Uranium Bay Receives Technical Report on its Uskawanis Property: Based on the Current Information the Prospectivity of
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MONTREAL, QUEBEC, Jun 16 (MARKET WIRE) --
Uranium Bay Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: UBR)
- Radon Levels up to 60,000 PPM Intersected in Ground Water in Fractures
Clearly Demonstrate the Unique Nature of the Property's Granitic
Environment
- Three Separate Types of Radiometric Tools Confirmed That the "Uranium"
Radiometric Anomalous Zones Found on the Property Are Real and Massive
- Large Amounts of Radon and Uranium Daughter Products Cannot Occur
Unless There Is a Breakdown of a Higher Grade Uranium Source.
- The Fact That All the Anomalies Occur in Proximity to Faulting in a
Discrete Zone (Striking About 30 Degrees East of North) Suggest the
Presence of a Large Uranium Source, at Depth, in or Below the Granites.
- Two Geological Models Could Account for the Findings; Either Uskawanis
Possesses a Large Uranium Vein System Within the Granites; or a Large
Uranium Source Possibly Meta-Sedimentary, Within or Probably Below the
Uskawanis Granites, Similar to the Nearby Strateco Apple Deposit
Uranium Bay Resources Inc. is pleased to inform its shareholders that Mr.
Vivian Stuart-Williams, UBR director and Exploration Manager, completed a
second technical report describing the findings emanating from the
exploration work done to date on UBR's wholly owned 314 km2 Uskawanis
Uranium Property ("UUP") situated SE of Hydro-Quebec's Opinaca
Hydroelectric Reservoir along the Eastmain River, 180 km SSE of Radisson,
Quebec.
The report brings together the geological information of the UUP,
including work by independent consultants, contractors and logistical
support people as at end 2008, and it was prepared in accordance with
National Instrument 43-101 and 43-101F as part of UBR's Continuous
Disclosure Reporting requirements. The report will be available soon on
the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and on a new UBR website that will be
prepared after the holding of the AGM of the Corporation (June 18, 2009).
The UUP property is located in the Superior Province of the Canadian
Shield. The Superior Province was assembled from continental fragments
and intervening tracts of oceanic crust between 2720 Ma and 2680 Ma. The
entire property is within the La Grande Sub-Province of the Superior
Province. The geology of the UUP is dominated by the Uskawanis pluton and
is largely tonalities and monzogranites. The main exploration target for
the Uskawanis Uranium Property is uranium.
Review of 2008 work programmes:
An airborne geophysical report prepared GEOPHYSICS GPR INTERNATIONAL INC.
was delivered towards the end of the 2007 drilling programme. The report
indicated the presence of large radiometric anomalies in the centre of
the project area that had not been drilled by UBR. These larger
radiometric anomalies identified and prioritized by GAP Geophysics, early
in 2008, became the target of the 2008 drilling programme. (please refer
to June 9, 2008 press release)
This prioritization localized the anomalies to be investigated to W(est)
1 to 16; WC (West Central) 1 and 2; N(orth) 1 to 4; C(entral) 1 to 17;
S(outh) 1 to 5; and E(ast) 1. This gave a total of 45 anomalies to be
investigated. (Please refer to attached map for more details:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Mineralized_zone_pdf.pdf)
The W and WC anomalies had been mostly investigated during the 2007
campaign. The N, C, S and E anomalies became the priority for the 2008
programme (please refer to August 1, 2008 press release). For the 2008
programme, 27 drillholes were planned of which 26 were successfully
drilled.
It was decided early during screening of the anomalies that the N3 and N4
anomalies would be priority and drilled first. The size of these
anomalies suggested that they had a high potential to generate a resource
quickly (Please refer to attached map for more details:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Mineralized_zone_pdf.pdf). Boreholes
BHN3-01 to BHN3-03 were drilled in an eastward direction away from the
radiometric outcrop. Borehole BHN3-01 gave radiometric results that
suggested an average grade of about 100 ppm eU3O8 over the top 50 metres
of the drillhole.
In all, seven drill-holes were completed on the N3 radiometric anomaly.
On the basis of the down-hole logging results UBR was very encouraged and
issued a Press Release indicating that UBR had identified a resource on
the N3 anomaly (please refer to August 20, 2008 press release).
At the time this press release was issued UBR had received no geochemical
results. There was concern that drillcores logged seemed to correlate
badly with the down-the-hole-logger radiometric results. UBR asked
Terratec (the geophysical contractor) to confirm equipment specs and to
re-log several boreholes (including some drilled in 2007) to test that
results were comparative. There was no evidence of any equipment problems
and the instrument proved to be virtually 100% accurate.
Drilling moved to the N4 anomaly. Some eight drill-holes were completed.
