Item 1. Business
Corporate Organization
Uranium Energy Corp. was incorporated under
the laws of the State of Nevada on May 16, 2003 under the name “Carlin Gold Inc.” During 2004, we changed our business
operations and focus from precious metals exploration to uranium exploration in the United States. On January 24, 2005, we completed
a reverse stock split of our common stock on the basis of one share for each two outstanding shares and amended our Articles of
Incorporation to change our name to ‘Uranium Energy Corp.’. Effective February 28, 2006, we completed a forward stock
split of our common stock on the basis of 1.5 shares for each outstanding share and amended our Articles of Incorporation to increase
our authorized capital from 75,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share to 750,000,000 shares of common
stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. In June 2007, we changed our fiscal year end from December 31 to July 31.
On December 31, 2007, we incorporated
a wholly-owned subsidiary, UEC Resources Ltd., under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Effective December
18, 2009, we acquired a 100% interest in the South Texas Mining Venture, L.L.P., a Texas limited liability partnership, from each
of URN Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Uranium One Inc., and Everest Exploration, Inc. On September 3, 2010, we incorporated a
wholly-owned subsidiary, UEC Paraguay Corp., under the laws of the State of Nevada. Effective May 24, 2011, we acquired a 100%
in interest in Piedra Rica Mining S.A., a private company incorporated in Paraguay. Effective September 9, 2011, we acquired a
100% interest in Concentric Energy Corp., a private company incorporated in the State of Nevada. Effective March 30, 2012, we
acquired a 100% interest in Cue Resources Ltd., a formerly publicly-traded company incorporated in the Province of British Columbia,
Canada. Effective March 4, 2016, we acquired 100% interest in JDL Resources Inc., a private company incorporated in Cayman Islands.
Our principal offices are located at 500
North Shoreline Boulevard, Suite 800N, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 and 1030 West Georgia Street, Suite 1830, Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada V6E 2Y3.
General Business
We are engaged in uranium mining and related
activities, including exploration, pre-extraction, extraction and processing, on uranium projects located in the United States
and Paraguay. We utilize in-situ recovery (“ISR”) mining where possible which we believe, when compared to conventional
open pit or underground mining, requires lower capital and operating expenditures with a shorter lead time to extraction and a
reduced impact on the environment. We do not expect, however, to utilize ISR mining for all of our mineral rights in which case
we would expect to rely on conventional open pit and/or underground mining techniques. We have one uranium mine located in the
State of Texas, the Palangana Mine, which utilizes ISR mining and commenced extraction of uranium oxide (“U
3
O
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”),
or yellowcake, in November 2010. We have one uranium processing facility located in the State of Texas, the Hobson Processing
Facility, which processes material from the Palangana Mine into drums of U
3
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, our only sales product and
source of revenue, for shipping to a third-party storage and sales facility. Since commencement of uranium extraction from the
Palangana Mine in November 2010 to July 31, 2015, the Hobson Processing Facility has processed 578,000 pounds of U
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.
At July 31, 2016, we had no uranium supply or “off-take” agreements in place.
Our fully-licensed and 100%-owned Hobson
Processing Facility forms the basis for our regional operating strategy in the State of Texas, specifically the South Texas Uranium
Belt where we utilize ISR mining. We utilize a “hub-and-spoke” strategy whereby the Hobson Processing Facility acts
as the central processing site (the “hub”) for our Palangana Mine and future satellite uranium mining activities,
such as our Burke Hollow and Goliad Projects, located within the South Texas Uranium Belt (the “spokes”). The Hobson
Processing Facility has a physical capacity to process uranium-loaded resins up to a total of two million pounds of U
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annually and is licensed to process up to one million pounds of U
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annually.
At July 31, 2016, we hold certain mineral
rights in various stages in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and in the Republic of Paraguay, many
of which are located in historically successful mining areas and have been the subject of past exploration and pre-extraction
activities by other mining companies. We do not expect, however, to utilize ISR mining for all of our mineral rights in which
case we would expect to rely on conventional open pit and/or underground mining techniques.
Our operating and strategic framework
is based on expanding our uranium extraction activities, which includes advancing certain uranium projects with established mineralized
materials towards uranium extraction, and establishing additional mineralized materials on our existing uranium projects or through
acquisition of additional uranium projects.
During Fiscal 2016, uranium extraction
at Production Area Authorizations (“PAA”) 1, 2 and 3 of the Palangana Mine continued to operate at a reduced pace since
implementing our strategic plan in September 2013, to align our operations to a weak uranium market in a challenging post-Fukushima
environment. This strategy has included the deferral of major pre-extraction expenditures and remaining in a state of operational
readiness in anticipation of a recovery in uranium prices.
During Fiscal 2016, the Company:
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entered into a
second amended
and restated credit agreement (the “Second Amended and Restated Agreement”) with its lenders and extended the $20,000,000
senior secured credit facility by deferring required principal payments to February 1, 2019 and by extending the maturity date
to January 1, 2020;
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completed
a registered offering of 12,364,704 units at a price of $0.85 per unit for gross proceeds
of $10,510,000;
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completed
an asset acquisition through the issuance of 1,333,560 restricted common shares and the payment
of $50,000 in cash;
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continued to advance
development
of PAA 4 of the Palangana Mine;
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continued
to advance exploration and permitting activities at the Burke Hollow Project;
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continued
permitting work at the Anderson Project;
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appointed
former United States Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham as Executive Chairman of the Company’s
Board of Directors; and
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appointed
Pat Obara as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.
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Uranium Industry Background
With the world’s population exceeding
seven billion people and growing, the need for electricity is rising and is an important driver for the projected long term increase
in nuclear power generation and uranium demand. The world’s current operating fleet of nuclear power plants, in addition
to the global growth in new reactors under construction and those planned, is testimony to the confidence in nuclear power to
provide safe, economical, reliable carbon free energy as part of an overall energy supply mix. As of August 10, 2016, World Nuclear
Association (“WNA”) data shows 445 reactors operable worldwide with 61 new reactors under construction, 170 reactors
planned or on order and another 339 proposed. Translated into global uranium demand, Ux Consulting Company (“UxC”),
a uranium market information source, projects base demand to increase from about 182 million pounds in 2016 to 190 million pounds
in 2020 and about 210 million pounds by 2025.
Nuclear generation in the United States
remained stable in 2015, producing about 797 billion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 19.5% of the country’s total electrical
generation as reported by the Nuclear Energy Institute. As of August 2016, the operating U.S. reactor fleet stands at 100 reactors,
with four new commercial reactors in various stages of construction (Vogtle 3 and 4 in Georgia and Summer 2 and 3 in South Carolina).
A new reactor, Watts Bar 2 in Tennessee has just been completed and is now in commercial operation. In addition, the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission has another 10 new reactor applications that are active. The U.S. remains the world’s largest consumer
of uranium with annual requirements of about 50 million pounds of U
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. The U.S. Energy Information Administration
(“EIA”) reported domestic production totaled 3.3 million pounds in 2015, down 32% from 4.9 million pounds in 2014.
This amounts to about 7% of U.S. reactor requirements in 2015 and highlights the U.S. dependency on foreign sources of uranium
supply.
Uranium production around the planet increased
about 9% in 2015 from 145 to 158 million pounds of U
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. The lion’s share of this new production came
from the long anticipated and much delayed Cigar Lake project that was just beginning to ramp up in 2014. About 130 million pounds,
or 83%, of the globe’s production came from Africa, Australia, Canada and Kazakhstan (UxC data). Kazakhstan remained the
world’s largest producer, with about 62 million pounds produced or about 40% of the world’s total production. The
projects in these areas are primarily controlled by five major producers, although some of these mines involve joint ventures
with other entities. Many of the projects in various production areas are subject to heightened geopolitical and other risks.
In choosing a long term supplier in this highly concentrated industry, these are important considerations for a utility relying
on a secure uranium supply source to fuel their reactor needs.
Japan’s March 11, 2011 earthquake
and subsequent tsunami causing the Fukushima Daiichi accident has had a substantial impact on the nuclear fuel markets and resulted
in a short term oversupply situation. As this oversupply has persisted in the nuclear fuel market during 2015, prices have remained
under pressure. Uranium spot market prices have fallen over 64% from a March 1, 2011 pre-Fukushima price of $70.00 per pound to
an 11 year low at $25.00 per pound in mid-July of 2016. Spot prices were up slightly off the low at around $26 per pound at the
end of August 2016, a price well below almost all producers cost of production. Long-term contract (base price escalated) prices
have also weakened and were published at $38 per pound in July 2016 after dropping from the pre-Fukushima level of $73 per pound.
Since Fukushima, the spot and long-term contract price drops have resulted in the deferral or cancellation of several large uranium
projects, removing 178 million pounds of supply that was projected to be online in the years 2014 to 2016, and another 58 million
pounds in 2020 (UxC data).
Most recently, the world’s largest
uranium producer announced plans to shutter its U.S. operations that will remove about 2 million pounds per year of U.S. production.
Additionally, many longer term high priced contracts are falling out of producer portfolios and will not be replaced at current
market prices, likely forcing the suspension of higher cost production. We believe this trend is likely to continue absent a substantial
and sustained increase in market price. Production cuts, project deferrals and cancellations further exacerbate the growing longer
term gap between production and consumption and are likely to increase the prospects for an eventual strong rebound in uranium
prices.
While Japan’s return to nuclear power
post Fukushima has been slower than expected, it’s still progressing with an ultimate goal of producing 20 to 22% of their
electrical generation requirements from nuclear power. A total of 25 reactors have applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority
(“NRA”) for restart. To date, the NRA has approved seven reactors to resume commercial operations, of which three
reactors have restarted, with Sendai 1 and 2 as well as Ikata 3 all operating smoothly.
World base case demand was about 194
million pounds in 2015, exceeding the 158 million pounds of total production by about 36 million pounds. The gap between
“Existing” production and consumption is projected to be near 20 million pounds per year in 2020, and increasing
further to about 48 million pounds in 2023 (UxC Uranium Market Outlook Q2-2016). While projections show some of the gap could
be partially filled with new production, there is question whether or not “Planned and Potential” production
comes on line in accordance with expectations. So far, the difference between primary production and reactor demand is being
filled with secondary market sources. This includes the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) excess uranium
inventories, enrichment underfeeding and tails re-enrichment programs as well as Russian stockpiles. Some progress has been
made to curtail the amount of uranium that the DOE has been placing into the market, but their continued release of price
insensitive material has had a clear, adverse material impact on market prices. While no definitive agreement has been
reached, there are legislative and other efforts underway to limit or halt the material DOE is placing into the market.
Ultimately, the forces of supply and demand
will dictate the direction of future uranium pricing. The EIA reported that U.S. supplier inventories have decreased each year
over the past four years with another drop in 2015 of 19% from 2014 levels. In past reports, UxC has noted “To the extent
that fewer inventories are being held by suppliers, they are likely to be less aggressive selling material and thus pushing price
lower.” Also in another recently issued report UxC stated “the market is transitioning from being inventory driven
to being production driven.” Most planned projects have costs well above $50 per pound and many industry executives and analysts,
including J.P. Morgan; have stated a minimum acceptable price to encourage new hard-rock conventional production is above $75 per
pound.
The global growth in nuclear power is impressive,
resulting in a near 40% growth rate in uranium consumption from 2016 through 2030. For this past year, the International Energy
Agency reported that the “global addition to nuclear capacity in 2015 was 10.2 gigawatts, the highest growth in 25 years.”
Much of this growth is coming from countries like China which plans to have over 97 gigawatt electrical (“GWe”) of
nuclear generation in place by 2025. As of August 2016, China had 34 reactors that were operable with about 31 GWe of capacity.
Other countries like India and Russia also have robust nuclear power expansion plans. These countries are embarking on sovereign-backed
uranium acquisition programs, building inventory stockpiles for their future requirements. This also includes substantial long
term contracting with Western suppliers and taking controlling interests in primary mine production capacity. In addition, Russia
and China are aggressively pursuing programs to sell their reactors around the globe. In most cases the sales agreements contain
turnkey provisions, including uranium supply as a component of the reactor package that will require far more uranium than they
currently produce.
In the United States, future growth in
nuclear generation is likely to emerge from clean-air initiatives, like the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power
Plan that mandates the U.S. utility industry reduce carbon emissions 32% by 2030. New U.S. reactor builds are a clear choice in
meeting environmental goals and requirements with reliable clean air energy. Currently, about 60% of the U.S. carbon free electricity
is generated from nuclear power. While there have been five U.S. nuclear plant closings in recent years and announcements of future
closings for nine additional reactors, there is reasonable question if this will continue. Most of the U.S. reactors with potential
to close are in merchant markets where they are forced to compete with heavily subsidized windpower, and what is currently cheap
gas fired generation. However, gas fired generation is not environmentally friendly and producing CO
2
emissions that
are expected to surpass that produced by coal this year. This is not consistent with clean air initiatives and should cause some
States to revisit their plans to meet EPA mandates. The recent New York State Clean Energy Standard (“CES”) will keep
New York nuclear units operational, avoiding costly pollution. As a result of this program, the FitzPatrick Plant that had previously
planned to close will now continue operation. We believe other States will likely follow the CES template and keep their nuclear
plants contributing to a clean energy supply mix.
In total, the cumulative amount of global
uncommitted demand over the next five years is 262 million pounds. This represents an 18% increase over the five year forward uncommitted
demand evident in 2015. Older contracts are winding down from the previous contracting cycle and as a matter of practice, utilities
typically contract for their open needs two to four years in advance of the requirement. As utilities return to the spot, mid and
long term markets, the more recent inventory driven market is likely to wane and a production driven market should emerge. In summary,
we believe supply and demand fundamentals have significant potential to force uranium prices upward. We believe the global climate-change
push for carbon reduction, and critical air pollution concerns, like those in China, likely leaves nuclear power as the primary
alternative for emission-free, base load, 24-7 generation.
In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining
We utilize or plan on utilizing in-situ
recovery or ISR uranium mining for our South Texas projects including the Palangana Mine and will continue to utilize ISR mining
whenever such alternative is available to conventional mining. When compared to conventional mining, ISR mining requires
lower capital expenditures and has a reduced impact on the environment, as well as a shorter lead time to uranium recovery.
ISR mining involves circulating oxidized
water through an underground uranium deposit, dissolving the uranium and then pumping the uranium-rich solution to the surface
for processing. Oxidizing solution enters the formation through a series of injection wells and is drawn to a series of communicating
extraction wells. To create a localized hydrologic cone of depression in each wellfield, more groundwater will be produced than
injected. Under this gradient, the natural groundwater movement from the surrounding area is toward the wellfield, providing control
of the injection fluid. Over-extraction is adjusted as necessary to maintain a cone of depression which ensures that the injection
fluid does not move outside the permitted area.
The uranium-rich solution is pumped from
the ore zone to the surface and circulated through a series of ion exchange columns located at the mine site. The solution
flows through resin beds inside an ion exchange column where the uranium bonds to small resin beads. As the solution exits
the ion exchange column, it is mostly void of uranium and is re-circulated back to the wellfield and through the ore zone.
Once the resin beads are fully-loaded with uranium, they are transported by truck to the Hobson Processing Facility and transferred
to a tank for flushing with a brine solution, or elution, which strips the uranium from the resin beads. The stripped resin beads
are then transported back to the mine and reused in the ion exchange columns. The uranium solution, now free from the resin,
is precipitated out and concentrated into a slurry mixture and fed to a filter press to remove unwanted solids and contaminants.
The slurry is then dried in a zero-emissions rotary vacuum dryer, packed in metal drums and shipped out as uranium concentrates,
or yellowcake, to ConverDyn for storage and sales.
Each project is divided into a mining unit
known as a PAA which lies inside an approved Mine Permit Boundary. Each PAA will be developed, extracted and restored as one unit
and will have its own set of monitor wells. It is common to have multiple PAAs in extraction at any one time with additional units
in various states of exploration, pre-extraction and/or restoration.
After mining is complete in a PAA, aquifer
restoration will begin as soon as practicable and will continue until the groundwater is restored to pre-mining conditions. Once
restoration is complete, a stability period of no less than one year is scheduled with quarterly baseline and monitor well sampling.
Wellfield reclamation will follow after aquifer restoration is complete and the stability period has passed.
Hobson Processing Facility
The Hobson Processing Facility is located
in Karnes County, Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. It was originally licensed and constructed in 1978,
serving as the hub for several satellite mining projects until 1996, and completely refurbished in 2008. On December 18, 2009,
we acquired the Hobson Processing Facility as part of the acquisition of South Texas Mining Venture, L.L.P.
With a physical capacity to process uranium-loaded
resins up to a total of two million pounds of U
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annually and licensed to process up to one million pounds
of U
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annually, our fully-licensed and 100%-owned Hobson Processing Facility forms the basis for our “hub-and-spoke”
strategy in the State of Texas, specifically the South Texas Uranium Belt where we utilize ISR mining.
Palangana Mine
We hold various mining lease and surface
use agreements generally having an initial five-year term with extension provisions, granting us the exclusive right to explore,
develop and mine for uranium at the Palangana Mine, a 7,094-acre property located in Duval County, Texas, approximately 100 miles
south of the Hobson Processing Facility. These agreements are subject to certain royalty and overriding royalty interests indexed
to the sale price of uranium.
