing which comprise three uranium projects known as E, F and G, boosts the upside potential of the project. A new drilling program is planned to start in July/August 2025 to validate historical exploration by Uranex and to evaluate the resource potential of the new tenements.
Octavo Uranium Project
The Octavo uranium project is strategically located adjacent to Rosatom’s world-class Nyota uranium deposit (Mkuju River project), formerly owned by ASX-listed Mantra Resources before a AU$1.02 billion takeover deal in 2011.
Uranium mineralization at Octavo consists of Triassic sandstone overlying granite basement rocks.
Exploration Plans
At the Octavo uranium project in southern Tanzania, work is focused on the acquisition of high-quality airborne radiometric and magnetic survey data which are expected to deliver uranium targets for ground follow-up.
Management Team
Malcolm Day - Managing Director
Malcolm Day has been managing director of Moab Minerals since 1999. He’s a civil engineer and licensed surveyor with eight years of experience in the civil construction industry. Day also spent three years working as a mining and resource exploration surveyor in remote parts of Western Australia. Day has been managing director of Moab Minerals (ASM:MOM) since 1999 and a non-executive director of European Lithium Limited (ASX:EUR) since 2012.
Bryan Hughes - Non-executive Chairman
Bryan Hughes is the past chairman and founding partner of Pitcher Partners, accountants, auditors and advisors, and now a director of 101 Advisory. Hughes has over 30 years of experience in the resource sector, and has developed and overseen commercial, operational and financial strategies which have led to the development and success of numerous companies in many jurisdictions around the world. Hughes sits on several private and public company boards.
David Wheeler - Non-executive Director
David Wheeler has more than 30 years of senior executive management, directorships, and corporate advisory experience. He is a foundation director and partner of Pathways Corporate, a boutique corporate advisory firm that undertakes assignments on behalf of family offices, private clients, and ASX listed companies. He has engaged in business projects in the USA, UK, Europe, NZ, China, Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East. Wheeler is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has experience on public and private company boards, currently holding a number of directorships and advisory positions in Australian companies.
Tanzania Management
Godluck Sekwao - Exploration Manager
Experienced geologist with 16 years of experience across all aspects of geological projects, with a particular focus on exploration. Sekwao most recently worked with Shanta Gold across its East African projects.
Charles Sayi Mihayo - Senior Geologist
Charles Sayi Mihayo is an experienced geologist with over 18 years of experience across Africa in project discovery, development, and mining production across a range of commodities.
Ryoba Chacha - Consulting Geologist
Ryoba Chacha has over 15 years of experience working on geological projects, particularly in East Africa. He has also previously worked on the Manyoni project as a project geologist with Uranex.
Advancing a portfolio of advanced uranium assets in Tanzania.
Skyharbour Resources
Investor Insight
In the current strong market dynamic for uranium, Skyharbour Resources is a compelling investment opportunity driven by its large portfolio of exploration assets in Canada’s most prolific uranium district in the Athabasca Basin.
Overview
Nuclear energy is a key driver in the transition to net zero, offering clean, reliable, and secure power to meet global electricity demand, which is expected to grow by 50 percent in 2040.
Skyharbour Resources (TSXV:SYH,OTCQX :SYHBF,FWB:SC1P) is strategically positioned to support this growing demand through its high-grade uranium projects. As a leading uranium exploration company, Skyharbour partners with industry stakeholders to advance projects that contribute to the secure and sustainable energy future nuclear power promises.
Skyharbour has launched its winter drill program at the Russell Lake uranium project, initiating its planned 16,000–18,000 metre campaign across 35–45 holes at its co-flagship Russell Lake and Moore projects. This initial phase at Russell will focus on exploring the project’s significant upside potential, leveraging its widespread uranium mineralization and favorable geology for large, high-grade Athabasca Basin uranium deposits.
Company Highlights
- Skyharbour Resources is a junior mining company with an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin. They comprise 36 uranium projects, totaling over 614,000 hectares.
