Ashburton
(U3O8 Limited 90 to 100%)
- Detailed radiometric survey highlighted major uranium anomalies
The Ashburton project comprises three granted tenements and two tenement applications, prospective for unconformity-style uranium mineralisation in the area south of Paraburdoo in Western Australia.
The principal target is the unconformity between Middle Proterozoic Bresnahan Group basal conglomerates (Cherrybooka Formation) and underlying black shales and dolomites of the Lower Proterozoic Wyloo Group. This contact is the focus for known mineralisation at the Angelo River A & B deposits located just to the north. The area is recognised as having strong geological similarities to the Alligator River (host to the world class Ranger and Jabiluka deposits).
The principal target is the unconformity between Middle Proterozoic Bresnahan Group basal conglomerates (Cherrybooka Formation) and underlying black shales and dolomites of the Lower Proterozoic Wyloo Group. This contact is the focus for known mineralisation at the Angelo River A & B deposits located just to the north. The area is recognised as having strong geological similarities to the Alligator River (host to the world class Ranger and Jabiluka deposits).
Exploration by Pancontinental and PNC Exploration in the mid 1980s led to the discovery and delineation of the Angelo River uranium deposits. Regional reconaissance highlighted numerous other radiometric anomalies around the unconformity. Four prospects, namely Atlantis, Nobby's, Canyon Creek and Xanadu lie within U3O8 Limited's tenement holding. At the Atlantis prospect, costean sampling returned exceptionally high grade surface samples (to 37% U3O8). At the Nobby's prospect, drillholes beneath the enriched mineralisation intersected 5.5 metres @ 0.62% eU3O8, and 2.2 metres @ 0.74% eU3O8. At the nearby Canyon Creek prospect, two anomalous zones were defined by radon surveys with rock chip samples returning up to 1% U3O8, whilst at the Xanadu prospect to the west of Atlantis, rock samples returned up to 0.26% U3O8.
A detailed magnetic and radiometric survey was completed over the Company's three granted tenements during the year. A brief summary of the survey over each of the tenements is included in the table below.
Details of the magnetic/radiometric survey completed over the tenement holding
The survey covering E52/1893, Canyon Creek not only confirms the tenor of the Canyon Creek radiometric anomaly but also highlights the presence of a large anomaly at the northwest end of the tenement. This large anomaly appear to extend under the Bresnahan Group. The uranium channel radiometrics with the appropriate location of the unconformity is in the figure below.
Radiometrics (uranium channel) on Canyon Creek project
The survey covering E52/1880, Atlantis highlights the extension of the Atlantis anomaly (identified in the northwest) that does not appear to be limited by the outcropping unconformity, indicating the potential for mineralisation beneath the cover sequence. Nobby's stands out as a discrete anomaly. The figure below also highlights the anomalies over the Atlantic tenement area.
Radiometrics (uranium channel) on Nobby's and Atlantis prospects (north-west anomaly), Atlantis project
The historical Xanadu anomaly (E52/1879) was the subject of very little follow up work or detailed drilling by the very early explorers, even though there is a pronounced anomaly at the prospect. Of particular interest is a second significant uranium channel radiometric anomaly immediately to the northwest indicating the potential for extensions of the mineralisation under the cover sequence.
The figure below highlights the uranium channel radiometric anomalies on the Xanadu tenement and the inferred location of the target unconformity.
Radiometrics (uranium channel) on Xanadu project
Efforts are being made to increase the ground holding in this highly prospective uranium province of Western Australia.
Extensive ground radiometric surveys are being planned, to be carried out using a hand-held GR135 spectrometer to better define the exact location and relative magnitudes of the anomalies identified to date.
Geological mapping will also take place to assess structural and stratigraphic relationships in order to assist with the planning of the initial drilling programmes.
A detailed airborne electromagnetic survey is expected to be completed in October 2007.
A detailed magnetic and radiometric survey was completed over the Company's three granted tenements during the year. A brief summary of the survey over each of the tenements is included in the table below.
| Prospect | Line Direction | Sensor Height | Line Spacing | Line km |
Canyon Rock Atlantis Xanadu |
North-South | 60m | 100m | 1,979 1,308 588 |
| Total | 3,875 |
Details of the magnetic/radiometric survey completed over the tenement holding
The survey covering E52/1893, Canyon Creek not only confirms the tenor of the Canyon Creek radiometric anomaly but also highlights the presence of a large anomaly at the northwest end of the tenement. This large anomaly appear to extend under the Bresnahan Group. The uranium channel radiometrics with the appropriate location of the unconformity is in the figure below.
Radiometrics (uranium channel) on Canyon Creek project
The survey covering E52/1880, Atlantis highlights the extension of the Atlantis anomaly (identified in the northwest) that does not appear to be limited by the outcropping unconformity, indicating the potential for mineralisation beneath the cover sequence. Nobby's stands out as a discrete anomaly. The figure below also highlights the anomalies over the Atlantic tenement area.
Radiometrics (uranium channel) on Nobby's and Atlantis prospects (north-west anomaly), Atlantis project
The historical Xanadu anomaly (E52/1879) was the subject of very little follow up work or detailed drilling by the very early explorers, even though there is a pronounced anomaly at the prospect. Of particular interest is a second significant uranium channel radiometric anomaly immediately to the northwest indicating the potential for extensions of the mineralisation under the cover sequence.
The figure below highlights the uranium channel radiometric anomalies on the Xanadu tenement and the inferred location of the target unconformity.
Radiometrics (uranium channel) on Xanadu project
Efforts are being made to increase the ground holding in this highly prospective uranium province of Western Australia.
Extensive ground radiometric surveys are being planned, to be carried out using a hand-held GR135 spectrometer to better define the exact location and relative magnitudes of the anomalies identified to date.
Geological mapping will also take place to assess structural and stratigraphic relationships in order to assist with the planning of the initial drilling programmes.
A detailed airborne electromagnetic survey is expected to be completed in October 2007.