On December 18, 2009, we acquired the
Palangana Mine as part of the acquisition of South Texas Mining Venture, L.L.P. In November 2010, the Palangana Mine commenced
uranium extraction utilizing ISR mining and in January 2011, the Hobson Processing Facility began processing resins received from
the Palangana Mine.
Material Relationships Including Long-Term
Delivery Contracts
We entered into a multi-year uranium sales
contract in June 2011, as amended in January 2012, requiring the delivery of a total 320,000 pounds of U
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by us over a three-year period starting in August 2011. The sales price was based on published market price indicators at the time
of delivery. During the year ended July 31, 2012 and 2013 (“Fiscal 2012” and “Fiscal 2013”), a total of
290,000 pounds of U
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were sold under this contract and during Fiscal 2014, the remaining delivery commitment
of 30,000 pounds under this contract was cancelled at no cost to the Company. At July 31, 2016, we had no uranium supply or “off-take”
agreements in place.
Given that there are up to approximately
60 different companies as potential buyers in the uranium market, we are not substantially dependent upon any single customer
to purchase the uranium extracted by us.
Seasonality
The timing of our uranium concentrate sales
is dependent upon factors such as extraction results from our mining activities, cash requirements, contractual requirements and
perception of the uranium market. As a result, our sales are neither tied to nor dependent upon any particular season. In addition,
our ability to extract and process uranium does not change on a seasonal basis. Over the past ten years, uranium prices have tended
to decline during the calendar third quarter before rebounding during the fourth quarter, but there does not appear to be a strong
correlation.
Mineral Rights
In Texas, our mineral rights are held
exclusively through private leases from the owners of the land/mineral/surface rights with varying terms. In general, these leases
provide for uranium and certain other specified mineral rights only including surface access rights for an initial term of five
years and renewal for a second five-year term. Production royalties apply which are calculated on a sliding-scale basis tied to
the gross sales price of uranium. Remediation of the property is required in accordance with regulatory standards, which may include
the posting of reclamation bonds.
In Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming,
our mineral rights are held either exclusively or through a combination of federal mining claims and state and private mineral
leases. Remediation of the property is required in accordance with regulatory standards, which may include the posting of reclamation
bonds. Our federal mining claims consist of both unpatented lode and placer mining claims registered with the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management (“BLM”) and the appropriate counties. These claims provide for all mineral rights including surface access
rights for an indefinite period. Annual maintenance requirements include BLM claim fees of $155 per claim due on September 1.
Our state mineral leases are registered with the applicable state. These leases provide for all mineral rights including surface
access rights, subject to a production royalty of 5% in Wyoming, ranging from a five-year term in Arizona to a ten-year term in
Wyoming. Annual maintenance requirements include lease fees of $1 and $2 per acre and minimum exploration expenditure requirements
of $10 and $20 per acre in Arizona. Our private mineral leases are negotiated directly with the owners of the land/mineral/surface
rights with varying terms. These leases provide for uranium and certain other specified mineral rights only including surface
access rights, subject to production royalties, for an initial term of five years and renewal for a second five-year term.
Under the mining laws of the Republic
of Paraguay, title to mineral rights for the Yuty Project is held through a “Mineral Concession Contract” approved
by the National Congress and signed between the Government of the Republic of Paraguay and the Company, and title to mineral rights
for the Coronel Oviedo Project is held through a “Mineral Permit” granted by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.
These mineral rights provide for the exploration of metallic and non-metallic minerals and precious and semi-precious gems within
the territory of Paraguay for up to a 6-year period, and for the exploitation of minerals for a minimum period of 20 years from
the beginning of the production phase, extendable for an additional ten years.
Burke Hollow Project
We hold various mining lease and surface
use agreements having an initial five-year term with extension provisions, granting us the exclusive right to explore, develop
and mine for uranium at the Burke Hollow Project, a 19,335-acre property located in Bee County, Texas, subject to certain royalty
interests indexed to the sale price of uranium.
Goliad Project
We hold various mining lease and surface
use agreements having an initial five-year term with extension provisions, granting us the exclusive right to explore, develop
and mine for uranium at the Goliad Project, a 1,139-acre property located in Goliad County, Texas, subject to certain royalty
interests indexed to the sale price of uranium.
Longhorn Project
We hold various mining lease and surface
use agreements having an initial five-year term with extension provisions, granting us the exclusive right to explore, develop
and mine for uranium at the Longhorn Project, a 651-acre property located in Live Oak County, Texas, subject to certain royalty
interests indexed to the sale price of uranium.
Salvo Project
We hold various mining lease and surface
use agreements having an initial five-year term with extension provisions, granting us the exclusive right to explore, develop
and mine for uranium at the Salvo Project, a 1,847-acre property located in Bee County, Texas, subject to certain royalty interests
indexed to the sale price of uranium.
Nichols Project
We hold a mining lease and surface use
agreement having an initial five-year term with extension provisions, granting us the exclusive right to explore, develop and
mine for uranium at the Nichols Project, a 909-acre property located in Karnes County, Texas, subject to certain royalty interests
indexed to the sale price of uranium.
Anderson Project
We hold an undivided 100% interest in
contiguous mineral lode claims and state leases in the Anderson Project, a 8,268-acre property located in Yavapai County, Arizona.
Workman Creek Project
We hold an undivided 100% interest in contiguous
mineral lode claims in the Workman Creek Project, a 4,036-acre property located in Gila County, Arizona, subject to a 3.0% net
smelter royalty requiring an annual advance royalty payment of $50,000 for 2016 and 2017, and $100,000 thereafter.
Los Cuatros Project
We hold an undivided 100% interest in
a state lease in the Los Cuatros Project, a 640-acre property located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Slick Rock Project
We hold an undivided 100% interest in
contiguous mineral lode claims in the Slick Rock Project, a 5,333-acre property located in San Miguel County, Colorado. Certain
claims of the Slick Rock Project are subject to a 1.0% or 3.0% net smelter royalty, the latter requiring an annual advance royalty
payment of $30,000 beginning in November 2017.
Yuty Project, Paraguay
We hold an undivided 100% interest in
one exploitation concession in the Yuty Project, a 289,680-acre property located in Paraguay, subject to an overriding royalty
payable of $0.21 for each pound of uranium produced from the property.
Coronel Oviedo Project, Paraguay
We hold an undivided 100% interest in one
exploration permit in the Coronel Oviedo Project, a 464,548-acre property located in Paraguay, subject to a 1.5% gross overriding
royalty over which we have an exclusive right and option at any time to acquire 0.5% for $166,667 and a right of first refusal
to acquire all or any portion of the remaining 1.0%.
Environmental Regulation
Our activities will be subject to existing
federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control. Our operations will be subject
to stringent environmental regulation by state and federal authorities including the Railroad Commission of Texas (the “RCT”),
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”).
In Texas, surface extraction and exploration
for uranium is regulated by the RCT, while in-situ uranium extraction is regulated by the TCEQ. An exploration permit is the initial
permit granted by the RCT that authorizes exploration drilling activities inside an approved area. This permit authorizes specific
drilling and plugging activities requiring documentation for each borehole drilled. All documentation is submitted to the RCT
on a monthly basis and each borehole drilled under the exploration permit is inspected by an RCT inspector to ensure compliance.
At July 31, 2016, the Company held one exploration permit in each of Bee, Duval, Goliad and Live Oak Counties.
Before in-situ uranium extraction can
begin in Texas, a number of permits must be granted by the TCEQ.
A Mine Area Permit application is required
for submission to the TCEQ to establish a specific permit area boundary, aquifer exemption boundary and the mineral zones of interests
or production zones. The application also includes a financial surety plan to ensure funding for all plugging and abandonment
requirements. Funding for surety is in the form of cash or bonds, including an excess of 15% for contingencies and 10% for overhead,
adjusted annually for inflation. At July 31, 2016, the Company held two Mine Area Permits, one for the Palangana Mine and another
for the Goliad Project.
A Radioactive Material License (“RML”)
application is also required for submission to the TCEQ for authorization to operate a uranium recovery facility. The application
includes baseline environmental data for soil, vegetation, surface water and groundwater along with operational sampling frequencies
and locations. A Radiation Safety Manual is a key component of the application which defines the environmental health and safety
programs and procedures to protect employees and the environment. Another important component of the application is a financial
surety mechanism to insure plant and wellfield decommissioning is properly funded and maintained. Surety funding is in the form
of cash or bonds and includes an excess of 15% for contingencies and 10% for overhead, adjusted annually for inflation. At July
31, 2016, the Company held RMLs for its Palangana Mine, Goliad Project and the Hobson Processing Facility.
Production Area Authorization applications
are also required for submission to the TCEQ to establish specific extraction areas inside the Mine Area Permit boundary. These
are typically 30 to 100 acre units that have been delineated and contain producible quantities of uranium. The PAA application
includes baseline water quality data that is characteristic of that individual unit, proposes upper control limits for monitor
well analysis and also establishes restoration values. The application will also include a financial security plan for wellfield
restoration and reclamation which must be funded and in place prior to commencing uranium extraction. At July 31, 2016, the Company
held four PAA permits for its Palangana Mine and one for its Goliad Project.
A Class I disposal well permit application
is also required for submission to the TCEQ for authorization for deep underground wastewater injection. It is the primary method
for disposing of excess fluid from the extraction areas and for reverse osmosis concentrate during the restoration phase. This
permit authorizes injection into a specific injection zone within a designated injection interval. The permit requires continuous
monitoring of numerous parameters including injection flow rate, injection pressure, annulus pressure and injection/annulus differential
pressure. Mechanical integrity testing is required initially and annually to ensure the well is mechanically sound. Surety funding
for plugging and abandonment of each well is in the form of cash or bonds, including 15% for contingencies and 10% for overhead,
adjusted annually for inflation. At July 31, 2016, the Company held two Class I disposal well permits for the following projects:
Hobson Processing Facility, Palangana Satellite Facility, Burke Hollow Project and the Goliad Project.
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”)
creates a regulatory program to protect groundwater and is administered by the EPA. The SDWA allows states to issue underground
injection control (“UIC”) permits under two conditions: the state’s program must have been granted primacy and
the EPA must have granted an aquifer exemption upon the state’s request. Texas, being a primacy state, is therefore
authorized to grant UIC permits and makes the official requests for an aquifer exemption to the EPA. The aquifer exemption
request is submitted by the Company to the TCEQ, and once approved, is then submitted by the TCEQ to the EPA for concurrence and
final issuance. At July 31, 2016, the Company held an aquifer exemption for the Palangana Mine and an aquifer exemption
for the Goliad Project.
Waste Disposal
The Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state statutes affect minerals exploration and production activities by imposing regulations
on the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of “hazardous wastes” and on the disposal
of non-hazardous wastes. Under the auspices of the EPA, the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA,
sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements.
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act
The federal Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) imposes joint and several liability for costs of investigation
and remediation and for natural resource damages, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes
of persons with respect to the release into the environment of substances designated under CERCLA as hazardous substances (collectively
“Hazardous Substances”). These classes of persons or potentially responsible parties include the current and certain
past owners and operators of a facility or property where there is or has been a release or threat of release of a Hazardous Substance
and persons who disposed of or arranged for the disposal of the Hazardous Substances found at such a facility. CERCLA also authorizes
the EPA and, in some cases, third parties, to take actions in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to
seek to recover the costs of such action. We may also in the future become an owner of facilities on which Hazardous Substances
have been released by previous owners or operators. We may in the future be responsible under CERCLA for all or part of the costs
to clean up facilities or property at which such substances have been released and for natural resource damages.
Air Emissions
Our operations are subject to local, state
and federal regulations for the control of emissions of air pollution. Major sources of air pollutants are subject to more stringent,
federally imposed permitting requirements. Administrative enforcement actions for failure to comply strictly with air pollution
regulations or permits are generally resolved by payment of monetary fines and correction of any identified deficiencies. Alternatively,
regulatory agencies could require us to forego construction, modification or operation of certain air emission sources. In Texas,
the TCEQ issues an exemption for those processes that meet the criteria for low to zero emission by issuing a Permit by Rule.
Presently the Palangana Mine, the Hobson Processing Facility and the Goliad Project all have Permit by Rule covering air emissions.
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act (“CWA”)
imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of wastes, including mineral processing wastes, into waters of
the United States, a term broadly defined. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into federal waters. The CWA provides
for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of hazardous substances and other pollutants. It
imposes substantial potential liability for the costs of removal or remediation associated with discharges of oil or hazardous
substances. State laws governing discharges to water also provide varying civil, criminal and administrative penalties and impose
liabilities in the case of a discharge of petroleum or it derivatives, or other hazardous substances, into state waters. In addition,
the EPA has promulgated regulations that may require us to obtain permits to discharge storm water runoff. In the event of an
unauthorized discharge of wastes, we may be liable for penalties and costs. Management believes that we are in substantial compliance
with current applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Competition
The uranium industry is highly competitive,
and our competition includes larger, more established companies with longer operating histories that not only explore for and
produce uranium, but also market uranium and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. Due to their greater financial
and technical resources, we may not be able to acquire additional uranium projects in a competitive bidding process involving
such companies. Additionally, these larger companies have greater resources to continue with their operations during periods of
depressed market conditions.
Research and Development Activities
No research and development expenditures
have been incurred, either on our account or sponsored by customers, for the three most recently completed fiscal years.
Employees
Amir Adnani is our President and
Chief Executive Officer, and effective October 29, 2015, Pat Obara was appointed our Chief Financial Officer. These
individuals are primarily responsible for all our day-to-day operations. Effective September 8, 2014, Scott Melbye was
appointed our Executive Vice President. Harry Anthony served as our Chief Operating Officer until his resignation effective
September 27, 2013, and now serves as a Senior Advisor to the Company. Other services are provided by outsourcing and
consulting and special purpose contracts. As of July 31, 2016, we had 44 persons employed on a full-time basis and two
individuals providing services on a contract basis.
Available Information
The Company’s website address is
www.uraniumenergy.com and our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and amendments to such reports, are
available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are filed or furnished electronically
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These same reports, as well as our current reports
on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished electronically with the SEC are available for review at the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov. Printed copies of the foregoing materials are available free of charge upon written request by email at
info@uraniumenergy.com. Additional information about the Company can be found at our website, however, such information is neither
incorporated by reference nor included as part of this or any other report or information filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
In addition
to the information contained in this Form 10-K Annual Report, we have identified the following material risks and uncertainties
which reflect our outlook and conditions known to us as of the date of this Annual Report. These material risks and uncertainties
should be carefully reviewed by our stockholders and any potential investors in evaluating the Company, our business and the market
value of our common stock. Furthermore, any one of these material risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause actual results,
performance, achievements or events to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or events implied,
suggested or expressed by any forward-looking statements made by us
or by persons acting on our behalf. Refer to
“Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.
There is
no assurance that we will be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any one or more of the following material
risks and uncertainties may cause on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results, which may result in a
significant decrease in the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, there is no assurance that these material risks and
uncertainties represent a complete list of the material risks and uncertainties facing us. There may be additional risks and uncertainties
of a material nature that, as of the date of this Annual Report, we are unaware of or that we consider immaterial that may become
material in the future, any one or more of which may result in a material adverse effect on us. You could lose all or a significant
portion of your investment due to any one of these material risks and uncertainties.
Risks Related to Our Company and Business
Evaluating our future performance
may be difficult since we have a limited financial and operating history, with significant negative cash flow and accumulated deficit
to date. Furthermore, there is no assurance that we will be successful in securing any form of additional financing in the future;
therefore substantial doubt exists as to whether our cash resources and/or working capital will be sufficient to enable the Company
to continue its operations over the next twelve months. Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve
and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our mining activities.
As more fully described under Item 1.
Business, Uranium Energy Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on May 16, 2003 and since 2004, we have
been engaged in uranium mining and related activities, including exploration, pre-extraction, extraction and processing, on projects
located in the United States and Paraguay. In November 2010, we commenced uranium extraction for the first time at the Palangana
Mine utilizing ISR and processed those materials at the Hobson Processing Facility into drums of U
3
O
8
, our
only sales product and source of revenue. We also hold uranium projects in various stages of exploration and pre-extraction in
the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and the Republic of Paraguay.
As more fully described under “Liquidity
and Capital Resources” of Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations,
we have a history of significant negative cash flow and net losses, with an accumulated deficit balance of $209.4 million at July
31, 2016. Historically, we have been reliant primarily on equity financings from the sale of our common stock and, for the year
ended July 31, 2014 (“Fiscal 2014”) and Fiscal 2013, on debt financing in order to fund our operations. Although we
generated revenues from sales of U
3
O
8
during Fiscal 2015, Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 of $3.1 million, $9.0
million and $13.8 million, respectively, with no revenues from sales of U
3
O
8
generated during Fiscal 2016,
Fiscal 2014 or for any periods prior to Fiscal 2012, we have yet to achieve profitability or develop positive cash flow from our
operations, and we do not expect to achieve profitability or develop positive cash flow from operations in the near term. As a
result of our limited financial and operating history, including our significant negative cash flow and net losses to date, it
may be difficult to evaluate our future performance.
At July 31, 2016, we had a working capital
of $6.2 million including cash and cash equivalents of $7.1 million. As the Company does not expect to achieve and maintain profitability
in the near term, the continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to obtain adequate additional
financing which we have successfully secured since inception, including those from asset divestitures. However, there is no assurance
that we will be successful in securing any form of additional financing in the future and therefore, substantial doubt exists as
to whether our cash resources and/or working capital will be sufficient to enable the Company to continue its operations over the
next twelve months.
