Standard Uranium Ltd. (“
Standard Uranium” or the
“
Company”) (TSX-V: STND) (OTCQB: STTDF)
(Frankfurt: FWB:9SU) is pleased to announce that inaugural drilling
activities are now complete at the Company’s 3,061-hectare Atlantic
Project (“
Atlantic” or “the
Project”) highlighting anomalous radioactivity1 in
all completed drill holes. Atlantic is situated in the prolific
eastern Athabasca Basin, northern Saskatchewan (Figure 1).
Highlights:
-
Inaugural Success: Anomalous
radioactivity (>300 cps) was intersected in
all five of the Company’s inaugural drill holes at
the Atlantic Project, coinciding with prospective structural zones
and favorable alteration including dravite-rich
clays.
-
Sandstone & Basement-Hosted Radioactivity:
Multiple zones of elevated radioactivity linked to the
sub-Athabasca unconformity and basement structural zones were
intersected, indicating a uranium-fertile system.
- Verified
Targets: Massive structural disruption confirmed in the
sandstone column and multiple wide (>10 metres)
brittle-reactivated graphitic shear zones confirm the main
interpreted electromagnetic (“EM”) corridor on the western claim
block which was not reached by previous operators. The inaugural
program results have confirmed the Company’s exploration thesis on
the Project, highlighting a uranium-fertile system with several
kilometres of still untested strike length across the Project.
-
Hydrothermal U Input: Uranium: Thorium (“U:Th”)
ratios >3:1 measured with the handheld RS-125 Super-Spec suggest
hydrothermal uranium input focused along structures.
- On Time
& Under Budget: Completion of 3,316 metres within 5
drill holes, surpassing meterage expectations both on time and
under budget.
- Follow
Up Targets & Next Steps: Atlantic holds significant
upside for discovery along the untested portions of the E-W
conductor system. Supplementary geophysical surveys over the
central claim blocks will provide further target areas for phase II
and III drilling, along with the additional untested gravity low
anomalies on the western block identified in 2022.
“Intersecting anomalous radioactivity across all
five drill holes targeting a completely untested area on the
Atlantic project is extremely encouraging. The results from this
program have confirmed the presence of a significant structural
framework on the property providing the ideal conditions for
high-grade unconformity-related uranium mineralization,” said Sean
Hillacre, Standard Uranium’s VP of Exploration. “The scale and
intensity of deformation in the basement rocks we drilled this
season is highly prospective and paired with the radioactivity and
hydrothermal alteration intersected in the overlying sandstone, we
are just in the beginning of uncovering the compelling story on the
first of many target areas on Atlantic.”
The Atlantic project boasts all the key
characteristics to host a high-grade unconformity-related uranium
deposit, and the results of the inaugural drill program on the
project have strengthened the validity of the exploration model.
Follow up targets are being planned as geological data from the
winter 2024 program is processed and interpreted. Core samples from
the program have been submitted to Saskatchewan Research Council
Geoanalytical Laboratory (“SRC”) in Saskatoon, for geochemical
assay and results will be reported once received and examined by
the technical team in accordance with the Company’s internal
quality control processes.
“I am very encouraged with the magnitude of the
structure and alteration that has been encountered thus far.
Combined with the anomalous radioactivity, we’re setting the stage
for more success on the project” said Neil McCallum, director of
Standard Uranium and Atco Mining. “We are already planning the next
steps, so having this information will be an incredible addition to
our exploration model.”
The Project is currently under option (the
“Option”) to ATCO Mining Inc. (the
“Optionee”) an arms-length company listed on the
Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: ATCM). Pursuant to the Option,
the Optionee can earn a 75% interest in Atlantic over three years.
The Optionee-funded winter 2024 drill program will contribute to
satisfying the first year of minimum exploration expenditures
required by the Option.
Figure 1. Regional summary map of the Atlantic
Project highlighting uranium occurrences, historical and 2024 drill
holes, geophysical anomalies, and EM conductors.
