Exploration Program
2007-2008
In 2007, Ucore focused on exploring the I&L zone, located 450 meters northeast of the Ross Adams Mine. A total of nine diamond drill holes spanning 422 meters were completed at the previously tested but unmined I&L zone. A high resolution airborne geophysical survey was flown, and an extensive data compilation program was initiated.
Ucore’s primary focus for the 2008 exploration season was to expand upon the high grade uranium mineralization identified at the I&L zone during the 2007 drill program, and to identify and evaluate additional drill targets.
As of September, 2008, 37 holes (holes 10-46) were drilled at four separate target areas, with the majority coming from the I&L zone. Ucore has received and announced significant uranium and multi-element assay results for the first 16 holes of the season (holes 10-25), and is currently waiting to receive assay results for the remaining holes.
In addition to high grade uranium values, the I&L zone is also enriched in rare earth elements and related metals, including yttrium, zirconium, beryllium, and niobium. Results indicate potentially significant concentrations of highly valuable heavy REE’s, many of which are uncommon at most other North American deposits and have valuations ranging from hundreds to over one thousand dollars per pound. Furthermore, surface sampling has identified several zones with even higher REE values outside of the I&L zone and the other main uranium-bearing zones.
Ucore is compiling and assessing the 2008 drill results. The distribution of uranium and rare earth elements is suggestive of (1) an inverse relationship between uranium and rare earth elements, (2) most of the uranium mineralization is located near the margin of the Bokan peralkaline granite complex, and (3) most of the best rare earth element values are found more distant to the intrusive complex.
2009-Present
REE’s at Bokan: Supplement to the September 25/08 Press Release
|
|
Element
|
Symbol
|
Atomic
Number
|
Bokan
Range %1
|
Price2
(US $/kg)
|
Typical Uses
|
|
Light REE’s
|
Lanthanum
|
La
|
57
|
0-0.5
|
6-30
|
Optical glass, cast iron, petroleum refining catalyst, alloys
|
|
Cerium
|
Ce
|
58
|
0-0.2
|
4-40
|
Glass polishing, steel, autocatalysts, self-cleaning ovens
|
|
|
Praesodymium
|
Pr
|
59
|
<0.025
|
50-60
|
Glass, magnets
|
|
|
Neodymium
|
Nd
|
60
|
0-0.1
|
32-50
|
Magnets (including computers and voice coils), lasers, catalysts
|
|
|
Promethium
|
Pm
|
61
|
-
|
Synthetic element
|
||
|
Samarium
|
Sm
|
62
|
0-0.04
|
4-250
|
Magnets, lighting, lasers, biofuel catalysts
|
|
|
Heavy REE’s
|
Europium
|
Eu
|
63
|
<0.01
|
430-1800
|
Phosphor, nuclear energy controls
|
|
Gadolinium
|
Gd
|
64
|
0-0.2
|
10-400
|
Microwaves, phosphors, superconductors, medical MRI’s
|
|
|
Terbium
|
Tb
|
65
|
0-0.06
|
700-1800
|
Phosphors, fuel cells
|
|
|
Dysprosium
|
Dy
|
66
|
0-0.6
|
100-150
|
Lasers, chalcogenides
|
|
|
Holmium
|
Ho
|
67
|
0-0.2
|
650-2000
|
Nuclear control rods, lasers, colorants
|
|
|
Erbium
|
Er
|
68
|
0-0.6
|
20-500
|
Alloys, glass pigments
|
|
|
Thulium
|
Tm
|
69
|
0-0.1
|
790-2500
|
Ceramic magnets
|
|
|
Ytterbium
|
Yb
|
70
|
0-0.5
|
130-400
|
X-rays, lasers
|
|
|
Lutetium
|
Lu
|
71
|
0-0.06
|
2000-3500
|
Petroleum cracking catalysts
|
|
|
Yttrium
|
Y
|
39
|
0-5
|
10-50
|
Phosphors, lasers, ethylene production, ceramics, alloys
|
REE’s at Bokan: Supplement to the February 26 09 and June 15 09 Press Releases:
Individual Rare Earth Oxide Concentrations in Hole LM08-32
From 106.22 to 112.47 m (apparent width 6.25 meters):
|
|
La |
Ce |
Pr |
Nd |
Sm |
Eu |
Gd |
Tb |
Dy |
Ho |
Er |
Tm |
Yb |
Lu |
Y |
LREO |
HREO |
ΣREO |
|
ppm |
534 |
1184 |
149 |
849 |
297 |
62 |
1262 |
425 |
3903 |
1027 |
3491 |
549 |
3322 |
445 |
29824 |
3013 |
44312 |
47325 |
|
Percent |
0.053 |
0.118 |
0.015 |
0.085 |
0.030 |
0.006 |
0.126 |
0.042 |
0.390 |
0.103 |
0.349 |
0.055 |
0.332 |
0.045 |
2.982 |
9.412 |
0.30 |
4.73 |
|
Kg/tonne |
0.534 |
1.184 |
0.149 |
0.849 |
0.297 |
0.062 |
1.262 |
0.425 |
3.903 |
1.027 |
3.491 |
0.549 |
3.322 |
0.445 |
29.825 |
3.01 |
44.31 |
47.33 |
|
lb/ton |
1.068 |
2.367 |
0.298 |
1.699 |
0.594 |
0.123 |
2.524 |
0.850 |
7.806 |
2.054 |
6.983 |
1.099 |
6.645 |
0.890 |
59.649 |
6.03 |
88.62 |
94.6 |
From 106.92 to 109.44 m (apparent width 2.52 m)
|
|
La |
Ce |
Pr |
Nd |
Sm |
Eu |
Gd |
Tb |
Dy |
Ho |
Er |
Tm |
Yb |
Lu |
Y |
LREO |
HREO |
ΣREO |
|
ppm |
1091 |
2401 |
298 |
1843 |
675 |
146 |
3057 |
1038 |
9564 |
2520 |
8566 |
1348 |
8142 |
1091 |
73133 |
6309 |
108604 |
114913 |
|
Percent |
0.109 |
0.240 |
0.030 |
0.184 |
0.068 |
0.015 |
0.306 |
0.104 |
0.956 |
0.252 |
0.857 |
0.135 |
0.814 |
0.109 |
7.313 |
0.63 |
10.86 |
11.49 |
|
Kg/tonne |
1.1 |
2.4 |
0.3 |
1.8 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
3.1 |
1.0 |
9.6 |
2.5 |
8.6 |
1.3 |
8.1 |
1.1 |
73.1 |
6.31 |
108.60 |
114.91 |
|
lb/ton |
2.4 |
5.3 |
0.7 |
4.1 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
6.7 |
2.3 |
21.0 |
5.5 |
18.8 |
3.0 |
17.9 |
2.4 |
160.9 |
13.88 |
238.93 |
252.81 |
|
·
|
Element
|
Symbol
|
Atomic Number
|
Oxide
|
Abundance in crust ppm
|
Bokan
Range %1
|
Price2
(US $/kg)
|
Typical Uses
|
|
Light REE’s
|
Lanthanum
|
La
|
57
|
La2O3
|
18
|
0-0.5
|
4-30
|
Optical glass, cast iron, petroleum refining catalyst, alloys
|
|
Cerium
|
Ce
|
58
|
CeO2
|
46
|
0-0.2
|
3-40
|
Glass polishing, steel, autocatalysts, self-cleaning ovens
|
|
|
Praesodymium
|
Pr
|
59
|
Pr6O11
|
5.5
|
<0.025
|
20-60
|
Glass, magnets
|
|
|
Neodymium
|
Nd
|
60
|
Nd2O3
|
24
|
0-0.1
|
20-50
|
Magnets (including computers and voice coils), lasers, catalysts
|
|
|
Promethium
|
Pm
|
61
|
Pm2O3
|
-
|
-
|
Synthetic element
|
||
|
Samarium
|
Sm
|
62
|
Sm2O3
|
6.5
|
0-0.04
|
3-250
|
Magnets, lighting, lasers, biofuel catalysts
|
|
|
Heavy REE’s
|
Europium
|
Eu
|
63
|
Eu2O3
|
0.5
|
<0.01
|
32o-1800
|
Phosphor, nuclear energy controls
|
|
Gadolinium
|
Gd
|
64
|
Gd2O3
|
0.9
|
0-0.2
|
10-400
|
Microwaves, phosphors, superconductors, medical MRI’s
|
|
|
Terbium
|
Tb
|
65
|
Tb4O7
|
5.0
|
0-0.06
|
500-1800
|
Phosphors, fuel cells
|
|
|
Dysprosium
|
Dy
|
66
|
Dy2O3
|
1.2
|
0-0.6
|
70-150
|
Lasers, chalcogenides
|
|
|
Holmium
|
Ho
|
67
|
Ho2O3
|
4.0
|
0-0.2
|
25-650
|
Nuclear control rods, lasers, colorants
|
|
|
Erbium
|
Er
|
68
|
Er2O3
|
0.4
|
0-0.6
|
20-200
|
Alloys, glass pigments
|
|
|
Thulium
|
Tm
|
69
|
Tm2O3
|
2.7
|
0-0.1
|
80-900
|
Ceramic magnets
|
|
|
Ytterbium
|
Yb
|
70
|
Yb2O3
|
0.8
|
0-0.5
|
25-230
|
X-rays, lasers
|
|
|
Lutetium
|
Lu
|
71
|
Lu2O3
|
10.0
|
0-0.06
|
500-2500
|
Petroleum cracking catalysts
|
|
|
Yttrium
|
Y
|
39
|
Y2O3
|
28.0
|
0-10
|
10-50
|
Phosphors, lasers, ethylene production, ceramics, alloys
|
REE’s at Bokan: Supplement to the November 17, 2009 Press Release:
Drill Hole Plan 2007-2009
Dotson Zone DDH Location Map (Oct 20, 2010)
www.ucore.com/trenches
All Resources Classified as Inferred
Supplement to the March 7, 2011 Press Release