- The Athabasca Basin is the world’s most prolific uranium jurisdiction, boasting uranium grades averaging over 10-20 times higher than those found elsewhere.
- The company employs a multi-faceted strategy of focused mineral exploration at its core projects (Russell and Moore) while utilizing the prospect generator model to advance its secondary projects with strategic partners.
- The company’s co-flagship Moore project is an advanced-stage uranium exploration asset featuring high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone. Previous drilling has returned results of 6 percent U3O8 over 5.9 meters, with a notable intercept of 20.8 percent U3O8 over 1.5 meters, at a vertical depth of 265 meters.
- Adjacent to the Moore project is Skyharbour’s second core project, the Russell Lake uranium project, wherein Skyharbour has completed the acquisition of 57.7 percent interest from Rio Tinto. The Russell Lake uranium project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property totaling 73,314 hectares.
- The 2024 winter drill program at the Russell Lake uranium project led to a new discovery of high-grade, sandstone-hosted mineralization up to 2.99 percent U3O8 intersected over 0.5 meters.
- Skyharbour has commenced its 2025 winter drill program at the Russell Lake uranium project with plans to complete an initial 5,000-metre diamond drilling program in 10 to 12 holes at the project
- Fully funded for combined drilling of 16,000 to 18,000 meters in 35 to 45 drill holes across Russell and Moore Lake projects
- 15,000 to 16,000 metres of additional drilling funded by partner companies at other projects in the Skyharbour’s prospect generator business including 6,000 to 7,000 meters of drilling by strategic partner Orano at the Preston project
- Management intends to continue building the prospect generator business by offering projects to partners who will fund the exploration and provide cash/stock to Skyharbour for an ownership interest in the projects; Skyharbour typically retains minority interests in the projects and equity holdings in the partners.
- The increasing focus on nuclear energy by governments globally to achieve decarbonization goals bodes well for uranium prices. Skyharbour, with key uranium assets in a top mining jurisdiction, stands to benefit from this shift in the global energy mix.
Flagship Projects
The Moore Project
This project covers an area of 35,705 hectares, located in the eastern Athabasca Basin near existing infrastructure with known high-grade uranium mineralization and significant discovery potential. Skyharbour acquired the project from Denison Mines (TSX:DML), a large strategic shareholder of the company. The project can be easily accessed year-round via winter and ice roads, streamlining logistics and reducing expenses. During the summer months, a significant portion of the property remains accessible as well. The property has been the subject of extensive historic exploration with over $50 million in expenditures, and over 140,000 meters of diamond drilling completed historically.
Moore hosts high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick zones. Over the past few years, Skyharbour Resources has conducted diamond drilling programs, resulting in the intersection of high-grade uranium mineralization in numerous drill holes along the 4.7-kilometer-long Maverick structural corridor. Some of the high-grade intercepts include:
- Hole ML-199 which intersected 20.8 percent U3O8 over 1.5 meters at 264 meters,
- Hole ML-202 from the Maverick East Zone which intersected 9.12 percent U3O8 over 1.4 meters at 278 meters.
- Hole ML20-09 which intersected 0.72 percent U3O8 over 17.5 meters from 271.5 meters to 289.0 meters, including 1 percent U3O8 over 10.0 meters represents the longest continuous drill intercept of uranium mineralization discovered to date at the project.
- Drill hole ML-61 returned 4.03 percent eU3O8 over 10 meters;
- Drill hole ML -55 encountered high-grade mineralization, returning 5.14 percent U3O8 over 6.2 meters
- Drill hole ML -47 intersected 4.01 percent U3O8 over 4.7 meters
Merely 50 percent of the total 4.7-kilometer promising Maverick corridor has undergone systematic drilling, indicating significant discovery potential both along its length and within the underlying basement rocks at depth. Skyharbour completed a 2024 winter drill program which consisted of 2,800 meters of drilling at the project which focused on infill/expansion drilling at the Main Maverick Zone. Assay results from the program intersected 5 metres of 4.61 percent U3O8 from a relatively shallow downhole depth of 265.5 metres to 270.5 metres including 10.19 percent U3O8 over 1 metre at the Main Maverick Zone from hole ML24-08. The company recently completed an additional 2024 summer drill program which consisted of 2,500m, with assays pending. It is now planning to complete 5,000 – 7,000 metres of drilling at Moore throughout 2025 which will consist of 18 to 24 holes, and will provide consistent news flow throughout the year.