Technical Highlights:
The winter 2024 drill program comprised 3,316
metres of diamond drilling across 5 drill holes (Table 1). Two
drill holes were restarted due to difficult ground conditions
resulting from highly broken and desilicified sandstone intervals.
Inaugural drilling intersected the key characteristics of a
uranium-bearing mineralized system in previously untested “Target
Area A” (Figure 2), confirming the presence of a significant
graphitic fault system in the basement rock linked to anomalous
radioactivity and prospective hydrothermal alteration at the
unconformity. Handheld scintillometer and downhole gamma probe
radioactivity results are summarized in Table 2.
Figure 2. Map of the western Atlantic claim
block, highlighting winter 2024 drill holes and historical drill
hole BL-16-32. The geophysical target area is defined by a
significant residual gravity-low anomaly coinciding with EM
conductors dipping to the south.
Table 1. Atlantic winter 2024 drill hole collar
summary. Easting and Northing coordinates are reported in UTM Zone
13N, NAD83 datum; EOH = end of hole; m.a.s.l. = metres above sea
level.
DDH |
Easting |
Northing |
Elevation (m.a.s.l.) |
Azimuth (°) |
Dip (°) |
EOH (m) |
ATL-24-001 |
519790 |
6498261 |
412 |
344.80 |
-69 |
599 |
ATL-24-002 |
519828 |
6498570 |
394 |
336.90 |
-67 |
641 |
ATL-24-003 |
520190 |
6498305 |
396 |
338.20 |
-74 |
588 |
ATL-24-004* |
519851 |
6498546 |
388 |
336.20 |
-74 |
60 |
ATL-24-004A |
519851 |
6498546 |
388 |
336.20 |
-74 |
657 |
ATL-24-005* |
519936 |
6498584 |
398 |
335.90 |
-69 |
111 |
ATL-24-005A |
519936 |
6498584 |
398 |
336.40 |
-69 |
660 |
* Restarted due to difficult ground
conditions.
Table 2. Atlantic winter 2024 drill hole
radioactivity summary. Scintillometer readings are taken from
down-hole depths, gamma probe peaks are corrected survey
depths.
DDH |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Width (m) |
Lithology |
RS-125 Scintillometer |
32GR Gamma Probe |
Min |
Max |
Avg. |
Peak |
Depth (m) |
ATL-24-001 |
520.5 |
521.0 |
0.5 |
Sandstone |
170 |
360 |
265 |
337 |
518.55 |
ATL-24-001 |
521.5 |
522.0 |
0.5 |
130 |
310 |
220 |
ATL-24-001 |
523.5 |
524.0 |
0.5 |
160 |
340 |
250 |
ATL-24-002 |
509.0 |
509.5 |
0.5 |
Sandstone |
200 |
590 |
395 |
1,204 |
506.27 |
ATL-24-003 |
505.0 |
505.5 |
0.5 |
Sandstone |
160 |
280 |
220 |
323 |
506.59 |
ATL-24-003 |
558.0 |
558.5 |
0.5 |
Basement |
110 |
280 |
195 |
ATL-24-004A |
530.0 |
530.5 |
0.5 |
Basement |
100 |
560 |
330 |
1,082 |
530.18 |
ATL-24-004A |
544.5 |
545.0 |
0.5 |
140 |
360 |
250 |
ATL-24-004A |
550.0 |
550.5 |
0.5 |
140 |
370 |
255 |
ATL-24-005A |
493.0 |
493.5 |
0.5 |
Sandstone |
120 |
310 |
215 |
647 |
490.99 |
ATL-24-005A |
494.5 |
495.0 |
0.5 |
180 |
450 |
315 |
ATL-24-005A |
496.5 |
497.0 |
0.5 |
140 |
310 |
225 |
The Atlantic Project covers 6.5 km of an 18 km
long, east-west trending conductive exploration trend which hosts
numerous uranium occurrences. The Company completed a
high-resolution ground gravity survey on the western claim block in
2022, revealing multiple subsurface density anomalies, potentially
representing significant hydrothermal alteration zones in the
sandstone rooted to basement conductors.