Our reliance on equity and debt financings
is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, and their availability whenever such additional financing is required, will
be dependent on many factors beyond our control including, but not limited to, the market price of uranium, the continuing public
support of nuclear power as a viable source of electrical generation, the volatility in the global financial markets affecting
our stock price and the status of the worldwide economy, any one of which may cause significant challenges in our ability to access
additional financing, including access to the equity and credit markets. We may also be required to seek other forms of financing,
such as asset divestitures or joint venture arrangements to continue advancing our uranium projects which would depend entirely
on finding a suitable third party willing to enter into such an arrangement, typically involving an assignment of a percentage
interest in the mineral project.
Our long-term success, including the recoverability
of the carrying values of our assets and our ability to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with exploration and
pre-extraction activities and mining activities on our existing uranium projects, will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve
and maintain profitability and positive cash flow from our operations by establishing ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable
uranium and to develop these into profitable mining activities. The economic viability of our mining activities, including the
expected duration and profitability of the Palangana Mine and of any future satellite ISR mines, such as the Burke Hollow and
Goliad Projects, located within the South Texas Uranium Belt, has many risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited
to: (i) a significant, prolonged decrease in the market price of uranium; (ii) difficulty in marketing and/or selling uranium
concentrates; (iii) significantly higher than expected capital costs to construct the mine and/or processing plant; (iv) significantly
higher than expected extraction costs; (v) significantly lower than expected uranium extraction; (vi) significant delays, reductions
or stoppages of uranium extraction activities; and (vi) the introduction of significantly more stringent regulatory laws and regulations.
Our mining activities may change as a result of any one or more of these risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that
any ore body that we extract mineralized materials from will result in achieving and maintaining profitability and developing
positive cash flow.
Our operations are capital intensive,
and we will require significant additional financing to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with our exploration
and pre-extraction activities on our existing uranium projects.
Our operations are capital intensive and
future capital expenditures are expected to be substantial. We will require significant additional financing to fund our operations,
including acquiring additional uranium projects and continuing with our exploration and pre-extraction activities which include
assaying, drilling, geological and geochemical analysis and mine construction costs. In the absence of such additional financing
we would not be able to fund our operations or continue with our exploration and pre-extraction activities, which may result in
delays, curtailment or abandonment of any one or all of our uranium projects.
If we are unable to service our
indebtedness, we may be faced with accelerated repayments or lose the assets securing our indebtedness. Furthermore, restrictive
covenants governing our indebtedness may restrict our ability to pursue our business strategies.
Effective on February 9, 2016, we entered
into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with our Lenders under which we had previously drawn down the maximum $20 million
in principal. The Credit Facility requires monthly interest payments calculated at 8% per annum and other periodic fees, and principal
repayments of $1.67 million per month over a twelve-month period commencing on February 1, 2019. Our ability to continue making
these scheduled payments will be dependent on and may change as a result of our financial condition and operating results. Failure
to make any one of these scheduled payments will put us in default with the Second Amended Credit Facility which, if not addressed
or waived, could require accelerated repayment of our indebtedness and/or enforcement by the Lenders against the Company’s
assets. Enforcement against our assets would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
Furthermore, the Credit Facility includes
restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to sell our assets or to incur additional indebtedness other
than permitted indebtedness, which may restrict our ability to pursue certain business strategies from time to time. If we do not
comply with these restrictive covenants, we could be in default which, if not addressed or waived, could require accelerated repayment
of our indebtedness and/or enforcement by the Lenders against our assets.
Our uranium extraction and sales
history is limited, with our uranium extraction to date originating from a single uranium mine. Our ability to continue generating
revenue is subject to a number of factors, any one or more of which may adversely affect our financial condition and operating
results
.
We have a limited history of uranium extraction
and generating revenue. In November 2010, we commenced uranium extraction at a single uranium mine, the Palangana Mine, which
has been our sole source for the U
3
O
8
sold to generate our revenues from sales of U
3
O
8
during Fiscal 2015, 2013 and 2012 of $3.1 million, $9.0 million and $13.8 million, respectively, with no revenues from sales of
U
3
O
8
generated during Fiscal 2016, Fiscal 2014 or for any periods prior to Fiscal 2012.
During Fiscal 2016, uranium extraction
at PAA-1, 2 and 3 continued to operate at a reduced pace since implementing our strategic plan in September 2013 to align our
operations to a weak uranium commodity market in a challenging post-Fukushima environment. This strategy has included the deferral
of major pre-extraction expenditures and remaining in a state of operational readiness in anticipation of a recovery in uranium
prices. Our ability to continue generating revenue from the Palangana Mine is subject to a number of factors which include,
but are not limited to: (i) a significant, prolonged decrease in the market price of uranium; (ii) difficulty in marketing and/or
selling uranium concentrates; (iii) significantly higher than expected capital costs to construct the mine and/or processing plant;
(iv) significantly higher than expected extraction costs; (v) significantly lower than expected uranium extraction; (vi) significant
delays, reductions or stoppages of uranium extraction activities; and (vii) the introduction of significantly more stringent regulatory
laws and regulations. Furthermore, continued mining activities at the Palangana Mine will eventually deplete the Palangana Mine
or cause such activities to become uneconomical, and if we are unable to directly acquire or develop existing uranium projects,
such as the Burke Hollow and Goliad Projects, into additional uranium mines from which we can commence uranium extraction, it
will negatively impact our ability to generate revenues. Any one or more of these occurrences may adversely affect our financial
condition and operating results.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction
programs and mining activities are inherently subject to numerous significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may
differ significantly from expectations or anticipated amounts. Furthermore, exploration programs conducted on our uranium projects
may not result in the establishment of ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction
programs and mining activities are inherently subject to numerous significant risks and uncertainties, with many beyond our control
and including, but not limited to: (i) unanticipated ground and water conditions and adverse claims to water rights; (ii) unusual
or unexpected geological formations; (iii) metallurgical and other processing problems; (iv) the occurrence of unusual weather
or operating conditions and other force majeure events; (v) lower than expected ore grades; (vi) industrial accidents; (vii) delays
in the receipt of or failure to receive necessary government permits; (viii) delays in transportation; (ix) availability of contractors
and labor; (x) government permit restrictions and regulation restrictions; (xi) unavailability of materials and equipment; and
(xii) the failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations. These risks and uncertainties
could result in: (i) delays, reductions or stoppages in our mining activities; (ii) increased capital and/or extraction costs;
(iii) damage to, or destruction of, our mineral projects, extraction facilities or other properties; (iv) personal injuries; (v)
environmental damage; (vi) monetary losses; and (vii) legal claims.
Success in uranium exploration is dependent
on many factors, including, without limitation, the experience and capabilities of a company’s management, the availability
of geological expertise and the availability of sufficient funds to conduct the exploration program. Even if an exploration program
is successful and commercially recoverable uranium is established, it may take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling
and identification of the mineralization until extraction is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of extraction
may change such that the uranium ceases to be economically recoverable. Uranium exploration is frequently non-productive due,
for example, to poor exploration results or the inability to establish ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium,
in which case the uranium project may be abandoned and written-off. Furthermore, we will not be able to benefit from our exploration
efforts and recover the expenditures that we incur on our exploration programs if we do not establish ore bodies that contain
commercially recoverable uranium and develop these uranium projects into profitable mining activities, and there is no assurance
that we will be successful in doing so for any of our uranium projects.
Whether an ore body contains commercially
recoverable uranium depends on many factors including, without limitation: (i) the particular attributes, including material changes
to those attributes, of the ore body such as size, grade, recovery rates and proximity to infrastructure; (ii) the market price
of uranium, which may be volatile; and (iii) government regulations and regulatory requirements including, without limitation,
those relating to environmental protection, permitting and land use, taxes, land tenure and transportation.
We have not established proven or
probable reserves through the completion of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study for any of our uranium
projects, including the Palangana Mine. Furthermore, we have no plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any of our
uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining, such as the Palangana Mine. Since we commenced extraction of mineralized
materials from the Palangana Mine without having established proven or probable reserves, it may result in our mining activities
at the Palangana Mine, and at any future uranium projects for which proven or probable reserves are not established, being inherently
riskier than other mining activities for which proven or probable reserves have been established.
We have established the existence of mineralized
materials for certain uranium projects, including the Palangana Mine. We have not established proven or probable reserves, as
defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility
study for any of our uranium projects, including the Palangana Mine. Furthermore, we have no plans to establish proven or probable
reserves for any of our uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining, such as the Palangana Mine. Since we commenced
uranium extraction at the Palangana Mine without having established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent
uncertainty as to whether or not any mineralized material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
Any mineralized materials established or extracted from the Palangana Mine should not in any way be associated with having established
or produced from proven or probable reserves.
Since we are in the Exploration
Stage, pre-production expenditures including those related to pre-extraction activities are expensed as incurred, the effects
of which may result in our consolidated financial statements not being directly comparable to the financial statements of companies
in the Production Stage.
Despite the fact that we commenced uranium
extraction at the Palangana Mine in November 2010, we remain in the Exploration Stage as defined under Industry Guide 7, and will
continue to remain in the Exploration Stage until such time proven or probable reserves have been established, which may never
occur. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles
(“U.S. GAAP”) under which acquisition costs of mineral rights are initially capitalized as incurred while pre-production
expenditures are expensed as incurred until such time we exit the Exploration Stage. Expenditures relating to exploration
activities are expensed as incurred and expenditures relating to pre-extraction activities are expensed as incurred until such
time proven or probable reserves are established for that uranium project, after which subsequent expenditures relating to mine
development activities for that particular project are capitalized as incurred.
We have neither established nor have any
plans to establish proven or probable reserves for our uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining, such as the
Palangana Mine. Companies in the Production Stage as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, having established proven and
probable reserves and exited the Exploration Stage, typically capitalize expenditures relating to ongoing development activities,
with corresponding depletion calculated over proven and probable reserves using the units-of-production method and allocated to
future reporting periods to inventory and, as that inventory is sold, to cost of goods sold. As we are in the Exploration Stage,
it has resulted in us reporting larger losses than if we had been in the Production Stage due to the expensing, instead of capitalization,
of expenditures relating to ongoing mill and mine pre-extraction activities. Additionally, there would be no corresponding amortization
allocated to our future reporting periods since those costs would have been expensed previously, resulting in both lower inventory
costs and cost of goods sold and results of operations with higher gross profits and lower losses than if we had been in the Production
Stage. Any capitalized costs, such as acquisition costs of mineral rights, are depleted over the estimated extraction life using
the straight-line method. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be directly comparable to the financial statements
of companies in the Production Stage.
Estimated costs of future reclamation
obligations may be significantly exceeded by actual costs incurred in the future. Furthermore, only a portion of the financial
assurance required for the future reclamation obligations has been funded.
We are responsible for certain remediation
and decommissioning activities in the future primarily for the Hobson Processing Facility and the Palangana Mine, and have recorded
a liability of $3.7 million on our balance sheet at July 31, 2016, to recognize the present value of the estimated costs of such
reclamation obligations. Should the actual costs to fulfill these future reclamation obligations materially exceed these
estimated costs, it may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results, including not having the financial
resources required to fulfill such obligations when required to do so.
During Fiscal 2015, we secured $5.6 million
of surety bonds as an alternate source of financial assurance for the estimated costs of the reclamation obligations of the Hobson
Processing Facility and the Palangana Mine, of which we have $1.7 million funded and held as restricted cash for collateral purposes
as required by the surety. We may be required at any time to fund the remaining $3.9 million or any portion thereof for a number
of reasons including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the terms of the surety bonds are amended, such as an increase in
collateral requirements; (ii) we are in default with the terms of the surety bonds; (iii) the surety bonds are no longer acceptable
as an alternate source of financial assurance by the regulatory authorities; or (iv) the surety encounters financial difficulties.
Should any one or more of these events occur in the future, we may not have the financial resources to fund the remaining amount
or any portion thereof when required to do so.
We do not insure against all of
the risks we face in our operations.
In general, where coverage is available
and not prohibitively expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against such risk, subject to exclusions
and limitations. We currently maintain insurance against certain risks including securities and general commercial liability claims
and certain physical assets used in our operations, subject to exclusions and limitations, however, we do not maintain insurance
to cover all of the potential risks and hazards associated with our operations. We may be subject to liability for environmental,
pollution or other hazards associated with our exploration, pre-extraction and extraction activities, which we may not be insured
against, which may exceed the limits of our insurance coverage or which we may elect not to insure against because of high premiums
or other reasons. Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance that any insurance coverage we currently have will continue to be available
at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will adequately cover any resulting liability.
Acquisitions that we may make from
time to time could have an adverse impact on us.
From time to time, we examine opportunities
to acquire additional mining assets and businesses. Any acquisition that we may choose to complete may be of a significant size,
may change the scale of our business and operations, and may expose us to new geographic, political, operating, financial and
geological risks. Our success in our acquisition activities depends on our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates,
negotiate acceptable terms for any such acquisition, and integrate the acquired operations successfully with those of our Company.
Any acquisitions would be accompanied by risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example: (i) there
may be a significant change in commodity prices after we have committed to complete the transaction and established the purchase
price or exchange ratio; (ii) a material ore body may prove to be below expectations; (iii) we may have difficulty integrating
and assimilating the operations and personnel of any acquired companies, realizing anticipated synergies and maximizing the financial
and strategic position of the combined enterprise, and maintaining uniform standards, policies and controls across the organization;
(iv) the integration of the acquired business or assets may disrupt our ongoing business and our relationships with employees,
customers, suppliers and contractors; and (v) the acquired business or assets may have unknown liabilities which may be significant.
In the event that we choose to raise debt capital to finance any such acquisition, our leverage will be increased. If we choose
to use equity as consideration for such acquisition, existing shareholders may suffer dilution. Alternatively, we may choose to
finance any such acquisition with our existing resources. There can be no assurance that we would be successful in overcoming
these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions.
The uranium industry is subject
to numerous stringent laws, regulations and standards, including environmental protection laws and regulations. If any changes
occur that would make these laws, regulations and standards more stringent, it may require capital outlays in excess of those
anticipated or cause substantial delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction
programs and mining activities are subject to numerous stringent laws, regulations and standards at the federal, state, and local
levels governing permitting, pre-extraction, extraction, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal,
protection and reclamation of the environment, protection of endangered and protected species, mine safety, hazardous substances
and other matters. Our compliance with these requirements requires significant financial and personnel resources.
The laws, regulations, policies or current
administrative practices of any government body, organization or regulatory agency in the United States or any other applicable
jurisdiction, may change or be applied or interpreted in a manner which may also have a material adverse effect on our operations.
The actions, policies or regulations, or changes thereto, of any government body or regulatory agency or special interest group,
may also have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction
programs and mining activities are subject to stringent environmental protection laws and regulations at the federal, state, and
local levels. These laws and regulations include permitting and reclamation requirements, regulate emissions, water storage and
discharges and disposal of hazardous wastes. Uranium mining activities are also subject to laws and regulations which seek to
maintain health and safety standards by regulating the design and use of mining methods. Various permits from governmental and
regulatory bodies are required for mining to commence or continue, and no assurance can be provided that required permits will
be received in a timely manner.
Our compliance costs including the posting
of surety bonds associated with environmental protection laws and regulations and health and safety standards have been significant
to date, and are expected to increase in scale and scope as we expand our operations in the future. Furthermore, environmental
protection laws and regulations may become more stringent in the future, and compliance with such changes may require capital
outlays in excess of those anticipated or cause substantial delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
To the best of our knowledge, our operations
are in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable laws, regulations and standards. If we become subject to liability
for any violations, we may not be able or may elect not to insure against such risk due to high insurance premiums or other reasons.
Where coverage is available and not prohibitively expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against
such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations. However, we cannot provide any assurance that such insurance will continue to
be available at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will be adequate to cover any resulting liability.
We may not be able to obtain, maintain
or amend
rights, authorizations, licenses, permits or consents required for our operations.
Our exploration and mining activities
are dependent upon the grant of appropriate rights, authorizations, licences, permits and consents, as well as continuation and
amendment of these rights, authorizations, licences, permits and consents already granted, which may be granted for a defined
period of time, or may not be granted or may be withdrawn or made subject to limitations. There can be no assurance that all necessary
rights, authorizations, licences, permits and consents will be granted to us, or that authorizations, licences, permits and consents
already granted will not be withdrawn or made subject to limitations.
Major nuclear
incidents may have adverse effects on the nuclear and uranium industries.
The nuclear incident
that occurred in Japan in March 2011 had
significant and
adverse
effects on both the nuclear and uranium industries. If another nuclear incident were to occur, it may have further adverse effects
for both industries. Public opinion of nuclear power as a source of electrical generation may be adversely affected, which may
cause governments of certain countries to further i
ncrease regulation
for the nuclear industry, reduce or abandon current reliance on nuclear power or reduce or abandon existing plans for nuclear
power expansion. Any one of these occurrences has the potential to reduce current and/or future demand for nuclear power, resulting
in lower demand for uranium and lower market prices for uranium, adversely affecting the Company’s operations and prospects.
Furthermore, the
growth of the nuclear and uranium industries is dependent on continuing and growing public support of
nuclear power as a viable source of electrical generation.
The marketability of uranium concentrates
will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control which may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our
invested capital.