Apart from the Maverick Zone, diamond drilling in various other target areas has encountered multiple conductors linked with notable structural disturbances, robust alteration, and anomalous concentrations of uranium and associated pathfinder elements.
Russell Lake Uranium Project
The Russell Lake project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property spanning 73,314 hectares, strategically positioned between Cameco’s Key Lake and McArthur River projects. Skyharbour has completed its earn-in requirements for an option agreement with Rio Tinto and has now acquired 57.7 percent ownership interest in the Russell Lake project.
The project is adjacent to Denison’s Wheeler River project and Skyharbour’s Moore uranium project. It is supported by excellent infrastructure in terms of highway access as well as high-voltage power lines. The project has undergone a significant amount of historical exploration which includes over 95,000 meters of drilling in over 220 drill holes. The exploration identified numerous prospective target areas and several high-grade uranium showings as well as drill hole intercepts.
The property hosts several noteworthy exploration targets, including the Grayling Zone, the M-Zone Extension target, the Little Man Lake target, the Christie Lake target, and the Fox Lake Trail target. Skyharbour completed a 19-hole drilling program totaling 9,595 meters in three phases in 2023. The initial drilling phase encompassed 3,662 meters across eight completed holes at the Grayling Zone, followed by a second phase involving four holes totaling 2,730 meters drilled at the Fox Lake Trail Zone. The third drilling phase involved 3,203 meters across seven holes targeting additional areas within the Grayling Zone.
Drilling at Russell in 2024 was completed in two separate phases with a total of 3,094 metres drilled in six holes. Phase One of drilling resulted in the best intercept of uranium mineralization historically on the property from hole RSL24-02, which returned a 2.5 metre wide intercept of 0.721 percent U3O8 at a relatively shallow depth of 338.1 metres, including 2.99 percent U3O8 over 0.5 metres at 339.6 metres just above the unconformity in the sandstone. The second phase of drilling was recently completed which totalled approximately 4,500 metres, with assays pending.
Skyharbour has recently commenced its 2025 drilling program at the Russell Lake project with a first phase consisting of approximately 5,000 metres to follow up on notable recent exploration success and to test new targets developed by the geological team. The focus for this phase of drilling will be on the Fork and Sphinx targets within the broader Grayling target area, as well as the M-Zone Extension target and the Fox Lake Trail target. This initial winter program will consist of 10 to 12 drill holes, with most of the targets being road accessible and near the exploration camp, bringing the drill costs down.
Secondary Projects
Falcon Uranium Project
The Falcon uranium project consists of 11 claims spanning 42,908 hectares, located approximately 50 km east of the Key Lake mine. Skyharbour Resources has entered into an option agreement with North Shore Uranium, granting North Shore the right to earn an initial 80 percent interest—and up to 100 percent—in the Falcon property. To secure the initial 80 percent stake, North Shore must fulfill combined commitments totaling C$5.3 million in cash, share issuances, and exploration expenditures within three years. The remaining 20 percent can be acquired for an additional C$10 million in cash and shares.
In 2024, North Shore collected multiple samples from two of the first three uranium prospects drilled at its 55,699-hectare Falcon Property, returning anomalous uranium values exceeding 300 ppm U3O8, with a peak of 572 ppm U3O8. An exploration permit has been secured, allowing for various exploration activities, including prospecting, ground geophysics, trail and drill site clearing, line cutting, and up to 75 exploration drill holes, along with drill core storage.
