Attention Business Editors:
UEX Extends Uranium Mineralization at Black Lake Hole BL-140 Intersects 0.67% U(3)O(8) over 3.0 metres, Including 1.58% U(3)O(8) over 1.0 metres
Trading Symbol: UEX-TSX
VANCOUVER, Aug. 21 /CNW/ - UEX Corporation ("UEX") is pleased to announce
the results from 2007 winter exploration program of Diamond drilling and
geophysics carried out at the Black Lake Uranium Project ("Black Lake" or the
"Property"). The Property is located in the northeastern part of the Athabasca
Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada, and covers 30,381 hectares (75,041 acres).
Black Lake is a joint venture between UEX, the operator, holding a 87.2%
interest, and AREVA Resources Canada Inc. ("AREVA"), holding a 12.8% interest,
as of December 31, 2006.
"Black Lake is an early stage uranium discovery for UEX and the continued
intersection of significant mineralization is always exciting," said Stephen
Sorensen, President and CEO of UEX. Sorensen went on to say that, "Black Lake
is a large project with 10's of kilometres of conductors yet to be tested and
we are extremely encouraged by the presence of a mineralized wedge intersected
again in holes BL-137 and BL-140, which has extended the strike length of
mineralization to the northeast by 100 metres and further confirms a highly
prospective geological setting for uranium mineralization."
Winter 2007 Exploration Program Results
Diamond Drilling Program
UEX's 2007 winter exploration program, consisting of ground geophysical
surveying and Diamond drilling using one Diamond drill rig, was intended to
continue exploration of the main fault associated with the Black Lake
conductive trend. This trend hosts UEX's 2004 discovery hole BL-18 which
encountered unconformity-type uranium mineralization in the sandstone,
immediately above the Athabasca unconformity. The intercept averaged
0.694% U(3)O(8) over 4.4 metres between 310.5 and 314.9 metres depth,
including 1.96% U(3)O(8) over 0.5 metres (see UEX News Release, October 12,
2004). To view maps from the 2007 winter exploration program at Black Lake,
please access UEX's website at www.uex-corporation.com under "Latest Updates."
A total of 5,502 metres in eleven (11) Diamond drill holes were drilled
during the 2007 winter program. The results of holes BL-130 to BL-140 drilled
to test the Eastern Fault Zone and other prospective parts of the Property are
presented below in Table 1. Significant results from these holes include the
following mineralized intersections:
- 0.67% U(3)O(8) over 3.0 metres in hole BL-140 (section 128+50N)
including 1.58% U(3)O(8) over 1.0 metres
- 0.24% U(3)O(8) over 3.0 metres in hole BL-137 (section 129+00N)
including 0.56% U(3)O(8) over 1.0 metres
These intercepts are located in the northeastern portion of the property,
where previous drilling in hole BL-82 intersected 0.50% U(3)O(8) over
3.3�metres including 1.6% U(3)O(8) over 0.7 metres (see UEX News Release,
August�14, 2006).
Six holes were drilled in the northeastern portion of the Property to
follow up a mineralized reverse fault, or basement "wedge", previously
intersected on section 128+00N in hole BL-82 (see accompanying Section 128+00N
on UEX's website). In the Athabasca Basin, the presence of a basement "wedge"
is considered to be an important geological feature for potential uranium
deposition, having formed a structural trap for mineralizing hydrothermal
fluids.
Follow-up drilling of this basement "wedge" was initially carried out in
the winter 2007 program 100 metres along strike to the northeast of BL-82.
Three inclined holes (BL-135, BL-136 and BL-137) were drilled from the same
collar location along section 129+00N. Similar to hole BL-82, two
unconformities were encountered in hole BL-137, the first at 258.0 metres.
Uranium mineralization was intersected within a brecciated zone of sandstone
17.4 metres below the first unconformity in the lower half of the basement
"wedge", grading 0.24% U(3)O(8) over 3.0 metres from 275.4 to 278.4 metres,
including 0.56% U(3)O(8) over 1.0 metres from 275.7 to 276.7 metres (see
accompanying Section 129+00N on UEX's website). The core recovery within this
mineralized section of the breccia is extremely poor (7% to 10%) and as a
consequence the uranium grades are based on downhole radiometric probing.
Below the second unconformity, at 284.7 metres, to the end of the hole at
413.0 metres the basement consisted of interbanded amphibolite and granitic
gneiss including an interval of graphitic breccia.