The drill program was designed to follow up on
highly anomalous uranium results returned from drill hole BL-16-32,
in addition to testing the newly outlined gravity lows defined by
the 2022 ground survey. On the western Atlantic claim block,
drilling by Denison Mines in 2016 (Hole BL-16-32) identified 342
ppm uranium over 0.5 metres at the base of the sandstone, just
north of Target Area A. Winter drilling was focused in Target Area
A which is defined by a 1,400-metre x 850-metre density-low anomaly
coinciding with stacked EM conductors and an interpreted regional
fault. Figure 2 highlights winter 2024 drilling focused on testing
the 3D density anomaly target at the unconformity linked to
basement EM conductors and interpreted fault trends. Core photos of
prospective alteration, structure, and radioactivity intersected
during the inaugural drill program are presented in Figure 3, 4,
and 5.
Figure 3. Core photos from drill hole ATL-24-002
highlighting significant structure and alteration intersected in
the Athabasca sandstone and basement rocks. UC = Unconformity. A)
Variably altered Athabasca sandstone throughout a highly structured
interval above the unconformity (yellow box) hosting local
anomalous radioactivity (red box) and dravite alteration at the UC.
Maximum gamma probe reading of 1,204 cps at 506.3 m. B) Strongly
deformed graphitic basement rocks displaying reactivation textures
and variable alteration; 539 to 552.3 m.
Figure 4. Core photos from drill hole ATL-24-004a
highlighting basement structure and alteration zones intersected
associated with anomalous radioactivity. A) Anomalous radioactivity
up to 1,082 cps associated with a cross-cutting hematite-altered
vein at 530.3 m. B) Anomalous radioactivity up to 314 cps
associated with a hematite-altered breccia at 549.7 m. C) Anomalous
radioactivity up to 483 cps associated with a hematite- and
clay-altered vein at 544.2 m. D) Anomalous radioactivity up to 428
cps associated with a hematite-altered breccia and clay-lined
fractures at 548.7 m.
Figure 5. Core photos from drill hole ATL-24-005a
highlighting structure and alteration intersected in the Athabasca
sandstone and basement rocks. A) Subvertical fault structure filled
with a clay-hematite matrix; 410.5 to 411.5 m. B) Subvertical fault
structure filled with a white clay matrix; 483.4 to 483.7 m. C)
Anomalous radioactivity in the basal Athabasca sandstone up to 647
cps at 491 m. D) Strongly deformed graphitic basement rock
overprinted by cataclasis and associated clay alteration; 540.0 to
540.3 m.
Samples collected for analysis have been sent to
SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for
preparation, processing, and ICP-MS multi-element analysis using
total and partial digestion, gold by fire assay and boron by
fusion. Sandstone samples were tested using the ICP-MS1 uranium
multi-element exploration package plus boron. Basement samples were
tested with ICP-MS2 uranium multi-element exploration package plus
boron. All sandstone samples, and basement samples marked as
radioactive upon arrival to the lab were also analyzed using the
U3O8 assay (reported in wt %). Basement rock split interval samples
range from 0.1 to 0.5 m and sandstone composite samples are
comprised of multiple equal sized full core “pucks” spaced over the
sample interval. SRC is an ISO/IEC 17025/2005 and Standards Council
of Canada certified analytical laboratory. Blanks, standard
reference materials, and repeats were inserted into the sample
stream at regular intervals in accordance with Standard Uranium’s
quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols. Samples
containing clay alteration have been sent to Rekasa Rocks Inc. in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to be analyzed by Short Wavelength Infrared
Reflectance (“SWIR”) via a Portable Infrared Mineral Analyzer
(“PIMA”) to verify clay species. Geochemical assay results will be
released as they are received and examined by the technical team in
accordance with the Company’s internal quality control process.
