The uranium-vanadium mineralization at the Sun Uranium Project is hosted in the Salt Wash Sandstone as originally discovered in outcrops along the erosional edge of a mesa. These Salt Wash deposits differ from both the roll-type uranium deposits of Wyoming and the tabular-type deposits of New Mexico because of the universal association of vanadium with the uranium.
A small part of the area covered by the Sun Uranium Project has seen historical drilling and sampling, as recorded in a written report by the New Jersey Zinc Company[1], together with other historical supporting information. Historic drilling in 1954, of 23 holes less than 100 feet in depth, from a very small area near the outcrop included 10 “definite ore” grade uranium intercepts ranging from 0.15% U3O8 to 1.50% U3O8. An early historical resource estimate made using data from the 23 drill holes was 32,100 lbs. U3O8, at an average grade of 0.20% U3O8.*
*The historic resource estimate is based on a report prepared by the New Jersey Zinc Company Minerals dated June 21, 1955, and does not comply with mineral resource categories set out in National Instrument 43-101. A Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources and the company is not treating the historical estimate as current miner resources. The company considers the historic information relevant and reliable, however additional work, including drilling, will be required to confirm the presence of a uranium deposit, and if present, to establish the amount and grade of any mineralization that is found.
Other historical exploration included a 243 lb. open cut bulk sample that assayed 0.44% U3O8 and 1.08% V2O5. A 2.5 ft long channel sample was collected from a short adit near the open cut and provided average weighted chemical values of 0.62 % U3O8 and 1.25% V2O5, as assayed by Climax Uranium Company, a major historical uranium producer.
George Westcoat, a consultant to New Jersey Zinc, reported: “Mineral outcrops were observed at several places along the rims of the Morrison Formation.” The consultant further recommended: “From the small amount of exploration done thus far, that a much more extensive exploration program be instituted.” His recommendations included further drilling to a depth of at least 200 ft.
In addition to historic drilling and sampling, seven radiometric anomalies were later identified within the area of the Sun Uranium Project in an airborne radiometric survey flown by the U.S. Atomic Energy Agency.
The technical disclosure on this page was approved by Dr. Douglas H. Underhill, CPG, Chief Geologist for Urano Energy Corp., and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
