Pioneer exploration target maps out Warmbad focus areas in uranium quest

PLN’s Warmbad uranium exploration target is based on 31.7km of historical drilling and is open in multiple directions.

Pioneer’s exploration target highlights the potential to extend uranium mineralisation at Warmbad in Namibia. Pic: Getty Images

Special Report: Pioneer has established a conservative exploration target at its Warmbad uranium project in Namibia that indicates potential to significantly grow the extent of mineralisation.

• Pioneer reveals 22-32Mt uranium target at Namibian project
• Exploration target remains open in multiple directions for growth
• Historical drilling shows thick zones grading up to 140ppm uranium

The estimate of between 22.22Mt and 32.11Mt with a grade range of 100-120ppm U3O8 is based on 31.7km of historical drilling and remains open in multiple directions.

Pioneer (ASX:PLN) said there was room for this target to be expanded following the completion of radiometric and magnetic drone surveying.

It comes mere weeks after the company acquired the ~350km2 Gaobis project that is considered to be an extension of the 271km2 Warmbad project in Namibia’s southern uranium corridor.

“The exploration target allows PLN to present an initial, quantifiable range of uranium mineralisation at Warmbad, based on historic work completed by Xemplar Energy,” chief executive officer Michael Beven said. 

“The exploration target has significant room to increase as all known areas of uranium mineralisation are open in multiple directions. It is expected that further exploration drilling will result in a significant increase in size.

“Additionally multiple areas of granite and alaskite intrusive are recorded in the project area that remain untested.” 

Beven added that while the lack of confidence in the interpretations of regional-scale low-quality radiometric surveys completed in 2007 prevented the inclusion of such areas in the target, any discrete radiometric anomalies returned from the use of modern surveying over untested zones of intrusives would allow them to be included with confidence.

3D model plan view of the mineralised zones at Warmbad. Image: Pioneer Lithium

Warmbad project

The Warmbad project under Exclusive Prospecting Licence 8838 sits within the Namaqua Metamorphic Complex, a known uranium-bearing province where mineralisation typically occurs within leucocratic alaskitic intrusions.

Uranium mineralisation is structurally controlled along fold hinges and northeast-trending faults within granite-hosted systems, directly analogous to the setting at Namibia’s Rossing Mine, one of the world’s largest uranium operations and the type locality for this deposit style.

Exploration by Xemplar between 2007 and 2009 included a comprehensive drill program of 161 reverse circulation and 11 diamond holes totalling 31,685m though none of the diamond holes were assayed nor were any structural measurements taken.

This historical drilling confirmed the presence of extensive, thick zones of uranium mineralisation consistent with the alaskite-hosted system at Rossing.

Notable assays included 72m grading 140.1ppm U3O8, 77m at 127.4ppm and 79m at 126.9ppm.

PLN’s work has now defined four distinct mineralised areas under the exploration target.

Area 1 consists of two zones of intruded mineralised alaskite sheeting about 500m apart and open in all directions while Area 3 features multiple thick bands of mineralisation that dip towards the east and is open to the north, east, southeast and at depth.

The Area 3 extension features multiple relatively flat laying horizons of uranium bearing alaskite sheets that are open to the north, northwest, northeast, east and southeast.

Last but not least, Area 5 has complex geometry with the western flank of the mineralisation moderately dipping towards the north while the mineralisation on the eastern flank moderately dips towards the south.

Beven said growth opportunities included step out drilling at the existing areas of known mineralisation and the discovery of new pods of mineralisation where recorded granites and alaskite intrusive bodies are shown to be “hot”. 

“Pioneer will also look at the possibility that sedimentary hosted uranium mineralisation in paleochannels could occur at this project,” he added.

PLN is working through land access agreements with landowners and the required approvals with the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

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