North Shore Uranium further signed an exploration agreement with the English River First Nation (ERFN) in Saskatchewan, outlining the key areas of collaboration between ERFN and North Shore for the Falcon property.
South Falcon East
This project comprises 16 claims covering 12,234 hectares located approximately 55 km east of the Key Lake mine. Skyharbour has optioned up to a 75 percent interest in a portion of the project to Terra Clean Energy (previously Tisdale). Terra will issue Skyharbour Resources 1,111,111 shares upfront, fund exploration expenditures totaling C$10.5 million, and pay Skyharbour Resources C$11.1 million in cash of which C$6.5 million can be settled for shares over a five-year earn-in. Skyharbour Resources will retain a minority interest in the South Falcon East.
Terra is conducting a 2,000m - 2,200m helicopter-supported drill program at the property. Three diamond drill holes have been completed on the Fraser Lakes B uranium deposit, for a total of 802 m, and a fourth hole is in progress.
East Preston
This project comprises 20,674 hectares located on the west side of the Athabasca Basin. In March 2017, Skyharbour Resources signed an option agreement with Azincourt Uranium (TSXV:AAZ) to option 70 percent of a portion of the East Preston project to Azincourt. Since then, Azincourt earned a majority interest in the project which currently stands at 85.8 percent.
Skyharbour retains 9.5 percent ownership and Dixie Gold owns the remaining 4.7 percent.
Azincourt completed a 2023 drill program comprising 3,066 meters in 13 drill holes.
The company also completed the winter 2024 diamond drill program of 1,086 meters of drilling in four diamond drill holes and results indicated the following:
- Dravite and Kaolinite clay alteration zone expanded in K and H Zones
- Illite, Dravite and Kaolinite clay alteration identified in G Zone
- Illite and Kaolinite clay alteration identified in A Zone
Preston
This project comprises 49,635 hectares strategically located near Fission’s Triple R deposit and NexGen’s Arrow deposit. In March 2017, Skyharbour Resources signed an option agreement with Orano (formerly AREVA) Resources Canada to option a majority stake in the Preston project. Orano has fulfilled its first earn-in option interest for 51 percent in the project. Following this, Orano has formed a joint venture (JV) with Skyharbour and Dixie Gold for the advancement of the project. Orano holds 51 percent interest, and the remaining is split between Skyharbour and Dixie Gold, with Skyharbour retaining 25.6 percent.
Orano Canada has completed a geophysical program at the 49,635-hectare Preston uranium project which included a ground electromagnetic survey (ML-TEM) and a ground gravity survey. Orano is now preparing for an exploration program which will consist of a planned 6,000 to 7,000 metre, helicopter-supported diamond drill program in approximately 26 holes at an average depth of 250 metres during the summer of 2025. Primary drill target areas include the previously untested Johnson Lake grid as well as the Canoe Lake grid; with the possibility of testing the recently surveyed FSAN-North and the West Preston Grids.
Hook Lake
This project comprises 16 claims covering 25,847 hectares on the east side of the Athabasca Basin. In February 2024, Thunderbird Resources (previously Valor) completed an earn-in for 80 percent interest and formed a JV partnership with Skyharbour which retains the remaining 20 percent interest.
Mann Lake
This project is strategically located on the east side of the Athabasca basin, 25 km southwest of Cameco’s McArthur River Mine and 15 km northeast and along strike of Cameco's Millennium uranium deposit. In October 2021, Basin Uranium signed an earn-in option to acquire a 75 percent interest in the project. Basin will pay a combination of cash and stocks over three years comprising C$4.85 million in cash plus exploration expenditure and C$1.75 million worth of shares.
South Dufferin and Bolt
The South Dufferin Project totals 13,205 hectares covering 10 claims and is located immediately south of the southern margin of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. The property covers the southern extension of the Virgin River Shear Zone, which hosts known high-grade uranium mineralization at Cameco Corp.'s Dufferin Lake zone approximately 13 kilometres to the north (highlight drill results of 1.73 percent U3O8 over 6.5 metres) and Cameco's Centennial deposit approximately 25 kilometres to the north (includes drill intersections up to 8.78 percent U3O8 over 33.9 metres).
