enCore Energy Corp said it has uncovered three “distinct” uranium zones with high-grade mineralization from ongoing drilling at its 100% owned Rosita Project in South Texas.
The Vancouver-based uranium developer said it has expanded the drill program to four drill rigs on site following the discovery.
“enCore continues to be pleased with the drill results in terms of both grade and extent of mineralization at our Rosita Extension area,” enCore Energy CEO Paul Goranson said in a statement.
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“We look forward to additional drilling results as we advance the project into development. enCore remains on budget and on schedule to meet its 2023 operational plans and contract delivery commitments,” he added.
Highlights of the drilling program at the Rosita Extension PAA (Production Authorization Area), adjacent to enCore’s fully licensed Rosita ISR (In-Situ Recovery) Processing Plant, include:
- Significant mineralization in 59 of 145 holes with Grade Thickness (GT) above 0.3 encountered in 37 holes. (A GT of 0.3 is the established minimum for inclusion in a wellfield for shallow ISR, with 0.45 considered typical ISR ore-grade for shallow deposits);
- High-grade mineralization was encountered in 8 holes which have a GT of 0.85 to 1.73; and
- Delineation drill results have established three distinct mineralized horizons in the sandstone host rock as opposed to only one that was previously identified within the PAA
enCore’s Rosita Plant, located approximately 60 miles from Corpus Christi, Texas, is a licensed, past-producing in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium plant that is completing refurbishment.
The final stage of refurbishment work will be completed with the delivery of six pumps that have been delayed by unexpected supply chain interruptions, the company said, adding that the delay is not expected to impact scheduled production start-up in 2023.
The Rosita Plant is designed to process uranium feed from multiple satellite operations, all located in the South Texas area, and is one of 11 licensed and constructed uranium processing plants in the US, two of which are owned by enCore Energy.
The company is focused on becoming the next uranium producer from its licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant by 2023. The South Dakota-based Dewey Burdock project and the Wyoming Gas Hills project offer mid-term production opportunities, with significant New Mexico uranium resource endowments providing long-term opportunities.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com