A second series of inclined holes (BL-138, BL-139 and BL-140) were
drilled halfway between sections 128+00N and 129+00N on line 128+50N. Hole
BL-140 again encountered a basement "wedge" with the first unconformity at
259.1�metres. Uranium mineralization was intersected 15.0 metres below the
first unconformity in moderately to strongly friable and altered sandstone
grading 0.67% U(3)O(8) over 3.0 metres from 274.1 to 277.1 metres, including
1.58% U(3)O(8) over 1.0 metre from 274.4 to 275.4 metres (see accompanying
Section 129+50N on UEX's website). Below the second unconformity, at
290.7�metres, to the end of the hole at 386.0 metres the basement consisted of
interbanded amphibolite and granitic gneiss.
Hole BL-134 in the northeastern portion of the property tested a Mobile
Metal Ion (MMI) geochemical anomaly on line 122+00N. The middle section of
sandstone shows wide intervals with moderate to strong desilicification and
poor core recovery possibly due to faulting. Graphitic gneisses were
intersected in the basement rocks.
In addition, four holes (BL-130 to BL-133) were drilled along the Eastern
Fault Zone in the southwestern portion of the Property. The holes show
sandstone structure (fault/fracture zones showing intense desilicification and
poor core recovery) and alteration (dravite and pyrite along fractures)
indicative of a prospective setting for uranium deposition, along with weakly
graphitic basement rocks. Many previous holes drilled along the Eastern Fault
zone over several kilometres of strike length have also encountered faulting
with pervasive dravite, pyrite, chlorite and illite alteration and anomalous
uranium, lead and boron enrichment in the sandstone up to tens of metres above
the unconformity. These are alteration features observed at, or near,
unconformity-type uranium deposits. UEX is encouraged by the latest drilling
results and plans to continue an optimized drilling program in conjunction
with resistivity surveys to search for additional uranium mineralization that
may be present along the 20 kilometre-long Black Lake conductor system.
All samples were analyzed at Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical
Laboratories by ICP, with additional uranium analyses by fluorimetry. In
addition to the geochemical analyses, down-hole radiometric probe results,
obtained for all Diamond drill holes on completion of drilling, provide an
independent check of the geochemical data. Probe results can be used for
uranium grade calculations where poor ground conditions occur and core
recoveries are low. True widths of mineralized intervals have not yet been
determined.
Ground Geophysics
During the winter 2007 program, DC Resistivity, gravity and ground
magnetic surveys were conducted over the Black Lake property.
A ground geophysical survey consisting of 50.0 kilometres of pole-dipole
resistivity was carried out along the Black Lake conductive system to test the
southern extension of a previously defined conductive trend from the fall 2006
program (see UEX News Release, February 27, 2007). The use of resistivity
surveys in the Athabasca Basin has proved to be a useful exploration tool for
mapping alteration in sandstone, especially when applied to a known graphitic
conductor system like that at Black Lake. The survey progress was hampered due
to extremely poor contact resistance in the sandy ground, with the result that
surveying was restricted to swamps where reasonable readings could be
obtained, and which would not be accessible during the summer months. Infill
and completion of the survey is planned for the summer 2007 program.
Gravity and ground magnetic surveys totaling 38 line kilometres and
32�line kilometres respectively were completed to further define a north-south
trending structure in the northern part of the Black Lake grid, where previous
drilling has encountered anomalous uranium mineralization. These surveys were
conducted on a secondary grid with lines oriented east-west and spaced at
100�metre intervals. The magnetic survey defined a distinctive north-south
trending structure, which encompasses numerous previous drill holes containing
uranium mineralization. This structure is also observed as a subtle signature
in the gravity data. A more intense gravity and resistivity anomaly,
coincident with the edge of the north-south trending magnetic feature, is
present in the area of hole BL-82. These gravity and resistivity anomalies
will be targeted in future drilling.
Summer/Fall 2007 Exploration Program
A summer/fall exploration 2007 program of geophysical surveying will
commence shortly at Black Lake and is scheduled to continue into September
2007, as weather conditions permit. The program will consist of DC resistivity
in the southern portion of the property to infill and complete missing areas
from the winter 2007 survey.