The Bolt Project consists of two contiguous claims 100 percent owned by Skyharbour Resources Ltd. totalling 4,726 hectares and is located approximately 7 km west of the Highway 914 and about 32 km southwest of Cameco’s Key Lake Operation (which produced 209.8 million pounds of U3O8 at an average grade of 2.32 percent U3O8 from 2 deposits, where ore from the McArthur River mine is currently processed).
A definitive agreement was recently signed in October of 2024 with UraEx Resources to earn an initial 51 percent and up to 100 percent of both the South Dufferin and Bolt Projects, collectively. For an initial 51 percent, UraEx will issue common shares having an aggregate value of C$1.15 million, make total cash payments of $450,000, and incur $3 million in exploration expenditures on both the South Dufferin and Bolt properties over a 3 year period. UraEx has an option to acquire the remaining 100 percent by issuing common shares having an aggregate value of C$2.5 million, making cash payments of $1.2 million and incurring $1.5 million in exploration expenditures over an additional two-year period.
In addition to the projects being advanced by Skyharbour and its partners, the company has 21 additional 100 percent owned projects that they’re actively seeking to option out to potential new partners in the future to add to their growing prospect generator business. All in all, Skyharbour is very well positioned to benefit from an accelerating uranium bull market with increasing demand in the backdrop of a strained supply side.
Management Team
Jordan Trimble - President and CEO
With a background in entrepreneurship, Jordan Trimble has held various positions in the resource industry, focusing on management, corporate finance, strategy, shareholder communications, business development, and capital raising with multiple companies. Prior to his role at Skyharbour, he was the corporate development manager at Bayfield Ventures, a gold company with projects in Ontario. Bayfield Ventures was subsequently acquired by New Gold (TSX:NGD) in 2014. Throughout his career, Trimble has established and assisted in the management of numerous public and private enterprises. He has played a pivotal role in securing significant capital for mining companies, leveraging his extensive network of institutional and retail investors.
Jim Pettit – Chairman of the Board
Jim Pettit currently serves as a director on the boards of various public resource companies, drawing from over 30 years of experience in the industry. His expertise lies in finance, corporate governance, management and compliance, particularly in the early-stage development of both private and public enterprises. Over the past three decades, he has primarily focused on the resource sector. Previously, he served as chairman and CEO of Bayfield Ventures, which was acquired by New Gold in 2014.
David Cates - Director
David Cates currently serves as the president and CEO of Denison Mines (TSX:DML). Before assuming the role of president and CEO, Cates was the vice-president of finance, tax, and chief financial officer at Denison. In his capacity as CFO, he played a pivotal role in the company's mergers and acquisitions activities, including spearheading the acquisition of Rockgate Capital and International Enexco. Cates joined Denison in 2008, initially serving as director of taxation before he was appointed CFO. Prior to joining Denison, he held positions at Kinross Gold and PwC with a focus on the resource industry.
Joseph Gallucci - Director
Joseph Gallucci was previously a senior manager at a leading Canadian accounting firm. He possesses more than two decades of expertise in investment banking and equity research, specializing in mining, base metals, precious metals, and bulk commodities worldwide. He serves as a senior capital markets executive and corporate director. Presently, Gallucci is the managing director and head of investment banking at Laurentian Bank Securities, where he assumes responsibility for overseeing the entire investment banking practice.
Brady Rak - VP of Business Development
Brady Rak is a seasoned investment professional who has focussed on the Canadian capital markets over his 13-year career at several independent broker dealers including Ventum Financial, Salman Partners and Union Securities. As a registered investment advisor in the private client division of Ventum Financial, Brady has been involved in advising high-net-worth and corporate clients, structuring transactions, raising capital and navigating global market sentiment. Brady graduated from Northwood University with a BBA in Management and holds his Options license.
