The Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan presents exceptional discovery and exploration opportunities for companies looking to enter the thriving uranium market. Uranium is poised for significant growth and the expected deficit in the supply side will create opportunities in the market. With new reactors continually coming online to meet demand and a limited number of suppliers to fill it, looking to high-value mining jurisdictions for uranium is one of the best strategies for companies trying to get ahead of the crowd.
With strong backing from industry leaders, Purepoint is set to advance its key projects while keeping shareholder dilution to a minimum.
The Hook Lake property is located within the Patterson Uranium district and has nine claims totalling 28,598 hectares. The project is jointly owned by Cameco, Orano Canada and Purepoint Uranium. Operated by Purepoint since 2007, the project has seen significant discoveries and exploration campaigns.
Highlights of discovery on the property include the Spitfire high-grade discovery which revealed 53.3 percent uranium oxide over 1.3 meters, including a 10-meter interval of 10.3 percent uranium mineralization measurements. Three prospective structural “corridors” have been defined on the property, each consisting of multiple electromagnetic (EM) conductors confirmed by drilling.
In 2024, Purepoint completed 2,332 metres of drilling in four holes to test the success of the previous 2023 drill program that uncovered a significant 35-metre-wide boron halo surrounding a 0.08 percent U3O8 uranium intercept over 0.4 metres at hole CRT23-05. Boron is a key pathfinder element for uranium deposits. The 2024 drill program ended with the discovery of the newly identified Lightning Zone in the Carter Corridor, returning 0.9 metres of 0.29 percent U3O8 including 0.3 metres of 0.68 percent U3O8. associated with a major structure intersected by hole CRT24-10.
All the 2024 drill holes were collared northeast of CRT23-05, drilled in 2023, that intersected 0.08 percent U3O8 over 0.4 metres within a 15 metre wide graphitic shear zone with local brecciation and intense clay alteration.
All 2024 drill holes encountered elevated radioactivity.
Purepoint, as operator, holds a 27-percent ownership of the Smart Lake project in joint venture with Cameco Corp.
The Smart Lake property includes two claims with a total area of 9,860 hectares situated in the southwestern portion of the Athabasca Basin, approximately 60 km south of the former Cluff Lake mine and 18 kilometers west-northwest of Purepoint’s Hook Lake JV project.
Depth to the unconformity, where it occurs, is relatively shallow at less than 350 meters.
Aeromagnetic and electromagnetic patterns at Smart Lake reflect an extension of the patterns underlying the Shea Creek deposits (indicated resource of 68 million lbs at 1.50 percent U3O8; UEC PR Jan 2023) 55 kilometers north of the property. Exploration by Purepoint has firmly established the presence of anomalous uranium and hydrothermal alteration. Numerous priority target areas, where EM conductors are cross-cut by east-west structures, are yet to be drill-tested.
Like the Kianna fault at Shea Creek, known uranium mineralization at the Smart Lake project is associated with the intersection of the east-west Arthur Fault and north-south-striking fluid/chemical traps including the Shearwater conductor and chloritized mafic orthogneiss. The occurrence of low-grade uranium mineralization along the Arthur Fault away from Shearwater conductor underscores the need to target east-west structures both at the intersection with conductive anomalies and magnetically interpreted lithological contacts.
Additional east-west striking faults (Groomes Lake and Cristobal) have been interpreted from examination of airborne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys. These faults are spatially related to strong EM conductors identified in both airborne and ground-based geophysical surveys.
Purepoint plans to conduct stepwise moving loop and fixed loop transient EM surveys at the Smart Lake JV project. Survey results from the northern Groomes Lake conductor will be used to define discrete targets for the next step drilling.
Purepoint Uranium has formed a 50-50 joint venture with IsoEnergy, combining 10 uranium exploration projects in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Purepoint will be the operator for exploration activities, while IsoEnergy will take over if a resource is identified.
This strategic move not only validates Purepoint's assets but also positions the company to advance its most promising projects with reduced financial risk.
Chris Frostad is a founding partner bringing over 40 years of expertise to his position as president and CEO. He led public companies in both the technology and mining and metals industries.
Throughout his career, Frostad has been instrumental in building a variety of high-growth, early-stage, public and private companies.
Before Purepoint, he held numerous senior positions in the technology industry including CEO-in-residence of a Toronto-based venture capital firm. Frostad is a chartered accountant and a chartered professional accountant who began his career in international taxation with Deloitte.
Scott Frostad’s experience in the mining industry throughout Canada spans over three decades. He brings to his position as VP of exploration a background in mineral exploration with renowned mining companies such as Lac Minerals, Teck and Placer Dome. Most recently, he was the environmental specialist for Cogema Resources and managed environmental issues at both the Cluff Lake and McClean Lake Uranium Mines in Northern Saskatchewan.
Frostad is a graduate of Western University with a B.Sc. in geology and holds an M.A.Sc. in mining and mineral process engineering from the University of British Columbia. He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
Before his position as CFO with Purepoint, Ram Ramachandran brings an 11-year tenure as deputy director and associate chief accountant with the Ontario Securities Commission. Most recently, Ramachandran provided advisory services in the area of litigation/compliance to numerous companies. To his credit, Ramachandran conceived, developed and launched the Canadian Securities Reporting Advisor – an online compliance tool for public companies.
Jeanny So has over 20 years of experience in operations, investor relations, sales and marketing in the financial industry and has executed corporate communication programs for several private and publicly-listed companies.
Investing in Canada’s Uranium Future
Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") provided its Q2 corporate update on exploration activities across its portfolio of uranium projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin. This exploration update highlights the continued advancement of multiple high-priority targets as Purepoint executes on its 2025 exploration strategy alongside industry-leading joint venture partners.
Smart Lake Joint Venture (Cameco/Purepoint)
Field crews are currently on site, and drilling is underway at Smart Lake. The program is progressing well and consists of four holes totaling approximately 1,400 metres, targeting three discrete conductors identified during the 2024 ground EM survey of the Groomes Lake corridor.
These drill targets represent previously untested areas of strong conductivity associated with a favourable structural setting. Drilling is expected to conclude by the end of April.
Dorado Joint Venture (IsoEnergy/Purepoint)
Following the completion of the Smart Lake program, drilling is scheduled to begin at the Dorado Project in Q2 2025.
The approved program includes approximately 6,100 metres across 17 holes. Drilling will test a series of graphitic conductors that wrap around a central granitic dome, with target areas prioritized based on a consolidated geological model that now includes both the Turnor Lake and Geiger regions.
Exploration permits for Edge and Full Moon are in hand, and the Turnor Lake permit amendment has also been approved.
