Project: Iso Energy X Fleet Space Technologies
Location: Athabasca Basin, Canada
Commodity: Uranium
Deposit type: Unconformity-Related Uranium Deposits
IsoEnergy Ltd. is a globally diversified uranium company with significant mineral resources in top uranium mining regions, including Canada, the U.S., and Australia.
Overview
The project aimed to expand exploration efforts in the Athabasca Basin, focusing on identifying zones of alteration that may correlate with uranium mineralisation.
Exploration Challenges
The challenge in exploring the Athabasca Basin lies in identifying alteration zones within structural corridors associated with uranium mineralisation. Exploration typically relies on aeromagnetic and electromagnetic geophysics to map structures, however, neither of these directly image alteration. Without this, extensive drilling is often the only option to test the subsurface for possible alteration.
Our Approach
ExoSphere by Fleet® was deployed with IsoEnergy to provide 3D subsurface imaging using Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT). The project involved surveying the Hurricane uranium deposit and the nearby Hawk Greenfields prospect. ANT was selected for its ability to detect changes in velocity caused by alteration, which is a key indicator of mineralisation.
Outcome
The ANT surveys were conducted between June and September 2023, covering approximately 34km² with a depth of up to 1200m. Despite challenging terrain, the surveys were completed, with wider-spaced surveys followed by detailed infill surveys over areas of interest. The results were promising, with drilling confirming that the low-velocity zones identified by ANT corresponded to areas of alteration within Athabasca Bain sedimentary rocks.
“We are strongly encouraged by the results from our first drill testing of the ANT anomalies identified at the Laroque East and Hawk projects. In both cases, drilling proved that the ANT surveys correctly show alteration, a prerequisite for mineralisation, and will serve as an important targeting tool going forward.” - Phil Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Iso Energy, April 25, 2024
Highlights
- Successful Identification of Alteration Zones: ANT identified low-velocity zones correlating with alteration and faulting, providing new drill target zones.
- Validation through Drilling: Drilling at the Hawk prospect confirmed that these low-velocity zones corresponded with significant graphitic basement-hosted fault zones, strong illite and chlorite alteration, and desilicification, all indicative of a hydrothermal system.
- Project Efficiency: Using ANT reduced the need for extensive pattern drilling, lowering exploration risks and accelerating timelines.