Serdar Donmez - Vice-president of Exploration
A recognized geoscientist with decades of experience in uranium exploration and development, Serdar Donmez has played an active role in numerous grassroots and advanced uranium exploration projects in northern Saskatchewan and Zambia. Donmez has an engineering degree in geology and is a registered professional geoscientist with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. During his 17-year tenure at Denison Mines, Donmez was pivotal in advancing numerous uranium exploration and development projects. He was involved in various capacities with the Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits on Denison's Wheeler River project, from initial discovery to the completion of the feasibility study in 2023. As resource geology manager, he was integral to the development of mineral resource estimates and NI 43-101 technical reports for several advanced exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin. Additionally, he was part of a team exploring the application of in-situ recovery mining techniques for high-grade uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin.
Dave Billard - Head Consulting Geologist
Dave Billard is a geologist with over 35 years of experience in exploration and development, focusing on uranium, gold and base metals in western Canada and the western US. He served as chief operating officer, vice-president of exploration, and director for JNR Resources before its acquisition by Denison Mines. He played a crucial role in the discovery of JNR’s Maverick and Fraser Lakes B zones. Earlier in his career, he contributed to the discovery and development of several significant gold deposits in northern Saskatchewan. Prior to joining JNR, Billard worked as a geological consultant specializing in uranium exploration in the Athabasca Basin. He also spent over 12 years with Cameco Corporation.
Christine McKechnie - Senior Project Geologist
Christine McKechnie is a geologist with a specialization in uranium deposits, particularly those hosted in the basement and associated with unconformities in the Athabasca Basin and its vicinity. Throughout her career, she has worked with various companies such as Claude Resources, JNR Resources, CanAlaska Uranium and Cameco, engaging in gold and uranium exploration activities. She completed her B.Sc. (High Honors) in 2008 from the University of Saskatchewan and completed a M.Sc. thesis on the Fraser Lakes Zone B deposit at the Falcon Point project. She also received the 2015 CIM Barlow Medal for Best Geological Paper.
Dark Star Initiates Exploration Program and Announces Filing of Technical Report on Ghost Lake Property Located in the Central Mineral Belt of Newfoundland and Labrador
DARK STAR MINERALS INC. (CSE: BATT) (FSE: P0W) (the "Company" or "Dark Star") is pleased to announce that it has initiated its first exploration program on the Ghost Lake claims located in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador ("Ghost Lake" or "Property"), which the Company holds an option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% right, title, and interest in.
This exploration program, with a total budget of approximately $150,000, designed to advance the Company's understanding of the mineral potential of the Property, and further the prospect of drill targets. The program will include systematic rock sampling of available outcrops, lake water sampling utilizing aqua regia ICP-MS analysis, and an airborne survey conducted via a Helicopter Astar SD2 to identify geophysical anomalies and additional exploration targets.
"We are excited to start exploring the potential at Ghost Lake," said Marc Branson, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Dark Star. "Engaging Hardline Exploration has given us the ability to quickly advance the property, and we look forward to positive results"
Ghost Lake Property and Adjacent Projects
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9815/246192_1b8f0c4a5484e8d6_002full.jpg
Dark Star also announces that it has filed a National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") technical report titled "43-101 Technical Report on the Ghost Lake Property, Central Mineral Belt, Newfoundland and Labrador" with an effective date of December 4, 2024 for the Property (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website at www.darkstarminerals.com.
For more information on the Option and the Property, see the Company's November 14, 2024 and March 24, 2025 news releases as well as the Technical Report filed under its profile on SEDAR+.
About Dark Star Minerals Inc.
Dark Star Minerals Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of critical mineral resources, specifically the rare earth complex.
For further information please contact:
Marc Branson – President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
E‐mail: investors@darkstarminerals.com
Telephone: 604‐816‐2555
Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Saga Metals
Investor Insight
A diversified critical minerals exploration company backed by a significant partnership with Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) paving the way for strategic exploration of both uranium and lithium, Saga Metals offers a compelling investment opportunity in the global green energy transition.