Aurora Joint Venture (IsoEnergy/Purepoint)
Celeste Joint Venture (IsoEnergy/Purepoint)
Denare West (Foran Mining/Purepoint)
In February, the Company reported Foran Mining's completion and interpretation of a VTEM Max airborne EM survey across the Denare West project. Located 9 kilometres southeast of Foran's McIlvenna Bay deposit, the survey identified numerous conductive anomalies consistent with the geologic horizon that hosts other known VMS deposits in the region.
Results from the airborne EM survey are now being modeled and integrated with historical datasets to prioritize drill targets. Foran continues to advance the project under a $19 million option agreement.
Tabbernor Project (100% Purepoint)
Purepoint remains committed to advancing its projects through focused exploration and community collaboration as we respond to growing demand for uranium. Further updates will be provided as work progresses.
About Purepoint Uranium Group Inc.
Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) is a focused explorer with a dynamic portfolio of advanced projects within the renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada. The most prospective projects are actively operated on behalf of partnerships with industry leaders including Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc., and IsoEnergy Ltd.
Additionally, the Company holds a promising VHMS project currently optioned to and strategically positioned adjacent to and on trend with Foran Corporation's McIlvenna Bay project. Through a robust and proactive exploration strategy, Purepoint is solidifying its position as a leading explorer in one of the globe's most significant uranium districts.
Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, P.Geo., Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Frostad, President & CEO
Phone: (416) 603-8368
Email: cfrostad@purepoint.ca
For additional information please visit our new website at https://purepoint.ca, our Twitter feed: @PurepointU3O8 or our LinkedIn page @Purepoint-Uranium.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.
Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/247032
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Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of a first-pass drill program along the high-priority Groomes Lake Conductive Corridor at the Smart Lake Joint Venture (JV) project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. The program will include four drill holes, totalling approximately 1,400 metres, to test the conductive belt of rocks refined by the 2024 ground electromagnetic (EM) survey.
The Smart Lake Project is a joint venture between Cameco Corporation (73%) and Purepoint (27%) and is located approximately 60 km south of the former Cluff Lake uranium mine and 18 km west-northwest of Purepoint's Hook Lake JV project.
"We are excited to launch this next phase of exploration at Smart Lake," said Chris Frostad, President & CEO of Purepoint Uranium. "While Smart Lake has seen previous drilling, this is the first time we are targeting our high-priority Groomes Lake conductors that were refined by the recent ground EM survey. Given the project's geological similarities to other major uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin, we believe this program has the potential to advance Smart Lake's exploration story significantly."
Highlights
Advancing a High-Potential Uranium Target
The Groomes Lake Conductive Corridor will be targeted by the 2025 drill program and builds on Purepoint's late-2024 stepwise-moving loop and fixed loop time domain electromagnetic (EM) survey conducted by Diaz Geophysical. The survey outlined three discrete, parallel EM conductors for over 2.2 kilometers (Figure 1). The three EM conductors are approximately 100 metres apart, lie within a magnetic low response and are conformable with interpreted geologic contacts. Airborne geophysics show the conductors continue westward onto NexGen's neighbouring SW1 Project for an additional 2 kilometres.
The historic vertical hole SAM-13 failed to explain the conductor source and is now assumed to have stopped approximately 45 metres short of the intended target. Inversion of the Groomes Lake conductivity results suggest the conductors continue to depth and present an excellent opportunity for a basement hosted 'Arrow'-style discovery.
Previous drilling at Smart Lake intersected anomalous uranium within faulted and altered basement rocks, with drill hole SMT08-05 returning 147 ppm U over 15.4 metres (153.0 to 168.4 metres) from a hematite breccia and faulted sheared zone. The current drill program will test conductors in a structurally complex setting that has demonstrated the potential to host significant uranium mineralization.
Strategic Positioning in the Athabasca Basin
Purepoint continues to advance a highly prospective project portfolio in the Athabasca Basin, leveraging its strong partnerships with Cameco and other industry leaders. With uranium prices strengthening and the global supply-demand gap widening, the Company remains committed to unlocking new uranium discoveries through systematic, high-quality exploration.
Figure 1: Groomes Lake Conductive Corridor - 2024 Stepwise-Moving Loop (SWML) and Fixed Loop (FL) Time Domain Electromagnetic survey results
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Figure 2: Smart Lake Project Location
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About Smart Lake
The Smart Lake Project is located approximately 60 km south of the historic Cluff Lake mine and 18 km west-northwest of the Hook Lake JV Project (Figure 2). The property spans 9,860 hectares within the Athabasca Basin, an area renowned for hosting the world's highest-grade uranium deposits.
Initial exploration at Smart Lake established the presence of graphitic shear zones, hydrothermal alteration, and anomalous radioactivity. The favourable geological indicators, combined with its strategic location and extensive geophysical data, position Smart Lake for uranium exploration success.
About Purepoint
Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) is a focused explorer with a dynamic portfolio of advanced projects within the renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada. The most prospective projects are actively operated on behalf of partnerships with industry leaders including Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc. and IsoEnergy Ltd.
Additionally, the Company holds a promising VMS project currently optioned to and strategically positioned adjacent to and on trend with Foran Mining Corporation's McIlvenna Bay project. Through a robust and proactive exploration strategy, Purepoint is solidifying its position as a leading explorer in one of the globe's most significant uranium districts.
Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, P.Geo., Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Frostad, President & CEO
Phone: (416) 603-8368
Email: cfrostad@purepoint.ca
For additional information please visit our new website at https://purepoint.ca, our Twitter feed: @PurepointU3O8 or our LinkedIn page @Purepoint-Uranium.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.
Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244614
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Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") today announced initial results of its recently completed airborne FALCON gravity survey across the 81,817-hectare Tabbernor Project, located near the southeastern edge of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin.
"The results of our FALCON gravity survey have provided a critical next step in refining priority targets at Tabbernor." said Scott Frostad, Vice President Exploration at Purepoint. "We have now outlined three key areas showing favourable geology, complex structural features and potential hydrothermal alteration - strong indicators of uranium mineralization. Our next phase of work will focus on further refining these targets in preparation for drilling."
Highlights
7,549 line-kilometre, airborne FALCON gravity and magnetic completed by Xcalibur Smart Mapping;
Three high-priority exploration zones identified, each displaying gravity low anomalies, suggesting potential hydrothermal alteration and uranium-bearing structures; and
Follow-up prospecting and soil geochemistry programs planned for summer 2024 to further define drill targets.
Previous airborne electromagnetic surveys over the Tabbernor project have outlined over 70 kilometres of EM conductors reinforcing the project's potential.
