- Expands land position in the Henry Mountains
by over 400%
TORONTO, Aug. 7, 2024
/CNW/ - IsoEnergy Ltd. ("IsoEnergy" or the "Company") (TSX:
ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to provide an update on the
reopening of the underground and comprehensive work program at the
Tony M uranium mine in Utah
("Tony M" or the "Mine"). As announced in a press
release on February 29, 2024, the
Company made a strategic decision to reopen access to the
underground with the goal of restarting uranium production
operations in 2025. The main decline at Tony M was
successfully reopened on July 26,
2024, and several initiatives are now underway in
preparation for the comprehensive work program, as detailed
below.
Highlights
- Successful Reopening of the Underground – The main
decline at Tony M is now reopened with initial observations of
underground conditions indicating that the main decline and
underground equipment shops are in good condition (Figure 1).
- Rehabilitation in Progress – Tomcat Mining is carrying
out the rehabilitation of the underground, which includes scaling,
installation of ground support and ventilation systems (Figure 2).
This work is expected to take 8 to 10 weeks depending on the ground
conditions encountered.
- Top Tier Consultants Engaged
- SRK Consulting Limited, a leading international mining
consulting firm, has been working with the Company on the design
and implementation of the ventilation plans.
- Call & Nicholas, Inc., an international mining consulting
firm that specializes in geological engineering, geotechnical
engineering, and hydrogeology, is working with the Company on the
design and implementation of the ground control plans.
- Underground and Surface Mapping Commencing Shortly – As
sections of the underground are made safe for entry, it is expected
that the exploration/geology team will enter the Mine and begin to
map the orebody from underground. This work, which will include a
LiDAR survey, which is expected to commence in 3 weeks and will
take approximately 1 month to complete.
- Upcoming Technical / Economic Study –
Following completion of the rehabilitation and mapping programs,
the Company intends to complete a technical and
economic study, establishing production rates, operating and
capital costs.
IsoEnergy CEO and Director Philip
Williams stated, "The reopening of underground at Tony
M is an important step in restarting production and establishing
IsoEnergy as a near-term uranium producer. Long-term uranium prices
have nearly doubled, from $41/lb U3O8
to $79/lb U3O8, since we acquired the
Tony M, Daneros and Rim Mines in Utah, and with the exceedingly positive global
outlook for nuclear power we expect that trend to continue. We
believe that proven producing assets in tier one jurisdictions,
like Tony M, will be highly coveted by end users making this an
ideal time to pursue a restart. We have assembled a first-rate team
of operators and consultants, who I would like to thank for their
tireless efforts in advancing the project to this point, and we
look forward to updating all our stakeholders on our progress as we
move forward."
Tony M Mine Work Program
Over the last year, the Company has been working toward
reopening the Tony M underground for access. Ensuring safe
operations is paramount to the Company. The Company has engaged
with the San Juan County mine
rescue team as part of its plans. Site communications have been
re-established, electrical systems have been upgraded and
refurbished where necessary, including the installation of at least
one new generator that meets tier 4 emission standards. Several new
fans have been installed and will continue to be installed as part
of the rehabilitation, along with the refurbishment of several of
the existing fans. The Company is using state of the art radon
monitoring.
The main portals were opened July
26 and Tomcat Mining has begun to assess ground conditions
and work its way into the underground. While the Company estimates
8-10 weeks of rehabilitation work, this will be dependent on
conditions encountered.
As sections of the underground are made safe for entry, it is
expected that the exploration/geology team will enter the mine and
begin to map out the orebody from underground. The Company is also
in the process of contracting a surveying company to complete a
LiDAR survey of the complete underground at Tony M, the first time
any such survey has been completed at the Mine. This will be an
important tool in the future mine planning at Tony M.
IsoEnergy has guaranteed access to the White Mesa Mill by way of
a toll milling agreement with Energy Fuels, providing a significant
advantage to the Company. The White Messa Mill is the only
operational conventional uranium mill in the U.S. with licensed
capacity of over 8Mlbs of U3O8 per year. The
Mill is within trucking distance to Tony M.
Staking
The Flatiron area was acquired by staking 370 claims and winning
bids on two Utah state leases
totalling an additional 8,680 acres. This represents a 440%
increase in IsoEnergy's Henry
Mountain land package that is centred on the Tony M
Mine.
About Tony M Mine
The Tony M Mine is located in eastern Garfield County, southeastern Utah, approximately 66 air miles (107
kilometers) west northwest of the town of Blanding and 215 miles (347 kilometers)
south-southeast of Salt Lake City.