The marketability of uranium concentrates
extracted by us will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include macroeconomic factors, fluctuations
in the market price of uranium, governmental regulations, land tenure and use, regulations concerning the importing and exporting
of uranium and environmental protection regulations. The future effects of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but any
one or a combination of these factors may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
The uranium industry is highly competitive
and we may not be successful in acquiring additional projects.
The uranium industry is highly competitive,
and our competition includes larger, more established companies with longer operating histories that not only explore for and
produce uranium, but also market uranium and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. Due to their greater financial
and technical resources, we may not be able to acquire additional uranium projects in a competitive bidding process involving
such companies. Additionally, these larger companies have greater resources to continue with their operations during periods of
depressed market conditions.
We hold
mineral rights in foreign jurisdictions which could be subject to additional risks due to political, taxation, economic and cultural
factors.
We hold certain mineral rights located
in Paraguay through the acquisition of Piedra Rica Mining S.A. and Transandes Paraguay S.A., both companies incorporated in Paraguay.
Operations in foreign jurisdictions outside of the United States and Canada, especially in developing countries, may be subject
to additional risks as they may have different political, regulatory, taxation, economic and cultural environments that may adversely
affect the value or continued viability of our rights. These additional risks include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in
governments or senior government officials; (ii) changes to existing laws or policies on foreign investments, environmental protection,
mining and ownership of mineral interests; (iii) renegotiation, cancellation, expropriation and nationalization of existing permits
or contracts; (iv) foreign currency controls and fluctuations; and (v) civil disturbances, terrorism and war.
In the event of a dispute arising at our
foreign operations in Paraguay, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts or may not be successful in
subjecting foreign persons to the jurisdiction of the courts in the United States or Canada. We may also be hindered or prevented
from enforcing our rights with respect to a government entity or instrumentality because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity.
Any adverse or arbitrary decision of a foreign court may have a material and adverse impact on our business, prospects, financial
condition and results of operations.
The title to our mineral property
interests may be challenged.
Although we have taken reasonable measures
to ensure proper title to our interests in mineral properties and other assets, there is no guarantee that the title to any of
such interests will not be challenged. No assurance can be given that we will be able to secure the grant or the renewal of existing
mineral rights and tenures on terms satisfactory to us, or that governments in the jurisdictions in which we operate will not
revoke or significantly alter such rights or tenures or that such rights or tenures will not be challenged or impugned by third
parties, including local governments, aboriginal peoples or other claimants. Our mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered
agreements, transfers or claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. A successful challenge
to the precise area and location of our claims could result in us being unable to operate on our properties as permitted or being
unable to enforce our rights with respect to our properties.
Due to the nature of our business,
we may be subject to legal proceedings which may divert management’s time and attention from our business and result in
substantial damage awards.
Due to the nature of our business, we
may be subject to numerous regulatory investigations, securities claims, civil claims, lawsuits and other proceedings in the ordinary
course of our business including those described under Item 3. Legal Proceedings. The outcome of these lawsuits is uncertain
and subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual costs to be incurred will depend upon many unknown factors. We may be forced
to expend significant resources in the defense of these suits, and we may not prevail. Defending against these and other lawsuits
in the future may not only require us to incur significant legal fees and expenses, but may become time-consuming for us and detract
from our ability to fully focus our internal resources on our business activities. The results of any legal proceeding cannot
be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, the difficulty of predicting decisions of regulators,
judges and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. There can be no assurances that these matters
will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or operating results.
We depend on certain key personnel,
and our success will depend on our continued ability to retain and attract such qualified personnel.
Our success is dependent on the efforts,
abilities and continued service of certain senior officers and key employees and consultants. A number of our key employees and
consultants have significant experience in the uranium industry. A loss of service from any one of these individuals may adversely
affect our operations, and we may have difficulty or may not be able to locate and hire a suitable replacement.
Certain directors and officers may
be subject to conflicts of interest.
The majority of our directors and officers
are involved in other business ventures including similar capacities with other private or publicly-traded companies. Such individuals
may have significant responsibilities to these other business ventures, including consulting relationships, which may require
significant amounts of their available time. Conflicts of interest may include decisions on how much time to devote to our business
affairs and what business opportunities should be presented to us. Our Code of Business Conduct for Directors, Officers and Employees
provides for guidance on conflicts of interest.
The laws of the State of Nevada
and our Articles of Incorporation may protect our directors and officers from certain types of lawsuits.
The laws of the State of Nevada provide
that our directors and officers will not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for all but certain
types of conduct as directors and officers of the Company. Our Bylaws provide for broad indemnification powers to all persons
against all damages incurred in connection with our business to the fullest extent provided or allowed by law. These indemnification
provisions may require us to use our limited assets to defend our directors and officers against claims, and may have the effect
of preventing stockholders from recovering damages against our directors and officers caused by their negligence, poor judgment
or other circumstances.
Several of our directors and officers
are residents outside of the United States., and it may be difficult for stockholders to enforce within the United States any
judgments obtained against such directors or officers.
Several of our directors and officers
are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of such persons’
assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on
such directors and officers, or enforce within the United States any judgments obtained against such directors and officers, including
judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof. Consequently,
stockholders may be effectively prevented from pursuing remedies against such directors and officers under United States federal
securities laws. In addition, stockholders may not be able to commence an action in a Canadian court predicated upon the civil
liability provisions under United States federal securities laws. The foregoing risks also apply to those experts identified in
this document that are not residents of the United States.
Disclosure controls and procedures
and internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed and operated, are designed to obtain reasonable, and
not absolute, assurance as to its reliability and effectiveness.
Management’s evaluation on the effectiveness
of disclosure controls and procedures is designed to ensure that information required for disclosure in our public filings is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis to our senior management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure. Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are properly authorized, assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use and transactions
are properly recorded and reported. However, any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, is based in part
upon certain assumptions designed to obtain reasonable, and not absolute, assurance as to its reliability and effectiveness. Any
failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures in the future may result in our inability to continue meeting
our reporting obligations in a timely manner, qualified audit opinions or restatements of our financial reports, any one of which
may affect the market price for our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Historically, the market price of
our common stock has been and may continue to fluctuate significantly.
On September 28, 2007, our common stock
commenced trading on the NYSE MKT (formerly known as the American Stock Exchange and the NYSE Amex Equities Exchange) and prior
to that, traded on the OTC Bulletin Board.
The global markets have experienced significant
and increased volatility in the past, and have been impacted by the effects of mass sub-prime mortgage defaults and liquidity
problems of the asset-backed commercial paper market, resulting in a number of large financial institutions requiring government
bailouts or filing for bankruptcy. The effects of these past events and any similar events in the future may continue to or further
affect the global markets, which may directly affect the market price of our common stock and our accessibility for additional
financing. Although this volatility may be unrelated to specific company performance, it can have an adverse effect on the market
price of our shares which, historically, has fluctuated significantly and may continue to do so in the future.
In addition to the volatility associated
with general economic trends and market conditions, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly due to the
impact of any one or more events, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) volatility in the uranium market; (ii) occurrence
of a major nuclear incident such as the events in Fukushima in March 2011; (iii) changes in the outlook for the nuclear power
and uranium industries; (iv) failure to meet market expectations on our exploration, pre-extraction or extraction activities,
including abandonment of key uranium projects; (v) sales of a large number of our shares held by certain stockholders including
institutions and insiders; (vi) downward revisions to previous estimates on us by analysts; (vii) removal from market indices;
(viii) legal claims brought forth against us; and (ix) introduction of technological innovations by competitors or in competing
technologies.
A prolonged decline in the market
price of our common stock could affect our ability to obtain additional financing which would adversely affect our operations.
Historically, we have relied on equity
financing and more recently, on debt financing, as primary sources of financing. A prolonged decline in the market price of our
common stock or a reduction in our accessibility to the global markets may result in our inability to secure additional financing
which would have an adverse effect on our operations.
Additional issuances of our common
stock may result in significant dilution to our existing shareholders and reduce the market value of their investment.
We are authorized to issue 750,000,000
shares of common stock of which 116,670,457 shares were issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2016. Future issuances for financings,
mergers and acquisitions, exercise of stock options and share purchase warrants and for other reasons may result in significant
dilution to and be issued at prices substantially below the price paid for our shares held by our existing stockholders. Significant
dilution would reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power held by our existing stockholders, and may result in a decrease
in the market price of our shares.
We filed a Form S-3 shelf registration
statement, which was declared effective on January 10, 2014 (the “2014 Shelf”). This registration statement provides
for the public offer and sale of certain securities of the Company from time to time, at our discretion, up to an aggregate offering
amount of $100 million, of which a total of $35.1 million has been utilized through public offerings as of July 31, 2016.
We are subject to the Continued Listing
Criteria of the NYSE MKT and our failure to satisfy these criteria may result in delisting of our common stock
.
Our common stock is currently listed on
the NYSE MKT. In order to maintain this listing, we must maintain certain share prices, financial and share distribution
targets, including maintaining a minimum amount of shareholders’ equity and a minimum number of public shareholders.
In addition to these objective standards, the NYSE MKT may delist the securities of any issuer (i) if, in its opinion, the issuer’s
financial condition and/or operating results appear unsatisfactory; (ii) if it appears that the extent of public distribution
or the aggregate market value of the security has become so reduced as to make continued listing on the NYSE MKT inadvisable;
(iii) if the issuer sells or disposes of principal operating assets or ceases to be an operating company; (iv) if an issuer fails
to comply with the NYSE MKT’s listing requirements; (v) if an issuer’s common stock sells at what the NYSE MKT considers
a “low selling price” and the issuer fails to correct this via a reverse split of shares after notification by the
NYSE MKT; or (vi) if any other event occurs or any condition exists which makes continued listing on the NYSE MKT, in its opinion,
inadvisable.
If the NYSE MKT delists our common stock,
investors may face material adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, a lack of trading market for our securities,
reduced liquidity, decreased analyst coverage of our securities, and an inability for us to obtain additional financing to fund
our operations.
Item 2. Properties
General
At July 31, 2016, we held mineral rights
in uranium projects located in the U.S. States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and in the Republic of Paraguay
by way of federal mining claims, state and private mineral leases and mineral concessions. We also held a wholly-owned uranium
processing facility located in the State of Texas, the Hobson Processing Facility, which processes material extracted from the
Palangana Mine.
We have not established proven or probable
reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a “final” or “bankable”
feasibility study for any of our uranium projects, including the Palangana Mine. Furthermore, we have no plans to establish proven
or probable reserves for any of our uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining, such as the Palangana Mine.
Texas Processing Facility and Projects
The following map shows the location of
our Hobson Processing Facility and main projects in Texas:
Hobson Processing Facility
Property Description and Location
The Hobson Processing Facility is a fully-licensed
and permitted in-situ recovery or ISR uranium processing plant designed to process uranium-loaded resins from satellite ISR mining
facilities to the final product, U
3
O
8
or yellowcake. The Hobson Processing Facility was originally constructed
in 1978 and served as a central processing site for several satellite ISR mining projects until 1996. It was completely refurbished
in 2008 and on December 18, 2009, we acquired the Hobson Processing Facility through the acquisition of South Texas Mining Venture,
L.L.P.
The Hobson Processing Facility is located
in Karnes County, Texas on a 7.286-acre leased tract of land, approximately one mile south of the community of Hobson and about
100 miles northwest of Corpus Christi, Texas. The surface lease of the Hobson Processing Facility is for an initial term of five
years commencing May 30, 2007, and thereafter so long as uranium, thorium and other fissionable or spatially associated substances
are being processed or refined without cessation of more than five consecutive years.
The Hobson Processing Facility has a physical
capacity to process two million pounds of U
3
O
8
annually and is licensed to process up to one million pounds
of U
3
O
8
annually, which provides for the capacity to process uranium-loaded resins from a number of satellite
ISR mining facilities in South Texas. We utilize a “hub-and-spoke” strategy whereby the Hobson Processing Facility
acts as our central uranium processing site (the “hub”) for the Palangana Mine and for future satellite ISR mines,
including our Burke Hollow and Goliad Projects, (the “spokes”) located within the South Texas Uranium Belt.
In January 2011, the Hobson Processing
Facility began processing uranium-loaded resins received from the Palangana Mine upon commencement of uranium extraction in November
2010. Since then, the Hobson Processing Facility has processed 578,000 pounds of uranium concentrates. During Fiscal 2016, the
Hobson Processing facility was in a status of operational readiness.
Uranium Processing System
Once the uranium-loaded resin from the
satellite ISR mining facility is delivered to the Hobson Processing Facility by semi-trailer, the material is transferred and
placed in a pressure vessel for elution which involves flushing with a brine solution. The uranium is stripped from the resin
in a three-stage elution process and concentrated into a rich eluate tank, at which point the solution is analyzed for total uranium
concentration. After the uranium is eluted from the resin, the resin is washed to remove excess brine solution, transferred back
to the trailer and returned to the satellite ISR mining facility to again begin the cycle of capturing uranium from the wellfield,
transport to the Hobson Processing Facility and subsequent elution.
The uranium-rich solution remaining at
the Hobson Processing Facility after elution is agitated and chemicals are added to precipitate the uranium. In this precipitation
process, sulfuric acid is added to reduce the pH to between 2 and 3. Hydrogen peroxide (“H
2
O
2
”)
is then added at the rate of 0.2 to 0.5 pounds of H
2
O
2
per pound of uranium
while maintaining the pH of the solution between two and three using sodium hydroxide. Once the precipitation reaction is
complete, the solution is allowed to set in order for the uranium to precipitate and settle to the bottom of the tank. The excess
overflow is decanted to a storage tank or to the waste disposal system. All waste process solutions from the plant area report
to a chemical waste storage tank and waste solutions are pumped to a Class I, non-hazardous, waste disposal well system.
The remaining material, at approximately
3 to 5% solids, is pumped to a filter press where the uranium is separated from the liquid. After the uranium, or yellowcake, has
been filtered, fresh water is pumped through to remove the entrained salts, with the resulting liquids pumped to the fresh eluate
makeup system or the waste disposal system. From the filter press, the thickened yellowcake, at 50 to 60 percent solids, is transferred
to the drying package for drying and drumming. A zero-emissions vacuum dryer removes moisture from the yellowcake and a scrubber
system removes these vapors from the dryer and discharges the gases to an exhaust stack. The dried yellowcake is packaged in 55
gallon drums. Each drum is weighed, cleaned, surveyed and analyzed, after which it is transferred to a temporary yellowcake storage
area at the Hobson Processing Facility. Once approximately one truckload is accumulated, the drums are then shipped to a third-party
storage and sales facility.
Palangana Mine, Duval County, Texas
Property Description and Location
The Palangana Mine is located in Texas
near the center of the extensive South Texas Uranium Trend. The Palangana Mine consists of multiple leases that would allow the
mining of uranium by ISR methods while utilizing the land surface (with variable conditions) as needed, for mining wells and aboveground
facilities for fluid processing and ore capture during the mining and groundwater restoration phases of the project. The Palangana
Mine is situated in Duval County, Texas and is located approximately 25 miles west of the town of Alice, 6 miles north of the
town of Benavides, 15 miles southeast of the town of Freer and 12 miles southwest of the town of San Diego, as shown in the map
below:
Mineral Titles
At July 31, 2016, there were nine leases
covering 6,987 acres at the Palangana Mine. PAA-1 is on the de Hoyos leases while PAA-2, PAA-3 and the Dome trend are on the Palangana
Ranch Management, LLC lease. Bordering the east side of the Palangana Ranch Management, LLC lease is the White Bell Ranch lease,
comprised of 1,006 acres, which contains the Jemison Fence and Jemison East trends. The fourth major lease is the Garcia/Booth
property comprised of 1,278 acres which borders the east side of the De Hoyos property. It contains the NE Garcia and SW Garcia
trends.
Lease ownership is held by STMV, which
is wholly-owned by the Company.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources,
Infrastructure and Physiography
Topography, Elevation and Vegetation
Surface elevations at the Palangana Mine
range from about 410 feet to 500 feet above sea level.
Climate and Length of Operating Season
The region’s subtropical climate
allows uninterrupted, year-round mining activities. Temperatures during the summer range from 75°F to 95°F, although highs
above 100°F are common while winter temperatures range from 45°F to 65°F. Humidity is generally over 85% year-round
and commonly exceeds 90% during the summer months. Average annual rainfall is 30 inches.
Physiography
The dome area to the west of the PAA-1
and PAA-2 deposits is a concentric collapsed area with the surrounding landscape being hilly and elevated. Surface water generally
drains away from the dome area although no prominent creeks or rivers are evident.
Access to Property
The Palangana Mine occurs in the South
Texas Uranium Belt between San Antonio and Corpus Christi in Duval County. Corpus Christi, the largest nearby metropolitan district,
is about 65 miles to the east of the Palangana Mine. Approximately halfway between San Diego and Freer on Texas Highway 44 is
a turn-off to the south referred to as Ranch Road 3196 that runs directly through the property about eight miles from the turn-off.
The road continues southward about six miles to the town of Benavides. Access is excellent, with major two lane roads connecting
the three surrounding towns and dirt secondary roads connecting to Palangana.
Surface Rights
The uranium leaseholders under most of
the current leases have conveyed the surface rights under certain conditions of remuneration. These conditions essentially require
payments for surface area taken out of usage.
