CanAlaska Uranium Ltd (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) has received full geochemical results for the 2021 summer drilling programme at its West McArthur uranium project in the Eastern Athabasca Basin, Canada.
This is a joint venture with Cameco Corporation (TSX: CCO).
Geochemical results received confirm the presence of high-grade uranium mineralisation previously reported as 0.76 % eU3O8 over 10.0 m at the “42 zone”.
In addition, the results confirm anomalous uranium and pathfinder element concentrations in a second target 1.8 kilometres along strike to the West coincident with a drill-defined large alteration and fault system. The winter geophysical programme at West McArthur has also been completed.
The programme objectives for the 2021 drilling were successfully met with the completion of the six hole, 5,419 m drill programme in early November. A new high-grade intersection of 1.62 % eU3O8 over 2.6 metres (m) from 796.1 m within a 10 m wide interval of 0.76 % eU3O8was identified in the “42 Zone”.
The “42 Zone” mineralisation in drillhole WMA063-1 had a strongly bleached lower sandstone column with black sooty pyrite, red hydrothermal hematite, and strong structurally-controlled clay alteration.
Geochemical assays from WMA063-1, collared at an azimuth of 360˚ with a dip of -79.4, confirm the previously reported equivalent uranium results. Unfortunately, within the highest grade section of the mineralised zone in WMA063-1, strong clay alteration and faulting provided very poor core recovery. As a result, only 5% of the core was recovered over a 5.0 metre sub-interval from 767.4 – 772.4 m. Due to the poor recovery, the equivalent uranium intercept calculated from the calibrated down-hole radiometric probe data is interpreted to be more representative with 1.46 % eU3O8 over 5.0 m from 767.4 m.
Management said it is important to note that a 10 cm interval of core taken from within the poor recovery zone returned an assay value of 3.01% U3O8.
The new high-grade intercept extends the “42 Zone” 35 m west of drill hole WMA055-2. The new drillhole intersected a significantly wider interval of mineralization than in the previous hole. WMA055-2, completed in 2019, intersected 2.3% U3O8 over 2.1 m, including 6.8% U3O8 over 0.7 metres.
In addition, WMA065-1 confirmed a large uranium and associated pathfinder metal elements halo in the sandstone approximately 19 m west of WMA063-1, typical of the “42 Zone” area.
Within WMA065-1, elevated uranium (≥ 0.5 ppm uranium partial digest) consisting of up to 9.31 ppm in a composite sample extends 490 m vertically above the unconformity with elevated nickel (> 1 ppm nickel partial digest) up to 9.9 ppm and copper (> 1 ppm copper partial digest) up to 38.1 ppm in composite samples extending 300 m vertically above the unconformity. The presence of elevated pathfinder elements throughout the sandstone column in the “42 Zone” geochemical halo indicates that further drill testing is warranted targeting extensions of the “42 Zone”, where the outlined unconformity-related uranium mineralisation remains open in multiple directions.
Evaluation of the southwestern extension of the conductive C10 corridor that hosts the controlling structure for the “42 Zone” mineralisation and large Fox Lake Uranium Deposit was also successful during the 2021 drilling program. In WMA062 and wedge hole WMA062-1, collared at an azimuth of 320˚ with a dip of -65.4˚, 1,800 m to the Southwest of the “42 Zone, highly anomalous uranium and copper values are associated with a large alteration halo and fault zone in the basal sandstone.
CanAlaska VP Exploration, Nathan Bridge, said the results returned from our assay samples confirm the initial probe equivalent results from the new mineralisation intersected in WMA063-1.
“The outlined unconformity-associated mineralisation in the “42 Zone” is open in multiple directions and warrants further testing. In addition, the geochemical results from the composite sampling programme just to the west of the 42 Zone show the continuation of the strong geochemical halo.
“Furthermore, the anomalous uranium and pathfinder elements associated with the WMA062 section, 1.8 km along strike to the southwest, indicate elevated geochemical values associated with the large basement and sandstone alteration halo and fault zone.
Further testing is needed in this area to evaluate the potential for further mineralisation along the controlling structure. With the completion of the winter geophysical program, we’ll be prepared to execute on these objectives.”
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