Recent airborne electromagnetic surveys at the Tabbernor project have now defined over seventy (70) kilometres of EM conductors reinforcing the project's potential to host large-scale uranium mineralization. The Central Conductive Trend, stretching 57 kilometres, has emerged as the primary exploration target. Results from the FALCON gravity and magnetic survey (Figure 1) indicate that these centrally located conductive rocks mark a key geological transition zone shifting from granitic rocks in the south to sedimentary rocks towards the north - a setting known to be favourable for uranium disposition.
The project area is structurally controlled by the Tabbernor Fault System, a deep-seated, regionally significant fault network linked to several uranium deposits to the north. The 2024 FALCON gravity survey has significantly enhanced the structural interpretation, identifying previously unrecognized faulting that could control uranium deposition.
Exploration efforts are now focused on three priority exploration target areas where airborne gravity data has identified low-density anomalies, potentially indication hydrothermal alteration - a key indicator of uranium mineralization. Summer 2025 exploration plans include prospecting, boulder sampling and soil geochemistry with results guiding follow-up ground geophysics and diamond drilling.
Figure 1: Enhanced Vertical Gravity Results from 2024 Airborne FALCON Gravity Survey over the Tabbernor Project
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Figure 2: Location of the Tabbernor Project
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Tabbernor Project
The 100% owned Tabbernor Project is strategically positioned along three major trends of the Tabbernor Fault System, a deep seated, 1,500-kilometre crustal shear system that runs north through the Athabasca Basin. The system not only hosts over 80 historic mines and gold occurrences but also crosscuts the Basin's mine trend aligning itself with 8 of the Basin's largest uranium discoveries.
The Tabbernor project is roughly 40 kilometres south of Cameco's Eagle Point deposit (Figure 2) and is comprised of 35 contiguous mineral claims covering an area of 81,817 hectares. The original three north-south claim groups that covered Tabbernor structures have now been expanded to include a strong east-northeast trending corridor of conductive rocks further enhancing the project's exploration potential.
Purepoint's current focus is the 57-kilometre graphitic corridor that cuts through the project, specifically, areas with gravity low responses and showing evidence of structural complexity. Notably, recent drilling on an adjacent property intersected significant mineralization associated with the central Tabbernor graphitic structure (see CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. press release, September 27, 2023).
Tabbernor Fault System
The Tabbernor Fault System (TFS) is a wide, >1,500 kilometre geophysical, topographic, and geological structural zone that trends approximately northward along Saskatchewan's eastern boundary. Purepoint's research has shown that although none of the province's currently known uranium deposits have been linked to the north-south trending TFS, localized shear zones hosting uranium mineralization may have an associated north-south structural component.
Reactivation of the TFS may have coincided with the age of formation of large uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin (Davies, 1998). Davies also concluded that structural similarities between the TFS and mineralized areas suggest that the fault system may have had a control on the location of mineralization. More specifically, he considered that several deposits, such as the Sue, Midwest, Dawn Lake and Rabbit Lake all demonstrate a north-south control and strong Tabbernor-like characteristics.
Reference:
Davies, J.R. (1998): The origin, structural style, and reactivation history of the Tabbernor fault zone, Saskatchewan, Canada; Master's thesis, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, 105p.
About Purepoint
Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) is a focused explorer with a dynamic portfolio of advanced projects within the renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada. The most prospective projects are actively operated on behalf of partnerships with industry leaders including Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc. and IsoEnergy Ltd.
Additionally, the Company holds a promising VMS project currently optioned to and strategically positioned adjacent to and on trend with Foran Corporation's McIlvenna Bay project. Through a robust and proactive exploration strategy, Purepoint is solidifying its position as a leading explorer in one of the globe's most significant uranium districts.
Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, PGeo, Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Frostad, President & CEO
Phone: (416) 603-8368
Email: cfrostad@purepoint.ca
For additional information please visit our new website at https://purepoint.ca, our Twitter feed: @PurepointU3O8 or our LinkedIn page @Purepoint-Uranium.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.
Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/241939
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Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") today announced the completion of an airborne electromagnetic survey across the Denare West Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) project, approximately 9 kilometres southeast of Foran's McIlvenna Bay Cu-Zn-Au deposit, in the Hanson Lake area of eastern Saskatchewan. Foran Mining Corp. is the operator of the Denare West project under a 2023 Option Agreement with Purepoint.
Highlights
An airborne electromagnetic survey, VTEM Max, was flown over the Denare West project by Foran Mining to best prioritize exploration target areas;
The Denare West project is operated by Foran Mining under a $19 million option agreement with Purepoint;
The Hanson Lake and McIlvenna Bay deposits are located along a conductive belt of rocks shown to extend onto the Denare West project (Figure 1): and
Modeling of the VTEM Max survey results will be conducted by Foran Mining before integration with other exploration (geological, geophysical and geochemical) datasets (Foran PR, Sep 19, 2024).
"The completion of this airborne survey marks another step forward in advancing the Denare West project," said Chris Frostad, President & CEO of Purepoint Uranium. "Our partnership with Foran reflects our commitment to leveraging strong industry relationships to drive exploration forward. With Foran funding and operating the program, we're ensuring that Denare West benefits from top-tier exploration while maintaining exposure to a potential new discovery in one of Canada's most promising VMS districts."
Foran Mining announced the airborne electromagnetic survey (VTEMTM Max) over the Denare West property last Summer (Foran PR, Sep 19, 2024). Electromagnetic (EM) data is the primary targeting tool for base metals and measures the electrical conductivity of rocks. The initial results of the VTEM Max survey are provided as Tau, a calculated decay time constant (Figure 1), with the red and yellow colours highlighting prospective conductive rocks. The location of the historical EM conductors, also shown in Figure 1, will now be refined using the high-resolution VTEM Max results.
The Denare West Project, staked by Purepoint in 2018, encompasses 10 claims covering an area of 21,066 hectares (Figure 2). Strategically located adjacent to and on trend with Foran's McIlvenna Bay deposit, the largest undeveloped VMS deposit along the prolific Flin Flon Greenstone Belt, McIlvenna Bay has indicated resources of 39Mt grading at 2.04% copper equivalent (Foran's Technical Report dated November 25, 2021).
Figure 1: Calculated Time Constant (Tau) of Denare West Project from Recent Airborne Electromagnetic Survey and Historical EM Conductors
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Figure 2: Denare West Project Location
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Denare West Project
The Denare West VMS project is located in east-central Saskatchewan, roughly 55 kilometres west-southwest of Flin Flon, Manitoba, and is comprised of 10 claims covering an area of 21,066 hectares in the Hanson Lake area. Provincial highway # 106 provides access to the McIlvenna Bay site road and historic drill trails from the site provide access to the western side of the Denare West project.
