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Elevate Uranium and Energy Metals make high-grade uranium hits at Bigrlyi project

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By Imelda Cotton - 
Elevate Uranium EL8 Energy Metals EME ASX uranium Bigrlyi project Northern Territory
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Exploration at the Bigrlyi uranium joint venture in the Northern Territory has intersected multiple zones of high-grade mineralisation for partners Elevate Uranium (ASX: EL8) and Energy Metals (ASX: EME).

Extension drilling commenced in July to grow the resource, which currently sits at 6.32 million tonnes at an average grade of 1,530 parts per million for 9,660t (21.3 million pounds) contained uranium oxide using a 500ppm cut-off.

Approximately 10,500 metres of reverse circulation and diamond work has been completed to date at the A2, A4 and A15 sub-deposits, with two holes at A4 considered to be standouts.

Gamma probing of these holes returned a series of outstanding intersections including a highlight of 10.6m at 0.86% (or 8,600ppm) uranium oxide equivalent from 529.1m in the first hole including multiple zones in excess of 1% (10,000ppm) and a maximum over 2%.

Second hole results

The same mineralised zone was encountered 60m up-dip in the second hole, where results included 5.3m at 0.61% uranium oxide equivalent from 488.9m.

There were also significant intersections greater than 0.5m in width and over 500ppm uranium oxide equivalent.

Both holes are up to 130m below a historical drill hole that returned 4.95m at 0.46% uranium oxide equivalent from 382.3m and was the deepest hole previously drilled at A4.

The intersections are believed to become progressively stronger in terms of grade and thickness as the depth increases and the mineralisation remains open at depth.

Elevate said further drilling would be carried out to determine the full extent of the A4 sub-deposit.

Bigrlyi location

Located in the Ngalia Basin, approximately 350 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs, the Bigrlyi project is classified as a uranium-vanadium deposit occurring within the sub-vertical Mt Eclipse sandstone that contains a sequence of medium-to-coarse grained felspathic sands.

It forms part of an extensive suite of uranium tenements and resources controlled by Elevate in Western Australia and the NT.

Elevate has a 20.8% stake in the Bigrlyi joint venture through its subsidiary NT Uranium, while Energy Metals has a 72.4% share and Noble Investments holds the remaining 6.8%.