Yandal Uranium Prospects
Two significant uranium anomalies have also been identified within the Yandal Belt Project from airborne radiometric data. The anomalies are located in a proven and well endowed uranium rich province which includes three significant nearby resources, Lake Maitland, Centipede and Lake Way which contain resources of 23.7 million pounds, 9.7 million pounds and 10.1 million pounds respectively. All three of these resources are located in similar geological environments, palaeochannel hosted calcrete, to the two Aragon anomalies. Although uranium cannot currently be mined in WA, should exploration outline significant resources Aragon will be well situated should the Government change its policy to allow development of uranium resources.
Popes and Lake Darlot Anomalies - Uranium channel radiometrics
Lake Darlot Anomaly
The Lake Darlot Anomaly is a three kilometre wide uranium rich radiometric anomaly with a high uranium to thorium ratio. The anomaly is directly associated with near surface calcrete at the western end of the Lake Darlot palaeodrainage system. Aragon holds tenure over the southern two thirds of the anomaly. There has only been very limited previous uranium exploration completed on this anomaly. A program of water bore sampling identified anomalous uranium up to 80ppb in the immediate area, however the only drilling to date has been one shallow 1m deep, auger hole where analysis of the only two samples from the hole reported significant uranium anomalism up to 170ppm (Delhi 1982).
Lake Darlot Anomaly Yandal Uranium target. Radiometric U anomaly (left) showing target with LandSat images of same area identifying surficial palaeo-drainage extending towards a deeper lake system to the east (drawn in white)
Aragon has conducted a geochemical survey over the area. This survey consisted of a 400m X 100m grid pattern where the geology consisted of mainly lake sediments of sandstone, clays and calcrete. A total of 209 samples were collected and 25% of these returned results above 100ppm U with a peak value of 510ppm. The coincident radiometric and uranium in soil anomaly suggests a zone 3.5km long and approx 1.5km wide is highly enriched in Uranium.
Uranium surface geochemical sample results contoured producing a zone 3.5km long and up to approx 1.5km wide.
Popes Anomaly
The Popes Anomaly is associated with a 25 km long sand covered palaeochannel in the northern portion of the Yandal Belt Project. The headwaters of the lake system drain over large areas of uraniferous granite. The uranium rich radiometric anomaly is approximately 3 km across and is associated with near surface calcrete. The drainage system is extensively covered by a thin veneer of sand that appears to have masked the radiometric response and as no previous uranium exploration reported over the area, the company considers this system as a prime grassroots target.
Popes Uranium Anomaly - Radiometric U anomaly (left) showing target with LandSat images of same area identifying surficial palaeodrainage extending towards a deeper lake system to the east (drawn in white)
Aragon has conducted first phase aircore drilling over the anomaly. Generally drill samples confirmed the presence of transported material of clays, siltstone and sandstone within a broad palaeo-channel however no significant uranium was returned. Samples in the northern portion of the drilling returned calcretes considered prospective for uranium and suggest subsurface calcretes in the north have undergone erosion and weathering to the south producing the diffuse character of the radiometric anomaly. Further investigation to the north is required to locate the source of this anomaly.