VMS deposits are formed on the ocean floor through vents that discharge metal-rich hydrothermal fluids. These polymetallic deposits commonly occur in clusters that form a VMS camp such as Flin Flon. The McIlvenna Bay deposit being advanced by Foran Mining (Figure 1) is located 9 kilometres NW from the Denare West project and has indicated resources of 39Mt grading at 2.04% copper equivalent (https://foranmining.com/projects/mcilvenna-bay-project/). The Balsam and Thunder VMS Zones are thought to be hosted by the same favourable geologic horizon as the McIlvenna Bay and Hansen Lake deposits.
On November 20, 2023, Purepoint entered into an option agreement with Foran Mining for the Denare West Project. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Foran may earn up to 100% interest in the Property through a staged process. The First Earn-in Option allows Foran to acquire 51% interest by spending $3 million on exploration over four years. The Second Earn-In Option grants an additional 29% interest with a further $3 million in expenditures over two years. To acquire the final 20%, Foran must pay $10 million to Purepoint and grant a 2% Net Smelter Royalty, which can be repurchased in stages for $3 million over time. If Foran elects not to acquire the remaining interest, the parties will form a joint venture, with Foran funding operations until completing a pre-feasibility study.
About Purepoint
Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) is a focused explorer with a dynamic portfolio of advanced projects within the renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada. The most prospective projects are actively operated on behalf of partnerships with industry leaders including Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc. and IsoEnergy Ltd.
Additionally, the Company holds a promising VMS (referred to as VMS in the intro, best to stay consistent) project currently optioned to and strategically positioned adjacent to and on trend with Foran Corporation's McIlvena Bay project. Through a robust and proactive exploration strategy, Purepoint is solidifying its position as a leading explorer in one of the globe's most significant uranium districts.
Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, P.Geo., Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Frostad, President & CEO
Phone: (416) 603-8368
Email: cfrostad@purepoint.ca
For additional information please visit our new website at https://purepoint.ca, our Twitter feed: @PurepointU3O8 or our LinkedIn page @Purepoint-Uranium.
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.
Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/239330
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IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSX: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) ("IsoEnergy") and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) ("Purepoint") are pleased to announce the commencement of their 2025 exploration program, supported by a $5,000,000 budget for the newly formed 5050 joint venture ("Joint Venture").
The Joint Venture spans over 98,000 hectares and consolidates 10 high-valued uranium projects into three distinctive areas in Saskatchewan's eastern Athabasca Basin: the Dorado Project, the Aurora Project and the Celeste Block (Figure 1).
Dorado Project: Unlocking the Potential of the Larocque Trend
Positioned along the renowned Larocque conductive corridor (the "Larocque Trend"), home to IsoEnergy's Hurricane Deposit, the Dorado Project consolidates Turnor Lake, Geiger, Edge and most of Full Moon into a single high-priority exploration initiative (Figure 2).
Exploration will focus on the high-priority target zones defined by graphitic conductors that wrap around a central granitic dome. A unified approach will integrate and re-evaluate all historical geophysical work and drill hole geology across the properties.
The Larocque Trend extends across the Turnor Lake property to the northern boundary of Full Moon, located 14 kilometers east of the Hurricane Deposit. Drilling has revealed a shallow vertical depth to the unconformity, ranging from just 27 to 133 metres and several highly prospective yet untested zones remain. Additionally at Geiger, historical drilling intersected high-grade basement-hosted uranium mineralization, including 2.74% U₃O₈ over 1.2 metres in drill hole HL-50 along the H11 South conductor (See press release dated January 25, 2018). Geiger is characterized by 20 kilometers of graphitic conductors, with significant untested gaps of up to 1,000 metres, presenting exceptional exploration potential.
Approximately 5,400 metres in 18 drill holes are planned for 2025.
Aurora Project: Shallow Uranium Targets Along the Athabasca Basin's Edge
The remaining claims east of Dorado now make up the Aurora Project, including, part of Full Moon, Red Willow, and Collins Bay Extension, presenting significant near-surface uranium potential in proximity to McClean Lake mine, and Rabbit Lake mine and mill.
An airborne geophysical survey is planned for 2025.
Celeste Block: Preparing Southern Targets for Exploration
Incorporates Thorburn, North Thorburn, Madison and 2Z properties, which cover portions of conductor trends east of the Cigar Lake Mine and southwest of the Rabbit Lake and McClean Lake mines (Figure 1). Target depth is relatively shallow as sandstone thickness ranges between 60 metres at Madison in the east to 350 metres at Thorburn in the west.
Near-term efforts will focus on drill testing recent geophysical results at Madison where sandstone cover is thin, and limited historical drilling has been completed, with just one hole drilled since 1989.
Approximately 800 metres in 4 drill holes are planned for 2025.
"The 2025 Joint Venture program underscores our focus on advancing Dorado within the Larocque Trend, an area of exceptional potential," said Chris Frostad, President and CEO of Purepoint. "While Dorado is the centerpiece of this coming year's efforts, we are also performing critical work on the Aurora and Celeste Block projects to ensure these promising targets remain ready for future exploration. Purepoint is excited to execute on the program as the operator, with IsoEnergy's oversight providing valuable guidance and expertise."
Figure 1: IsoEnergy and Purepoint Uranium Joint Venture including, Dorado Project, Aurora Project and Celeste Block
* See Qualified Person Statement below.
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Figure 2: Location of the Larocque Trend which hosts the high-grade Hurricane deposit and high-grade uranium occurrences on the newly formed Dorado Project, the primary focus of 2025.
* See Qualified Person Statement below.
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Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to IsoEnergy was reviewed and approved by Dr. Dan Brisbin, P.Geo., IsoEnergy's Vice President, Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" (as defined in NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101")).
For additional information with respect to the current mineral resource estimate for IsoEnergy's Hurricane Deposit, please refer to the Technical Report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 entitled "Technical Report on the Larocque East Project, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" dated August 4, 2022, available under IsoEnergy's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
This news release refers to properties other than those in which IsoEnergy and Purepoint have an interest. Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Joint Venture properties.
About IsoEnergy Ltd.
IsoEnergy (TSX: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is a leading, globally diversified uranium company with substantial current and historical mineral resources in top uranium mining jurisdictions of Canada, the U.S. and Australia at varying stages of development, providing near-, medium- and long-term leverage to rising uranium prices. IsoEnergy is currently advancing its Larocque East project in Canada's Athabasca basin, which is home to the Hurricane deposit, boasting the world's highest-grade indicated uranium mineral resource.
