VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - IsoEnergy Ltd. ("IsoEnergy" or the "Company") (TSXV: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to report the final chemical assay results from the summer drilling program completed in late October at the Hurricane zone. The Hurricane zone is a recent discovery of high-grade uranium mineralization on the Company's 100% owned Larocque East property (the "Property") in the Eastern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan.
South extension drill hole LE20-76 intersected 7.5m of uranium mineralization that averages 38.8% U3O8, including 3.5m of off-scale radioactivity that averages 74.0% U3O8 (Figure 1)
The most southerly drill hole on section 4460E, LE20-77, intersected 8.0m of uranium mineralization that averages 2.6% U3O8
The three westernmost sections are open to the south
Company is well funded with $11.8M in the treasury
Note: Off-scale radioactivity is >65,536 total gamma counts per second (CPS) from drill core measured with an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer (RS-125).
Craig Parry, Chief Executive Officer commented: "Ending the program with the best drill hole to date is a remarkable way to conclude our summer drilling program, which has demonstrated that Hurricane is a major new high-grade uranium discovery. We look forward to additional high-grade drilling in the New Year and continuing to deliver for our shareholders."
Steve Blower, Vice President of Exploration commented: "The hard work of our talented Technical team led by Andy Carmichael (Senior Geologist) and Justin Rodko (Project Geologist) resulted in a safe and very successful summer drilling program as exemplified by these final assays. Their understanding of the controls on mineralization at the Hurricane zone is the primary reason for our success. Further, our programs have benefitted from many service providers, the most important of which have been Bryson Drilling and Little Rock Enterprises (camp and expediting)."
Summer Drilling Summary
The expanded 24 drill hole summer program was focused on extending the high-grade area on the western side of the Hurricane zone. It was successful, with many of the best intersections at the zone to date being reported. These include:
LE20-76: 7.5m @ 38.8% U308, including 3.5m @ 74.0% U308
LE20-72: 6.0m @ 6.2% U308, including 1.5m @ 20.7% U308
LE20-68: 11.0m @ 6.9% U308, including 1.5m @ 49.3% U308
LE20-64: 5.0m @ 48.8% U308 including 4.0m @ 57.5% U308
LE20-62: 4.5m @ 6.2% U308 including 2.5m @ 11.1% U308
LE20-57: 10.0m @ 11.7% U308 including 2.5m @ 46.0% U308
LE20-54: 9.0m @ 12.8% U308 including 4.0m @ 27.1% U308
LE20-76 Assays (Section 4435E)
Completed to infill a 17m gap in the Southern extension area on section 4435E between drill holes LE20-64 and LE20-62, drill hole LE20-76 intersected two long intervals of uranium mineralization. The first is a 6.5m long interval of weak sandstone hosted uranium mineralization from 312.5 to 319.0m that averages 0.1% U3O8. Beneath this horizon is a 7.5m thick interval of intense uranium mineralization that straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity and averages 38.8% U3O8 from 322.5 to 330.0m. This intensely mineralized interval includes 3.5m of continuous off-scale mineralization from 324.0 to 327.5m that averages 74.0% U3O8. Figure 1 is a core photo of the intense mineralization. Figures 2 and 3 show the location of the drill hole in plan and section view, respectively.
Figure 1 – LE20-76 Core Photo of High-Grade Uranium Mineralization
LE20-77 Assays (Section 4460E)
Drill hole LE20-77 (Figures 2 and 4) was designed to evaluate the potential to extend mineralization south on section 4460E. It intersected 8.0m of uranium mineralization at the sub-Athabasca unconformity from 322.5 to 330.5m that averages 2.6% U3O8, including 1.0m @ 9.7% U3O8. The zone remains open for expansion to the south on this section.
Next Steps
All analytical results from the summer drilling program have now been released. Budgets and plans for 2021 activities at Larocque East are being finalized and will be announced in due course. A winter drilling program is anticipated that will begin after freeze-up in January.
The Larocque East Property and the Hurricane Zone
The 100% owned Larocque East property consists of 31 mineral claims totaling 15,878ha that are not encumbered by any royalties or other interests. Larocque East is immediately adjacent to the north end of IsoEnergy's Geiger property and is 35km northwest of Orano Canada's McClean Lake uranium mine and mill.
Along with other target areas, the Property covers a 15-kilometre-long northeast extension of the Larocque Lake conductor system; a trend of graphitic metasedimentary basement rocks that is associated with significant uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone, and in several occurrences on Cameco Corp. and Orano Canada Inc.'s neighbouring property to the southwest of Larocque East. The Hurricane zone was discovered in July 2018 and was followed up with 29 drill holes in 2019 and an additional 48 drill holes in 2020. Dimensions are currently 575m along-strike, up to 75m wide, and up to 11m thick. The zone is open for expansion along-strike to the east and to the north and south on some sections. Mineralization is polymetallic and commonly straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity 320 m below surface. The best intersection to date is 33.9% U3O8 over 8.5m in drill hole LE20-34. Drilling at Cameco Corp.'s Larocque Lake zone on the neighbouring property to the southwest has returned historical intersections of up to 29.9% U3O8 over 7.0m in drill hole Q22-040. Like the nearby Geiger property, Larocque East is located adjacent to the Wollaston-Mudjatik transition zone - a major crustal suture related to most of the uranium deposits in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Importantly, the sandstone cover on the Property is thin, ranging between 140m and 330m in previous drilling.
