Within the uranium-mineralised zones, PNC estimated uranium content by utilising traditional down-hole radiometric gamma logging and calibration in off-site test pits.
More recent uranium exploration in sandstone, including, in particular, programs overseen in South Australia at the Beverley and Four Mile uranium deposits by Renaissance personnel while employed at Heathgate and Quasar Resources, suggest this method may produce inaccurate grade assessment due to inherent difficulties in gamma logging in sandstone uranium environments, as well as problems with calibrating gamma logs against actual uranium assays.
A particular problem that often exists with gamma logging in sandstone environments is “disequilibrium”. Gamma logging detects uranium decay products and permits an estimation of actual uranium content.
If uranium is mobile, the detectable uranium decay products may be in disequilibrium with the fissile isotope uranium-235, causing inaccuracies in uranium grade estimates. While useful as an exploration tool to identify the prospective presence of uranium, Renaissance considers the methodology employed at Warrior to be incomplete to establish accurate grade levels.
The prospect for higher, ore-grade uranium suggests that the project merits assessment with more accurate modern drilling and logging techniques applied in both the historic uranium zones, as well as interpreted extensions to the identified palaeochannel.
AGS Price at posting:
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