Local Resources and Infrastructure
The entire infrastructure is in place
including office buildings, access roads, electrical power and maintenance faculties. Each property has sources of water for drilling
operations for both exploration and extraction drilling.
Manpower
A nearby workforce of field technicians,
welders, electricians, drillers and pipefitters exists in the local communities. The technical workforce for facility operations
has largely disappeared from the area although ample qualified resources can be found in the South Texas area from the petrochemical
industry.
History Prior to Acquisition by
the Company
Uranium mineralization was discovered
during potash exploration drilling of the Palangana Dome’s gypsum-anhydrite cap rock in 1952 by Columbia Southern Inc. (“CSI”),
a subsidiary of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Corp. CSI conducted active uranium exploration drilling on the property starting in March
1956. Records of CSI’s exploration work are unavailable. However, both CSI and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission estimated
underground mineable uranium mineralization. The only known details of the estimation method include a 0.15% eU
3
O
8
cut-off grade, a minimum mining thickness of three feet, and widely spaced drilling on a nominal 200 foot exploration grid.
Union Carbide acquired the Palangana property in 1958 and initiated underground mine development. Development work was quickly
abandoned due to heavy concentrations of H
2
S gas and Union Carbide dropped the property. Union Carbide reacquired Palangana
in 1967 after recognizing that it would be amenable to exploitation by the emerging ISR mining technologies. During the 1960s
and 1970s, Union Carbide drilled over 1,000 exploration and development holes and installed over 3,000 injection-extraction holes
in a 31-acre lease block.
Union Carbide attempted an ISR operation
from 1977 through 1979 using a push/pull injection/recovery system. Ammonia was used as the lixiviate that later caused some environmental
issues with groundwater. About 340,000 pounds of U
3
O
8
were produced from portions of a 31 acre wellfield
area. The extraction pounds indicate a 32% to 34% recovery rate. The push/pull injection/recovery system was later proven to be
less productive than well configurations or patterns of injection wells around a recovery well. Further, the wellfield was developed
without any apparent regard to the geology of the deposit including disequilibrium. The Union Carbide ISR work was basically conducted
at a research level in contrast to the current level of knowledge. The historic extraction area lies on the western side of the
dome.
Union Carbide placed the property leases
up for sale in 1980. In 1981, Chevron Corporation acquired the Union Carbide leases and conducted their own resource evaluation.
After the price of uranium dropped to under $10 per pound, General Atomics acquired the property and dismantled the processing
plant in a property-wide restoration effort. Upon formal approval of the clean up by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission
and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the property was returned to the landowners in the late 1990’s. In 2005,
Everest Exploration Inc. acquired the Palangana property and later joint ventured with Energy Metals Corp. (“Energy Metals”)
through the formation of South Texas Mining Venture, L.L.P. (“STMV”). An independent consultant, Blackstone (2005),
estimated inferred resources in an area now referred to as the Dome trend proximal to the dome on the west side north of the prior
Union Carbide leach field. In 2006 and 2007, Energy Metals drilled approximately 200 additional confirmation and delineation holes.
The PAA-1 and PAA-2 areas were found during this drilling program. In 2008 Energy Metals was acquired by Uranium One. During 2008
and 2009, the remaining holes on this project were drilled by Uranium One. During this time the five exploration trends to the
east of the dome were identified and partially delineated. In December 2009, the Company acquired 100% ownership of STMV.
Geological Setting
South Texas geology is characterized by
an arcuate belt of Tertiary fluvial clastic units deposited along the passive North American plate. These units strike parallel
to the Gulf Coast between the Mexican border and Louisiana within an area known as the Mississippi Embayment. The uranium-bearing
sedimentary units are primarily of fluvial origin and were deposited by southeasterly flowing streams and rivers. Uranium deposits
are contained within fault-controlled roll-fronts in the Pliocene-age Goliad Formation on the flank of the Palangana salt dome.
The uranium mineralization in the Goliad Formation at Palangana occurs at a depth of approximately 220 to 600 feet below the surface.
Geological Model
Uranium mineralization in the South Texas
Uranium Belt occurs as sandstone-hosted roll-front deposits. The deposits are strata-bound, elongate, and often, but not necessarily,
occur in the classic “C” or truncated “C” roll configuration. They can be associated with an oxidation
front or can be found in a re-reduced condition where an overprint of later reduction from hydrogen sulfide or other hydrocarbon
reductant has seeped along faults and fractures. The uranium bearing sandstone units can themselves be separated into several
horizons by discontinuous mudstone units, and separate roll-fronts and sub-rolls can occur in the stacked sandstone sequences.
The generally accepted origin of uranium
mineralization in the Goliad Formation is from leaching of intraformational tuffaceous material or erosion of older uranium-bearing
strata. The leached uranium was carried by oxygenated ground water in a hexavalent state and deposited where a suitable reductant
was encountered. The oxidation/reduction (redox) fronts are often continuous for miles, although minable grade uranium mineralization
is not nearly as continuous. The discontinuous nature of uranium mineralization is often characterized as “beads on a string”
and is due to sinuous vertical and lateral fluvial facies changes in the permeable sandstone host horizons, coupled with ground
water movements and the presence or absence of reducing material.
Figure 2: Schematic view of a typical
uranium roll-front configuration
The red area is the uranium mineralization
deposited at the interface between the oxidized (up gradient) sand shown in yellow and the reduced (down gradient) sand shown
in gray. The up gradient sand has been altered by oxidizing groundwater that carried the uranium that was deposited in the roll-front
at the oxidation/reduction (redox) interface. The uranium mineralization is hydrologically confined by an upper and lower confining
layer of shale or mudstone. At wellfields, extraction (pumping) wells have been completed near the center of the roll-front and
are fed lixiviate (leach solutions) by injection wells on each side of the front.
Mineralized Zones and Historical
Drilling Results
As stated previously, mineralization does
not occur in all of the Goliad sands nor does it persist in the same sand intervals across the dome area. On the west half of the
dome near what is referred to as the Dome trend, Union Carbide developed the “C” sand zone. The NW Garcia and SE Garcia
trends to the east of the dome also reside in the “C” sand zone. Also to the east of the dome, the PAA-2 deposit, as
well as the PAA-3 deposit, Jemison Fence and Jemison East trends all occur in the “E” sand, while the PAA-1 deposit
occurs in the “G” sand. Within these mineralized horizons, smaller roll fronts are evident that can be mapped as discrete
bodies. Some of these bodies contain economic mineralization while others do not. The mineralized horizons occur as stacked intervals
often separated by claystones. Generally, they overlap one another but there are differences making a concurrent, multiple-horizon
recovery scenario not uniformly effective.
The table below summarizes the historical
drilling results at the Palangana Mine prior to its acquisition by the Company effective December 18, 2009:
Trend
|
|
Total # DHs
|
|
Max. Depth
(feet)
|
|
Avg. Depth
(feet)
|
|
#of
Mineralized
Intervals
|
|
Interval
Thickness
Range (feet)
|
|
Interval
Thickness
Avg. (feet)
|
PAA-1
|
|
518
|
|
660
|
|
565
|
|
389
|
|
0.5 – 13.5
|
|
5.24
|
PAA-2
|
|
239
|
|
600
|
|
337.5
|
|
186
|
|
0.5 – 13.5
|
|
5.79
|
PAA-3
|
|
69
|
|
520
|
|
417
|
|
49
|
|
2.0 – 18.5
|
|
5.9
|
Jemison East
|
|
53
|
|
560
|
|
434
|
|
17
|
|
1.0 – 11.0
|
|
4.4
|
NE Garcia
|
|
186
|
|
600
|
|
344
|
|
158
|
|
0.5 – 20.0
|
|
4.6
|
SW Garcia
|
|
84
|
|
600
|
|
367
|
|
45
|
|
0.5 – 11.0
|
|
4.6
|
Dome
|
|
231
|
|
600
|
|
346
|
|
239
|
|
0.5 – 12.5
|
|
4.1
|
Update to July 31, 2016
Since commencing uranium extraction at
the Palangana Mine in November 2010 to July 31, 2016, the Hobson Processing Facility has processed 578,000 pounds of uranium concentrates
extracted directly from the Palangana Mine utilizing ISR methods. A summary by PAA is provided below:
|
1)
|
PAA-1 commenced uranium extraction
in November 2010 and remains fully-permitted. With 69 monitor wells already in place
prior to our acquisition of the Palangana Mine, we drilled a total of 201 holes for well
control facilities and wellfields including injection and extraction wells and infield
drilling efforts. During Fiscal 2015 and 2016, no additional infield drilling took place;
|
|
2)
|
PAA-2 commenced uranium extraction
in March 2012 and remains fully-permitted. With 43 monitor wells already in place prior
to our acquisition of the Palangana Mine, we drilled a total of 63 holes for well control
facilities and wellfields including injection and extraction wells and infield drilling
efforts. During Fiscal 2015 and 2016, no additional infield drilling took place;
|
|
3)
|
PAA-3 commenced uranium extraction
in December 2012 and remains fully-permitted. We drilled a total of 345 holes for mineral
trend exploration and delineation, monitor wells, well control facilities and wellfields
including injection and extraction wells and infield drilling efforts. During Fiscal
2015 and 2016, no additional infield drilling took place;
|
|
4)
|
PAA-4 permitting was completed
and approved in November 2014, including the approval of the aquifer exemption in March
2015. The Mine Area Permit boundary was expanded to 8,722 acres from 6,200 acres to include
PAA-4. Wellfield design is being finalized in preparation for installment of the first
module inside PAA-4. During Fiscal 2015, we drilled five holes for a total of 214 holes
drilled to July 31, 2015 for mineral trend exploration, delineation and monitor wells.
All monitor wells were sampled for baseline parameters and a pumping test has been completed;
and
|
|
5)
|
PAA-5 and PAA-6 mine area expansion
application was approved in November 2014. We drilled a total of 46 holes at PAA-5 and
PAA-6 for mineral trend exploration and delineation and a monitor well. During Fiscal
2015 and 2016, no additional drilling took place.
|
During Fiscal 2016, we reduced operations
at the Palangana Mine to capture residual uranium only. As a result, no U
3
O
8
was processed at the
Hobson Processing Facility.
During Fiscal 2015, uranium extraction
at PAA-1, 2 and 3 operated at a reduced pace since implementing our strategic plan in September 2013 to align our operations to
a weak uranium market in a challenging post-Fukushima environment. This strategy has included the deferral of major pre-extraction
expenditures and remaining in a state of operational readiness in anticipation of a recovery in uranium prices. As a consequence,
U
3
O
8
pounds extracted from the Palangana Mine and processed at the Hobson Processing Facility decreased
significantly during Fiscal 2015. The Hobson Processing Facility processed finished goods representing 18,000 pounds of
U
3
O
8
during Fiscal 2015 (Fiscal 2014: 43,000 pounds; Fiscal 2013: 194,000 pounds; Fiscal 2012: 198,000 pounds)
extracted solely from the Palangana Mine. Based on the Company’s estimate of mineralized materials in PAA 1, 2 and
3 over which an average mining grade of 0.135% has been established, cumulative recovery since the commencement of uranium extraction
in November 2010 to July 31, 2016 was 44% (July 31, 2015: 44%; July 31, 2014: 43%; July 31, 2013: 40%; July 31, 2012: 31%).
The following table summarizes the drill
holes completed by the Company from December 18, 2009, the date of the Company’s acquisition of STMV, to July 31, 2016:
Trend
|
|
Total # DHs
|
|
Max. Depth
(feet)
|
|
Avg. Depth
(feet)
|
PAA-1
|
|
201
|
|
610
|
|
541
|
PAA-2
|
|
63
|
|
370
|
|
305
|
PAA-3
|
|
345
|
|
620
|
|
396
|
PAA-4
|
|
214
|
|
640
|
|
436
|
PAA-5
|
|
40
|
|
520
|
|
370
|
SW Garcia
|
|
6
|
|
620
|
|
568
|
Dome
|
|
56
|
|
500
|
|
355
|
We have not established proven or probable
reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a “final” or “bankable”
feasibility study for the Palangana Mine. Furthermore, we have no plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any of our
uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining, such as the Palangana Mine. Since we commenced extracting mineralized
materials at the Palangana Mine without having established proven and probable reserves, any mineralized materials established
or extracted from the Palangana Mine should not in any way be associated with having established or produced from proven or probable
reserves.
Burke Hollow Project, Bee County, Texas
Property Description and Location
The Burke Hollow Project is comprised of
two leases covering 19,335 acres located in Texas near the northeast end of the extensive South Texas Uranium trend. These leases
allow for the mining of uranium by ISR methods while utilizing the land surface (with variable conditions) as needed, for mining
wells and aboveground facilities for fluid processing and uranium extraction during the mining and groundwater restoration phases
of the project. The Burke Hollow Project area is about 18 miles southeast of the town of Beeville, is located on the western side
of US 77, and is located northeasterly of US 181 which links with US 59 in Beeville. The nominal center of the Burke Hollow Project
lease is located at latitude 28.2638 and longitude -97.5176. Site drilling roads are entirely composed of caliche and gravel, allowing
for access for trucks and cars in most weather conditions. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be needed during high rainfall periods.
Virtually all mining in Texas is on private
lands with leases negotiated between mining companies and each individual land/mineral owner. The Burke Hollow Project consists
of two leases, one lease dated February 21, 2012 comprised of 17,510 acres with Thomson-Barrow Corporation as mineral owner and
Burke Hollow Corporation as surface owner, and the other dated December 15, 2012 comprised of 1,825 acres with a separate owner.
The leases are paid-up leases for a primary term of five years and allow for an extension term of an additional five years and
so long thereafter as uranium or other leased substances are being produced. The leases have various stipulated fees for land
surface alterations, such as per well or exploration hole fees (damages). The primary lease stipulation is the royalty payments
as a percentage of production. Because the leases are negotiated with a private land and mineral owners and none of the property
is located on government land, some of the details of the lease information and terms are considered confidential.
There are no known environmental liabilities
associated with the Burke Hollow property. The Company currently has an exploration permit for their work in Bee County from the
Texas Railroad Commission.
Prior to any mining activity at the Burke
Hollow Project, the Company would be required to obtain a Radioactive Materials License, a large area Underground Injection Control
(“UIC”) Mine permit, and a PAA permit for each wellfield developed for mining within the Mine Permit area. In addition,
a waste disposal well would, if needed, require a separate UIC Permit. These permits would be issued by Texas regulatory agencies.
The Texas Railroad Commission requires
exploration companies to obtain exploration permits before conducting drilling in any area. The permits include standards for
the abandonment and remediation of test bore holes. The standards include that ASTM type 1 neat-cement be used in the plugging
of test bore holes, the filling and abandonment of mud pits, and the marking of bore holes at the surface. Remediation requirements
are sometimes specific to the area of exploration and may include segregation, storage, and re-covering with topsoil, re-grading,
and re-vegetation. Potential future environmental liability as a result of the mining must be addressed by the permit holder jointly
with the permit granting agency. Most permits now have bonding requirements for ensuring that the restoration of groundwater,
the land surface, and any ancillary facility structures or equipment is properly completed. If the Burke Hollow Project reaches
economic viability in the future, the Company would need to complete a number of required environmental baseline studies such
as cultural resources (including archaeology), socioeconomic impact, and soils mapping. Flora and fauna studies will need to be
conducted as will background radiation surveys.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources,
Infrastructure and Physiography
The Burke Hollow Project is situated
in the interior portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province. The area is characterized by rolling topography with
parallel to sub-parallel ridges and valleys. There is about 47 feet of relief at the site with ground surface elevations ranging
from a low of 92 feet to a high of 139 feet above mean sea level. The leased property for the Burke Hollow Project is used mostly
for petroleum production, ranching, and game management. Access by vehicular traffic is provided from Hwy. 77 into the property
by private gravel roads.
The property is in a rural setting in
southeastern Bee County. The nearest population centers are Skidmore, approximately 11 miles west, Refugio about 15 miles east,
and Beeville approximately 18 miles northwest. While Skidmore and Refugio are relatively small towns, they provide basic needs
for food and lodging and some supplies. Beeville is a much larger city and provides a well-developed infrastructure that has resulted
from being a regional center to support oil and gas exploration and production. The Burke Hollow Project site area has good accessibility
for light to heavy equipment. There is an excellent network of county, state and federal highways that serve the region and the
moderate topography with dominantly sandy, well-drained soils provide good construction conditions for building gravel site roads
necessary for site access. Water supply in the project area is from private water wells, mostly tapping sands of the upper Goliad
Formation. Water needs for potential future pre-extraction activities would be from the same sources.
Bee County has a climate characterized
by long, hot summers and cool to warm winters. The moderate temperatures and precipitation result in excellent conditions for
developing an ISR mine. The average annual precipitation is about 32 inches with the months from November to March normally the
driest and May through October typically having more precipitation due partly to more intense tropical storms. From June through
September the normal high temperatures are routinely above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the months from December through February
are the coolest with average low temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Periods of freezing temperatures are generally quite
brief and infrequent. Tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico can occur during the hurricane season and may affect the site area
with large rain storms. The infrequent freezing weather and abnormally large rainfalls are the primary conditions that could cause
temporary shutdowns at an operating ISR mine. Otherwise there is not a regular non-operating season.
