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1. Uranium deposition model - Rum Jungle Creek South deposit
 

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2. Uranium deposition model - Dysons deposit

 
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3. Uranium deposition model - Whites deposit
 
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4. Uranium deposition model - Browns deposit

projects

Northern Territory

What distinguishes Uranium Australia amongst many other exploration companies is its exploration strategy which is loosely termed the “Mineral Systems” approach. This philosophy centres on applying the understanding of the mineralising processes in a predicative capacity, rather than utilising a purely empirical approach. It is a method focusing on ‘why’ mineralisation occurs and ‘where’ it should occur under various geological conditions. This is in contrast to a traditional approach which largely targets only geochemical or geophysical anomalies.

The “Mineral Systems” approach has several benefits. It enables the Company to explore for several styles of uranium mineralisation as opposed to focusing on a single mineralisation model such as surficial calcrete-based or unconformity related uranium. In addition, the Company increases the chances for discovering an entirely new zone or a different style of mineralisation by utilising the available data in a more holistic fashion.

In the light of this approach, the highest priority project is the Rum Jungle Project in the Rum Jungle Mineral Field, in the Northern Territory. It has a combination of uranium drill intercepts, ‘drill ready’ targets adjacent to known historic unconformity-style uranium mineralisation, as well as more innovative targets, extending eastwards along a large zone of similarly prospective rocks. In this case a “Mineral Systems” approach is of substantial benefit in understanding the processes that have lead to mobilisation and deposition of uranium mineralisation within the target horizon. Furthermore, this exploration philosophy, may in fact be a necessary to enable optimal delineation and ranking of targets.

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Uranium Australia Northern Territory projects - mineralised target zone with major uranium mines and deposits - deposition models of each deposit are shown on the left

Uranium Australia is focusing on the low-cost unconformity related uranium mineralisation which occurs on the carbon-rich interface between the Coomalie Dolostone and the Whites Formation (see the diagram above). These deposits tend to occur at shallow depths and historically had grades of between 0.2% and 2% of uranium oxide. The largest of the uranium deposits at RJMF, Rum Jungle Creek South (Figure 1) which is located on the western boundary of Uranium Australia’s tenement occurs at a very shallow depth and was mined at a grade of 0.48% uranium for approximately 9,000,000 pounds of uranium oxide.

Unlike many new uranium discoveries which require enormous investment in infrastructure and often present substantial access difficulties, the Batchelor and Green Alligator projects are well serviced by infrastructure such as gas, high voltage power, major highways and a transcontinental railway line. Furthermore, the projects are located just 75km south from the port of Darwin and within an easy 30 minute car drive from the city suburbs.