IsoEnergy Ltd. (“IsoEnergy” or the “Company”) (TSXV: ISO; OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to announce the initial independent Mineral Resource Estimate (the “Resource Estimate”) for the Hurricane uranium deposit on its 100% owned Larocque East project in the eastern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan.
Highlights
- Indicated Mineral Resources of 48.61 million lbs of U3O8 based on 63,800 tonnes grading 34.5% U3O8, including 43.89 million lbs U3O8 at an average grade of 52.1% U3O8 within the high-grade domain
- Inferred Mineral Resources of 2.66 million lbs of U3O8 based on 54,300 tonnes grading 2.2% U3O8
- Indicated Mineral Resources are highly insensitive to cut-off grade due to the high-grade and compact nature of the Hurricane Deposit (refer Table 2)
Table 1 – Summary of Hurricane Attributable Mineral Resources (as of July 8, 2022)
Notes:
- CIM (2014) definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.
- Mineral Resources are estimated at a uranium cut-off grade of 1.00% U3O8.
- Tonnes are based on bulk density weighting.
- Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of US$65/lb.
- Minimum grade width of one metre was applied to the resource domain wireframes.
- Bulk density was interpolated using values derived from a regression curve based on U3O8 assay values.
- Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Table 2 – Hurricane Block Model Sensitivity to Cut-Off Grade (as of July 8, 2022)
Note: Mineral Resources are estimated at a uranium cut off grade of 1.0% U3O8
Tim Gabruch, President and Chief Executive Officer commented: “Since incorporation by NexGen Energy in 2016, IsoEnergy’s objective has been to explore for high-grade uranium on the eastern side of Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin. Following the discovery of Hurricane in July 2018 IsoEnergy has focused on determining the scope and scale of the deposit. The six drilling programs completed since then have culminated in today’s announcement of an Indicated Mineral Resource of 48.61 million pounds U3O8 at an average grade of 34.5% U3O8, with the high-grade domain containing nearly 44 million pounds U3O8 at an average grade of 52.1% U3O8. The team at IsoEnergy is extremely proud of the work done on Hurricane, and it is rewarding to present this initial Resource Estimate to the Company’s stakeholders.
Hurricane’s exceptionally high uranium grade and relatively shallow depth, together with its proximity to existing eastern Athabasca Basin road, power and milling infrastructure are key attributes. Saskatchewan is home to the world’s largest and highest-grade uranium mines and deposits, and it is recognized as the premier mining jurisdiction in Canada and one of the best globally. For decades it has also been established as one of the most stable, dependable jurisdictions for the world’s nuclear energy providers to source uranium. Today, the outlook for nuclear energy has never been more positive, with growing recognition of the vital role it will play in providing clean, baseload energy to help address climate change challenges globally. IsoEnergy will continue to progress Hurricane with an objective to meaningfully contribute to the world’s growing demand for clean nuclear energy.”
Andy Carmichael, Vice President of Exploration commented: “This Mineral Resource Estimate establishes Hurricane as the world’s newest, very high-grade uranium deposit. On average, one cubic metre of Hurricane’s high-grade domain weighs over 4.5 tonnes and contains over 5,200 lbs of U3O8. Of the past- and presently- producing uranium mines in the Athabasca Basin, Hurricane is most analogous to the Cigar Lake deposit at the nearby operating mine with respect to the mineralization’s grade, thickness, width, style, and the alteration halo and ground conditions which mantle the deposit. Notably, Hurricane’s Mineral Resource Estimate employs a cut-off grade consistent with uranium Mineral Resource Estimates reported from Cigar Lake and other operations in the eastern Athabasca Basin.”
Geology and Mineralization
The Hurricane zone measures 375 metres along strike, up to 125 metres wide, and up to 12 metres thick. The high-grade domain, which contains 43.89 million pounds of U3O8 at an average grade of 52.1% U3O8, occupies an area 125 metres long and is up to 63 metres wide and up to 4.5 metres thick. Mineralization at Hurricane occurs at the sub-Athabasca unconformity approximately 325 metres vertically below surface and is essentially horizontal. East-west trending, steeply north-dipping basement rocks underlying Hurricane host centimetre- to metre-scale fault zones preferentially occurring at contacts between graphitic and non-graphitic units. Mineralization is controlled by the intersection of these fault zones with the sub-Athabasca unconformity resulting mineralization elongated in its east-west dimension. Mineralization ranges from disseminated to massive and includes very high-grade intersections, including 38.8% over 7.5 metres in LE20-76 between 322.5 and 330 metres which includes a subinterval averaging 74.0% U3O8 over 3.5 metres from 324.0 to 327.5 metres. Additional Hurricane drilling highlights are presented in Table 3, including intercepts from high-grade domain.
