Pioneer positions for role in US quest for uranium independence

Pioneer Lithium is accelerating exploration at its Skull Creek project in Colorado buoyed by a US executive order to bolster domestic uranium production.

The Skull Creek project could capitalise on a US commitment to revitalise the nuclear energy sector and bolster domestic uranium production. Pic: Getty Images.

Special Report: Pioneer Lithium is accelerating exploration at its Skull Creek project in Colorado in line with the US push for domestic uranium supply.

• PLN to commence soil sampling at Skull Creek uranium project in Colorado 
• Company aims to capitalise on US push for domestic nuclear fuel
• Program expected to define targets for planned drilling

Kicking off a two-phase soil sampling program is perfectly timed following executive orders aimed at accelerating nuclear power development and reducing reliance on foreign uranium sources.

Importantly, President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act, which seeks to secure nuclear fuel resources by encouraging domestic uranium mining and enrichment, aiming to reduce dependence on imports from countries like Russia. 

American domestic uranium production is reportedly only 2% of the US reactor demand and a US ban on Russian uranium imports puts a premium on US domestic uranium supply. 

The company has already recorded high-grade rock chips up to 1,240ppm uranium and all samples collected returned anomalous uranium values, supporting the presence of a potentially large-scale, high-grade mineralised system.

Plus, reported radiometric anomalies peaked at 10,100 cps in key target lithologies, further reinforming the project’s exceptional uranium prospectivity. 

Phase one of this program will target four strategically significant prospects - County Line, Blue Mountain, Skyline and Railroad – to define drill targets for Pioneer Lithium’s (ASX:PLN) maiden campaign.

Phase 2 will sample along the ~17 km strike of the project with the goal of identifying uranium-bearing Sego Sandstone and Carbonaceous Shales obscured by soils.

Drilling the country’s next domestic play?

The surface expression of widespread uranium mineralisation along strike at Skull Creek may indicate the presence of significant uranium at depth and Pioneer plans to capitalise on the renewed and invigorated US interest in uranium exploration to fast-track the project.

PLN is confident Skull Creek could emerge as a high-impact uranium asset in a Tier-1 jurisdiction.

“The soil sampling program will enable us to potentially determine the lateral boundaries of the anomalism at the County Line, Blue Mountain, Skyline and Railroad prospects where known mineralisation exists prior to commencing phase 2 of the program,” Pioneer CEO Michael Beven said.

“Phase 2 will be aimed at sampling on a much broader scale with the goal of detecting mineralised sandstone and shale layers elsewhere that are potentially buried under cover. 

“The ultimate goal of the program, once completed, will be to define drill-ready targets.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Pioneer Lithium, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Pioneer positions for role in US quest for uranium independence