IsoEnergy Continues to Intersect Strong Pitchblende Uranium Mineralization in Step-out Drilling Confirming over 150 m of Strike Extent at the Hurricane Discovery
Hole LE19-12 Drilled 75 m West and Hole LE19-13 Drilled 75 m East Both Confirm Presence of Uranium Mineralization with RS-125 hand-held spectrometer, Assays Pending
VANCOUVER, March 20, 2019 /CNW/ - IsoEnergy Ltd. ("IsoEnergy" or the "Company") (TSXV: ISO; OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to announce that the final drill holes in the winter drilling campaign have intersected intervals of strong radioactivity associated with pitchblende uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone. The Hurricane zone is a new discovery of high-grade uranium on the Company's 100% owned Larocque East Property in the eastern Athabasca basin region of Saskatchewan (Figure 1), home to the world's largest and highest-grade uranium mines.
The results confirm the presence of a high-grade uranium deposit at Hurricane with a minimum strike extent of 150 m and work is underway to plan for follow-up exploration drilling in summer 2019.
Drilling Highlights
Drill hole LE19-12 intersected 8.5 m of uranium mineralization 75 m west of the discovery section. This includes a 4.5 m interval that measures >10,000 cps (RS-125), including several smaller intervals that measure >20,000 cps.
Drill hole LE19-13 intersected 2.5 m of uranium mineralization at >1,000 cps (RS-125) 75 m east of the discovery section, including 0.5 m of strongly elevated radioactivity that averages >10,000 cps (RS-125).
With these results, the Hurricane zone now measures over 150 m long x 38 m wide and is up to 8.5 m thick.
The company is fully funded for ongoing exploration including a subsequent follow-up drill program in 2019.
Steve Blower, Vice President, Exploration commented: "With uranium mineralization intersected in 11 of 12 drill holes, the results of this expanded program have exceeded our high expectations. The main objective of the program was to determine if the Hurricane zone is an isolated pod of mineralization or something more substantial. With a minimum strike length of 151 m it's clearly the latter, and it's open on all five sections drilled and along-strike. Hitting strong mineralization in each of the final two 50 m step-outs bodes well for future drill results."
Craig Parry, Chief Executive Officer commented: "I congratulate our technical team and our contractors for a productive, efficient and safe drilling campaign that has resulted in a new high-grade uranium discovery in the eastern Athabasca basin. We strongly believe the uranium market will continue to improve through 2019 as the effects of supply curtailments are further felt and as US utilities begin to seek contracts for uranium product at the conclusion of the US Department of Commerce Section 232 Investigation into US uranium supply, which is expected in Q2, 2019. Against this positive uranium market backdrop, we are excited for the next phase of work at Hurricane and particularly the follow-up drill program we are planning for after spring break-up."
LE19-12
Drill hole LE19-12 was drilled on section 4485E, 75 m west of the discovery section and 76 m east of the property boundary. The drill hole intersected a long, 8.5 m interval of fracture controlled, disseminated, replacement and breccia fill styles of pitchblende uranium mineralization (>1,000 cps RS-125). This included a 4.5 m interval that measured >10,000 cps (RS-125), including several smaller intervals that measured >20,000 cps. The radioactivity is summarized in Table 1. Figure 2 shows the location of the drill hole in plan view and Figure 3 shows the location on a cross-section. The only other drill hole on this section, LE19-11, is located 28 m to the north of LE19-12 and it is also mineralized.
LE19-13
Collared on section 4635E, 75 m east of the discovery section, drill hole LE19-13 is the furthest hole drilled to the east on the Hurricane zone. It intersected substantial uranium mineralization 50 m east of previously disclosed drill hole LE19-06 (Table 1). While the drill hole was well mineralized, extensive faulting in the basal sandstone suggests that the optimal location on this section was overshot. The main intersection consists of 2.5 m of fracture controlled, disseminated and replacement styles of pitchblende uranium mineralization (>1,000 cps RS-125), as summarized in Table 1. This includes 0.5 m of strongly elevated radioactivity that averages >10,000 cps (RS-125). Figure 4 shows the location of the drill hole on a cross-section.
LE19-10 and LE19-11
Drill holes LE19-10 and LE19-11 both intersected intervals of elevated radioactivity associated with uranium mineralization. LE19-10 was drilled to the south of LE19-09 on section 4535E. It intersected 1.5 m of weak to moderate radioactivity at the sub-Athabasca unconformity. Drill hole LE19-11 was the first hole drilled along-strike to the west on section 4485E. It was drilled as an angled hole from the north designed to locate target stratigraphy and structures that were to be followed up with drill hole LE19-12, 28 m to the south. As such, drill hole LE19-11 was not expected to be mineralized, but a narrow zone of strong pitchblende mineralization was intersected at the unconformity. Assay results for both of these drill holes are pending.
LE19-07 and LE19-08 Assay Results
Uranium assays from drill holes LE19-07 and LE19-08 have been received (Table 1) and they are consistent with the radioactive intervals previously reported (see news release dated February 28, 2019). Along with the uranium mineralization, substantial nickel and cobalt mineralization is present. Drill hole LE19-07 intersected 0.4% U3O8, 0.8% Ni and 1.4% Co over 6.0 m. This includes 1.0% U3O8, 4.9% Ni and 9.3% Co over 0.5 m. Similarly, drill hole LE19-08 intersected 0.8% U3O8, 1.5% Ni and 0.4% Co over 3.5 m. This includes 3.7% U3O8, 8.3% Ni and 1.3% Co over 0.5 m.