1 The Company considers radioactivity readings
greater than 300 counts per second (cps) to be “anomalous”.2 The
Company considers uranium mineralization with concentrations
greater than 1.0 wt% U3O8 to be “high-grade”.3Natural gamma
radiation in diamond drill core reported in this news release was
measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld RS-125
super-spectrometer and verified using a down-hole Mount Sopris 32GR
slim gamma probe. The 32GR gamma probe has been calibrated to
optimize the probe for uranium exploration logging and estimating
weight percent U3O8 content. Readers are cautioned that
scintillometer and gamma probe readings are not uniformly or
directly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and
should be treated only as a preliminary indication of the presence
of radioactive minerals. All drill hole intersections are measured
down-hole. Core interval measurements and true thicknesses are yet
to be determined.
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release has been reviewed, verified, and
approved by Sean Hillacre, P.Geo., President and VP Exploration of
the Company and a “qualified person” as defined in NI 43-101.
About Standard Uranium (TSX-V:
STND)
We find the fuel to power a
clean energy future
Standard Uranium is a uranium exploration
company and emerging project generator poised for discovery in the
world’s richest uranium district. The Company holds interest in
over 209,867 acres (84,930 hectares) in the world-class Athabasca
Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. Since its establishment, Standard
Uranium has focused on the identification, acquisition, and
exploration of Athabasca-style uranium targets with a view to
discovery and future development.
Standard Uranium has successfully completed four
joint venture earn in partnerships on their Sun Dog, Canary,
Atlantic and Ascent projects totaling over $31M in work commitments
over the next three years from 2024-2027.
Standard Uranium’s Davidson River Project, in
the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, comprises
ten mineral claims over 30,737 hectares. Davidson River is highly
prospective for basement-hosted uranium deposits due to its
location along trend from recent high-grade uranium discoveries.
However, owing to the large project size with multiple targets, it
remains broadly under-tested by drilling. Recent intersections of
wide, structurally deformed and strongly altered shear zones
provide significant confidence in the exploration model and future
success is expected.
Standard Uranium’s eight eastern Athabasca
projects comprise thirty mineral claims over 32,838 hectares. The
eastern basin projects are highly prospective for unconformity
related and/or basement hosted uranium deposits based on historical
uranium occurrences, recently identified geophysical anomalies, and
location along trend from several high-grade uranium
discoveries.
Standard Uranium's Sun Dog project, in the
northwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan,
is comprised of nine mineral claims over 19,603 hectares. The Sun
Dog project is highly prospective for basement and unconformity
hosted uranium deposits yet remains largely untested by sufficient
drilling despite its location proximal to uranium discoveries in
the area.
For further information contact:
Jon Bey, Chief Executive Officer, and ChairmanSuite 918, 1030
West Georgia StreetVancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2Y3Tel: 1 (306)
850-6699E-mail: info@standarduranium.ca
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable
securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on
expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news
release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to, statements regarding: the timing and content of upcoming work
programs; geological interpretations; timing of the Company’s
exploration programs; and estimates of market conditions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a
variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual events or results to differ from those
expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained
herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove
to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Certain
important factors that could cause actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements are highlighted in the “Risks and Uncertainties” in the
Company’s management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year
ended April 30, 2023.
Forward-looking statements are based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to
significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies that may cause the Company’s actual financial
results, performance, or achievements to be materially different
from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material
factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements
include, without limitation: that the transaction with the Optionee
will proceed as planned; the future price of uranium; anticipated
costs and the Company’s ability to raise additional capital if and
when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Company’s
securities; future sales of the Company’s securities; the Company’s
ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the
success of exploration, development and operations activities; the
timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral
resources on the Company’s mineral properties; the costs of
operating and exploration expenditures; the presence of laws and
regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee
relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and
indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated
with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining
necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government
authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties;
assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general
macroeconomic conditions.
The forward-looking statements contained in this
news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with
respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and,
accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/644fd166-a2c3-4c2c-a0b7-bb4c1114363d
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1183c1dd-fcdf-4b10-809b-a90ad0db6d61
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bce5fdfa-5e31-4d8a-a935-8515f798fd3d
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf6dbb17-5b23-4082-8f63-53a9893c7731
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