Overview
Saga Metals (TSXV:SAGA,OTCQB:SAGMF,FSE:20H) is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of mineral assets in Canada. It explores for uranium, lithium, titanium-vanadium and high purity iron ore deposits. The company has five fully owned exploration assets in top-tier mining jurisdictions in Canada. Its primary projects, Double Mer and Legacy are prospective for uranium and lithium, respectively. Its secondary assets are Radar (titanium-vanadium) and North Wind (iron ore).
The Legacy lithium project in James Bay, Quebec, is the subject of a C$44 million joint venture option agreement with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada, signed in June 2024. Under the agreement, Rio Tinto will act as a project manager for the exploration of Legacy, with the option to acquire an initial 51 percent interest in Legacy for four years.
This JV allows Saga Metals to focus on its other primary asset, the Double Mer Uranium project, a 25,600-hectare property located 90km Northeast of Goose Bay in Labrador. In Q1 2025, Saga Metals completed the final preparations for the winterized camp at the Double Mer Uranium and commenced its maiden drill program at the Radar Ti-V projects in Labrador, Canada
Company Highlights
- Saga Metals is an exploration company with a diversified portfolio of critical minerals assets in top-tier mining jurisdictions in North America consisting of uranium, lithium, titanium-vanadium and iron ore projects.
- Saga Metals' flagship asset is the Double Mer Uranium Property with an 18km trend verified with high-resolution magnetic survey, uranium count radiometrics, consistent counts-per-second (cps) readings and rock sample assay results of up to 4,280ppm U3O8. With numerous targets validated in the 2024 summer exploration program the company is planning for its maiden drill program this winter.
- The company entered a C$44 million joint venture with Rio Tinto to advance the exploration of the Legacy Lithium project in James Bay, Quebec.
- The Legacy Lithium property is dedicated to expanding North America’s newest lithium district in the prolific James Bay region.
Key Projects
Double Mer Uranium Project
The Double Mer uranium project is a 1,024 claim spanning 25,600 hectares in eastern central Labrador, 90 km north east of Happy Valley, Goose Bay. The property lies between Lake Melville and Double Mer, both inlets off the Labrador Sea. The project has seen millions of dollars worth of exploration from 1970 to 2008, and features a 10-person winterized camp. A detailed geophysical and radiometric survey, which was supported by field work, demonstrates the Double Mer property extends beyond 14 km of strike, with elevated uranium samples and CPS readings. Longer term plans include developing the project for the potential takeover by a major, similar to the recent acquisition of Fission Uranium by Paladin Energy for $1.2 billion.
Legacy Lithium
The Legacy lithium property is dedicated to expanding North America’s newest lithium district in the prolific James Bay region of Quebec. The property is subject to the Rio Tinto partnership and the Amirault lithium property acquisition. The projects span over 65,849 hectares and hosts the same geological setting along strike from Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium in the La Grande sub-province. James Bay is within Quebec’s Plan Du Nord, which earmarks millions of dollars for development of Quebec’s northern infrastructure.Legacy is the subject of a joint option agreement between Saga Metals and Rio Tinto, under which Rio Tinto will act as project manager during the first and second option periods. The optioned property contains 663 claims spanning 34,243 hectares hosting 100 km of striking paragneiss.
Saga Metals CEO Mike Stier cited the agreement as a “significant milestone in the company’s development,” providing the necessary capital for the exploration of the Legacy lithium project.
Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (RTEC), a subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group (LSE:RIO,ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO), is advancing exploration on the optioned Legacy lithium project. In 2024, RTEC conducted geological mapping, a satellite imagery survey, and an airborne magnetics survey to assess the project’s potential. Building on these results, the company plans to expand its exploration efforts in 2025, focusing on mapping, sampling, prospecting and remainder of the airborne magnetics to refine targets.