IsoEnergy also holds a portfolio of permitted past-producing, conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah with a toll milling arrangement in place with Energy Fuels. These mines are currently on standby, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning IsoEnergy as a near-term uranium producer.
About Purepoint Uranium Group Inc.
Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) is a focused explorer with a dynamic portfolio of advanced projects within the renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada. The most prospective projects are actively operated on behalf of partnerships with industry leaders including Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc. and IsoEnergy Ltd.
Additionally, the Company holds a promising VHMS project currently optioned to and strategically positioned adjacent to and on trend with Foran Corporation's McIlvena Bay project. Through a robust and proactive exploration strategy, Purepoint is solidifying its position as a leading explorer in one of the globe's most significant uranium districts.
For further information, please contact:
IsoEnergy Ltd.
Philip Williams, CEO and Director
(833) 572-2333
info@isoenergy.ca
www.isoenergy.ca
Chris Frostad, President and CEO
(416) 603-8368
cfrostad@purepoint.ca
www.purepoint.ca
Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.
Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". This forward-looking information may relate to planned exploration activities for 2025, including the timing thereof and the anticipated results thereof; and any other activities, events or developments that the companies expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, that planned exploration activities are completed as anticipated; the anticipated costs of planned exploration activities, the price of uranium; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms; and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Joint Venture's planned activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although each of IsoEnergy and Purepoint have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Such statements represent the current views of IsoEnergy and Purepoint with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by IsoEnergy and Purepoint, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following: the inability of the Joint Venture to complete the exploration activities as currently contemplated; regulatory determinations and delays; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada, the United States and other jurisdictions where the applicable party conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in each of IsoEnergy's and Purepoint's most recent annual management's discussion and analyses or annual information forms and IsoEnergy's and Purepoint's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators which are available, respectively, on each company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. IsoEnergy and Purepoint do not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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Toro Energy’s significant uranium resource in a tier 1 jurisdiction places the company in a compelling position to leverage a bullish uranium market and the mineral’s strategic role in global decarbonization.
Australia is the world’s third-largest uranium producer (12 percent) next to Kazakhstan (43 percent) and Canada (13 percent). It is home to the Wiluna Uranium Project, the flagship asset of Toro Energy (ASX:TOE), a uranium exploration and development company also exploring value in other commodities.
The 100-percent-owned Wiluna uranium project includes three key deposits – Lake Maitland, Centipede-Millipede and Lake Way – and offers significant uranium exposure of 87.8 million tons (Mt) at 381 ppm for 73.6 Mlbs U3O8 at 100 ppm cut-off (JORC 2012). It is located only 30 kilometers southeast of Wiluna in Central Western Australia.
The Wiluna uranium project has received state and federal approval (subject to required amendments) and has been granted mining leases.
Considerable research over recent years has identified processing redesign opportunities from unique geological attributes within the uranium deposits, but particularly at Lake Maitland, as well as the ability to extract the inherent vanadium held within the uranium ‘ore’ for a vanadium by-product.
Within the uranium mineralization envelope, the Wiluna project is estimated to contain 141.8 Mt vanadium oxide (V2O5) at 286 ppm for 89.3 Mlbs of V2O5 at 100 ppm V2O5 cut-off (JORC 2012), as of September 24, 2024.
The scoping study for the stand-alone Lake Maitland uranium-vanadium operation option shows potential for exceptional financial returns with a pre-tax NPV of AU$832.8 million, a short payback period of 2.5 years, 48 percent internal rate of return, and low capex of AU$291 million (US$203 million), based on price assumption of US$85/lb U3O8, US$5.67/lb V2O5 and a 70 cents US$:AU$ exchange rate.
In September 2024, the Lake Maitland deposit has been re-estimated using a resource envelope more in line with the other Wiluna uranium deposits; allowed the lowering of the cut-off grade to 100ppm U3O8, expanding Lake Maitland resources by 12 percent and that of the entire Wiluna project by 17 percent (when the expansions at Lake Way and Centipede-Millipede are also included).
The design phase of Toro Energy’s beneficiation and hydrometallurgical pilot plant is on track and in line with plans to finalise construction. The pilot plant will test the improved beneficiation and hydrometallurgical circuit developed by Toro from bench scale research at a closer-to-production scale and as single streams. It will also test potential ore from the three uranium-vanadium deposits that Toro believes will make up an extended Lake Maitland operation – these include Lake Maitland, Lake Way and Centipede-Millipede.
The Lake Maitland deposit is part of a joint venture partnership with two reputable Japanese corporations, Japan Australia Uranium Resource Development. (JAURD) and Itochu.
Toro has been actively evaluating the prospectivity of its Wiluna asset portfolio for minerals other than uranium, including nickel and gold.
The Lake Maitland mining pit re-optimization which incorporated the latest resource estimates and updated financial data has been completed. Mine scheduling is currently underway in preparation for the upcoming scoping study update.
Toro’s Dusty nickel project is located on the northern, eastern and southern shores of Lake Maitland and the Lake Maitland uranium deposit and is focused on two main target areas: Dusty and Yandal One. These properties will be the subject of a proposed demerger, following Toro’s recent strategic review of its non-core assets and future plans to solely focus on its uranium development opportunities and its flagship Wiluna project.
Toro Energy’s management team and board of directors have extensive experience in the mining industry, with combined expertise that includes working at major mining houses, exploration companies, uranium mining operations, corporate financing and government and community relations.
Location of the Lake Maitland Uranium and Vanadium Deposit within Toro’s portfolio of Uranium-Vanadium Deposits that make up the company’s Wiluna Uranium-Vanadium Project
Toro Energy’s flagship asset is located only 30 kilometers from the town of Wiluna in the northern goldfields region within central Western Australia. The Wiluna project contains 87.8 Mt at 381 ppm for 73.6 Mlbs U 3O8 at 100 ppm cut-off over three deposits: Centipede-Millipede, Lake Way and Lake Maitland. The asset has been de-risked and optimized to improve yield and has successfully incorporated the processing of a vanadium resource as a by-product. A scoping study was completed for a stand-alone Lake Maitland uranium-vanadium operation.
Toro’s Lake Maitland tenure is located in the Yandal Greenstone Belt within the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia, a gold district within a world-class gold and nickel province. With little exploration for non-uranium minerals ever conducted on the properties, Toro considers the project area highly prospective for nickel, gold and base metals.
