Uracan Upgrades Double S Resource in Quebec
TSX - V: URC
Highlights
- Upgraded North Shore Resource includes:
- Total Indicated Resource at Double S Zone: 6.858 million lbs U3O8
- Total Inferred Resource at Double S, TJ and Middle Zones combined: 37.095 million lbs U3O8
VANCOUVER, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Uracan Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Uracan") (TSXV:URC) is pleased to announce an updated National Instrument (NI) 43-101 compliant indicated and inferred resource estimation has been completed on the Double S Zone, located within Uracan's 100% owned 1,000 Km2 North Shore Uranium Property in Quebec.
The previous resource estimation at the Double S Zone was entirely in the inferred category. The updated Double S mineralized Zone hosts an indicated resource of 21.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.014% U3O8 containing 3.11 million kilograms (6.86 million pounds) of U3O8 and an inferred resource of 59.96 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.012% U3O8 containing 7.41 million kilograms (16.33 million pounds) of U3O8 using a 0.010% cutoff.
The combined overall resource at the Double S, TJ and Middle Zones contains a total indicated resource of 21.5 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.014% U3O8 containing 3.11 million kilograms (6.86 million pounds) of U3O8 using a 0.010% cutoff, and a total inferred resource estimate of 140.65 million tonnes at a weighted average grade of 0.012% U3O8 containing 16.826 million kilograms (37.095 million pounds) of uranium using a 0.010% cutoff. A map outlining the resource estimate areas is available at http://www.uracan.ca/i/maps/URC_north-shore-property.jpg
In the 2010 resource estimation report (see May 10th, 2010 news release for more details), SRK Consulting Canada Inc. ("SRK") was of the opinion that the current level of drilling was sufficient to classify some of the mineral resource as Indicated. However additional metallurgical test work needed to be carried out before this was done. Uracan retained SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS") to carry out preliminary metallurgical test work in order to upgrade the resource category, with the report of the test work being received earlier this year. Recoveries noted in the SGS report ranged up to 91% uranium. The SGS report is available as an appendix to the SRK updated mineral resource statement.
The Double S Zone still remains open in all directions. Only the Double S Zone has had economic parameters applied to the resource with a whittle shell. See below for more details. Details of the updated Double S resource estimate are as follows:
Table 1: SRK-l Double S Indicated and Inferred Resource Table within Whittle Pit Shell
Classification | Cutoff Grade (%) |
Tonnage (tonnes) |
Grade U3O8 (%) | U3O8 Contained Metal (lbs) |
Indicated | 0.01 | 21,504,000 | 0.014 | 6,858,000 |
Inferred | 0.01 | 59,960,000 | 0.012 | 16,328,000 |
Reported at a cut-off grade of 0.01 percent within a Whittle pit shell optimized using a U3O8 price of US$75 per pound of U3O8, metallurgical recovery of ninety percent, and overall mining and processing costs of CN$14.50. All numbers are rounded to reflect relative accuracy of the estimates.
Table 2: Total Combined Double S, MZ and TJ Indicated and Inferred Resource Table
Resource Type |
Zone | Cutoff Grade U3O8% |
Average Grade U3O8 % |
Tonnes (MT) |
Contained U3O8 (M Kg) |
Contained U3O8 (Mlbs) |
Resource Estimated By |
|||
Indicated Total |
Double S | 0.010 | 0.014 | 21.304 | 3.111 | 6.858 | SRK | |||
Inferred | Double S | 0.010 | 0.012 | 59.960 | 7.406 | 16.328 | SRK | |||
Inferred | Middle Zone |
0.009 | 0.012 | 52.027 | 6.209 | 13.688 | M Jutras | |||
Inferred | TJ Zone | 0.009 | 0.011 | 28.662 | 3.211 | 7.079 | M Jutras | |||
Inferred Weighted Total |
0.012 | 140.649 | 16.826 | 37.095 |
All tabulated data has been rounded to three decimal places for U3O8 grades. The Qualified Person for the Double S resource estimation is Marek Nowak P. Eng. The Qualified Person for the Middle Zone and TJ Zone resource estimation is Marc Jutras M.A.Sc., P. Eng.
Double S Mineral Resource Estimate Method
The geologic model and grade block model was prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia using Data Mine Studio 2® and GEMS® software. The resource estimation was reclassified and verified by Marek Nowak P. Eng., who is an independent Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Details on the methodology and parameters used for the resource estimation can be found in the technical report which will be filed on SEDAR.
