Alpha Drills Strong Alteration and Anomalous Radioactivity on Middle Lake Property, Athabasca Basin
01.04.2014 | Newsfile
Vancouver, British Columbia -- (Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2014) - Alpha Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AEX) ("Alpha" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has drilled ten holes with elevated radioactivity and strong alteration on the Middle Lake Property (owned 80% by Alpha and 20% by Acme Resources Inc. as a carried interest).Drill holes ML14-019, -021, and -024 to -029 all intersected anomalous gamma radiation values based on down-hole gamma logging and hand-held scintillometer analysis. The first drill hole of the series, ML14-019, tested a well-defined gravity low anomaly and a coincident VTEM conductor located about 300 m up-ice from a boulder with a reported grade of 16.9% U3O8, and about 5 km up-ice from the historical Donna boulder field with grades up to 25% U3O8. ML14-019 intersected anomalous radioactivity and moderately to strongly bleached and pale green altered pegmatite with dark smokey quartz, that was repeatedly intruded by strongly bleached and clay altered Cluff Breccia.
Follow up drilling with holes ML14-021 and -024 to -029 at the "Donna zone" defined an approximate 40 metre wide, moderately to strongly bleached and clay altered graphitic ultramylonite and cataclasite zone with numerous intervals of Cluff Breccia; all with sporadic anomalous radioactivity. This is a highly prospective structural zone for high grade uranium mineralization, strikes grid south and is sub-vertical to steeply grid east dipping, and is bound by a pegmatite footwall and a semi-pelitic gneiss hanging wall.
The Donna zone is located along an approximate 3 km long VTEM conductor, which has offsets or breaks in continuity suggesting cross structures. The conductor skirts along the SW edge of the Skull Intrusive Complex magnetic high. This complex is part of the main divide between the interpreted NE and SW halves of the basement core within the Carswell Structure. Drill hole ML14-023 was located approximately 770 m NW along this trend from the Donna zone, and encountered wide intervals of graphitic ultramylonite that are considered a favourable host rock for uranium mineralization.
Team Alpha considers this first phase of drilling to have been an encouraging first step towards locating shallow mineralization that may be associated with a source area of the historical Donna boulder field located down-ice to the SW. A review of assays and geochemistry will be carried out upon receipt of results in order to assist in further target selection.
Table 1 - Donna Zone Anomalous Radioactivity
DDH #
Depth to Mount Sopris 2PGA-1000 Downhole Gamma Probe (>500 cps)
Basement (m) From (m) To (m) Width (m) CPS Avg CPS Max
ML14-019 28.0 37.39 38.54 1.15 554 821
42.09 43.64 1.55 536 622
50.14 50.24 0.10 505 505
52.24 53.14 0.90 514 798
69.14 69.24 0.10 539 539
102.79 102.94 0.15 526 542
106.39 106.59 0.20 545 561
106.89 107.19 0.30 541 585
112.44 113.24 0.80 683 988
115.04 115.29 0.25 534 554
116.39 116.79 0.40 616 701
ML14-021 22.0 20.60 20.80 0.20 535 550
23.65 23.90 0.25 540 557
30.30 30.85 0.55 985 1258
47.10 47.35 0.25 624 720
ML14-024 26.9 41.65 41.80 0.15 511 520
71.40 71.65 0.25 573 655
ML14-025 11.5 29.16 29.76 0.60 1181 1752
30.36 30.76 0.40 620 739
31.76 32.26 0.50 635 725
32.71 33.41 0.70 725 915
33.86 34.51 0.65 809 1026
35.16 36.11 0.95 609 828
44.91 45.06 0.15 558 620
ML14-026 12.2 12.90 13.90 1.00 751 995
19.15 19.40 0.25 526 550
48.40 49.05 0.65 848 1200
82.60 82.85 0.25 630 743
90.65 91.25 0.60 525 603
96.50 97.05 0.55 647 732
104.70 105.15 0.45 535 554
105.90 106.30 0.40 660 771
121.40 121.65 0.25 575 602
122.40 122.85 0.45 619 684
124.40 125.15 0.75 1036 1628
126.50 126.70 0.20 527 542
126.90 130.00 3.10 816 1438
134.60 134.90 0.30 657 846
ML14-027 12.2 100.49 101.69 1.20 923 1449
106.34 107.24 0.90 651 884
109.59 110.14 0.55 1018 1265
119.04 119.64 0.60 757 903
126.04 126.79 0.75 683 876
ML14-028 18.7 43.45 43.70 0.25 520 544
46.00 46.15 0.15 528 534
47.45 49.45 2.00 612 732
51.10 52.15 1.05 500 570
