Overview
Location
Virginia, United States
Ownership
100% IsoEnergy
Deposit Type
Fracture-hosted hydrothermal deposit, with uranium contained in mylonite
Primary Minerals
Uranium
Stage
Development
Highlights
- Coles Hill is the largest undeveloped uranium deposit in the U.S. and among the largest projects by total uranium resources in the world
- Located on gently rolling hills in Pittsylvania County, southern Virginia, on approximately 3,000 acres in close proximity to established infrastructure and skilled labour.
Historical Mineral Resource Estimate
| Category | Tons (M) | Grade (% U3O8) |
Contained (M lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicated | 119.6 | 0.056 | 132.9 |
| Inferred | 36.3 | 0.042 | 30.4 |
Notes:
1. The historic estimate was prepared by Explormine consultants under the direction of Douglas Beahm, PE, PG, using block models utilizing ordinary kriging to interpolate grades into each block.
2. The resource estimate was based on a minimum grade of 0.025% eU3O8 using a uranium price assumption of $65/lb.
3. The Company would need to conduct an exploration program, including twinning of historical drill holes in order to verify the Coles Hill historical estimate as a current mineral resource.
For additional information on the Coles Hill Project, please refer to the Technical Report entitled “NI-43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Update (Revised) – Coles Hill Uranium Property”, prepared by John I. Kyle, PE, of Lyntek inc. and Douglas Beahm, PE, PG, of BRS Engineering, dated August 19, 2013.
The historical estimate is reported using the categories of mineral resources and mineral reserves as defined by the Canadian Institute CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Reserves, and mineral reserves at that time, and these “historical estimates” are not considered by IsoEnergy to be current. The reliability of the historical estimate is considered reasonable, but a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, and IsoEnergy is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. The historical information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the properties but may not be representative of expected results. Twinning of a selection of certain holes would need to be completed along with updating of mining, processing and certain cost estimates in order to verify the Coles Hill Project historical resource estimate as a current mineral resource estimate.
Geology
The Project consists of two deposits, Coles Hill North and South. Uranium mineralization occurs in three distinct episodes with the earliest and strongest mineralization consisting of coffinite and uranium rich apatite with chlorite and anatase in narrow (cm scale) zones within cataclasite and fault breccia. The initial phase is cut by calcite-pitchblende-anatase-pyrite and then by barium zeolite-pyrite-quartz- pitchblende-anatase vein sets. The productive phases are cut by three non ore mineral bearing phases dominated by chlorite, calcite and quartz, respectively.
The uranium deposition mechanism at Coles Hill is similar to that in the Athabasca Basin as indicated by the presence of alteration minerals hematite, epidote and chlorite. The deposition mechanism in the Athabasca Basin has produced high-grade uranium mineralization which might occur in the untested deeper parts of the Coles Hill deposits.
Exploration Potential
The deposit was initially explored between 1980 and 1982, when Marline and Union Carbide drilled 210 holes (190,000 feet) to define the deposits. Potential for resource expansion exists as indicated by historical mineral resources table. There are several higher-grade zones near surface to provide for many development options. The exploration drilling permit is still in good standing.