Next Steps
The winter drilling campaign, expanded from 10 drill holes to 12, is now complete. Drilling data will now be compiled and interpreted over the spring break-up period and integrated with the results from a program of DC-resistivity ground geophysics planned for April. The DC-resistivity survey will aid planning for a fully funded follow-up summer drilling campaign that will likely begin in July of this year and will focus on aggressively expanding the Hurricane zone along-strike to the east.
Table 1 – Hurricane Zone Radioactive Intervals
Hole-ID
From
To
Length
Radioactivity1,2
Chemical Assays
Location
(m)
(m)
(m)
(cps)
U3O8 (%)
Ni (%)
Co (%)
LE18-01A3
338.5
347.0
8.5
NA
1.3
0.0
0.0
Section 4560E
incl.
344.5
347.0
2.5
NA
3.6
0.0
0.0
incl.
345.0
346.0
1.0
NA
6.5
0.1
0.0
LE19-023
316.5
320.0
3.5
>1,000
0.2
0.1
0.2
Section 4560E
and
326.5
330.0
3.5
>1,000
10.4
0.8
0.0
incl.
328.5
330.0
1.5
>20,000
23.6
1.6
0.0
incl.
329.0
329.5
0.5
>50,000
38.2
1.5
0.1
LE19-033
324.0
324.5
0.5
>1,000
0.2
0.1
0.0
Section 4560E
and
326.5
329.5
3.0
>1,000
2.7
2.3
0.0
incl.
328.5
329.5
1.0
>5,000
7.6
6.6
0.1
incl.
329.0
329.5
0.5
>20,000
13.3
11.8
0.1
LE19-043
329.0
329.5
0.5
>1,000
0.1
0.0
0.0
Section 4560E
and
333.0
333.5
0.5
>1,000
0.4
0.2
0.0
LE19-053
No significantly elevated radioactivity
Section 4560E
LE19-063
328.0
330.0
2.0
>1,000
0.4
0.1
0.1
Section 4585E
and
332.0
336.0
4.0
>5,000
3.8
1.1
0.0
incl.
333.5
335.5
2.0
>10,000
5.5
0.7
0.0
incl.
333.5
334.0
0.5
>20,000
13.7
1.2
0.0
LE19-074
325.0
331.0
6.0
>1,000
0.4
0.8
1.4
Section 4585E
incl.
328.0
328.5
0.5
>5,000
1.0
4.9
9.3
LE19-084
326.5
327.0
0.5
>1,000
0.4
0.1
0.1
Section 4535E
and
333.0
336.5
3.5
>1,000
0.8
1.5
0.4
incl.
335.5
336.0
0.5
>10,000
3.7
8.3
1.3
LE19-094
325.0
329.5
4.5
>1,000
Pending
Section 4535E
incl.
327.0
329.0
2.0
>20,000
Pending
LE19-10
331.5
333.0
1.5
>1,000
Pending
Section 4535E
LE19-11
333.0
333.5
0.5
>5,000
Pending
Section 4485E
LE19-12
320.5
329.0
8.5
>1,000
Pending
Section 4485E
incl.
324.5
327.0
2.5
>10,000
Pending
incl.
324.5
325.0
0.5
>20,000
Pending
incl.
326.0
327.0
1.0
>20,000
Pending
incl.
328.5
329.0
0.5
>20,000
Pending
LE19-13
320.0
320.5
0.5
>1,000
Pending
Section 4635E
and
321.5
324.0
2.5
>1,000
Pending
incl.
322.5
323.0
0.5
>10,000
Pending
Notes:
1.
Radioactivity is total gamma from drill core measured with an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer.
2.
Measurements of total gamma cps on drill core are an indication of uranium content, but may not correlate with chemical assays.
3.
Radioactivity and chemical assays previously disclosed.
4.
Radioactivity previously disclosed.
Larocque East
Larocque East consists of 6 mineral claims totaling 3,200 hectares and was purchased in May, 2018. The Property is owned 100% by IsoEnergy and is not encumbered by any royalties or other interests. Larocque East is immediately adjacent to the north end of IsoEnergy's Geiger property and is 35 kilometres northwest of Orano Canada's McClean Lake uranium mine and mill.
The Property covers a 15-kilometre-long northeast extension of the Larocque Lake conductor system; a trend of graphitic metasedimentary basement rocks that is associated with significant uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone, and in several occurrences on a neighbouring property to the southwest of Larocque East. The closest of these to Larocque East are the Larocque Lake and Larocque North zones, which are located 6.5 kilometres and 0.4 kilometres, respectively, to the southwest of the western Larocque East property boundary. Drilling at the Larocque Lake zone has returned historical intersections of up to 29.9% U3O8 over 7.0 m in drill hole Q22-040. Drilling at the Larocque North zone has returned intersections of up to 2.05% U3O8 over 0.6 m in drill hole Q22-16. Like the nearby Geiger property, Larocque East is located adjacent to the Wollaston-Mudjatik transition zone - a major crustal suture related to most of the major uranium deposits in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Importantly, the sandstone cover on Larocque East is thin, ranging between 140 m and 330 m in previous drilling.
In addition to the Hurricane zone discovery, four historical drill holes have intersected weak uranium mineralization at other locations on the Larocque East property to date, including drill hole KER-07 (0.12% U3O8 over 0.1 m), located 400 m east of the discovery section.
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergy's Senior Geologist, who is a "qualified person" (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Carmichael has verified the data disclosed. This news release refers to properties other than those in which the Company has an interest. Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties. An RS-125 hand-held spectrometer was used to verify that the radioactivity is due to uranium. As the drill holes reported herein are vertical or near-vertical, and the mineralization is interpreted to be horizontal, the true thickness is expected to be within 90% of the cored intervals.
About IsoEnergy
IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada and a historic inferred mineral resource estimate at the Mountain Lake uranium deposit in Nunavut. 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.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.
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.
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
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