Uranium Potential to be Developed at Arctic Fox and Isbjorn Properties in Australia
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Megawatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. (CSE: MEGA) (FSE: WR20) (OTC PINK: WALRF) (the "Company" or "Megawatt") has decided to accelerate developing the uranium potential at its Artic Fox and Isbjorn Projects in Northern Territory, Australia. This follows the receipt of an interim report from the geology team highlighting the significant uranium potential within both properties based on reconciling high-grade historical surface readings with observations following the recent field reconnaissance and sampling program (refer to Megawatt Completes Fieldwork at Arctic Fox and Isbjorn Rare Earth Element; September 9, 2021).
The Board has decided that developing the uranium and rare earth element potential of both properties concurrently can potentially create significant incremental shareholder value. Moreover, this decision is timely as it coincides with rapidly improving fundamentals for the uranium sector which has propelled the contract price to multi-year highs. Further, the Northern Territory government is pro-uranium mining – a stance which it has maintained since 1953.
Cyclical upturn for uranium
Megawatt's Board notes that over the past 15-months, the uranium contract price – negotiated privately between buyers and sellers – has increased significantly and is now trading at multi-year highs (circa US$42/lb)1. Notably, a confluence of factors – decarbonisation polices, new reactors coming onstream, COVID impact on supply, and moderating global inventories – has underpinned the uranium price re-rate.
In a recent research note, global investment bank, Morgan Stanley2, predicted the uranium price to reach US$48/lb by 2024, citing several factors:
- Steady increase in global nuclear capacity achieving a 1.7% CAGR 21-25 (factoring in China adding 22GW to 70GW by 2025) then 2.5% CAGR 26-30;
- An expert panel recommending the EU designate nuclear power a green investment which would boost interest materially; and
- Structural uranium market deficit due to several mines closing over the last 12 months.
Northern Territory: Favorable jurisdiction for uranium mining
The Northern Territory has some of Australia's best-known and high-grade uranium deposits. Moreover, the Northern Territory government has a long history of allowing uranium mining3, which commenced in 1953.
Significant uranium potential
Encouragingly, both Megawatt's properties are in a region with supportive mining communities and excellent transportation infrastructure to the port of Darwin. Further, the Artic Fox and Isbjorn properties have significant exploration potential for uranium mineralization (refer to Megawatt Provides Further Investigative Data for Uranium and REE Prospectivity for Australian Projects; May 31, 20214). Notably, historic surface samples within the tenure provide ready target areas for further exploration.
Most of these sites were visited during the geology team's recent field reconnaissance and sampling program to the Artic Fox and Isbjorn Projects (refer Figure 1). The assays are expected to be returned within the next few weeks which should provide greater clarity on which areas to focus on developing moving forward.
Artic Fox Project
The property is contiguous to Arafura Resources' (ASX: ARU) world-class Nolans Bore Deposit, which is a rare earth element-phosphorus-uranium fluorapatite vein system. The mineral resource at Nolans Bore comprises 56Mt @ 2.6% total rare-earth oxides 162ppm U308 (0.42 lb/tonne U3O8) – this translates to circa 9,062t uranium oxide5. Further, the Nolans Bore Deposit will encompass a mine, process plant and critical infrastructure, with commissioning slated for 2022.
Assayed samples of scree material from gneiss source rock, within the middle of Artic Fox, returned the following high-grade results4: Sample ID N1-4A: 1,000ppm U equating to 1,179ppm U3O8; and Sample ID N1-4B: 690ppm U equating to 814ppm U3O8.
Incrementally, two assayed rock chips found in ARU's ground, which are on a contiguous NW-SE radiometric trend in both properties, returned encouraging results4: Sample #1 ID 5429731: 650ppm U equating to 767ppm U3O8; and Sample #2 ID 5423492: 270ppm U equating to 318ppm U3O8.
Reinforcing the region's uranium potential, the Colonial Metals Group (private), which owns a sizeable footprint directly north of Artic Fox, potentially has several economic orebodies within its tenure according to a 1973 study6.
