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Gladiator Resources Ltd (ASX: GLA)(Gladiator or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing exploration activity at the Mkuju Uranium Project, located in southern Tanzania.
- Drill-hole LNDD020 drilled at the Likuyu North deposit, part of the Mkuju Project, returns 6 mineralised intervals including 7.1 metres averaging 1,963ppm eU3O81, from 63.1 metres depth. This hole was drilled central to the deposit to provide core for an assessment of In Situ Recovery (ISR) of the uranium.
- ISR is the preferred method for mining uranium deposits. ERM Australia Consultants Pty Ltd (ERM) are undertaking an initial ISR assessment for Likuyu North.
- Drill-hole LNDD015 down-dip of the deposit has a ~5m mineralised interval; samples have been dispatched to the lab. This interval is 100m south of the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).
- The 2022 JORC compliant MRE for Likuyu North (4.6 Mlbs U3O8) was based on a pit- shell assuming conventional open-pit mining methods; adoption of ISR may support expansion of it.
Commenting on the drill results, Gladiator’s Chairman Greg Johnson said:
“Drillhole LNDD020 demonstrates the quality of the Likuyu North deposit, and we are excited by the potential opportunity the area provides. Grade and other characteristics appear to be well-suited to ISR. With that in mind, Gladiator has appointed ERM (formerly CSA Global) to help advance this strategy, and if the ISR study is encouraging the Company will consider larger-scale exploration at Likuyu North, Likuyu South and at the Mtonya deposit area, with an aim of maximizing the resource available for a potential ISR operation”.
Drillhole LNDD020
This hole was drilled to provide fresh drill-core to assist with initial assessment of the potential of ISR as a mining method for the Likuyu North deposit. The deposit has a JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 4.6Mlbs U3O8 with an average grade of 267ppm U3O8. The hole was positioned in an area relatively central to the deposit known to have thick and high-grade mineralisation, hosted by medium to coarse grained sandstone beds. Figure 1 is a cross-section and shows LNDD020. The hole contains 6 mineralised intervals (Table 2) including:
- 2.5 metres with an average grade of 438 ppm eU3O8 from 17.1m depth.
- 7.1 metres with an average grade of 1,963 ppm eU3O8 from 63.1m depth.
Figure 1: North-south cross-section showing the downhole logged eU3O8, mineralized layers and oxide/transitional zones. LNDD015 and LNDD020 are shown.
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This article includes content from Gladiator Resources Limited, 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.
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Gladiator Resources
Overview
Gladiator Resources (ASX:GLA) is an Australian explorer focused on uranium projects. The company’s portfolio of uranium assets covers 1,811 square kilometres located in Tanzania. The company’s key projects include – Mkuju, Minjingu, Liwale, Foxy and Eland. Mkuju is the company’s flagship project, having the potential to host world-class uranium deposits given its proximity to the Nyota deposit, which contains 124.6 million pounds (Mlbs) U3O8. Nyota is regarded as one of the largest uranium deposits in the world.
The company is planning a 2024 drill program at Mkuju focusing on the South West Corner (SWC), Mtonya and Likuyu North targets. The 2024 drilling program will commence with initial core drilling at the SWC target, where 2023 trenching revealed up to 7,139 parts per million (ppm) U3O8. Additionally, drilling at Mtonya and Likuyu North will aim to explore potential extensions and new zones of the existing uranium deposits.
The Minjingu project is the other key focus area for Gladiator. This project compliments the company’s flagship Mkuju uranium project in southern Tanzania. Surface pit samples at the Minjingu project have returned high-grade uranium mineralization up to 269 ppm U3O8. Follow-up auger drilling is planned to understand the thickness of the mineralized layer and potential extension.
Tanzania is an ideal location for uranium mining due to its favourable geology. It is rich in uranium-bearing deposits, notably the Mkuju River project, among the world's largest undeveloped uranium reserves. The Tanzanian government’s mining-friendly policies, including taxation and quick permitting process, are encouraging for uranium miners. The presence of well-developed infrastructure, including several ports, makes it easy to transport uranium ore. Further, the country has a large and skilled workforce with graduates in various fields, such as geology and mining. These factors make Tanzania a favourable jurisdiction for uranium exploration and development.