The project is the site of the Tony M underground uranium mine that
was developed by Plateau Resources, a subsidiary of Consumer Power
Company, in the mid-1970s.
Uranium and vanadium mineralization at the Tony M mine is hosted
in sandstone units of the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic age
Morrison Formation, one of the principal hosts for uranium deposits
in the Colorado Plateau region of Utah and Colorado.
Tony M has the following current mineral resource estimate:
Table 1: Summary of Mineral Resources – Effective Date
September 9, 2022
Classification
|
Tons
(short tons)
|
Grade
(% eU3O8)
|
Contained Metal
(lbs. eU3O8)
|
Indicated
|
1,185,000
|
0.28
|
6,606,000
|
Inferred
|
404,000
|
0.27
|
2,218,000
|
Notes:
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Reported in the
Technical Report on the Tony M Project, Utah, USA Report for NI
43-101, prepared for
Consolidated Uranium Inc. by SLR International Corporation; Mark B.
Mathisen, Qualified Person, Effective
Date September 9, 2022.
|
2.
|
CIM (2014) definitions
were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.
|
3.
|
Uranium Mineral
Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.14%
U3O8.
|
4.
|
The cut-off grade is
calculated using a metal price of $65/lb U3O8.
|
5.
|
No minimum mining width
was used in determining Mineral Resources.
|
6.
|
Mineral Resources are
based on a tonnage factor of 15 ft3/ton (Bulk density 0.0667
ton/ft3 or 2.14 t/m3).
|
7.
|
Mineral Resources are
not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
|
8.
|
Past production
(1979-2008) has been removed from the Mineral Resource.
|
9.
|
Totals may not add due
to rounding.
|
10.
|
Mineral Resources are
100% attributable to IsoEnergy and are in situ.
|
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information contained in this news
release was reviewed and approved by Dean
T. Wilton: PG, CPG, MAIG, a consultant of IsoEnergy who is a
"Qualified Person" (as defined in National Instrument 43-101
- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).
About IsoEnergy Ltd.
IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSXV: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is a leading, globally
diversified uranium company with substantial current and historical
mineral resources in top uranium mining jurisdictions of
Canada, the U.S., and Australia at varying stages of development,
providing near, medium, and long-term leverage to rising uranium
prices. IsoEnergy is currently advancing its Larocque East Project
in Canada's Athabasca Basin, which is home to the
Hurricane deposit, boasting the world's highest grade Indicated
uranium Mineral Resource.
IsoEnergy also holds a portfolio of permitted, past-producing
conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah with a toll milling arrangement in place
with Energy Fuels Inc. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready
for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning
IsoEnergy as a near-term uranium producer.
X: @IsoEnergyLtd
www.isoenergy.ca
Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulations Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
Forward-Looking Information
The information contained herein contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to the activities,
events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will
or may occur in the future, including, without limitation,
statements with respect to the expected condition of the main
decline and underground equipment shops at Tony M;
planned rehabilitation and work program, the expected timing and
potential results and benefits thereof; expectations regarding the
timing and completion of a LIDAR survey at Tony
M; expectations regarding the preparation and timing of
a plans for the potential restart of mining operations at Tony M;
the Company's ongoing business plan, sampling, exploration and work
programs. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information
and statements can be identified by the use of words such as
"plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled",
"estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes"
or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and
phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be
achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.
Such forward-looking information and statements are based on
numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of
planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of
uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities,
that general business and economic conditions will not change in a
material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and
when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors,
equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals
required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities
will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner.
Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing
forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements
are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be
no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be
accurate.
Forward-looking information and statements also involve known
and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may
cause actual events or results in future periods to differ
materially from any projections of future events or results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or
statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow
and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional
financing, no known mineral reserves, the limited operating history
of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, alternative
sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and
consultation issues, reliance on key management and other
personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different
than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon
results, availability of third party contractors, availability of
equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as
anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural
phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration
industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations,
community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other
approvals and the risk factors with respect to the Company set out
in the Company's annual information form in respect of the year
ended December 31, 2023 and other
filings with the Canadian securities regulators and available under
IsoEnergy's profile on SEDAR+
at www.sedarplus.ca.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by
forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause
results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or
intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes
no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a
result of new information or events except as required by
applicable securities laws.
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SOURCE IsoEnergy Ltd.