The nature of the mineralized zone and alteration sequence being
compared and correlated between core from two adjacent holes.
Aricheng West is emerging as one of the most extensive and consistently mineralized areas drilled in the Kurupung Batholith to date. Mineralization at Aricheng West now extends over a strike length of 650 metres and to a depth of 150 metres. The uranium-bearing zone at Aricheng Epsilon is believed to constitute part of the Aricheng West mineralized system, and if this is correct, would increase the total strike length of mineralization to some 850 metres. Mineralization at Aricheng West is open along strike and at depth.
Uranium mineralization at Aricheng West is contained within a set of sheet-like breccias forming a “Y”-shaped cross section. The “Y”-shape is asymmetric with the southern structure being sub-vertical and the other arm of the “Y” inclined to the south at an angle of approximately 45º. Mineralization is enclosed by an albite-chlorite-hematite-calcite alteration assemblage.
Drill Hole Locations
Over 3,700 metres in more than 20 bore holes (Phase I and II) have been completed to date in the Aricheng West mineralized area.
Plan view (Figure 2A) shows the location of the most recent three bore holes (ARW-28 to ARW-30) drilled in the scout drilling program on the extension of the Aricheng West target. The collar position of each hole is shown as a dot and the extent of each inclined hole is shown as a black line. U3O8 grade (%) is shown as a histogram along the trace of the bore hole. The coloured background is magnetic data from a field survey (dark blue represents the least magnetic areas while green areas have higher magnetism). Radiometric data is marked by contour lines (warm coloured contours enclose areas with higher radiometric values).
Figure 2B is a wider view of Figure 2A, which shows the location of the drilling on the mineralized extension of Aricheng West relative to the uranium zones previously drilled at Aricheng West and at Aricheng Epsilon.
Long Section
The Aricheng West long section shows the distribution of grade-thickness values (the product of the width of the mineralized interval and its U3O8 grade in %) on a vertical projection of the structure. The left-hand side of the diagram illustrates the relatively close-spaced drilling on that part of Aricheng West while the coloured circles to the east demarcate the pierce points of scout drilling on the extension of this structure. A pierce point is the approximate location at which each bore hole intersects the structure. The most recently reported bore holes are labeled in red.
Uranium at Aricheng West is concentrated in a mineralized shoot that is inclined gently to the southwest. Scout drilling on the eastern extension suggest that the mineralized shoot is sub-horizontal and mineralization is still open. Consistent uranium has been traced over a distance of 650 metres and to a depth of 150 metres. The uranium zone at Aricheng Epsilon is believed to constitute part of the Aricheng West system and, if this is correct, would increase the total strike length of mineralization to some 850 metres.
Assay Results
Summary of significantly mineralized intercepts at Aricheng West.
* Note: lb/st is an abbreviation for pounds per short ton.
1 short ton = 2,000lbs or 0.907 metric tonnes.