Table 1 – Summer 2020 Drilling Program Results
Hole-ID
From (m)
To (m)
Length (m)
Radioactivity1,2
Chemical Assays
Orientation
Location
(CPS)
U3O8 (%)
Ni (%)
(Azm/Dip)
LE20-543
329.5
338.5
9.0
>500
12.8
3.9
180/-79
Sect 4510E
incl.
333.0
337.0
4.0
>30,000
27.1
5.2
incl.
334.0
334.5
0.5
Off-scale5
52.5
1.6
LE20-553
No significant mineralization
180/-70
Sect 4785E
LE20-563
351.0
358.5
7.5
>500
0.1
0.1
180/-70
Sect 4660E
LE20-573
343.8
353.8
10.0
>500
11.7
0.3
217/-70
Sect 4435E
incl.
347.3
349.8
2.5
>40,000
46.0
1.0
incl.
347.8
348.3
0.5
Off-scale5
65.9
0.7
LE20-583
Abandoned before target
180/-69
Sect 4785E
LE20-58C13,6
144.0
146.5
2.5
>500
0.2
0.1
180/-71
Sect 4785E
LE20-594
342.0
347.0
5.0
>500
0.2
0.2
112/-69
Sect 4610E
incl.
345.0
345.5
0.5
>5,000
0.9
0.2
LE20-603
No significant mineralization
000/-90
Sect 4660E
LE20-613
313.0
322.0
9.0
>500
0.3
0.0
000/-90
Sect 4660E
incl.
321.5
322.0
0.5
>10,000
1.4
0.2
LE20-623
314.0
316.5
2.5
>500
0.2
0.0
000/-90
Sect 4435E
and
321.0
325.5
4.5
>500
6.2
0.5
incl.
323.0
325.5
2.5
>30,000
11.1
0.3
incl.
324.5
325.0
0.5
Off-scale5
29.0
0.3
LE20-63A3
No significant mineralization
180/-85
Sect 4660E
LE20-643
316.5
320.0
3.5
>500
0.3
0.1
000/-90
Sect 4435E
and
324.0
329.0
5.0
>500
48.8
1.1
incl.
324.5
328.5
4.0
>30,000
57.5
1.3
LE20-653
No significant mineralization
000/-90
Sect 4610E
LE20-663
323.0
324.0
1.0
>500
0.2
0.0
000/-90
Sect 4785E
LE20-673
327.5
329.5
2.0
>500
0.2
0.5
000/-90
Sect 4435E
LE20-683
323.0
334.0
11.0
>500
6.9
0.6
180/-80
Sect 4485E
incl.
332.0
333.5
1.5
>50,000
49.3
3.1
LE20-693
322.5
329.0
6.5
>500
0.9
0.3
000/-90
Sect 4435E
incl.
325.0
326.0
1.0
>5,000
2.4
0.2
LE20-703
No significant mineralization
000/-90
Sect 4560E
LE20-713
324.0
325.0
1.0
>500
0.2
0.1
000/-90
Sect 4485E
and
327.5
329.5
2.0
>500
2.4
2.8
incl.
329.0
329.5
0.5
>20,000
7.8
5.3
LE20-723
320.5
326.5
6.0
>500
6.2
0.7
000/-90
Sect 4460E
incl.
323.0
323.5
0.5
>20,000
7.9
0.7
and incl.
324.5
326.0
1.5
>40,000
20.7
0.7
LE20-734
326.5
332.0
5.5
>500
0.2
1.0
000/-90
Sect 4510E
LE20-744
320.5
325.5
5.0
>500
0.7
0.7
000/-90
Sect 4460E
incl.
322.0
323.5
1.5
>5,000
2.0
1.9
LE20-75A4
No significant mineralization
000/-90
Sect 4510E
LE20-764
312.5
319.0
6.5
>500
0.1
0.1
000/-90
Sect 4435E
and
322.5
330.0
7.5
>500
38.8
0.4
incl.
324.0
327.5
3.5
Off-scale5
74.0
0.6
LE20-774
322.5
330.5
8.0
>500
2.6
1.4
000/-90
Sect 4460E
incl.
324.0
326.5
2.5
>5,000
2.5
0.9
and incl.
329.0
330.0
1.0
>10,000
9.7
1.6
Notes:
1. Radioactivity is total gamma from drill core measured with an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer
2. Measurements of total gamma on drill core are an indication of uranium content, but may not correlate with chemical assays
3. Radioactivity and chemical assays previously disclosed
4. Radioactivity previously disclosed
5. Off-scale radioactivity is defined as exceeding 65,536 cps, the maximum measurable by an RS-125 spectrometer
6. LE20-58C1 is a wedged off-cut from LE20-58 at 200m
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergy's Senior Geologist, who is a "Qualified Person" (as defined in NI 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Carmichael has verified the data disclosed. All radioactivity measurements reported herein are total gamma from an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer. As mineralized drill holes at the Hurricane zone are oriented very steeply (-70 to -90 degrees) into a zone of mineralization that is interpreted to be horizontal, the true thickness of the intersections is expected to be greater than or equal to 90% of the core lengths. This news release refers to properties other than those in which the Company has an interest. Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties. All chemical analyses are completed for the Company by SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, SK. For additional information regarding the Company's Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures, please see the Technical Report dated effective May 15, 2019, on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.
About IsoEnergy
IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company recently discovered the high-grade Hurricane Zone of uranium mineralization on its 100% owned Larocque East property in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development and operations. The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.
Forward-Looking Information
The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.
Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.
Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.
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