Company Highlights
- Gladiator Resources is an ASX-listed exploration and mining company focused on uranium. The company operates eight exploration projects, mainly in Tanzania, covering a total area of 1,811 sq kms.
- The company’s key projects include – Mkuju, Minjingu, Liwale, Foxy and Eland.
- Gladiator’s primary short term focus is on advancing the Mkuju project, located only 20 kms south of Uranium One’s Nyota deposit, regarded as one of the largest uranium deposits in the world.
- The 2024 drill program at Mkuju will focus on the South West Corner (SWC) initially, where trench assay results received Dec/Jan 2023/24 confirmed high-grade uranium in sandstone, 1000’s ppm U3O8 in places.
- Further work is also planned at Mtonya and Likuyu North – also located within the promising Mkuju area.
- Tanzania is endowed with many uranium-bearing deposits and is known for its mining-friendly policies. The government offers attractive tax policies and quick permitting processes to encourage investment in the sector.
- The presence in relatively attractive uranium mining jurisdictions such as Tanzania positions the company to capitalize on opportunities in the uranium sector and deliver superior returns to its shareholders.
Key Projects
Mkuju Project
The project spans over 725 sq kms and is located 20 kms south of Uranium One’s Nyota deposit, regarded as one of the largest uranium deposits in the world. Nyota hosts a measured and indicated mineral resource estimate of 187 metric tons (MT) at 306 ppm U3O8, containing 124.6 Mlbs U3O8. The deposit is being developed by global uranium company Uranium One. The Nyota deposit and the Mkuju project are underlain by sediments of the lower Karoo, which are considered highly prospective for uranium.
The 2024 drilling program, expected to commence in June 2024, will test the Southwest Corner target and test potential extensions to the Mtonya and Likuyu North deposits at the Mkuju project.
- At Southwest Corner, the 2024 drilling will test the potential for down-dip extension of the recently trenched high-grade surface uranium. The surface samples here returned high-grade uranium mineralization, including 2.55 metres @ 2017 ppm U3O8, 0.75 metres @ 7,139 ppm U3O8, 2.35 metres @ 1,636 ppm U3O8, and 1.4 metres @ 3,945 ppm U3O8.
- At Mtonya, the drilling program will follow up on high-grade uranium intersections discovered in the previous drilling program carried out in 2011/2012. The 2011/12 drill holes URAMT105 and 106 contain excellent mineralization that may extend to the northwest and will be tested in the 2024 drilling program.
- At Likuyu North, the 2024 drilling program will focus on testing for potential new zones that could add to the existing JORC resource of 4.6 Mlb U3O8 JORC.
Minjingu Project
The Minjingu project covers an area of 296.9 sq kms It is situated in northern Tanzania, 106 kilometers southwest of Arusha, the region's main administrative city, and 520 kilometers northwest of Dar es Salaam. The project boasts excellent infrastructure, such as quality tarmac roads, power lines and airport services via both Arusha and Kilimanjaro.
Surface pit samples at the Minjingu project have returned uranium mineralization up to 269 ppm U3O8. This project compliments the company’s flagship Mkuju Uranium project in southern Tanzania, where high-grade trench results have recently been reported. Follow-up work is being planned to understand the thickness of the mineralized layer and potential extension.
South West Corner Project
The South West Corner license holds high-grade uranium deposits at shallow depths. It features a relatively concentrated 3.5 x 1.8 km radiometric anomaly and has a history of multiple instances of excellent grading. Previously owned by Mantra Resources, SWC underwent a successful takeover in 2011 by Uranium One for approximately AU$1 billion
Liwale Project
The Liwale project spans an area of 195 sq kms and is situated beyond the boundaries of the Nyerere National Park. It was formerly owned by both Mantra Resources and Uranium One.
Foxy Project
The Foxy Project spans an area of 299.7 sq kms and was formerly under the ownership of Western Metals. It is recognized for hosting uranium mineralization akin to that found in the Mkuju region. Positioned approximately 25 kms away from the Mkuju tenements at its nearest point, the company is in the process of acquiring historical data.
Eland Project
The Eland project encompasses 294.7 sq kms and was previously held by Western Metals. It is known for hosting uranium mineralization. The company is in the process of arranging to obtain historical data.