The necessary rights for constructing
the needed surface processing facilities are in-place on selected lease agreements. Sufficient electric power is believed to be
available in the area, however new lines may be needed to bring additional service to a plant site and well fields. Within a 20
mile radius of the planned Burke Hollow facility there is sufficient population to supply the necessary number of suitable mining
personnel.
History
The earliest historic uranium exploration
at the Burke Hollow Project was the drilling of five exploration holes completed on the Welder lease by Nufuels (Mobil) in 1982.
Oxidation/reduction interfaces were intercepted in two of the holes and oxidized tails were logged in three of the holes. In 1993,
Total Minerals conducted a short reconnaissance exploration drilling program and completed a total of 12 exploration holes of
which 11 intersected anomalous gamma ray log signatures indicative of uranium mineralization. The resulting 12 log files include
good quality electric logs, with each log file containing a detailed lithological report based on drill hole cuttings prepared
by Total Mineral’s field geologists who were supervising and monitoring the drilling activity contemporaneously.
All of the boreholes were drilled using
contracted truck-mounted drilling rigs. The holes were drilled by conventional rotary drilling methods using drilling mud fluids.
All known uranium exploration at the Burke Hollow Project has been conducted with vertical drill holes. Drill cuttings were typically
collected from the drilling fluid returns circulating up the annulus of the borehole. These samples were generally taken at five
foot intervals and laid out on the ground in consecutive rows of twenty by the drill crew for review and description by a geologist.
Upon completion, the holes were logged for gamma ray, self-potential, and resistance by contract logging companies. Century Geophysical
was the logging company utilized by both Nufuels and Total Minerals, and Century Geophysical provided primarily digital data. A
tool recording down-hole deviation was also utilized for each of the holes drilled.
This description of previous exploration
work undertaken at the Burke Hollow Project is based primarily on gamma ray and electric logs, several small maps and cross-sections
constructed by Total Minerals.
The historic data package obtained by
the Company for a portion of the current Burke Hollow Project area provided the above described information. Based on the very
limited number of drill holes, no meaningful resource or reserve determination was made by either Nufuels or Total Minerals. The
actual drilling and geophysical logging results however, have been determined to be properly conducted to current industry standards
and usable by the Company’s exploration staff in their geologic investigation.
The only historic work relating to uranium
exploration or mining is the early exploration work done by Nufuels in 1982, and by Total Minerals in 1993 as described above.
There has been no known ownership of the Burke Hollow property by a mining company and prior ownership or changes in ownership
for the property are not known by the Company or relevant to the project.
Geological Setting
Regional Geology
The Burke Hollow Project area is situated
within the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province that is geologically characterized by sedimentary deposits that typically
dip and thicken toward the Gulf of Mexico from the northwest source areas. Additionally, the regional dip generally increases
with distance in the down dip direction as the overall thickness of sediments increase. The sedimentary units are dominantly continental
clastic deposits with some underlying near shore and shallow marine facies. The uranium-bearing units of South Texas are virtually
all sands and sandstones in Tertiary formations ranging in age from Eocene (oldest) to Pliocene (youngest). At Burke Hollow, deposits
are hosted by the Goliad Formation of Lower Pliocene to Miocene age.
The project area, located about 18 miles
southeast of Beeville which is the county seat of Bee County, is situated in the major northeast-southwest trending Goliad Formation
of fluvial origin. The Geologic Atlas of Texas, Beeville-Bay City Sheet (Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, Revised 1987) indicates
that a thin layer of Pleistocene-aged Lissie Formation overlies the Miocene Goliad Formation. The Lissie Formation unconformably
overlies the Goliad Formation, and consists of unconsolidated deposits of sand, silt, and clay, with minor amounts of gravel.
The thickness of the Lissie Formation in the project area ranges from approximately 35 feet on the western project edge to a maximum
of 70 feet in thickness on the down-dip eastern edge of the project area. The map below shows the surface geology at the Burke
Hollow Project.
The Goliad Formation was originally classified
as Pliocene in age, but the formation has been reclassified as early Pliocene to middle Miocene after research revealed the presence
of indigenous Miocene-aged mega-fossils occurring in upper Goliad sands. The lower Goliad fluvial sands are correlative with down-dip
strata containing benthic foraminifera, indicative of a Miocene age (Baskin and Hulbert, 2008, GCAGS Transactions, v. 58, p. 93-101).
The Geology of Texas map published by The Bureau of Economic Geology in 1992 classifies the Goliad as Miocene.
Relevant earlier literature described
the Goliad Formation as Pliocene-aged, including the Geologic Atlas of Texas, Beeville-Bay City Sheet (Bureau of Econ. Geol, revised
1987), and The Geology of Texas, Volume I (No. 3232, 1932, Texas Bureau of Econ. Geology).
Local and Property Geology
The uranium-bearing sands of the Goliad
Formation at the project site occur beneath a thin layer of Lissie Formation sand, silt, clay, and gravel, which covers most of
the project area with a total thickness of approximately 35 feet on the western side to approximately 70 feet thickness on the
downdip eastern side of the project. The Goliad Formation underlies the Lissie, and is present at depths ranging from 35 feet
to approximately 1,050 feet in depth on the eastern side of the property. The Company has determined that uranium mineralization
discovered to date occurs within at least four individual sand units in the Upper Goliad at depths generally ranging from 160
feet to 500 feet, and within two deeper sand units in the Lower Goliad located between 900 feet to 950 feet in depth.
The Goliad sand is one of the principal
water-bearing formations in Bee County capable of yielding moderate to large quantities of fresh to slightly saline water in the
south half of Bee County, which includes the project area.
The hydrogeological characteristics of
the water-bearing Goliad sands at the Burke Hollow Project have not yet been determined, but required hydrogeological tests will
determine the hydraulic character of the sands and the confining beds separating the individual sand zones. Information regarding
the water-bearing characteristics of the Goliad sands from aquifer tests of a city of Beeville and a City of Refugio supply well
(O.C. Dale, et al., 1957) reported an average coefficient of permeability of about 100 gallons per day per square foot. This would
be the equivalent coefficient of transmissivity of approximately 2,500 gallons per day per foot for a 25-foot thick sand. It is
likely that the uranium bearing mineralized sand zones at the Burke Hollow Project will have similar hydraulic characteristics.
There are at least two northeast-southwest
trending faults at the Burke Hollow property that are likely related to the formation of the uranium mineralization. These faults
are shown at a depth of approximately 3,500 feet below ground surface based on petroleum industry maps and extend upward into
the Goliad Formation. The northwesterly fault is a typical Gulf Coast normal fault, downthrown toward the coast, while the southeastern
fault is an antithetic fault downthrown to the northwest, forming a graben structure. The presence of these faults is likely related
to the increased mineralization at the site. The faulting has probably served as a conduit for reducing waters/gases migrating
from deeper horizons as well as altering the groundwater flow system in the uranium-bearing sands.
Mineralization
The Burke Hollow Project uranium-bearing
units occur as multiple roll-front type deposits in vertically stacked sands and sandstones. Groundwater flowing from northwest
to southeast in the Goliad sands likely contained low concentrations of dissolved uranium resulting from oxidizing conditions
and the relatively short distance from the recharge area. The geochemical conditions in the sands near the Company’s property
changed from oxidizing to reducing due to an influx of reductants. Hydrogen sulfide and/or methane dissolved in groundwater are
likely sources for creating a reduction-oxidation boundary in the area with consequent precipitation and concentration of uranium
mineralization.
Specific identification of the uranium
minerals has not yet been determined at the Burke Hollow Project. The very fine uranium minerals found coating quartz grains and
within the interstices in most south Texas sand and sandstone roll-front deposits has generally been found to be dominantly uraninite
and, to a lesser extent, coffinite. No uraninite has been identified on the Burke Hollow Project and the presence of uraninite
on other properties does not mean that such mineralization will be found at the Burke Hollow Project. Detailed petrographic examination
of disseminated uranium mineralization within sands/sandstones is generally not suitable for identification of the specific uranium
minerals. Laboratory equipment such as x-ray diffraction units may be used to identify the minerals, however the specific mineral
species typically found in reduced sands are generally similar in south Texas ISR projects and leaching characteristics are also
similar. Based on the experience of the ISR mines throughout south Texas, the use of gamma-ray logging with a calibrated logging
probe has become the standard method to determine the thickness and estimated grade of uranium bearing minerals.
At the project site the Goliad Formation
is located near the surface underlying the Lissie Formation, and extends to depths exceeding 1,050 feet on the eastern side of
the property. Uranium mineralization discovered to date occurs in multiple sand/sandstone units that are all below the saturated
zone. These are the Goliad Lower A sand, the Goliad Upper B sand, the Goliad Lower B sand and the Goliad D sand. The sands are
fluvial-deltaic in origin, and thicken and thin across the project site. Each zone is hydrologically separated by clay or silty
clay beds. The uranium deposits discovered to date range from several feet to over 30 feet in thickness. The C-shaped configuration
is typically convex in a downdip direction with tails trailing on the updip side.
Update to July 31, 2016
During Fiscal 2016, 49 exploration holes
totaling 25,020 feet were drilled at the Burke Hollow Project to depths ranging from a minimum 420 feet to a maximum 640 feet,
with an average depth of 511 feet. As of July 31, 2016, a total of 575 exploration holes totaling 271,520 feet have been drilled
to depths ranging from a minimum 160 feet to a maximum of 1,100 feet, with an average depth of 472 feet.
At July 31, 2016, a total of 30 regional
baseline monitor wells have been installed in order to establish baseline water quality in both the Goliad Lower A and Goliad
Lower B sands. With respect to permitting, a preoperational groundwater characterization sampling program from the drilling of
the regional baseline monitor wells was completed in February 2014. A drainage study of the proposed license boundary was
completed in January 2013 and encompasses the first three production areas. Archeology, socioeconomic and ecology studies
for the project were all completed by December 2013. Two Class I disposal well applications were submitted and final permits were
issued by the TCEQ in July 2015. The Mine Area, Radioactive Material License and Aquifer Exemption applications have been submitted
and are all under technical review by the TCEQ.
An earlier Technical Report dated February
27, 2013 for Burke Hollow was prepared in accordance with the provisions of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 43-101”) by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting
geologist, and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
.
An Updated Technical Report dated October 6, 2014 was prepared in accordance with the provisions of NI 43-101 by Andrew W. Kurrus
III, P. G., with Clyde L. Yancey, P.G. serving as the Qualified Person. As required by NI 43-101, the Technical Report contains
certain disclosure relating to inferred mineral resource estimates and an exploration target for the Company’s Burke Hollow
Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Inferred mineral resources and exploration targets, while
recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, and are normally
not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in
this annual report or otherwise in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral
resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as
to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral
resources, which are not mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part
of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will
ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form
the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported inferred
mineral resources referred to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable. Exploration targets have a greater
amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular,
it should be noted that exploration targets do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any
part of the exploration target discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category, or if additional
exploration will result in discovery of an economic mineral resource on the property.
We have not established proven or probable
reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a “final” or “bankable”
feasibility study for the Burke Hollow Project. Furthermore, we have no plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any
of our uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining.
Goliad Project, Goliad County, Texas
Property Description and Location
The Goliad Project is comprised of 11
leases covering 1,139 acres located in Texas near the northeast end of the extensive South Texas Uranium Trend. The Goliad Project
consists of multiple leases that would allow the mining of uranium by ISR methods while utilizing the land surface (with variable
conditions) as needed, for mining wells and aboveground facilities for fluid processing and ore capture during the mining and
groundwater restoration phases of the project. The Goliad Project area is about 14 miles north of the town of Goliad and is located
on the east side of US route 77A/183, a primary highway that intersects with US 59 in Goliad and IH-10 to the north. The approximate
center of the project area is 28° 52’ 7” N latitude, 97° 20’ 36” W longitude. Site drilling roads
are mostly gravel based and allow reasonable weather access for trucks and cars. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be needed during
high rainfall periods. A location map for the Goliad Project is shown below:
Virtually all mining in Texas is on private
lands with leases negotiated with each individual landowner/mineral owner. Moore Energy Corporation (“Moore Energy”)
obtained leases for exploration work in the project area in the early 1980s and completed an extensive drilling program resulting
in a historic uranium mineral estimate in 1985. We obtained mining leases from individuals and by assignment from a private entity
in 2006.
At July 31, 2016, we held 11 leases ranging
in size from 14 acres to 253 acres, for a total of 1,139 acres. The majority of the leases have starting dates in 2005 or 2006
with an initial term of five years and a five-year renewal option. The various lease fees and royalty conditions are negotiated
with individual lessors and terms may vary from lease to lease. The Company has amended the majority of the leases to extend the
time period for an additional five years past the five-year renewal option period.
No historic uranium mining is known to
have occurred on any of the Goliad Project lease properties and only state permitted uranium exploration drilling has taken place.
There are believed to be no existing environmental liabilities at the property leases. Prior to any mining activity at the Goliad
Project, we are required to obtain a Radioactive Materials License, a large area Underground Injection Control Mine Permit and
a PAA permit for each wellfield developed for mining within the Mine Permit area. In addition, a waste disposal well will, if needed,
require a separate UIC Permit. These permits will be issued by Texas regulatory agencies. The current drilling and abandonment
of uranium exploration holes on any of the leases is permitted by the Texas Railroad Commission. Potential future environmental
liability as a result of the mining must be addressed by the permit holder jointly with the permit granting agency. Most permits
now have bonding requirements for ensuring that the restoration of groundwater, the land surface and any ancillary facility structures
or equipment is properly completed.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources,
Infrastructure and Physiography
The Goliad Project area is situated in
the interior portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province. The area is characterized by rolling topography with parallel
to sub-parallel ridges and valleys. There is about 130 feet of relief at the site with ground surface elevations ranging from
a low of 150 to a high of 280 feet above mean sea level. The leased property for the Goliad Project is used mostly for livestock
grazing pasture and woodland. The overall property area is shown as having a Post Oak Woods, Forest, and Grassland Mosaic vegetation/cover
type.
The site property is accessed from combined
route US 77A/183 that trends north-south to the west of the property. Highway FM 1961 intersects with 77A-183 at the crossroad
town of Weser. Highway FM 1961 to the east of the intersection trends along the south side of the property. Access from either
of these roads into the property is via vehicular traffic on private gravel roads.
The property is in a rural setting at
the north end of Goliad County. The nearest population centers are Goliad (14 miles south), Cuero (18 miles north) and Victoria
(about 30 miles east). While Goliad and Cuero are relatively small towns, they provide basic needs for food and lodging and some
supplies. Victoria is a much larger city and provides a well-developed infrastructure that has resulted from being a regional
center to support oil and gas exploration and production. The Goliad Project site area generally has very good accessibility for
light to heavy equipment. There is an excellent network of county, state and federal highways that serve the region and the moderate
topography, with dominantly sandy, well-drained soils, provides good construction conditions for building gravel site roads necessary
for site access.
The climate in Goliad County is mild with
hot summers and cool to warm winters. The moderate temperatures and precipitation result in excellent conditions for developing
an ISR mine. Periods of freezing temperatures are generally very brief and infrequent. Tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico
can occur during the hurricane season and may affect the site area with large rain storms. The periodic freezing weather and abnormally
large rainfalls are the primary conditions that can cause temporary shutdowns. Otherwise there is not a regular non-operating
season.
The necessary rights for constructing
needed surface processing facilities are in-place on selected lease agreements. Sufficient electric power is believed to be available
in the area; however, new lines may be needed to bring additional service to the plant site and wellfields. We believe that within
a 30 mile radius of the planned Goliad Project facility there is located sufficient population to supply the necessary number
of suitable mining personnel.
History
Ownership History of the Property
The Goliad Project site is located in
the north-central portion of Goliad County to the east and north of the intersection of U.S. Routes 77A/183 and Farm to Market
Route 1961. There has been a long history of oil and gas exploration and production in the area and oil and gas is still a primary
part of the economy for the relatively lightly populated county. In the period from October 1979 to June 1980, as a part of a
large oil, gas and other minerals lease holding (approximately 55,000 acres), Coastal Uranium utilized the opportunity to drill
several widely spaced exploration holes in the region. There were reported to be eight holes drilled at or near the Goliad Project
area.
In the early 1980s Moore Energy obtained
access to review some of the Coastal States wide-spaced drilling exploration data. The review resulted in Moore Energy obtaining
several leases from Coastal Uranium, including several of the current Goliad Project leases. During the period from March 1983
through August 1984, Moore Energy conducted an exploration program in the Goliad Project area. No further drilling was done at
the Goliad Project area until we obtained the leases through assignment from a private entity and from individual mineral owners.
Exploration and Pre-Extraction Work
Undertaken
This description of previous exploration
and pre-extraction work undertaken at the Goliad Project is based primarily on electric logs and maps produced by Moore Energy
during the period 1983 to 1984. Moore Energy completed 479 borings on various leases. Eight widespread exploration borings were
completed by Coastal Uranium in 1980. We obtained leases through an assignment from a private entity in 2006 and from individual
mineral owners thereafter, and began confirmation drilling in May 2006.
In December 2010, the TCEQ approved the
mine permit and the production area authorization for PAA-1 and granted the request for the designation of an Exempt Aquifer for
the Company. In December 2011, a Radioactive Material License was issued by the TCEQ. All other state-level permits and authorizations
have been received including a Class III Injection Well Permit (Mine Permit), two Class I Injection Well Permits (disposal well
permits), a PAA for its first production area, a Permit by Rule (air permit exemption) and an aquifer exemption for which the
Company received concurrence from the regional EPA.