BHN4-02 had a spot anomaly (that was about 30 cm wide) that gave
radiometric assays of about 6,000 ppm eU308. The core sample at the same
depth was essentially barren and gave no comparable hand-held
scintillometer result! Consensus opinion on the base of the results of
different in-drillhole surveys done on the hole was that there was very
strong evidence that a fracture at about 70 metres was continuously and
on an on-going basis pouring radiometric "fluid" into the borehole and it
was suggested that the fluid was rising up the borehole (warm?). UBR
requested Terratec to investigate this borehole.
It was confirmed that the key "issue" was in-hole radon gas - probably
present as geogas (micro-bubbles) in the groundwater (please refer to
February 3, 2009 press release). Radon levels were calculated to be up to
60,000 ppm in the groundwater intersected in the fracture / fissure
system of BHN4-02. These levels of radon geogas are out of equilibrium
with the adjacent granites and must therefore be coming from a deeper
source of higher grade uranium.
Similar issues were found in some of the other N4 drill-holes.
The S Anomaly was a well defined circular radiometric anomaly that had a
marked recti-linear pattern suggesting that faulting played a major role
in the distribution of the anomaly. Four drill-holes were completed.
By the time of the S Anomaly drilling, UBR staff were now of the
understanding that the radiometric anomalies being seen had very little
to do with in-situ uranium. It was now thought that the anomalies related
to uranium daughter products being carried upward along fractures. This
model had been developed from the radiometric results specifically on the
South, North and East Anomalies. The association of faulting and
radiometric anomalies seemed too strong to be coincidental.
As has been mentioned, there was a huge disparity between the radiometric
logs; and the physical core and geochemistry. Normally in hardrocks such
as granites, the correlation between the radiometric "assays" and
geochemical assays for uranium are very good (within a few percent). At
the UUP it quickly became apparent that this was not the case and that
the geophysical "assays" were up to 700% or more higher than the
geochemical assays. This meant that the geophysical assays were showing
the presence of sub-economic to economic grades while the geochemistry
was indicating only slightly elevated uranium levels in the granites.
It must be clearly recognized by shareholders that the "uranium"
radiometric anomalies found at the UUP are real and big. They were
demonstrated by the airborne radiometric survey; confirmed by the use of
ground operated scintillometer on outcrop and core; and re-confirmed by
professionally calibrated and operated down-the-hole radiometric logger.
This device was regularly checked on site and gave duplicate results for
boreholes drilled during the 2007 drilling programme. This means that all
three separate types of radiometric loggers were in agreement that the
UUP had large radiometric anomalous zones.
Secondly it has to be recognized by shareholders that the geochemical
analyses were re-run and checked using different assay techniques and
have also been reconfirmed. Essentially there is no uranium in the rocks
above typical background levels for slightly enriched granites (with the
exception of the one boulder analysis).
This meant that two well proven exploration techniques were giving widely
differing results for the same samples. UBR staff and contractors are
confident that there were no geochemical or geophysical errors and that
there is a REAL substantial difference in results from the geophysical
and the geochemical analyses.
Discussions with uranium geologists and geophysicists suggest that the
situation found at the UUP is unique in this type of granitic
environment. UBR staff believes this uniqueness to be very important.
The issue is disequilibrium. Put in its simplest manner, disequilibrium
is a where there is more than about a 20% error between radiometric
assays and geochemical analyses of the same sample or rock unit. What we
have at the UUP is substantial disequilibrium (up to + 700%) over the 14
or 15 major radiometric anomalies (N1-4; S1-5; E1; and some of the C
anomalies).
If a rock is a closed system (nothing being added or subtracted), then a
very accurate measurement can be made of the amount of uranium in the
rock using radiometric assays. Generally, hardrock geological systems are
approximated as being closed, so hardrock uranium orebodies generally
give good relationships between the radiometric assays and geochemical
analyses. If the rock system is an open system and materials can be added
or subtracted, disequilibrium can occur.
The subject is complicated and is discussed further in the report Section
17.1 - 17.3. Basically what has occurred is that radioactive uranium
breakdown products (daughters) have been added to the rocks substantially
increasing the level of radiation (but not the level of geochemical
uranium). This in turn creates large amounts of radon gas (along with gas
from deeper sources) that have created the large surface radiometric
anomalies. The anomalies are a combination of the significantly increased
radioactivity (due to the addition of uranium daughter products) and the
radon gas (which is itself radioactive). "UBR staff is now attributing
these strange results to the presence of radon gas and the addition to
the rocks of uranium daughter products. The radon gas is causing the high
radiation levels in fluid and the daughter products are causing the
disequilibrium in some of the granites. Both of these effects relate
directly to the breakdown of higher grade uranium "somewhere" in the
adjacent rock system."