Drilling, Sampling and Analytical
The Mineral Resource Estimate was defined using 52 diamond drill holes totaling 20,387 metres and using 785 samples. Uranium grade data comprises chemical assays of half split drill core samples collected on site by IsoEnergy staff. All samples were assayed at the independent Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) Geoanalytical Laboratory of Saskatoon, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited facility. Samples were analysed using a combination of inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and partial or total acid digestion of one aliquot of representative sample pulp per analysis. Mineralized samples were analysed for U3O8 by ICP-OES. Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) measures include the field insertion of Certified Reference Material (CRM) standards, CRM blanks, and duplicate samples. The Mineral Resource Estimate grade data was obtained only from chemical assays; no radiometric data were utilized.
Estimation Methodology
Mineral Resources were estimated by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. (SLR), an independent consulting company experienced in completing uranium Mineral Resource estimates in the Athabasca Basin and worldwide.
Wireframe models of mineralized zones were used to constrain the block model grade interpolation process. The models represent grade envelopes using the geological interpretation described above as guidance. The wireframes consisted of Low-Grade (LG), Medium-Grade (MG), and High-Grade (HG) domains at nominal cut-off grades (COG) of 0.05%, 5.0%, and 25.0% U3O8, respectively (Figures 1 and 2). Sample intervals with assay results less than the nominated COG were included within the mineralized wireframes if the core length was less than two metres or allowed for modelling of grade continuity. Hard domain boundaries were employed to prevent assay results from one domain influencing the remaining domains.
Statistical evaluation of samples from each domain was completed separately to determine the treatment of high-grade assays. No capping was applied to the High-Grade domain; assays were capped at 5.0% U3O8 and 20.0% U3O8 within the Low- and Medium-Grade domains, respectively. High grade x density threshold value of 250 (approximately equivalent to 55% U3O8) spatial restrictions equal to half the parent search ellipse dimensions were utilized within the High-Grade domain.
The uranium grade was used to estimate the density of each sample using polynomial formula developed by SLR from the results of 115 samples analyzed for bulk density and uranium grade. Densities were then interpolated into the block model to convert mineralized volumes to tonnage and were also used to weight the uranium grades interpolated into each block.
Blocks were classified as Indicated or Inferred based on drill hole spacing, confidence in the geological interpretation, and apparent continuity of mineralization. All the blocks within the HG domains and blocks within the MG domain with apparent grade continuity from two or more holes were classified as Indicated. For the LG grade domain, blocks that did not meet the criteria of grade x thickness (GT) greater or equal to 1.0%m were removed from the Mineral Resource reporting. The block model was validated using swath plots of composite grades versus inverse distance cubed, ordinary kriging, and nearest neighbour grades in the X, Y, and Z dimensions, volumetric comparison of blocks versus wireframes, visual inspection of block versus composite grades on plan, vertical, and long section, and statistical comparison of block grades and assay composite grades.
Table 3 – Selected Drilling Results from the Hurricane Deposit
Figure 1 – Plan view of Mineralized Domains with Selected Drilling Results
Figure 2 – Cross Section 4435E Showing High-, Medium-, and Low-Grade Domains with Drilling Results
Figure 3 – IsoEnergy Athabasca Projects
Figure 4 – Larocque East Property Map
Qualified Person Statement
The “Qualified Person” for the Mineral Resource Estimate is Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., Principal Geologist, SLR Consulting International Corp, who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergy’s Vice President, Exploration, is the “Qualified Person” (as defined in NI 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) for the Company and has validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.
All chemical analyses are completed for the Company by SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, SK. For additional information regarding the Company’s Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures, please see the Technical Report dated July 13, 2022, which will be filed on the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com within 45 days of this news release.
About IsoEnergy
IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the infrastructure-rich eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. In 2018, the Company discovered the high-grade Hurricane Deposit on its 100% owned Larocque East property in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development, and operations. The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd.
Tim Gabruch
President and Chief Executive Officer
IsoEnergy Ltd.
+1 306-261-6284
info@isoenergy.ca
www.isoenergy.ca
Investor Relations
Kin Communications
+1 604 684 6730
iso@kincommunications.com
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Forward-Looking Information
The information contained herein contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. “Forward-looking information” includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negative connotation thereof 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” or the negative connotation thereof. Statements relating to “mineral resources” may also be deemed forward-looking information as they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if a mineral deposit is developed and mined
Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company’s planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.
Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by 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 forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws
Source: IsoEnergy Limited