Fission Uranium Corp. has commenced its 2018 winter field program at the Patterson Lake South property, with drill rigs in full operation.
Program focus
Growing the high-grade, near-surface, land-based R1515W zone: Eight holes (2,720 metres) will focus on further expansion of the recently discovered, high-grade, shallow and land-based R1515W zone:
- The land-based R1515W zone is the westernmost zone on the 3.18-kilometres trend outlined by Fission as the company pushes west from the Triple R deposit, toward the large, high-grade boulder field.
- Drill results on the R1515W zone have been very encouraging to date and include results such as hole PLS17-564 (line 1545W), located 1.4 km west of the Triple R deposit, which intersected 128.0 metres of total composite mineralization, including intervals such as 7.0 m at 6.90 per cent triuranium octoxide in 14.50 m at 3.39 per cent U3O8 and 7.0 m at 6.36 per cent U3O8 in 10.50 m at 4.35 per cent U3O8.
- The wide, high-grade mineralization, such as that intersected by hole PLS17-564, is predominantly due to important geological features that the R1515W zone shares with the Triple R deposit’s R780E zone, including multiple stacked lenses.
Accelerating progress toward prefeasibility study: Twenty-three holes (3,840 m) will continue to advance the resource development of the Triple R deposit to PFS level:
- Upgrade resource classification for important high-grade, high-impact areas of the R780E zone from inferred to indicated category (six holes in 1,980 m). The Triple R deposit as currently estimated has 75 per cent of its resource classified as indicated, while 25 per cent of the resource is classified as inferred. It is it is anticipated that upgrading key areas of the resource from inferred to indicated will have a positive impact on the PFS;
- Geotechnical drilling and analysis of bedrock (three holes in 700 m);
- Geotechnical drilling of overburden (12 holes in 920 m);
- Redrill hydrogeological holes required for long-term groundwater analysis (two holes in 240 m);
- Complete the phase 2 metallurgical study that is already in progress;
- Continuation of data collection and analysis of the baseline environmental study;
- Continuation of engagement with first nations, community and government.
Ross McElroy, president, chief operating officer and chief geologist for Fission, commented:
“The much-anticipated 2018 winter field program has commenced and drills are now turning. Continuing on the success of our 2017 summer program, we are excited about the prospects of the R1515W zone, as well as developing the Triple R deposit towards prefeasibility. We look forward to sharing the scintilometer and assay results as they come in.”
PLS mineralized trend and Triple R deposit summary
Uranium mineralization at PLS occurs within the Patterson Lake conductive corridor and has been traced by core drilling approximately 3.18 km of east-west strike length in five separated mineralized zones. From west to east, these zones are: R1515W, R840W, R00E, R780E and R1620E. Thus far only the R00E and R780E zones have been included in the Triple R deposit resource estimate, whereas the R840W and R1620E zones and the recent addition of the R1515W zone, fall outside of the current resource estimate window.
The discovery hole of what is now referred to as the Triple R uranium deposit was announced on Nov. 5, 2012, with drill hole PLS12-022, from what is considered part of the R00E zone. Through successful exploration programs completed to date, it has evolved into a large, near-surface, basement-hosted, structurally controlled high-grade uranium deposit.
The Triple R deposit consists of the R00E zone on the western side and the much larger R780E zone farther on strike to the east. Within the deposit, the R00E and R780E zones have an overall combined strike length validated by a resource estimate of approximately 1.05 km with the R00E zone measuring approximately 105 m in strike length and the R780E zone measuring approximately 945 m in strike length. A 225 m gap separates the R00E zone to the west and the R780E zones to the east, though sporadic narrow, weakly mineralized intervals from drill holes within this gap suggest the potential for further significant mineralization in this area. The R780E zone is located beneath Patterson Lake which is approximately six metres deep in the area of the deposit. The entire Triple R deposit is covered by approximately 50 m to 60 m of overburden.
Mineralization remains open along strike in both the western and eastern directions. Basement rocks within the mineralized trend are identified primarily as mafic volcanic rocks with varying degrees of alteration. Mineralization is both located within and associated with mafic volcanic intrusives with varying degrees of silicification, metasomatic mineral assemblages and hydrothermal graphite. The graphitic sequences are associated with the PL-3B basement electromagnetic (EM) conductor. The R840W zone, located 495 m west along strike of the Triple R deposit, now has a defined strike length of 465 m and is still open. The recent discovery of the high-grade R1515W zone located a further 510 m to the west of the R840W zone now has a defined strike length of 71 m and an across-strike lateral width of up to 64 m with vertical extension up to 171 m. Mineralization is open. The R840W and R1515W zones have significantly upgraded the prospectivity for further growth on land to the west of the Triple R deposit within the Patterson Lake corridor. The recently discovered high-grade mineralization in the R1620E zone, located 210 m to the east along strike, similarly has significantly upgraded the prospectivity for further growth of the PLS resource to the east of the Triple R deposit.
Maps and files can be found on the company’s website.
Patterson Lake South property
The 31,039-hectare PLS project is 100 per cent owned and operated by Fission Uranium. PLS is accessible by road with primary access from all-weather Highway 955, which runs north to the former Cluff Lake mine and passes through the nearby UEX-Areva Shea Creek discoveries located 50 kilometres to the north, currently under active exploration and development.
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Ross McElroy, PGeol, president and COO for Fission Uranium, a qualified person.
About Fission Uranium Corp.
Fission Uranium is a Canadian-based resource company specializing in the strategic exploration and development of the Patterson Lake South uranium property — host to the class-leading Triple R uranium deposit — and is headquartered in Kelowna, B.C.
Source: Fission Uranium Corp.