Exploration and diamond drilling have identified four massive/semi-massive nickel sulphide zones within just 4.5 km of a 7.5 km komatiite magnetic trend. Limited testing has been conducted across a 15 km strike of known komatiite-ultramafic target rock. With minimal drilling at Lake Maitland, the full extent of prospective nickel sulphide mineralization remains unknown.
The Lake Maitland tenure is located only 20 kilometers northeast of the world-class Bronzewing and Mt McClure gold mines within the same Greenstone Belt, the Yandal, within one of the most famous gold provinces in the world, the Yilgarn Craton.
Early exploration by Toro at the Golden Ways target area in the north of the project has uncovered surface rock chip samples of up to 70 g/t gold and significant drilling results, including:
Richard Homsany has extensive experience in the resources industry, having been the executive vice-president for Australia of TSX-listed Mega Uranium since April 2010. He has worked for North Ltd, an ASX top 50-listed internationally diversified resources company in operations, risk management and corporate, before its takeover by Rio Tinto.
Homsany is an experienced corporate lawyer and certified practicing accountant (CPA) advising numerous clients in the energy and resources sector, including publicly listed companies. He was corporate partner at international law firm DLA Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper), where he advised clients on a range of transactions and matters including capital raising, IPOs, stock exchange listing, mergers and acquisitions, finance, joint ventures, divestments and governance.
Michel Marier joined Sentient in 2009 as an investment manager. Before joining Sentient, Marier worked eight years in the private equity division of la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Marier holds a master’s degree in finance from HEC Montreal and is a CFA charter holder.
Richard Patricio is the CEO and president of Mega Uranium, a uranium-focused investment and development company with assets in Canada and Australia. Patricio has built a number of mining companies with global operations. He holds senior officer and director positions in several junior mining companies listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, AIM and NASDAQ exchanges. He is currently also a director of NexGen Energy (TSE:NXE, Mkt Cap. C$2.7 billion). He previously practiced law at a top-tier law firm in Toronto and worked as an in-house general counsel for a senior TSX-listed company. He received his law degree from Osgoode Hall and was called to the Ontario bar in 2000.
Dr. Greg Shirtliff, with a PhD in mine-related geology and geochemistry from ANU, has 20+ years of experience across environmental, mine geology, resource development, exploration, and management. His career includes roles at ERA-Rio Tinto’s Ranger Uranium Mine, Cameco Australasia, and currently as Lead Geologist & Technical Manager at Toro Energy. He oversees uranium and mineral resource development, directs exploration strategy, supports EPA approvals, and guides engineering and metallurgical assessments.
Katherine Garvey is a corporate lawyer who has significant experience in the resources sector. Garvey advises public (both listed and unlisted) and proprietary companies on a variety of corporate and commercial matters including capital raising, finance, acquisitions and disposals, Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rule compliance, corporate governance and company secretarial issues. She has extensive experience drafting and negotiating various corporate and commercial agreements including farm-in agreements, joint ventures, shareholders’ agreements, and business and share sale and purchase agreements.
Marc Boudames is experienced in statutory financial reporting, taxation, ERP systems, business analytics, corporate transactions, due diligence, mergers & acquisitions, finance, joint ventures and divestments. He previously worked at RSM Bird Cameron, as general manager –finance & administration for ASX-listed Redport Ltd and Mega Uranium (Australia), a Canadian TSX-listed mining and equity investment company focused on global uranium properties and multi-mineral exploration. He has worked for multiple companies across various industries, including listed and public companies associated with the mining and oil and gas sectors, such as WesTrac, CB&I and Spotless Group.
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (CSE: WUC) (OTCQX: WSTRF) (" Western " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an Ore Purchase Agreement ("Agreement") with Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX:EFR).
Western plans to commence hauling around the beginning of May, making deliveries to Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill, the only operational conventional uranium/vanadium mill in the United States. Deliveries will be sourced from previously mined production that has been stockpiled at the Company's flagship Sunday Mine Complex. The Agreement is for a one year period, and provisions for the delivery of up to 25,000 short tons of uranium bearing ore. The purchase price will be calculated based upon the uranium grade of each closed lot according to the agreed pricing schedule.
George Glasier, Western's CEO stated: "This Agreement strengthens Western's strategic position and accelerates our generation of revenues, while rewarding shareholder investments that have yielded our current stockpiles. The collaboration with Energy Fuels provides synergies and leverage for both companies, while the North American nuclear fuel supply chain benefits from expedited near-term production of uranium resources."
Warrant Repricing
Further to the news release issued by the Company on November 29, 2024, Western announces that a total of 2,868,541 previously issued common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") have been repriced and are now exercisable at CAD$2.00 per share. The Company received consents from all holders of Warrants and filed an amended Form 13 dated February 27, 2025 under its profile on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") website. As previously announced, the term of the Warrants was extended with all Warrants now expiring on January 20, 2026. All other terms of the Warrants remain unchanged. In accordance with the CSE rules, no compensation warrant was repriced or extended. Western will not issue replacement Warrant certificates. The originally issued Warrant certificates will be utilized for any such exercises. Please refer to Western's news release issued on November 29, 2024 for additional details.
About Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp.
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. is ramping-up high-grade uranium and vanadium production at its Sunday Mine Complex. In addition to the flagship property located in the prolific Uravan Mineral Belt, the production pipeline also includes conventional projects in Colorado and Utah. The Mustang Mineral Processing Site is being licensed and developed for mined material recovery and will incorporate kinetic separation to optimize economics.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Statements of that nature include statements relating to, or that are dependent upon: the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding the Offering and exploration and production plans and results; the timing of planned activities; whether the Company can raise any additional funds required to implement its plans; whether regulatory or analogous requirements can be satisfied to permit planned activities; and more generally to the Company's business, and the economic and political environment applicable to its operations, assets and plans. All such forward-looking statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Please refer to the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as its other filings at www.sec.gov and/or www.sedarplus.com , for a more detailed review of those risk factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements, and that these statements are made as of the date hereof. While the Company may do so, it does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements at any particular time, except as and to the extent required under applicable laws and regulations.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT :
Grant Glasier
Vice President Marketing and Project Development
303-808-3306
grantg@western-uranium.com
George Glasier
President and CEO
970-864-2125
gglasier@western-uranium.com
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The Cloncurry Gold project is a portfolio of an existing permitted processing plant, mining and exploration licences that are being acquired by Orion Resources. AuKing has the right to acquire a 50 percent interest in these near-term gold production interests by incurring AU$5 million in expenditure before 30 June 2027.
AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) is an exploration and development company with a portfolio of assets focused primarily on gold, but also uranium, copper, and critical minerals, across Australia, Tanzania, and Canada. The company aims to become a mid-tier producer through the acquisition and development of near-term production assets.