Management Team
Gregory Johnson – Non-executive Chairman
Gregory Johnson has over two decades of experience in capital markets, including fund management and capital raising. He has held senior capital raising and client relationship roles at Macquarie, Perpetual and Dimensional, and has led client services teams at Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and Macquarie Funds Management. At Gladiator, Johnson provides vast financial services experience, building relationships with existing and new investors.
Matthew Boysen – Non-executive Director
Matthew Boysen possesses significant expertise in marketing and communication. Over the past two decades, Boysen has made successful investments in numerous exploration, energy and mining companies, demonstrating a deep understanding of the agility necessary in the dynamic environment in which ASX mining companies operate.
Peter Tsegas – Non-executive Director
Peter Tsegas boasts over two decades of experience across Africa, collaborating with private enterprises and government entities on mining projects spanning various commodities, including uranium. He played a pivotal role in the acquisition of Gladiator's uranium projects. He has consulted with several Tanzanian government ministries and mining firms, including Rio Tinto. As the founder and former managing director of Tancoal Energy, he effectively steered the company from its exploration phase to establishing a joint venture with the Tanzanian Government, eventually leading to production. Presently, he serves as a non-executive director at Magnis.
Rod Chittendan – Non-executive Director
Rod Chittendan has over 40 years of experience in the minerals industry, spanning Africa, Australia and South America. He has held executive management positions and metallurgical project development roles covering the entire spectrum from exploration to production. He has played a key role in the advancement of Mantra Resources' Mkuju River uranium project and the development of Paladin Energy's (ASX:PDN) Langer Heinrich and Kayelekera uranium projects. Previously, he held positions with large mining companies such as Newcrest (ASX:NCM) and Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD).
Andrew Pedley – Non-executive Director
Andrew Pedley has over 25 years of experience as a geologist in Africa, progressing from roles as exploration manager to VP of exploration. His extensive uranium expertise is particularly pertinent to Gladiator. Pedley possesses specialized skills in uranium exploration and the delineation of uranium mineral resource estimates, adhering to JORC and ASX listing regulations. He has served as a competent person on numerous uranium projects. He holds a masters in geology from the Camborne School of Mines in England.
Andrew Metcalfe – Company Secretary
Andrew Metcalfe has served as a company secretary and governance advisor to ASX-listed companies for more than 25 years. He currently oversees the company secretary services within Gladiator Resources.
Moab Expands Flagship Manyoni Uranium Project by 488km2 via Accretive Acquisition
HIGHLIGHTS
- Moab has executed a binding agreement with AuKing (ASX:AKN) to acquire four highly prospective prospecting licences immediately adjacent to Moab’s existing Manyoni Uranium Project.
- The new tenements are highly strategic as they cover parts of the historic Manyoni Uranium Project held by Uranex (ASX:UNX) prior to 2013, representing the consolidation of all of the Manyoni Uranium deposits for the first time in over 10 years.
- The Manyoni Uranium Project is located within close proximity to infrastructure including modern rail and sealed highway as well as readily available power and water resources.
- The Stage One 105-hole core drilling program is currently underway at the Manyoni Uranium Project 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 calendar year 2025 following completion of preliminary drilling activities.
- Scoping or Preliminary Feasibility Study, planned for calendar year 2025.
Moab Managing Director, Mr Malcolm Day, commented: “I visited the Manyoni Uranium Project last week to see the start of the drilling program. The program is expected to run over the next few months with most of the assay results available in November/December. The acquisition of these additional surrounding tenements, which contain three uranium Mineral Resources1 known as E, F and G, estimated by Uranex resources in 2010 as part of Uranex’s Manyoni Uranium Project, adds significant upside potential to Manyoni. We’ll now look at expanding the current drill program to evaluate the resource potential of these new tenements”.
About the Manyoni Uranium Project
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. Whilst Figure 2 shows the location of the Auking tenements that Moab (via its 80% owned local subsidiary company Katika Resources Ltd) will acquire.
Core drilling underway in August 2024 at Manyoni uranium project
Figure 1. Location of the Manyoni Uranium Project
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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.
Gladiator Resources Investor Kit
- Corporate info
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