Radar
Regional geology of the southeastern Grenville Province and the Radar property
Saga Metals owns 100 percent of this 21,750-hectare land package with road access and close proximity to a deep-water port, only 10km away from the coastal city of Cartwright, Labrador. The Radar project is prospective for titanium and vanadium, both critical minerals. In March 2025, Saga Metals announced it has successfully executed a maiden drill program at the Radar project. The program confirmed a large mineralized layered mafic intrusion, underscoring the immense untapped potential of the region for hosting critical metals, including vanadium and titanium, essential to the global green energy transition.
North Wind
Located in west central Labrador, 16 km southwest of Schefferville, Quebec within the Labrador Trough, the North Wind iron project consists of 255 claim blocks under a single license. The mineral license comprises 6,375 hectares and contains eight historical drill holes which formed part of New Millennium Iron’s resource estimate 43-101 in 2013. The average grade of the drill holes, which now sit within the North Wind Iron property, was 21 percent iron over the complete eight drill holes that totaled 590 meters. Saga Metals is conducting a small boots-on-the-ground program, which it plans to progress into a drill program after confirmation of structural measurements of a prospective deposit.
Management Team
Michael Stier – Chief Executive Officer and Director
Educated in business management and finance, Michael Stier has spent the past 15 years focused on and building expertise in capital markets. Experienced in corporate structure, finance, business development, IPOs, M&A and wealth management, Stier served as a CIBC IIROC licensed senior financial advisor, senior analyst for a private equity company and more recently holds executive and directorship roles with private companies and publicly listed issuers. He has consulted in industries including mining, oil & gas, fintech, VR, eSports, health, life sciences and biotech. In addition to Saga, Stier has acted for several public entities and currently sits on the board of Rektron Group, LaFleur Minerals, and GoldHaven Resources.
Terence Lee – Chief Financial Officer
Terence Lee is a CPA with over nine years of finance experience in reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards. Lee has worked in financial planning, analysis and reporting for companies across various industries including mining, technology, real estate, life sciences, education and private healthcare. Lee graduated with a BA from Simon Fraser University, a Diploma of Accounting from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and articled with BDO LLP. Lee is CFO of various private and publicly listed companies.
Michael Garagan – Chief Geological Officer
With a Bachelor of Science in Geology, Michael Garagan has 15 years of experience in the exploration industry with projects across the world including Africa, Asia, North and South America. He encountered a diverse experience of deposit styles from gold to base metals in porphyry, orogenic, epithermal and VMS deposits to uranium and lithium pegmatites. Notable projects include B2 Gold’s Otjikoto project in Namibia, Night Hawk’s Colomac project in NWT, Unigold’s Neita project in the Dominican Republic, as well as Hudbay’s Lalor Mine in Snowlake, Manitoba.
Michael Waldkirch – Independent Director
Michael Waldkirch is a CPA and CGA with over 25 years of professional experience. Since 1998, he has led the accounting firm of Michael Waldkirch & Company, specializing in accounting, tax and business consultancy services to a wide variety of public and private companies. He has represented a wide variety of public corporations including mining, oil and gas and technology companies listed on the TSX, TSXV, NYSE-American, NASDAQ and OTC-BB. He has served as CFO of numerous Canadian and US publicly listed companies, including Gold Standard Ventures and Barksdale Resources and is currently an independent board member of US Gold Corp. (NASDAQ:USAU).
Harrison Pokrandt - Independent Director
With 7 years of experience in mineral exploration, Harrison Pokrandt has worked on multiple styles of geology including porphyry, VMS, orogenic, Epithermal, and Carlin-style deposits throughout countries such as Canada, Nevada, Uzbekistan, Finland, Japan, and Mali. Primarily working in gold in multiple districts, Pokrandt has experience in exploration projects and mines within all stages of project development from grassroots to development projects as well as active mines. Some flagship projects he has experience with include B2Gold’s Fekola, Skeena Resources’s Eskay Creek, as well as B2Gold’s Back River Project. Pokrandt studied earth science at Carleton University and is currently employed at Scorpio Gold Corporation as VP of Exploration.
Moab Minerals Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects