A globally-renowned glacial geology expert has confirmed that high-grade uranium mineralisation found in soil samples at Infini Resources’ (ASX: I88) Portland Creek project in Canada has been derived from the site and not glacially-transported.
Dr Martin Ross, who has authored or co-authored 86 research publications in the field, conducted a desktop analysis at the site to provide a better understanding of the geology within the project area – particularly at the Talus prospect where lab-busting soil grades were found to be running up to 74,997 parts per million uranium oxide in July.
Management says it engaged Dr Ross to determine the likelihood of its uranium in soils being linked to potential glacial movement and to confirm its working exploration model prior to undertaking diamond drilling activities at the project ground in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The desktop analysis used a combination of company soil sampling data, government regional geological data, a type of modern high-tech radar that uses digital elevation of the topography generated from satellites and Google Earth imagery to focus on potential evidence of glacial movement transporting the mineralisation to the Talus area.
Dr Ross’ study showed that Infini’s maiden soil program was conducted over colluvial sediments, concluding there was a low likelihood that the soil anomalies were caused by substantial glacial transport and therefore, that the anomalous uranium is considered proximal to the site.
Colluvial material, or colluvium, is a general term for the loose, unconsolidated sediments that have been deposited at the base of hillslopes, caused by rain and mobile sheets of water flowing along the hill surface.
It is highly encouraging to see these study results illustrate that the risk of significant geochemical dispersion by glacial movement at the Talus Uranium Prospect is very low. Dr Ross is a renowned Canadian glacial geologist who has helped the Company understand the regolith environment within this highly-prospective corridor by utilising its existing geochemical and field observations from the maiden sampling program.
Infini Resources Managing Director Charles Armstrong
Armstrong says the study provides the company with further confidence in its combined geochemical and structural targeting model.
Management also notes that the soil anomalies are preserved due to sitting in a higher location in the eastern domain of the ground, with a more prominent geochemical footprint (high-grade anomalies) when compared to the southern lake domain of the site, which contains seasonal water flow movement on a sloping hydraulic gradient.
Infini believes it could provide a significant clue to an undiscovered uranium deposit lying underneath or upslope from the anomalous footprint. It says additional work has started, with Dr Ross undertaking follow-up geological desktop studies on recently-flown LiDAR imagery to assist with delineating the Talus colluvium more precisely, along with detailed hydraulic gradient mapping along the structural corridor.
The company believes the additional desktop studies will assist in providing a better understanding of the requirements for the diamond drilling that will be planned soon.
The use of LiDAR aerial surveys can assist with capturing valuable imagery data. It is a light detection and ranging method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to the earth.
The market was simply blown away by the head-turning nature of the soil sampling results revealed by Infini in July, where retesting was needed due to the grades exceeding the initial laboratory’s usual testing protocol, with 18 samples returning uranium grades exceeding 10,000ppm. In addition to the peak return of 74,997ppm, further stellar sample results included 53,182ppm, 43,512ppm and 39,975ppm.
The company’s share price rocketed from 15.5c at the time of the announcement to eventually touch a high of $1.035 a few weeks later – a massive 567 per cent gain.
The Portland Creek project covers 149 square kilometres and sits in the Precambrian Long-Range Complex of the Humber tectonic stratigraphic zone. The first big uranium anomaly was identified at the site in the 1970s by a Newfoundland Government stream-sediment sampling program.
Management says the soil anomalies at Portland Creek are defined across a 235m-by-100m area exceeding 1000ppm uranium oxide. It is now eagerly awaiting the assay results from its second soil sampling program, which are due by the end of next month.
If the next round of assay results come close to those from the first soil sampling program, it may be a case of hold on to your hat as more stunning results could put Infini on a path to pushing the project along at high speed.
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