Skyharbour Option Partner AREVA Resources Canada to Commence 4,500m Diamond Drill Program at Preston Uranium Property
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SYH) (OTCQB:SYHBF) (Frankfurt:SC1P) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce the Company’s option partner AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (“AREVA Resources”) will be commencing a planned 4,500 metre diamond drill program at the Preston Uranium Project. The project is located in the western Athabasca Basin near NexGen Energy Ltd.’s high-grade Arrow deposit hosted on its Rook-1 property and Fission Uranium Corp.’s Triple R deposit located within their PLS Project area.
Preston Uranium Project Claims Map:
http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/maps/SYH_Patterson_Lake_Area_Promo_20161212_blue_hi_res.pdf
Skyharbour and Clean Commodities entered into an Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) with AREVA Resources whereby AREVA Resources has an option to acquire up to a 70% working interest in the Preston Uranium Project (see news release dated March 9th, 2017). Under the Agreement, AREVA Resources will contribute cash and exploration program considerations totaling up to CAD $8,000,000 in exchange for up to 70% of the project area over six (6) years with a first option where AREVA Resources may acquire an initial 51% working interest in Preston for a period of three (3) years by funding exploration expenditures in the total amount of $2,800,000 and making cash payments totaling $200,000 to Skyharbour and Clean Commodities.
Highlights of AREVA Resources’ Exploration Programs at Preston Uranium Project:
- AREVA Resources planning to carry out CDN $2,000,000 in exploration and diamond drilling programs over the next year
- Recently completed geophysical programs included Moving Loop Transient Electromagnetic (ML-TEM) surveys on two grids located on the western part of the project, east of highway 955
- A diamond drilling program consisting of 15 to 20 drill holes for a total of approximately 4,500 metres to commence shortly
- AREVA Resources may earn up to a 70% interest in the 49,635-hectare Preston project through $8,000,000 of total project consideration over six (6) years, including up to $7,300,000 of exploration work programs and $700,000 of cash payments
- If carried to completion, a tripartite joint venture would be formed being 70% as to AREVA Resources and 30% as equally divided between Skyharbour and Clean Commodities
Preston Uranium Project Winter 2018 Diamond Drilling Program:
AREVA Resources will be commencing a diamond drilling program shortly consisting of 15 to 20 drill holes for a total of approximately 4,500 metres which will likely take 2.5 months to complete for the Preston Uranium Project. Drilling will focus on areas of interest defined by ground EM surveys within the west part of the project, east of highway 955 and the FS areas. The estimated cost of the 2018 exploration program is CDN $2,000,000. Skyharbour will provide updates as they become available on the progress of this drill program.
Recent Preston Uranium Project Geophysical Programs:
In the spring of 2017, a Quaternary evaluation of the Preston property was performed by AREVA Resources followed by a two week summer field program which included the review of historical drill holes, outcrop visits, sampling and general prospecting and surveying. AREVA then completed ground EM surveys within the Dixon Lake target area and a more exhaustive review of the project historical information.
In the fall of 2017, Moving Loop Transient Electromagnetic (ML-TEM) surveys were completed on two grids located east of highway 955. The Johnson Lake Corridor (JLC) hosts two main north-northeast and northeast trending VTEM conductive trends. Numerous areas of interest have been identified along the VTEM conductive zones and of particular interest at this time is the area northeast of Canoe Lake which hosts radon-in-water anomalies
The Dixon Lake Corridor (DLC) comprises two VTEM conductive trends dominantly oriented northeast-southwest. The FS target area located on the northeast edge of these VTEM trends is considered an area of interest and ground geophysical surveys, including the Max-Min method, were performed to define drill targets. The Max-Min survey identified three discrete conductors within a wide, approximately 800m, VTEM conductive area. Three historical holes drilled within the FS area tested one of the conductors and two holes, PN15004 and PN15005, encountered locally sheared graphitic and pyritic semi-pelite, whereas hole PN14009 was lost at 150m within a clay gouge. The intersected graphite confirmed the east-west trending conductor.
Line-cutting work in preparation for two ML-TEM surveys is currently underway with one survey to be carried out on the JL grid and a second one on the FS grid. The JL grid comprises seven profiles for survey coverage of 28.5 line-kilometers while the FS grid consists of three profiles for survey coverage of 3.6 km. AREVA Resources’ ML-TEM survey on the FS area will investigate the extent of the conductor located near anomalous radioactivity found on a large granitic gneiss outcrop. Moderate to strong silicification and north-south trending narrow dark shear bands were noted on the outcrop.
Overview of Preston Lake Uranium Project:
The significant potential of the Western Athabasca Basin has been highlighted by recent discoveries in the area by NexGen Energy Ltd. (Arrow), Fission Uranium Corp. (Triple R) and a joint-venture consisting of Cameco Corporation, AREVA Resources Canada Inc. and Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (Spitfire). More than $4.7-million in expenditures on the entire Preston Uranium Project have been incurred to date. This exploration has consisted of ground gravity, airborne and ground electromagnetics, radon, soil, silt, biogeochemistry, lake sediment, and geological mapping surveys, as well as two exploratory drill programs. Several high-priority drill target areas associated with multiple prospective exploration corridors have been successfully delineated through this methodical, multiphased exploration initiative, which has culminated in an extensive, proprietary geological database for the project area.
Qualified Person:
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Richard Kusmirski, P.Geo., M.Sc., Skyharbour’s Head Technical Advisor and a Director, as well as a Qualified Person.
About AREVA Resources Canada Inc.:
Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, AREVA Resources Canada is a leading producer of uranium, accounting for the processing of 17.3 million pounds or nearly half of the uranium concentrate produced in Canada in 2016. AREVA Resources Canada Inc. has been exploring for uranium, developing uranium mines and producing uranium concentrate in Canada for more than 50 years. AREVA Resources is the operator of the McClean Lake uranium mill and a major partner in the Cigar Lake, McArthur River and Key Lake operations. The company employs over 480 people in Saskatchewan, including about 130 in Saskatoon. AREVA Resources Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of the multinational New AREVA, which offers products, technologies and services with high added value throughout the entire nuclear fuel cycle, from raw materials to waste treatment. Its activities encompass mining, uranium chemistry, enrichment, used fuel recycling, logistics, dismantling and engineering. New AREVA and its 20,000 employees bring their expertise and their mastery of cutting-edge technology, as well as their permanent search for innovation and unwavering dedication to safety, to serve their customers worldwide.
About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:
Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with five drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, to acquire 100% of the Moore Uranium Project which is located approx. 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone with drill results returning 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 metres including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. Skyharbour recently signed option agreements with AREVA Resources Canada and Azincourt Energy whereby AREVA and Azincourt can earn in 70% on the Preston Project through a combined $9,800,000 in total exploration expenditures, as well as $1,700,000 in total cash payments and 4,500,000 Azincourt shares. Preston is a large, geologically prospective property proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin which contains an NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U3O8 at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO2 at 0.023%. The project also hosts a high-grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. The Company's 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco, where high-grade uranium mineralization was recently discovered. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.
Skyharbour’s Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:
http://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/SYH_Landpackage_2014.jpg
To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SYH) visit the Company’s website at www.skyharbourltd.com.
SKYHARBOUR RESOURCES LTD.
“Jordan Trimble”
Jordan Trimble
President and CEO
For further information contact myself or:
Nick Findler
Corporate Development and Communications
Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
Telephone: 604-639-3850
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: info@skyharbourltd.com
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