In February 2025, AuKing Mining entered into a strategic agreement with Gage Resources, an Australian subsidiary of Beijing-based Gage Capital Management. The agreement includes a $300,000 investment by Gage, resulting in a 10 percent stake in AuKing, and the sale of two non-core prospecting licenses in Tanzania to Gage for an additional $300,000. This partnership is expected to enhance AuKing's financial position and support its ongoing exploration and development activities.
In November 2024, AuKing Mining entered into an earn-in agreement with Orion Resources for the Cloncurry gold project in northern Queensland. This agreement allows AuKing to increase its stake in the project to 50 percent by investing AU$5 million in project funding by June 2027.
Orion’s Cloncurry Project interests, including the Mt Freda/Golden Mill mining leases. [Note the nearby Wynberg and Wallace/Wallace South gold projects are not assets being acquired by Orion]
A key component of this project is the Tick Hill Gold Joint Venture, involving AuKing, Orion Resources, and Tick Hill Mining, the current owner of the Tick Hill gold mine. The JV aims to establish a processing operation at Tick Hill, focusing initially on reprocessing the existing tailings stockpiles. A pre-feasibility study completed in 2020 outlined a processing capacity of 474,200 tonnes at 2 g/t gold over 13 months, yielding approximately 27,300 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of AU$1,493 per ounce.
In March 2025, the JV partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assess the viability of processing Tick Hill's tailings and other ore materials at the Lorena processing plant, located 15 km east of Cloncurry. This initiative aims to expedite the re-commencement of gold production in the region.
The JV also plans to evaluate the feasibility of reopening the historical open pit mine at Tick Hill, with the goal of extending the project's life and enhancing gold production. An independent preliminary economic assessment has concluded that the proposed tailings retreatment plan is both technically and financially viable, recommending progression to a final feasibility study.
Through these strategic initiatives, AuKing Mining is actively advancing the Cloncurry gold project, aiming to unlock significant value and establish a sustainable gold production operation in the Cloncurry region.
The Mt Freda Complex, covering an area of no more than 6 sq kms, looking from north-west to the south-east, 30kms south of the Lorena plant.
The Mt Freda Mining Complex is a key element in the proposed restart of mining operations at the Cloncurry Gold Project in northern Queensland. A comprehensive drilling program, consisting of an estimated 10,000 meters of combined diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling, is planned at Mt Freda to support the project’s development.
Koongie Park project (also known as Halls Creek project) lies within the highly mineralized Halls Creek Mobile Belt. The area also hosts the Savannah (Sally Malay) and Copernicus nickel projects, the former Argyle diamond mine and the Nicolsons gold mining operation of Pantoro Limited. Koongie Park is located about 25 kms southwest of the regional centre of Halls Creek on the Great Northern Highway in northeastern Western Australia.
In February 2025, AuKing entered into a earn-in agreement with Cobalt Blue (ASX:COB) whereby COB can earn up to 75 percent interest in the Koongie Park project.
The project contains three deposits of note: Onedin and Sandiego copper-zinc-gold deposits, and the Emull copper deposit.
Onedin and Sandiego are both in advanced exploration stages with a total mineral resource estimate of 4.8 Mt and 4.1 Mt, respectively, containing copper, zinc, gold, silver and lead. The Sandiego prospect boasts a scoping study (released in June 2023) that highlights an 11-year life of mine with a processing capacity of 750 ktpa and pre-production capex of $135 million for a 2.5 year payback. Economics highlight a pre-tax NPV of $177 million and 40 percent IRR.
The Emull base metal deposit has received significant drilling by previous owner Northern Star Resources several years ago and subsequently by AuKing in 2022. The deposit has a maiden resource estimate of 12.2 Mt, containing copper, zinc, lead and silver, with significant upside potential as more drilling is performed.
Mkuju is situated immediately to the southeast of the world class Nyota uranium project that was the primary focus of exploration and development feasibility studies by then ASX-listed Mantra Resources (ASX:MRU). Not long after completion of feasibility studies for Nyota in early 2011, MRU announced a AU$1.16 billion takeover offer from the Russian group ARMZ. The takeover was finalised in mid-2011.
During the latter part of 2023, AuKing Mining completed a Stage 1 exploration program at Mkuju which comprised a combination of rock chip, soil geochemistry sampling, shallow auger drilling and initial diamond drilling. Some very encouraging results were obtained from this program which have formed the basis for a 11,000 m drilling program.
Peter Tighe started his career in the family-owned JH Leavy & Co business, which is one of the longest established fruit and vegetable wholesaling businesses in the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea. As the owner and managing director of JH Leavy & Co, Tighe expanded the company along with highly respected farms and packhouses that have been pleased to supply the company with top quality fruit and vegetables for wholesale/export for over 40 years. Tighe has been a director of Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) since 1999 and is currently the deputy chairman. BML is the owner of the Brisbane Markets site and is responsible for the ongoing management and development of its $400 million asset portfolio. As the proprietor of the site, BML has over 250 leases in place including selling floors, industrial warehousing, retail stores and commercial offices. BML acknowledges its role as an economic hub of Queensland, facilitating the trade of $1.5 billion worth of fresh produce annually, and supporting local and regional businesses of the horticulture industry.
Paul Williams holds both Bachelor of Arts and Law Degrees from the University of Queensland and practised as a corporate and commercial lawyer with Brisbane legal firm HopgoodGanim Lawyers for 17 years. He ultimately became an equity partner of HopgoodGanim Lawyers before joining Eastern Corporation as their chief executive officer in August 2004. In mid-2006, Williams joined Mitsui Coal Holdings as general counsel, participating in the supervision of the coal mining interests and business development activities within the multinational Mitsui & Co group. Williams is well-known in the Brisbane investment community as well as in Sydney and Melbourne and brings to the AKN board a broad range of commercial and legal expertise – especially in the context of mining and exploration activities. He also has a strong focus on corporate governance and the importance of clear and open communication of corporate activity to the investment markets.
Mark Fisher is a highly accomplished resources executive with over 35 years of experience. His skills and experience include strategic business planning, feasibility, project management, organization design, mine engineering and mine management. Mark’s combination of skills and depth of experience has consistently produced profitable and sustainable outcomes in complex settings delivering increased shareholder value.
Mark’s extensive global leadership and operational experience includes senior positions with Placer Dome Inc and Barrick Gold Corporation over a period of decades. In his last corporate role, Mark was President of the Global Copper division for Barrick Gold Corporation, executing the development strategy for its portfolio of key copper assets in South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia.
Kylie Prendergast is an experienced geologist and technical leader with more than 25 years’ experience within the international and resource sector. She currently holds the position of non-Executive Director at Helix Resources Limited (ASX: HLX) and has worked across a range of different operating jurisdictions, including significant in-country assignments and expatriate roles. This has included substantial business development, project technical and economic evaluation, and commercial management including direct interaction with a range of stakeholders in global resource capital markets.
Previously the Managing Director at leading industry consultant Mining Associates, Dr Prendergast has held senior leadership roles with Felix Gold Limited (Managing Director), Mawarid Mining (Oman – GM Exploration and Business development), Batu Mining (Mongolia – Senior Geologist) and Gold Fields St Ives (Project Generation Geochemist). Prior to that she worked in technical geology positions with BHP Billiton, Ivanhoe Mines (Mongolia) and North Limited.
Nick Harding is a Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA) with extensive executive and senior management experience across the resources and agribusiness sectors in the areas of finance, commercial, corporate governance and company administration. He possesses significant experience in equity raisings, debt funding, management and statutory reporting, corporate governance, financial modelling and the preparation of feasibility studies.
Nick has held the roles of Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Company Secretary through his professional services company for a number of ASX listed junior exploration companies over the past 16 years, taking some of these through to the evaluation phase and into development and production.
Prior to this, over a 20-year period, Nick has held senior finance management positions within WMC Resources, Normandy Mining/Newmont Australia and Beach Energy across various commodities including gold, copper, nickel, uranium, industrial minerals and oil and gas.
Chris Bittar was previously senior project geologist at Pantoro Limited’s Norseman Project in Western Australia, where he supervised the planning and execution of near-mine exploration and resource development programs as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study program at Norseman. Prior to his Pantoro role, Bittar held senior geologist roles with Millennium Minerals (Nullagine Gold project) and Pilbara Minerals (Pilgangoora Lithium project), and exploration geologist roles with Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania and Northern Minerals (Browns Range rare earths project in WA). In these roles, Bittar gained extensive experience in taking projects from greenfield exploration to resource development and up to mine-ready feasibility study stage. This experience included supervision of multiple drilling campaigns, geological interpretation, data management and project reporting. Bittar has also maintained a strong commitment to company safety policies and procedures.
Paul Marshall is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Law degree, and a post Graduate Diploma in Accounting and Finance. He has 30 years of professional experience having worked for Ernst and Young for 10 years, and subsequently twenty years spent in commercial roles as company secretary and CFO for a number of listed and unlisted companies mainly in the resources sector. Marshall has extensive experience in all aspects of company financial reporting, corporate regulatory and governance areas, business acquisition and disposal due diligence, capital raising and company listings and company secretarial responsibilities.
Highlights:
AR3 Managing Director and CEO, Travis Beinke, said:
“These assay results from the first hole where the occurrence of shallow calcrete-hosted uranium was discovered underscore the significant potential of the Overland project. The search for both shallow calcrete-hosted uranium, and sedimentary hosted, ISR amenable targets, continues in this frontier uranium play.
“We look forward to providing further updates on our ongoing drill program and sharing assay results as AR3 pursues active uranium exploration activity at Overland.”
Figure 1: Section A- A’ displaying lithology interpretation, natural gamma responses (cps) and pXRF uranium responses (ppmU). In relation to the disclosure of pXRF results, the Company cautions that estimates of uranium elemental abundance from pXRF results should not be considered a proxy for quantitative analysis of a laboratory assay result. Assay results are required to determine the actual widths and grade of the mineralisation. The company uses an Olympus Vanta M Series portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) analyzer to screen Air Core drilling samples for mineralization prior to submitting samples to a commercial laboratory for assay. This provides an initial understanding of the mineralization distribution before sampling, ensuring submitted samples are representative of the targeted mineralization. While pXRF confirms the presence of mineralization, it does not accurately determine elemental concentrations due to limitations such as a small analysis window, uneven distribution, shallow penetration depth, and irregular surfaces. The pXRF results are indicative and the pXRF readings are subject to confirmation by chemical analysis from an independent laboratory.
Figure 2: Strip log displaying drill hole OV047 lithology, natural gamma responses (cps), pXRF uranium responses (ppm U) and chemical assay results (ppm U3O8)
The assay results conform with down hole gamma responses and in-field pXRF measurements for contained uranium in OV047. This provides continued confidence that these immediate field- based measurements can guide drill hole targeting at Overland.
Now supported by these recent assays and significant uranium intersections, follow-up drilling of OV047’s anomalous gamma and pXRF uranium readings in shallow carbonate-cemented sediments, point to the potential for a widespread continuation of calcrete hosted uranium mineralisation.
The follow-up drilling, consisting of nine drill holes targeting the shallow carbonate-cemented sediments, have consistently confirmed anomalous gamma and pXRF uranium responses1. The discovery remains open in all directions for calcrete-hosted uranium mineralisation. The mineralisation spans an extensive area, with a potential strike length stretching dozens of kilometres along the modern drainage profile and a width exceeding one kilometre.
The follow up drilling was conducted at 100 to 600 metre spacings to depths of up to 42 metres, with anomalous zones occurring between 20 and 32 metre depths (Figure 1: section A-A’ ).
Initial indications of a shallow uranium occurrence at Target 1 of EL6678 came in drill hole OV047, which intersected a 6 metre interval containing anomalous gamma and pXRF uranium responses. Gamma responses peaked at 741 counts per second (cps), with maximum pXRF uranium response of 105ppm uranium in OV047. Subsequent drilling has provided further evidence of this style of mineralisation, with gamma responses peaking at 1,010cps in hole OV050 and additional anomalous pXRF uranium values exceeding 50ppm occurring in holes OV050 and OV053. The identified anomalous zones range from two to six metres thick.
Mineralogical assessments of hole OV047 drill cuttings through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and micro XRF analysis indicate that uranium is hosted in the secondary calcite cementation of both the limestone and the sandy sediments in this setting. Indicative uranium levels of up to ~350ppm uranium have been detected in the calcite cement infilling these sediments. The uranium within the calcite cement was identified by analysing samples with a Bruker M4 Tornado Plus μXRF instrument operated by Adelaide Microscopy at the University of Adelaide2.
This shallow sedimentary uranium mineralisation in secondary carbonate cementation is similar to Namibia’s surficial uranium deposits, as found at Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich mine or Deep Yellow’s Tumas project. Similar calcrete-hosted deposits are also found in Western Australia at Cameco’s Yeelirrie deposit and Toro Energy’s Wiluna project.
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