IsoEnergy Drills 48.8% U3O8 over 5.0m in Southern Step-out Drill Hole LE20-64
Drill Program Expanded to Test High-Grade Extensions of "J" Fault Open to the South and to the East
VANCOUVER, Oct. 13, 2020 - IsoEnergy Ltd. ("IsoEnergy" or the "Company") (TSXV: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to report additional chemical assays from the summer drilling program 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 (Figure 1).
Highlights:
- Chemical assays from drill hole LE20-64 returned 5.0m of 48.8% U3O8, including 4.0m of 57.5% U3O8
- Chemical assays from drill hole LE20-62 returned 4.5m of 6.2% U3O8, including 2.5m of 11.1% U3O8
- Chemical assays from drill hole LE20-57 returned 10.0m of 11.7% U3O8, including 2.5m of 46.0% U3O8
- Mineralization on this north-south section (4435E) now measures at least 48m in width and is open to the south
- Drilling has now expanded the zone of intense mineralization over 30m to the south, almost to the "J" fault
- The "J" fault is parallel to the other main mineralized "H" and "I" faults, and is wide open to the east for at least 200m
- Drilling operations have now resumed after a scheduled two-week break
- The program has been expanded to 24 drill holes (from 20) due to the success to date – 10 holes remain to be drilled
Craig Parry, Chief Executive Officer commented: "I'm very impressed by the efforts of our Technical team and the results they have delivered. The grades and thicknesses of these intersections confirm that IsoEnergy is currently drilling one of the most exciting new Eastern Athabasca uranium discoveries in many years."
Steve Blower, Vice President of Exploration commented: "The chemical assays for drill holes LE20-57, 62 and 64 confirm the excellent potential to expand high-grade mineralization to the south at the Hurricane zone. Now that we've resumed our drilling program after the break, I'm looking forward to the remaining drilling results as we focus our efforts on the southern extension area."
LE20-64 Assays
Drill hole LE20-64 (Figures 2 and 3) intersected an upper 3.5m thick layer of weak uranium mineralization from 316.5-320.0m that averages 0.3% U3O8. This was followed by a 5.0m thick interval of strong mineralization from 324.0-329.0m that averages 48.8% U3O8. Included in this interval is 4.0m of intensely radioactive mineralization greater than 30,000 CPS (RS-125) that averages 57.5% U3O8. Mineralization on this north-south section (4435E) now measures at least 48m in width, and is open to the south. With these results, the summer drilling has now expanded the zone of intense mineralization over 30m to the south, almost to the "J" fault. The "J" fault is parallel to the other main mineralized "H" and "I" faults, and is wide open to the east for at least 200m. Table 1 summarizes the summer 2020 drilling results to date.
LE20-62 Assays
Drill hole LE20-62 (Figures 2 and 3) intersected an upper 2.5m thick interval of weak uranium mineralization from 314.0-316.5m that averages 0.2% U3O8, followed by a 4.5m thick interval of strong mineralization from 321.0-325.5m that averages 6.2% U3O8. Included in this lower interval is 2.5m of intensely radioactive mineralization that averages 11.1% U3O8. A 0.5m sub-interval that was off-scale on the RS-125 hand-held scintillometer averages 29.0% U3O8. As with all drill holes to date at the Hurricane zone, the mineralization is located at the sub-Athabasca unconformity.
LE20-57 Assays
Completed on the same 4435E section as LE20-62 and 64 (Figures 2 and 3), drill hole LE20-57 intersected 10.0m of uranium mineralization from 343.8-353.8m that averages 11.7% U3O8 over 10.0m. Included in this interval is 2.5m of very strongly radioactive mineralization that averages 46.0% U3O8. The mineralization is located at the sub-Athabasca unconformity, which was intersected at approximately 349.0m.
Other Drill Holes
Assay results have also been received for drill holes LE20-58C1, 59, 60, 61 and 63A. All of these drill holes were completed on the eastern side of the Hurricane zone and intersected weak uranium mineralization. The assays are summarized in Table 1 and the drill hole locations are shown on Figure 2.
Three additional drill holes (LE20-65, 66 and 67) were completed before the scheduled break. Two of these (65 and 66) were completed by Drill 2 on the eastern side of the Hurricane zone. Drill hole LE20-66 intersected one metre of weak uranium mineralization, while LE20-65 was unmineralized. The third drill hole, LE20-67, was completed on the north end of section 4435E on the western side of the Hurricane zone, 17m northeast of strongly mineralized drill hole LE20-34. LE20-67 intersected 2m of weak uranium mineralization at the sub-Athabasca unconformity. Chemical assays for these drill holes are pending.
Next Steps
Expansion of the western Hurricane zone mineralization to the south will be the primary focus of the remaining 10 holes of the program. Samples collected from the drilling completed to date are periodically shipped to the analytical laboratory in Saskatoon. Chemical assay results generally follow within three to four weeks of the shipping dates.
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 14 drill holes to date in 2020. Dimensions are currently 575m along-strike, 40m wide, and up to 11m thick. The zone is open for expansion along-strike to the east and on most 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) | |||||
LE20-543,4 | 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 | ||
LE20-58 | 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 |
LE20-593 | 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 | ||
LE20-60 | 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 | ||
LE20-65 | No significant mineralization | 000/-90 | Sect 4610E | |||||
LE20-66 | 323.0 | 324.0 | 1.0 | >500 | Pending | 000/-90 | Sect 4785E | |
LE20-67 | 327.5 | 329.5 | 2.0 | >500 | Pending | 000/-90 | Sect 4435E | |
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 previously disclosed | |
4. Radioactivity and chemical assays 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 |
Figure 1 – Larocque East Property Map
Figure 2 – Hurricane Zone Drill Hole Location Map
Figure 3 – Vertical Cross-Section 4435E (Drill Holes LE20-57, 62 and 64)
Qualified Person Statement
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
SOURCE IsoEnergy Ltd.
Contact
Craig Parry, Chief Executive Officer, IsoEnergy Ltd., +1 778 379 3211, cparry@isoenergy.ca, www.isoenergy.ca; Investor Relations, Kin Communications, +1 604 684 6730, iso@kincommunications.com, www.isoenergy.ca