56.20 56.30 0.10 536 536
56.70 57.05 0.35 569 596
57.95 58.20 0.25 534 578
63.30 63.60 0.30 527 573
64.35 64.70 0.35 598 678
68.60 68.70 0.10 505 505
71.25 71.40 0.15 537 538
ML14-029 6.3 64.26 65.36 1.10 911 1354
67.31 68.21 0.90 709 847
69.76 69.86 0.10 513 513
80.91 81.16 0.25 596 669
81.51 82.21 0.70 926 1420
97.21 97.31 0.10 570 570
ML14-020 11.5 No Significant Anomalous Radioactivity
A fence of three drill holes (ML14-006, -009, and -010) on the South Grid tested a gravity low trough bound by VTEM conductors with associated helium and radon anomalies. Moderately bleached and clay altered mylonite, cataclasite, and pegmatite with anomalous radioactivity was intersected in drill holes ML14-006 and -009.
Table 2 – South Grid Anomalous Radioactivity
DDH # Depth to Mount Sopris 2PGA-1000 Downhole Gamma Probe (>500 cps)
Basement (m) From (m) To (m) Width (m) CPS Avg CPS Max
ML14-006 12.8 78.00 79.00 1.00 719 912
85.75 86.95 1.20 938 1201
ML14-009 11.3 24.32 24.92 0.60 662 822
84.72 84.92 0.20 586 654
ML14-010 9.9 No Significant Anomalous Radioactivity
All holes were radiometrically surveyed with a Mount Sopris 2PGA-1000 natural gamma probe. The reader is cautioned that a total counts gamma probe reading is the result of natural gamma radiation that may come from various sources including cosmic radiation, thorium, potassium and uranium and its radioactive decay products. CPS (counts per second) values cannot be certain to correlate with uranium grades of the rock but are a general guide of the radioactivity of minerals present in rock placed in proximity to the instrument. All intersections are down-hole, core interval measurements and true thickness is yet to be determined.
Drilling was extended from the original 2,000 m 20-hole program to the completed meterage of 3,287 m in 31 holes to better assess the Donna zone. Core samples have been submitted for geochemical and PIMA clay analysis to assist in setting priorities for the next phase of work. Assay results will be announced when available.
Split core samples were recovered continuously through intervals of anomalous radioactivity, and were submitted to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) of Saskatoon for analysis, which includes U3O8 (wt %) and fire assay for gold. All samples sent for analysis will include a 63 element ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS, and boron.
About Alpha Exploration Inc.
Alpha Exploration Inc. is a mineral exploration Company whose uranium experience was developed with the discovery of the Roughrider deposits and subsequently the Patterson Lake South discovery in 2012 via Alpha's successful JV with Fission Uranium. The principals of the Company comprise a team that were involved in the discovery and development of those world class deposits. The company started with a principal focus in the exploration and development of its Mikwam Gold Property in Ontario, and that focus has been moved to development of uranium properties in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Common Shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "AEX". Additional information about Alpha is available on Alpha's website at www.alpha-aex.com or under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of Alpha Exploration Inc., by Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration, a qualified person.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alpha Exploration Inc.
"Ben Ainsworth"
President, CEO and Director
For corporate communications please contact:
Robert (Bob) Meister
Alpha Exploration Inc.
Email: info@alpha-aex.com
Trading Symbol: TSX-V – AEX
Frankfurt: E2GA
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.
Cautionary Statement: This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on Alpha's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to Alpha's exploration and development plans. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Alpha's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labour relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Alpha disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.