SRK used a Whittle pit optimizer to evaluate the reasonableness of economic extraction of each resource block based on certain optimization parameters selected from comparable projects. The optimization parameters include: ore mining and processing costs of CDN$14.50 per processed tonne, overall pit slope angles of 45 degrees, metallurgical recovery of 90%, and appropriate dilution and offsite costs and royalties. A uranium price of US$75 per pound of uranium oxide was considered. The reader is cautioned that the results from the conceptual pit optimization work are used solely for the purpose of reporting Mineral Resources that have "reasonable prospects" for economic extraction by an open pit and do not represent an attempt to estimate mineral reserves.
NI 43-101 Compliant Report
The Company will file a NI 43-101 compliant technical report covering the Indicated and Inferred Resource Estimate completed on the Double S Zone on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.
Quality Control and Quality Assurance
The database used to create the model was based on the drill hole database provided by the Company. A total of 94 drill holes were used for the model of Double S. The assay database was checked using the original assay certificates from the laboratory. Any minor errors encountered in the database were flagged and fixed as they were encountered.
ALS Chemex is the laboratory facility used for all assays from the North Shore Property program. Samples are weighed and catalogued before sample preparation. The samples are crushed to 70% less than 2mm, split and then pulverized to 85% of the sample being less than 75 µm. All samples are assayed using ICP-MS with analysis completed for 47 elements.
A QA/QC program was implemented as part of the sampling procedure for the drill program.
At least one standard, one blank and one duplicate were inserted per group of 40 samples sent to the laboratory. The laboratory also has an extensive in house QA/QC system as part of their quality control system.
Resource Classification
Mineral Resources have been categorized using the classification of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (December 2005), with the relevant definitions provided below. This classification is the basis for Technical Reports by Qualified Persons in Canada, and the classification is virtually the same as that of the JORC code (Australia) (note: SME does not recognize the inferred category) SAMREC (South Africa) and that of the European Union.
The confidence in the geological and grade continuity is sufficient to support an Indicated classification for some portions of the Double S Deposit. An Indicated classification was assigned to blocks estimated during (i) the first interpolation pass and (ii) a having more than 50% chance of being above the cut-off grade as defined by an inverse distance model on indicators with a grade threshold of 0.01% U3O8. All other estimated blocks were classified into the Inferred category.
An Inferred Mineral Resource can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes.
Due to the uncertainty which may attach to Inferred Mineral Resources, it cannot be assumed that all or part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource as a result of continued exploration. Confidence in the estimate is insufficient to allow the meaningful appreciation of technical and economic parameters or to enable an evaluation of economic viability worthy of public disclosure.
Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Mineral Resources may be affected by subsequent assessment of mining, environmental, processing, permitting, taxation, socio-economic and other factors. There is insufficient information in this early stage of study to assess the extent to which the Mineral Resources will be affected by these factors that are more suitably assessed in a conceptual study.
Mineral reserves can only be estimated based on the results of an economic evaluation as part of a preliminary feasibility study or feasibility study. As such, no mineral reserves have been estimated by SRK as part of the present assignment. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into a mineral reserve.
Summer 2011 Drilling Program
Uracan's summer 2011 drill program is continuing to drill test the Costebelle A4 target area which has been the focus of drilling during 2010 and winter 2011. The program is following up results from the earlier programs as well as test for strike and dip extensions to mineralization in the A4 area.
Highlights from previous drilling at the A4 Zone include 59.65 meters of 0.026% U3O8 (265ppm or 0.53 lbs/t) in CA4-10-22, 43.5 meters of 0.019% U3O8 (193 ppm or 0.38 lbs/t) in CA4-11-42, 17.6 meters of 0.025% U3O8 (252 ppm or 0.5 lbs/t) in CA4-11-38, 13.55 meters of 0.038% U3O8 (0.76 lbs/t) U3O8 in CA4-10-15, and 15 meters of 0.034% U3O8 (337 ppm or 0.68 lbs/t) in CA4-11-46.
About Quebec, Canada
Quebec has been voted in the top ten of the Top Mining Jurisdictions In the World since 2001 by the Fraser Institute Mining Survey. www.fraserinstitute.org.
Uracan Resources Ltd. is a publicly-listed uranium exploration company, exploring for shallow, bulk tonnage style uranium mineralization in Canada. Uracan is led by a team of proven exploration and mine entrepreneurs and mine-builders. The information in this news release has been prepared and reviewed by Marc Simpson, P. Geo., the Company's Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 standards.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation 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. The foregoing information may contain forward-looking information relating to the future performance of the Company. Forward looking information is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, changes in world commodity markets or equity markets, the risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities administrators (available at www.SEDAR.com ). Forward-looking statements are made based on various assumptions and on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information contained herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these assumptions, beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.
SOURCE URACAN RESOURCES LTD.
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