Breakdown of the low levels of uranium in the granites will produce a
known amount of radon and daughter products. The presence of large
amounts of radon and the addition of large amounts of daughter products
to the granites cannot occur unless there is addition of these products
as the direct result of breakdown of a higher grade uranium source. The
fact that all these anomalies occur in proximity to faulting in a
discrete zone (striking about 30 degrees east of north) has to suggest
the presence of a large uranium source, at depth, in or below the
granites. (Please refer to attached map for more details:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Mineralized_zone_pdf.pdf). This is
discussed in considerable detail in Section 17 of the report.
After consideration, it seems that there are two possible geological
models that could account for the unusual findings at the UUP. It is
believed that we are either looking at uranium vein deposits within the
granites OR a large uranium source (possibly meta-sedimentary), within or
probably below the Uskawanis granite, similar to the nearby Apple deposit
of Strateco. (TSX VENTURE: RSC) This could only be determined through
additional work.
On the basis of the current technical information available, the
Prospectivity for the UUP is still considered very good.
UBR technical staff is of the opinion that the next phase of this project
should include a desk-study; a re-assessment of the magnetic data
recovered during the 2007 airborne survey; an airborne gravity survey to
try and identify any basement structures; and possibly a seismic survey;
and an examination of the satellite thermal data of the core area to see
if any thermal plumes on faults can be detected. Recommendations from
this phase would define any future programme.
The following future work is recommended:
- A comprehensive desk-study;
- A re-interpretation of the original magnetic data specifically looking
to see whether detection of any deeper structure is possible;
- An airborne gravity survey to again see whether any deeper structure
can be determined. It would be very useful for future planning to have a
comprehensive understanding of the structure of the granite and any
possible meta-sedimentary (or other) packages within or below the granite.
Other aspects that may be recommended depending on results from the
previous work could include:
- The examination of thermal satellite imagery to try and detect thermal
plumes (if present). It seems very probably that the addition of uranium
daughter products is happening due to water transport in deep fractures.
The very low temperature of the water makes thermal overturn a strong
possibility. This small temperature change may be detectable;
- The carrying out of some ground radon surveys. This would confirm the
current supposition that radon IS the main cause of the anomalies;
- Seismic surveys. It is possible that the magnetic and gravity surveys
may not provide conclusive evidence of structure at depth. If that is the
case, then the use of a seismic survey may be justified; and;
- Other techniques. It may be that the work completed could lead to other
requirements not yet visualized.
The intention of this "desk study" is to demonstrate that the current
model is correct and to provide better control for future deeper
drilling, below the 100 metre threshold used for the 2007 and 2008
programmes. The proposed budget for the next phase at Uskawanis is pegged
at C$ 750,000 excluding any further resource definition drilling, and may
take between 6 to 12 months to realize.
Mr. Bernard Tourillon, UBR's President and CEO, comments:
"The two technical reports done to date present in a clear and concise
way that the scientific methodology taken since the arrival of UBR's new
technical director and team is bearing fruit and that important
milestones are being attained in Uranium Bay's stated goal of delineating
a large scale Uranium deposit on the UUP."
"The report validates our exploration strategy that began in 2007 when
UBR acquired the UUP grass root exploration project in the Bay James
region of Quebec, and invested close to $4,500,000 in exploration
expenses since."
"Based on the information available to date, the Corporation no longer
believes that the significant radiometric anomalies found on the UUP and
the high grade uranium grab samples found on the surface of the
concession are indicators of the presence of Rossing style mineralization
(low grade, high volume surface deposit) on UUP"
"But the exploration work is starting to demonstrate that the large scale
radiometric anomalies found on the UUP combined with the substantial
disequilibrium (up to + 700%) over the 14 or 15 major radiometric
anomalies are real indicators of what may well be a never seen and
recognized unique and deeper source of higher grade uranium."
"The challenge going forward will be developing this potential and the
desk study should go a long way in helping the UBR technical team and
management develop the potential of the concession, either alone or with
the assistance of a well capitalized and serious technical partner.
Mr. Vivian Stuart-Williams, (SACNASP), a Director of the Company and a
Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the
preparation of the information in this news release.
About Uranium Bay Resources Inc.
Uranium Bay Resources Inc. is a Canadian based junior resource and
exploration company trading under the symbol UBR on the TSX Venture
Exchange. The Company has 82,374,367 shares outstanding. The Company
holds 100% of the 314 km2 Uskawanis Uranium property located just south
of the Opinaca reservoir.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news
release contains forward-looking statements reflecting Uranium Bay
objectives, estimates, expectations and the impact of acquisitions on
Uranium Bay's financial performance. These statements are identified by
the use of verbs such as "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", and
"expect" as well as by the use of future or conditional tenses. By their
very nature, these types of statements involve risks and uncertainty.
Consequently, reality may differ materially from Uranium Bay's
projections or expectations.
Contacts:
Uranium Bay Resources Inc.
Bernard J. Tourillon
President and CEO
514-846-3271
Toll-free 1-888-666-3431
Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
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