The JV is conducting a stratigraphic drilling program to confirm whether the Agadez formation, which hosts uranium mineralization at Teguidda, underlies the JV tenements at depth. The JV tenements are traversed by the east-west trending Azelik fault, which plays an important role in the disposition of uranium mineralization in the region and is known to upthrust the Agadez formation at the neighbouring Teguidda mine.
The design of the drilling program has benefited from earlier exploration work managed by Artemis and SRK Consulting, comprising a ground spectrometer survey, geochemical sampling, an extensive field mapping program and the construction of a local and regional structural model.
The JV is undertaking a first-stage drilling program and trenching to test the depths, geometry and tenor of any uranium mineralization within organic-bearing fluviatile sandstones known to occur at various levels in the stratigraphy. The first phase of Artemis’s programme is aimed at better understanding the geology of the project area and to assist the exploration team in better defining the uranium targets.
The JV tenements, located in the North of Ingall in the province of Agadez, cover 1,000sqkm adjacent to a major uranium mine (Teguidda). This new mine in Niger is being developed by the Chinese group Sino-U. Currently the French nuclear group Areva produces all of the uranium in Niger.
The Chinese-owned project includes a coal-fired power plant and a hydro metallurgy plant, and is scheduled to come into production later this year. It is forecast to produce at a rate of 700 tonnes of uranium per annum from proven reserves of million tons of ore grading 0.2% U3O8 for 15,000 tons of U3O8.