Isbjorn Project
Within the Isbjorn property, there are assayed alluvial and stream sediment samples at five locations7 which are all significant and require further on-site follow up. These clearly highlight the exploration potential for U3O8 mineralization, including:
Sample #1 ID 152798: 593ppm U equating to 699ppm U3O8; Sample #2 ID 132967: 302ppm U equating to 356ppm U3O8; Sample #3 ID 132966: 292ppm U equating to 344ppm U3O8; Sample #4 ID 152799: 514ppm U equating to 606ppm U3O8; and Sample #5 ID 152800: 586ppm U equating to 691ppm U3O8.
David Thornley-Hall Chief Executive Officer commented: "Following the receipt of the geology team's interim report, the Board decided to accelerate developing the uranium potential of the Artic Fox and Isbjorn Projects. Clearly, both properties are prospective for uranium mineralization, evidenced by numerous high-grade surface samples that reconciles with the observations from the recent field trip. In addition, the fundamental outlook for uranium has improved significantly this year, while the properties are located in a region with first rate infrastructure and jurisdiction which is pro-uranium mining."
Qualified Person
Mr. Geoffrey Reed (MAusMM (CP)) (MAIG), Consultant for the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure or Mineral Projects and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this press release.
References
- Spot Uranium Price. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-08/uranium-surges-to-six-year-high-as-fund-buys-up-physical-supply
- UxC Available at: https://www.uxc.com/p/prices/UxCPrices.aspx and "Uranium Week: Uranium Price Rise Forecast" (7 April 2021) – Available at: https://www.fnarena.com/index.php/2021/04/07/uranium-week-uranium-price-rise-forecast/
- Resourcing the Territory. Available at: https://resourcingtheterritory.nt.gov.au/minerals/mineral-commodities/uranium
- "Megawatt Provides Further Investigative Data for Uranium and REE Prospectivity Australian Projects" (May 31, 2021) Available at: https://webfiles.thecse.com/megawatt_0531.pdf?MVGF3amnVjpZKzUgBlHctkQrryQKmk9_
- Arafura Resources Limited 2015 Annual Report. Available at: https://www.arultd.com/investor/asx-announcements-2021/asx-archive.html
- The Australian Mineral Development Laboratories (CR 74/19) Sixth Progress Report MP 4976/73 Geochemical Survey, Arunta Area Amdel (December 1973)
- Crossland Nickel Pty Ltd – Report Number CR2016-0105
Technical Information
All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by, or approved by Geoffrey Reed, (MAusMM (CP)) (MAIG), Consultant for the Company. Mr. Reed is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
Mr. Reed has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the Arctic Fox and Isbjorn Properties. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Arctic Fox and Isbjorn Properties.
The data disclosed in this news release related to sampling results is historical in nature. Megawatt has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. Megawatt considers these historical sample results relevant as the Company will use this data as a guide to plan future exploration programs. The Company's future exploration work will include verification of the data through further sampling.
About MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.
MegaWatt is a British Columbia based company involved in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The Company holds a 100% undivided interest, subject to a 1.5% NSR on all base, rare earth elements and precious metals, in the Cobalt Hill Property, consisting of eight mineral claims covering an area of approximately 1,727.43 hectares located in the Trail Creek Mining Division in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Additionally, the Company has acquired a 60% interest in a company that indirectly holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in two prospective silver-zinc projects in Australia, being the Tyr Silver Project and the Century South Silver-Zinc Project (see press release dated August 13, 2020), an indirect 100% interest (subject to a 1% NSR) in and to certain mining tenements in Northern Territory and New South Wales, Australia prospective for nickel-cobalt-scandium and rare earths and a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in and to the Route 381 Lithium Property, comprised of 40 mineral claims located in James Bay Territory, north of Matagami in the Province of Quebec, covering 2,126 hectares (see press release dated February 3, 2021).
Investors can learn more about the Company and team at https://megawattmetals.com.
The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to, statements relating to the trading of the Company's common shares on the Exchange and the Company's use of proceeds and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.
SOURCE MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.
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