About the Black Lake Project
- Mineralization: UEX's 2004 discovery hole BL-18 discovered
unconformity-type uranium mineralization in the sandstone,
immediately above the Athabasca unconformity. The intercept averaged
0.694% U(3)O(8) over 4.4 metres between 310.5 and 314.9 metres
depth, including 1.96% U(3)O(8) over 0.5 metres;
- Follow-up drilling by UEX has encountered significant uranium
mineralization: 2005 holes BL-23, BL-32, BL-56, BL-64 and winter 2006
hole BL-82, all reported previously, an intercept in BL-110 during
the summer/fall 2006 program drilled within an alteration trend
interpreted to be associated with discovery hole BL-18; and the new
intersections in holes BL-137 and BL-140 during the winter 2007
program drilled to follow up the mineralized "wedge" in hole BL-82;
- Faulted geophysical conductors: The property hosts a system of
graphitic conductors which extend along strike for at least
20 kilometres, and which is coincident with a significant fault, the
Platt Creek Fault zone. The main strand of the fault, termed the
Eastern Fault, is spatially associated with the uranium intercepts
obtained to date;
- Alteration: Chlorite, dravite, siderite, illite and pyrite alteration
associated with anomalous uranium, lead, and boron geochemistry
occurs in the sandstone within the Eastern Fault zone. Such
assemblages are developed along faults associated with uranium
mineralization in other areas of the Athabasca Basin.
The technical information in this document has been compiled and reviewed
by Sierd Eriks, P. Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument
43-101.
About AREVA Resources Canada Inc.
AREVA, a uranium exploration and mining company, is a subsidiary of AREVA
Group, a worldwide expert in the energy field with a strong industrial
presence in over 40 countries. AREVA Group, through its Canadian subsidiary,
has significant interests in several uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin,
including the producing McClean Lake Deposits operated by AREVA, the producing
McArthur River Deposit operated by Cameco Corporation, the Millenium Deposit,
and the Cigar Lake Deposit.
About UEX
UEX is a Canadian uranium exploration and development company actively
involved in 19 uranium projects, including seven that are 100% owned and
operated by UEX, one joint venture with AREVA that is operated by UEX, ten
under option from AREVA and one under option from Japan-Canada Uranium
Company, Limited, which are operated by AREVA. The 19 projects, totaling
386,650 hectares (955,400 acres), are located in the eastern, western and
northern perimeters of the Athabasca Basin, the world's richest uranium belt,
which accounts for approximately 30% of the global primary uranium production.
UEX is currently developing several uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin
which include the Anne and Kianna Deposits at its Shea Creek Uranium Project,
a joint venture with AREVA in the western Athabasca Basin, and the West Bear,
Raven and Horseshoe deposits located at its 100% owned Hidden Bay Project in
the eastern Athabasca Basin. UEX's exploration and development budgets for
2007 total $28.0 million, and the Company has a cash position of approximately
$64.0 million.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF
UEX CORPORATION
"signed"
Stephen H. Sorensen
President & C.E.O.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on
UEX's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. These
forward-looking statements include statements regarding UEX's outlook for our
future operations, plans and timing for the commencement or advancement of
exploration activities on our properties, and other expectations, intention
and plans that are not historical fact. The words "estimates", "projects",
"expects", "intends", "believes", "plans", or their negatives or other
comparable words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of UEX. Consequently,
all forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by this
cautionary statement and there can be no assurance that actual results or
developments anticipated by UEX will be realized. For the reasons set forth
above, investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. UEX disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
Table 1
Black Lake Project - 2007 Winter Drilling Program
Drill Holes BL-130 to BL-140
All analyses were performed by SRC using ICP
True widths of mineralized intervals have not yet been determined.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black Lake Grade-
Grid Coordinates Thick-
-------------------- Hole ness
Hole North- East- Eleva- Length From To Length U3O8 Product
ing ing tion (m) (m) (m) (m) (wt%) (m%U3O8)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-130 5600N 125W 334.3 670.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-131 808N 1150W 330.0 746.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-132 4800N 1350W 328.1 656.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-133 5600N 75W 334.5 638.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-134 12200N 525W 323.9 453.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-135 12900N 60E 317.6 343.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-136 12900N 60E 317.7 404.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-137 12900N 60E 317.6 13.0 275.4 278.4 3.0 0.24(*) 0.72
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
includ-
ing 275.7 276.7 1.0 0.56(*) 0.56
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-138 12850N 60E 317.8 383.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-139 12850N 60E 317.8 410.0 - - - - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BL-140 12850N 60E 317.8 386.0 274.1 277.1 3.0 0.67 2.01
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
includ-
ing 274.4 275.4 1.0 1.58 1.58
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) Due to extremely poor core recovery within this mineralized section,
uranium grades are based on downhole radiometric probing.
%SEDAR: 00017609E
For further information: UEX CORPORATION, SUITE 1007 - 808, NELSON ST.,
VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA, V6Z 2H2, PH: (604) 669-2349, FAX: (604) 669-1240,
email: uex@intergate.ca, Website: www.uex-corporation.com