A Technical Report dated March 7, 2008
for Goliad, prepared in accordance with the provisions of NI 43-101, was completed by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting
geologist, and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
.
As required by NI 43-101, the Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to measured, indicated and inferred mineral
resource estimates for the Company’s Goliad Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition
standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Measured
mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations,
are not defined terms under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration
statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this Annual Report or otherwise in the United States.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted
into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their
economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources, which are not mineral reserves, do not
have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral
resources or inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance
with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors
are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred
mineral resources referred to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
Geological Setting
Regional Geology
The Goliad Project area is situated in
the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province that is geologically characterized by sedimentary deposits that typically
dip and thicken toward the Gulf of Mexico from the northwest source areas. Additionally, the regional dip generally increases
with distance in the down dip direction as the overall thickness of sediments increase. The sedimentary units are dominantly continental
clastic deposits with some near shore and shallow marine facies. The uranium-bearing units are virtually all sands and sandstones
in Tertiary formations ranging in age from Eocene (oldest) to Upper Miocene (youngest).
Local and Property Geology
The surface of the property is all within
the outcrop area of the Goliad Formation (Figure 4-3). The mineralized units are sands and sandstone within the Goliad Formation
and are designated by us as the A through D sands from younger (upper) to older (lower), respectively. The sand units are generally
fine to medium grained sands with silt and varying amounts of secondary calcite. The sand units vary in color depending upon the
degree of oxidation-reduction and could be from light brown-tan to grays. The sands units are generally separated from each other
by silty clay or clayey silts that serve as confining units between the sand units.
The Goliad Formation at the project site
occurs from the surface to a depth of about 500 feet. Depending upon the land surface elevation, groundwater occurs in the sands
of the formation below depths of about 30 to 60 feet. The four sand/sandstone zones (A-D) designated as containing uranium mineralization
at the site are all considered to be a part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer on a regional basis. At the project area, however, each
zone is a hydrogeologic unit with similar but variable characteristics. The A Zone is the uppermost unit and based on resistance
logs, groundwater in this unit may be unconfined over portions of the site. The three deeper zones are confined units with confining
clays and silts above and below the water-bearing unit.
Groundwater from sands of the Goliad Formation
is used for water supplies over much of the northern portion of Goliad County. Water quality in the Goliad Formation is variable
and wells typically can yield small to moderate amounts of water. Data indicates an approximate average hydraulic conductivity
of the water-bearing zones of the Goliad Formation in Goliad County is 100 gallons per day per square foot. Based on this value,
a 20 foot sand unit would have an approximate transmissivity of 2,000 gallons per day. With sufficient available drawdown properly
completed ISR wells could have average yields in the range of 25 to 50 gallons per minute.
The site area structures include two faults
that intersect and offset the mineralized units. These faults are normal, with one downthrown toward the coast and one downthrown
toward the northwest. The fault throws range from about 40 to 80 feet.
Project Type
The Goliad uranium project is characteristic
of other known Goliad sand / sandstone deposits in south Texas. The mineralization occurs within fluvial sands and silts as roll
front deposits that are typically a “C” or cutoff “C” shape. The roll fronts are generally associated
with an extended oxidation-reduction boundary or front.
The other Goliad projects in the region
include the Palangana Mine, the Kingsville Dome mine southeast of Kingsville, the Rosita mine west of Alice, the Mestena mine
in Brooks County and the former Mt. Lucas mine at Lake Corpus Christi. These mines are all located south of the Goliad Project
from about 60 to 160 miles. The average tons and uranium grade information for these mines is not known, but all these ISR projects
mining Goliad Formation sand units have been very successful with the following characteristics in common: excellent leaching
characteristics rate and favorable hydraulic conductivity of host sands.
At the Goliad Project there are four stacked
mineralized sand horizons (A-D) that are separated vertically by zones of finer sand, silt and clay. Deposition and concentration
of uranium in the Goliad Formation likely resulted due to a combination of leaching of uranium from volcanic tuff or ash deposits
within the Goliad Formation or erosion of uranium-bearing materials from older Oakville deposits. The leaching process occurred
near the outcrop area where recharge of oxidizing groundwater increased the solubility of uranium minerals in the interstices
and coating sand grains in the sediments. Subsequent downgradient migration of the soluble uranium within the oxygenated groundwater
continued until the geochemical conditions became reducing and uranium minerals were deposited in roll front or tabular bodies
due to varying stratigraphic or structural conditions.
There are at least two northeast-southwest
trending faults at the Goliad property that are likely related to the formation of the Goliad Project mineralization. The northwesterly
fault is a typical Gulf Coast normal fault, downthrown toward the coast, while the southeastern fault is downthrown to the northwest,
forming a graben structure. Both faults are normal faults. Throw on the northwest fault is about 75 feet and the southeast fault
has about 50 feet of throw. The presence of these faults is likely related to the increased mineralization at the site. The faulting
has probably served as a conduit for reducing waters/gases to migrate from deeper horizons as well as altering the groundwater
flow system in the uranium-bearing sands.
Mineralization
The Goliad Project uranium-bearing units
occur as multiple roll front type structures in vertically stacked sands and sandstones. Groundwater flowing from northwest to
southeast in the Goliad sands likely contained low concentrations of dissolved uranium resulting from oxidizing conditions and
the relatively short distance from the recharge area. The geochemical conditions in the sands near our property changed from oxidizing
to reducing due to an influx of reductants. Hydrogen sulfide and/or methane dissolved in groundwater are likely sources of creating
a reduction-oxidation boundary in the area with consequent precipitation and concentration of uranium mineralization.
Specific identification of the uranium
minerals has not been done at the Goliad Project. The very fine uranium minerals found coating quartz grains and within the interstices
in most south Texas sand and sandstone roll-front deposits has generally been found to be dominantly uraninite. No uraninite has
been identified on the Goliad Project and the presence of uraninite on other properties does not mean that such mineralization
will be found on the Goliad Project. Detailed petrographic examination of disseminated uranium mineralization within sands/sandstones
is generally not suitable for identification of the specific uranium minerals. Laboratory equipment such as x-ray diffraction
units may be used to identify the minerals, however the specific mineral species typically found in reduced sands are generally
similar in south Texas ISR projects and leaching characteristics are also similar. Based on the experience of the ISR mines throughout
south Texas, the use of gamma-ray logging with a calibrated logging probe has become the standard method to determine the thickness
and estimated grade of uranium bearing minerals.
At the project site, the Goliad Formation
is exposed at the surface and extends to depths exceeding 500 feet. Uranium mineralization occurs in four sand/sandstone units
that are all below the saturated zone. The zones are designated A to D from the top to the bottom of the sequence. The sands are
fluvial-deltaic in origin, and thicken and thin across the project site. Each zone is hydrologically separated by 10 to 50 feet
or more of clay or silty clay. The uranium deposits are tabular in nature and can range from about one foot to over 45 feet in
thickness. The “C”-shaped configuration is typically convex in a downdip direction with leading edge tails on the
upper end. Most of the exploration and delineation holes with elevated gamma ray log anomalies are situated within a southwest-northeast
trending graben and most of the gamma ray anomaly holes are situated along the northernmost of the two faults comprising the graben.
This northernmost fault is downthrown to the southeast, which is typical for the majority of faults along the Texas coastal area.
Leach Amenability
Mineral processing or metallurgical testing
was not reported as being conducted on any of the samples drilled or recovered during the Moore Energy exploration in the mid-1980s.
We submitted selected core samples from our core hole # 30892-111C to Energy Laboratories, Inc. in Casper, Wyoming, in January
2007. These samples from the Goliad Project were sent to the laboratory for leach amenability studies intended to demonstrate
that uranium mineralization at the property was capable of being leached using conventional in situ leach chemistry. The tests
do not approximate other in-situ variables (permeability, porosity, and pressure) but provide an indication of a sample’s
reaction rate and the potential chemical recovery.
Split sections of core were placed in
laboratory containers and a lixiviate solution with 2.0 grams per liter HCO
3
(NaHCO
3
) and either 0.50 or
0.25 g/L of H
2
O
2
(hydrogen peroxide) was added to each test container. The containers were then rotated
at 30 rpm for 16 hours. The lixiviate was then extracted from each test container and analyzed for uranium, molybdenum, sodium,
sulfate, alkalinity (bicarbonate, carbonate), pH and conductance. A clean charge of lixiviate was added and the container rotated
another 16 hours. Each sample rotation and lixiviate charge cycle was representative of five pore volumes with chemical analyses
after each cycle. The cycle was repeated for a total of six cycles or the equivalent of 30 pore volumes.
The four core samples subjected to the
leach amenability tests were determined to contain from 0.04% to 0.08% cU
3
O
8
before testing
.
Leach
tests conducted on the core samples from the A Zone indicate leach efficiencies of 60 to 80% U
3
O
8
extraction,
while the tails analyses indicate efficiencies of 87 to 89%. The differences between the two calculations involve the loss of solid
clay based materials during multiple filtrations. Based on post leach solids analysis, the core intervals were leachable to a very
favorable 86 to 89%. After tests the tails were reanalyzed for uranium concentration to determine the recovery, which ranged on
the four samples using two methods from 60% to 89%.
Laboratory amenability testing of the
cores samples indicated the uranium (dissolved elemental U) recoveries ranged from 86.4% to 88.9% in the four tests. These results
show that the mineralized intervals at the Goliad Project are very amenable to ISR mining even when exposed to only one-half of
the oxidant concentration normally used in the Leach Amenability test. Based on the Company’s experience with ISR mining
of Catahoula and Oakville uranium deposits, as well as discussions with other Goliad deposit mining personnel, the geologically
younger deposits in Texas (Goliad formation) have been the most amenable to in situ leaching. The uranium recovery is generally
more complete (% recovery) and occurs in a shorter time period. Both of these factors are important for ISR pre-extraction economics.
Based on the amenability test results,
the size of the mineralization at the Goliad Project, the geologic setting and the current and projected future demand and price
of uranium, the most feasible and cost effective mining method for the Goliad property uranium is by ISR. This method is most
suitable for the size and grade of the deposits in sands that are below the water table and situated at depths that would be prohibitive
for open pit or underground mining.
The amenability testing described above
was conducted on core recovered from four depth intervals from one boring. While this was a limited sampling for this property,
the samples are believed to be generally representative of the characteristics of the mineralized intervals and the determined
recovery ranges for these intervals is considered to be reliable. Two of the four samples tested contained approximately 0.08%
cU
3
O
8
and two contained lower grades of uranium (~0.04% cU
3
O
8
). Energy Laboratories,
Inc. in Casper, Wyoming, conducted the laboratory testing for this project. The laboratory has been in business since 1952, is
fully certified, but not ISO certified. Certifications include the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
and the following US states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Update to July 31, 2016
|
·
|
In
May 2010, the Waste Disposal Well Permit was issued by the TCEQ;
|
|
·
|
In
April 2011, the Mine Area Permit was issued by the TCEQ;
|
|
·
|
In
April 2011, the PAA-1 Permit was issued by the TCEQ;
|
|
·
|
In
December 2011, the Radioactive Materials License was issued by the TCEQ;
|
|
·
|
In
December 2012, EPA concurrence was received for an Aquifer Exemption which was the last
and final permit needed to begin uranium extraction;
|
|
·
|
In
June 2014, the EPA reaffirmed its earlier decision to uphold the granting of the Company’s
existing Aquifer Exemption permit (the “AE”), with the exception of a northwestern
portion containing less than 10% of the uranium resource which was withdrawn, but not
denied, from the AE area until additional information is provided in the normal course
of mine development;
|
|
·
|
During
Fiscal 2014, 34 delineation holes totaling 9,819 feet were drilled at the Goliad Project
to depths ranging from a minimum of 160 feet to a maximum of 480 feet, with an average
depth of 289 feet. During Fiscal 2015, no further drilling activities were conducted.
At July 31, 2015, approximately 992 confirmation-delineation holes totaling 348,434 feet
have been drilled by the Company to confirm and expand the mineralization base at the
Goliad Project;
|
|
·
|
Construction
of a three-phase electrical power system for the entire project and a large caliche site pad
for the main plant complex and disposal well have been completed; and
|
|
·
|
Processing
equipment for the construction of the satellite facility and wellfield including long-lead
items such as ion exchange vessels have been received.
|
On or about March 9, 2011, the TCEQ granted
the Company’s applications for a Class III Injection Well Permit, Production Area Authorization and Aquifer Exemption for
our Goliad Project. On or about December 4, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concurred with the TCEQ issuance
of the Aquifer Exemption permit. With the receipt of this concurrence, the final authorization required for uranium extraction,
the Goliad Project achieved fully-permitted status. On or about May 24, 2011, a group of petitioners, inclusive of Goliad
County, appealed the TCEQ action to the 250
th
District Court in Travis County, Texas. A motion filed by the
Company to intervene in this matter was granted. The petitioners’ appeal lay dormant until on or about June 14, 2013, when
the petitioners filed their initial brief in support of their position. On or about January 18, 2013, a different group
of petitioners, exclusive of Goliad County, filed a petition for review with the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
in the United States (the “Fifth Circuit”) to appeal the EPA’s decision. On or about March 5, 2013, a motion
filed by the Company to intervene in this matter was granted. The parties attempted to resolve both appeals and, to
facilitate discussions and to avoid further legal costs, the parties jointly agreed, through mediation which was initially conducted
through the Fifth Circuit on or about August 8, 2013, to abate the proceedings in the State District Court. On or about August
21, 2013, the State District Court agreed to abate the proceedings. The EPA subsequently filed a motion to remand without
vacatur with the Fifth Circuit wherein the EPA’s stated purpose was to elicit additional public input and further explain
its rationale for the approval. In requesting the remand without vacatur, which would allow the AE to remain in place during
the review period, the EPA denied the existence of legal error and stated that it was unaware of any additional information that
would merit reversal of the AE. The Company and the TCEQ filed a request to the Fifth Circuit for the motion to remand without
vacatur, if granted, to be limited to a 60-day review period. On December 9, 2013, by way of a procedural order from a three-judge
panel of the Fifth Circuit, the Court granted the remand without vacatur and initially limited the review period to 60 days. In
March of 2014, at the EPA’s request, the Fifth Circuit extended the EPA’s time period for review and additionally,
during that same period, the Company conducted a joint groundwater survey of the site, the result of which reaffirmed the Company’s
previously filed groundwater direction studies. On or about June 17, 2014, the EPA reaffirmed its earlier decision to uphold the
granting of the Company’s existing AE, with the exception of a northwestern portion containing less than 10% of the uranium
resource which was withdrawn, but not denied, from the AE area until additional information is provided in the normal course of
mine development. On or about September 9, 2014, the petitioners filed a status report with the State District Court which included
a request to remove the stay agreed to in August 2013 and to set a briefing schedule (the “Status Report”). In that
Status Report, the petitioners also stated that they had decided not to pursue their appeal at the Fifth Circuit. The Company continues
to believe that the pending appeal is without merit and is continuing forward as planned towards uranium extraction at its fully-permitted
Goliad Project.
We have not established proven or probable
reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a “final” or “bankable”
feasibility study for the Goliad Project. Furthermore, we have no plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any of our
uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining, such as the Goliad Project.
Mineral Exploration Projects
We hold mineral rights in the U.S. States
of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and in the Republic of Paraguay by way of federal mining claims, state and
private mineral leases and mineral concessions.
We plan to conduct exploration programs
on these mineral exploration properties with the objective of determining the existence of economic concentrations of uranium.
We have not established proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a
“final” or “bankable” feasibility study for any of the uranium projects discussed below. Furthermore,
we have no plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any of our uranium projects for which we plan on utilizing ISR mining.
Arizona
All of our Arizona claims and state leases
were previously the subject of exploration drilling for the search of uranium by companies such as Union 76 Oil, Urangesellschaft,
Wyoming Minerals, Noranda, Inc., Uranerz Energy Corp., Homestake Mining Co., Occidental Minerals and Oklahoma Public Services.
Claims staked directly by us have been in areas known for uranium occurrences as shown in the Arizona State publication, “Occurrences
of Uranium in Miscellaneous Sedimentary Formations, Diatremes and Pipes and Veins”.
Arizona: Anderson Project
Property Location and Description
The Anderson Project is a 8,268-acre property
located in Yavapai County, west-central Arizona, approximately 75 miles northwest of Phoenix and 43 miles northwest of Wickenburg
(latitude 34°18’29” N and longitude 113°16’32” W, datum WGS84). The general area is situated along
the northeast margin of the Date Creek Basin. The Anderson Project is located on the south side of the Santa Maria River approximately
13 miles west of State Highway 93. The Anderson Project occupies part or all of Sections 1 and 3, 9 through 16, 21 through 27,
and 34 through 36 of Township 11 North, Range 10 West and portions of Sections 18, 19, and 30 of Township 11 North Range 9 West
of the Gila and Salt River Base Meridian.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources,
Infrastructure and Physiography
The Anderson Project is accessed by paved,
all-weather gravel and dirt roads. The property is reached by taking the Alamo Lake turnoff, located approximately 21 miles northwest
of Wickenburg on Arizona State Highway 93 (Joshua Tree Parkway), then driving 0.25 miles north of mile marker 179, and then following
the Alamo Road for 5.8 miles to the Pipeline Ranch Road turnoff. The road passes through the Pipeline Ranch, located in the bottom
of Date Creek Wash and continues for approximately 6.3 miles to FR 7581. The Anderson Project property boundary is located 1.4
miles north on FR 7581. There are alternate dirt roads, including a 15 mile primitive road from Highway 93 over Aso Pass (2,900
ft elevation).
The Anderson Project is located in the
northeast portion of the Date Creek Basin. The basin consists of low undulating terrain, centrally dissected by Date Creek Wash.
The site lies along the south bank of the Santa Maria River which runs along the northern edge of the basin. Elevations above sea
level are between 1,700 ft and 2,400 ft. Maximum local topographic relief at the site is approximately 700 ft.
Vegetation on the property is typical of
the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona and consists predominately of Joshua trees, palo verde bushes, saguaro, cholla, ocotillo,
creosote bushes and desert grasses. Fauna includes: jackrabbits, rattlesnakes, roadrunners, desert tortoise, various lizards, and
less common mule deer, wild burros and mules.
The alluvial valley of the Santa Maria
River varies substantially in width and depth to bedrock. The volume of alluvium, and particularly the depth of the material, influences
the proportion of surface flow to underflow in the river valley. The groundwater in the alluvium consists of underflow that is
forced toward the surface as the depth of the alluvium decreases.
The climate is arid, with hot summers and
mild winters. Annual rainfall averages 10 to 12 inches with rain showers from January through March and during summer thunderstorms.
Snowfall is rare. On average, temperatures range between a low of 31°F during winter months and a high of 104°F during
summer months. Temperature extremes of 10°F in winter and 120°F in summer have been recorded. The climate is favorable
for year-round mining operations and requires no special operational or infrastructure provisions that relate to weather.
Various water wells exist on and near the
Anderson Project that can support large-scale mining operations. There is plenty of usable land space to locate processing plants,
heap leach pads, tailings storage areas, waste disposal areas and other infrastructure development associated with large-scale
mining. The Anderson Project includes most of a 195 acre area designated by the BLM as “disturbed” resulting from surface
mining in the 1950s. It may be possible to expedite the permitting process for future metallurgical exploration and mining activities,
including waste disposal within the disturbed area.
The Anderson Project area is undeveloped
with the exception of various access and drill roads and various water wells previously constructed. No utilities exist on or adjacent
to the area. A transmission power line runs northwest-southeast along Highway 93, approximately 8 miles to the east; however, direct
access to the power line may be obstructed by the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness and Tres Alamos Wilderness located between the power
line and the Anderson Project. The construction of a power line would require routing along one of the existing road corridors,
a distance of 16.2 miles to the project boundary.
The nearest town is Congress (population
1,700) located 32 road miles to the east. The nearest major housing, supply center and rail terminal is in Wickenburg (population
6,363) located approximately 43 miles from the Anderson Project by road. Phoenix (population 1.45 million), approximately 100 miles
to the southeast by road, is the nearest major industrial and commercial airline terminal. Kingman (population 24,000) is located
approximately 110 miles to the northwest by road. The Company’s surface rights encompass 15.4 square miles; this is sufficient
for the surface structures associated with any proposed mining operation.
History
In January 1955, T.R. Anderson of Sacramento,
California, detected anomalous radioactivity in the vicinity of the Anderson Project using an airborne scintillometer. After a
ground check revealed uranium oxide in outcrop, numerous claims were staked. The “Anderson Mine,” as the operation
was known at the time, was drilled and mined by Mr. Anderson. Work between 1955 and 1959 resulted in 10,758 tons that averaged
0.15% U
3
O
8
and 33,230 pounds U
3
O
8
were shipped to Tuba City, Arizona, for custom milling.
In 1959, production stopped when the Atomic Energy Commission (“AEC”) ended the purchasing program.
During 1967 and 1968, Getty Oil Company
(“Getty”) secured an option on claims in the northern portion of the Anderson Project. Some drilling and downhole gamma
logging was conducted during the option period, but this failed to locate a sizeable uranium deposit. In 1968, Getty dropped their
option.
In 1974 the increasing price of uranium
created a renewed interest in the vicinity of the Anderson Project. Following a field check and an evaluation of the 1968 Getty
drill data, MinEx optioned the northern portion of the current Anderson Project.
In 1975 MinEx purchased the northern portion
of the current Anderson Project after a 53-hole, 5,800 m (19,000 ft) drilling program on 250 m centers confirmed a much greater
uranium resource potential than had been interpreted from the 1968 Getty gamma log data. Further exploration work, consisting of
a 180-hole, 22,555 m (74,000 ft) drill and core program on 120 m centers was conducted from November 1975
through February 1976 to further delineate the uranium resources. By 1980, MinEx had completed a total of 1,054 holes by
rotary and core drilling.
In 1977 the Palmerita Ranch, located 11
km west of the deposit along the Santa Maria River, was acquired by MinEx to provide a water source for the operations in the event
that closer sources proved inadequate. Based on favorable economics, indicated in a Preliminary Feasibility Study completed by
Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc. in December 1977, a detailed Final Feasibility Study was undertaken early in 1978 to evaluate the
MinEx holdings on the northern portion of the current Anderson Project.
In 1973 Urangesellschaft expressed an interest
in the former Anderson Property. Urangesellschaft located a claim block, the “Date Creek Project,” on the down-dip
extension of the mineralization immediately to the south of MinEx’s claims. In 1973 to 1982, subsequent drilling programs
delineated mineralization from a total of 352 drill holes with 122,744 m (402,773 ft) of rotary and core drilling. The following
table summarizes the phases of the historical exploration.
Exploration
History at the Anderson Property (Arseneau, 2011)
Company
|
|
Period
|
|
Exploration Activities
|
Mining Group Led by Mr. T. R. Anderson
|
|
1955−1959
|
|
Aerial scintillometer surveying, ground prospecting, and outcrop mining
|
Getty Oil Company
|
|
1967−1968
|
|
Limited exploration drilling
|
Urangesellschaft USA, Inc.
|
|
1973−1982
|
|
Exploration drilling: 352 total holes with 319 rotary holes and 33 core holes over a 610 ha area
|
MinEx
|
|
1974−1980
|
|
Exploration drilling: 970 rotary holes and 84 core holes over a 425 ha area
|
Concentric Energy Corp.
|
|
2006
|
|
Confirmation drilling: 24 RC holes and one RC core hole
|
Geologic Setting
Regional Geology
The Anderson Project is located along
the northeast margin of the Date Creek Basin of the Basin and Range Province of the western United States. The Date Creek Basin
is one of hundreds of Paleogene basins throughout western Arizona, southeastern California, Nevada and western Utah. Paleogene
lacustrine and fluvial sediments, and Quaternary gravels have filled these basins to depths of several thousand meters. The approximate
location of the Basin boundaries is shown in the figure below.
The Basin is surrounded by dissected mountain
ranges containing Precambrian metamorphic rocks and granites. Surrounding mountain ranges include the Black Mountains to the north
and northeast, and the Rawhide, Buckskin and McCracken Mountains to the west. To the south and southeast, the Basin is bordered
by a low drainage divide imposed by the Harcuvar and the Black Mountains. Margins of the basin are filled with early Paleogene
volcanic flows and volcaniclastic sediments. The Basin itself is filled with Oligocene to Miocene lacustrine and deltaic sediments
covered by a thick mantle of Quaternary valley fill.
Local and Property Geology
Three major faults cross the Anderson Project:
the East Boundary Fault System; Fault 1878; and the West Boundary Fault System. Faults trend predominantly N30ºW to N55ºW
and dip steeply (approximately 80º) to the southwest. Another set of faults trending more westerly (N65ºW) are present
in the south-central portion of the Anderson Project. A fault set trending northeast-southwest has been speculated by Urangesellschaft
and others, but has not been observed in the field. Many of the north-westerly surface water drainage tributaries are developed
partially along fault traces.
Minor faults and shear zones occur throughout
the Anderson Project. These probably represent fractures with slight offset of strata during differential compaction of the underlying
sediments or local adjustment to major faulting.
The largest fold in the area is a broad,
gentle, northwest-trending syncline in the south-eastern quarter of Section 9, T11N, R10W. Dips reach a maximum of 13º except
where modified by shearing. Many smaller folds with amplitudes of several feet are present in the lacustrine strata.
Fault displacements range from a few centimetres
to more than 100 m. Fault movement is generally of normal displacement resulting in stair-stepped fault blocks. Local faults also
have a tendency to hinge. Minor faulting across the mineralized area is often difficult to discern from variations in sedimentary
dips.
The lacustrine sediments dip south to south-westerly from 2º to 5º, to a maximum
of 15º. Much of this dip is attributed to recurrent faulting during deposition.
Nine stratigraphic units were identified
on the Anderson Project, listed from oldest to youngest as follows:
|
·
|
Crystalline
Intrusive Rocks: coarse-grained to pegmatitic Precambrian granite;
|
|
·
|
Felsic
to Intermediate Volcanic: flows, breccias, tuffs and minor intrusive;
|
|
·
|
Felsic
to Intermediate Volcaniclastic: ash flows, tuffaceous beds and arkosic sandstone;
|
|
·
|
Andesitic
Volcanic: porphyritic andesitic flows with a paleosurface and locally reddish-brown paleosols;
|
|
·
|
Lacustrine
Sedimentary rocks: micaceous siltstones and mudstone, calcareous siltstones and silty
limestone, thin beds of carbonaceous siltstone and lignitic material and host of uranium
mineralization, averaging about 60 to 100 m thick;
|
|
·
|
Lower
Sandstone Conglomerate: arkosic sandstones and conglomerate, averaging about 60 to 100
m thick
|
|
·
|
Basaltic
Flows and Dikes: amygdular basalt, averaging about 20 m thick;
|
|
·
|
Upper
Conglomerate: cobble and boulder conglomerate, partly indurate and locally calcite cemented,
averaging about zero to 60 m thick; and
|
|
·
|
Quaternary
Alluvium: unconsolidated sand and gravel, caliche formed where calcite-cemented.
|
Uranium mineralization at the Anderson
Project occurs exclusively in the sequence of Miocene-age lacustrine lakebed sediments. The lacustrine sediments unconformably
overlie the andesitic volcanic unit over most of the Anderson Project. However, to the east of the Anderson Project, they overlie
the felsic to intermediate volcanic unit.
Evidence suggests that deposition of the
lacustrine sediments occurred in a restricted basin less than 5 km wide by 10 to 12 km long on the northern edge of an old Paleogene
lake. Moving southward, these sediments inter-tongue with siltstones and sandstones. The lakebed sediments represent time-transgressive
facies deposited within a narrow, probably shallow, basinal feature. This type of depositional environment exhibits complex relationships
between individual facies, lensing out, vertical and horizontal gradation, and interfingering.
The lake sediments include green siltstones
and mudstones, white calcareous siltstones, and silty limestone or calcareous tuffaceous material. Much of this material is silicified
to varying extents and was derived in part from volcanic ashes and tuffs common throughout the lakebeds. Also present in the lacustrine
sequence are zones of carbonaceous siltstone and lignitic material. Along the boundary between the former MinEx and Urangesellschaft
properties, drill holes encounter the basal arkosic sandstone. To the south and southwest, lakebeds interfinger with and eventually
are replaced by a thick, medium to coarse-grained, arkosic sandstone unit.
Mineralization
Uranium mineralization in outcrops and
the pit floor at the old Anderson mine was reported by the US Bureau of Mines in Salt Lake City as tyuyamunite (Ca(UO
2
)
2
(VO
4
)
2
·5-8H
2
O).
Carnotite (K(UO
2
)
2
(VO
4
)
2
·3H
2
O) and a rarer silicate mineral, weeksite
(K
2
(UO
2
)
2
(Si
2
O
5
)
3
·4H
2
O), were also reported
in outcrop samples. Carnotite mineralization occurs as fine coatings and coarse fibrous fillings along fractures and bedding planes
and has been noted in shallow drill holes and surface exposures.
The uranium mineralization found at depth
on the former Urangesellschaft property was reported by Hazen Research, Inc. (“Hazen Research”) to be poorly crystallized,
very fine-grained, amorphous uranium with silica. This could be in the form of either coffinite (U(SiO
4
)
1-x
(OH)
4x
)
or uraninite (UO
2
) in a primary or unoxidized state (Hertzke, 1997). Mineralogical studies performed by Hazen Research
(1978a, 1978b, 1978c and 1979) on Urangesellschaft core found that mineralization was associated, for the most part, with organic-rich
fractions of the samples. Specifically, the uraniferous material occurs as stringers, irregular masses and disseminations in carbonaceous
veinlets with uranium up to 54% as measured by microprobe analysis. X-ray diffraction identified the mineral as coffinite. It
is possible that an amorphous, ill-defined uranium silicate with a variable U:Si ratio is precipitated and, under favorable conditions,
develops into an identifiable crystalline form (coffinite).
Of special note is the detection of high-grade,
low-reflecting uraniferous material occurring with carbonaceous material in the siltstone. Similar assemblages in unoxidized mineralization
have also been reported for the former MinEx property.
Urangesellschaft distinguished seven mineralized
zones, identified as Horizons A, B, C, D, E, F and G, with the youngest (uppermost) being Horizon A and the oldest (deepest) being
Horizon G. The majority of uranium occurs in Horizons A, B and C within the property. A conglomeratic sandstone unit interbeds
with these units, but does not contain uranium mineralization; it is referred to as the Barren Sandstone Unit and it lies between
Horizon C and Horizon D. Consequently, Horizons A through C have been called the Upper Lakebed Sequence and Horizons D through
G have been called the Lower Lakebed Sequence.
Grades of mineralization range from 0.025%
U
3
O
8
to normal highs of 0.3 to 0.5% U
3
O
8
with intercepts on occasion of 1.0% to 2.0%
U
3
O
8
. Secondary enrichment of the syngenetic mineralization is observed along faults and at outcrops.
Exploration
A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
survey was performed over the entire project area by Cooper Aerial Surveys Co. (“Cooper Aerial”) on 9 July 2011, between
13:07 UTC and 15:14 UTC (6:07
A.M.
and 8:14 A.M., MST). Aerial imagery was collected
at the same time. Data was processed using one of two base stations to obtain positional accuracies of between 3 and10 cm. Twenty-four
ground control points showed a root mean square error of 0.219 ft (6.7 cm) between predicted and measured elevations. Cooper Aerial
provided the Company with a one meter pixel digital elevation model (DEM) and a 2 ft contour shape-file derived from the LiDAR
data. Cooper Aerial also corrected ortho imagery with a 0.15 m pixel size. Coordinates were converted from WGS84 to NAD 1983 UTM
Zone 12N in meters, and elevation was reported in NAVD 1988 international feet. The conversion caused no distortion in elevations
used in the resource model.
The Company has not performed any drilling
to date on the Anderson Project.
Update to July 31, 2016
A Technical
Report dated June 19, 2012 for the Anderson Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Bruce Davis and Robert
Simm, consulting geologists, and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators
at
www.sedar.com
. The Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to inferred and indicated mineral resource
estimates for the Anderson Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on
mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Inferred and indicated
mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under the SEC’s Industry
Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we
have not reported them in this Annual Report or otherwise in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any
part or all of the mineral resources in this category will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Inferred and indicated resources
have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In
particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
It cannot be assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded
to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility
or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported inferred mineral resources referred
to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
A Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”)
dated July 6, 2014 for the Anderson Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Douglas Beahm, PE, PG and
Terence McNulty, PE and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
.
The PEA contains certain disclosure relating to indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates for the Anderson Project. Such
mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute
of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Indicated and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required
by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used
in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this annual report or otherwise
in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in this category will
ever be converted into mineral reserves. Indicated and inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence,
and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which
are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the indicated
or inferred mineral resources discussed in the PEA will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules,
estimates of indicated and inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors
are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported indicated and inferred mineral resources referred to in the PEA are
economically or legally mineable. We have not established proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide
7, through the completion of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study for the Anderson Project.
Arizona: Workman Creek Project
The Workman Creek Project is a 4,036-acre
property located in Gila County, Arizona.
A Technical Report dated July 7, 2012
for the Workman Creek Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Neil G. McCallum, P.G. and Gary H. Giroux,
P.E., a consulting geologist and engineer, respectively, and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian
Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
. The Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to inferred mineral
resource estimates for the Workman Creek Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition
standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Inferred
mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, is not a defined term under the SEC’s Industry
Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we
have not reported them in this Annual Report or otherwise in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any
part or all of the mineral resources in this category will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Inferred resources have a
great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular,
it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot
be assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other
economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported inferred mineral resources referred to in
the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
The following table provides information
relating to our mineral rights located in Arizona:
Property
|
|
Number of Claims
or Leases Held
|
|
Gross Acres
|
Artillery Peak 1
|
|
19 claims
|
|
380
|
Artillery Peak 2
|
|
31 claims
|
|
620
|
Los Cuatros
|
|
1 lease
|
|
640
|
Anderson
|
|
386 claims & 1 lease
|
|
8,268
|
Workman Creek
|
|
198 claims
|
|
4,036
|
Colorado
Claims and leases acquired by us in Colorado
have historical production tonnages and grades published in the Colorado Geological Survey, Bulletin 40 “Radioactive Mineral
Occurrences of Colorado”. Also, our geological staff has evaluated a portion of the claims currently owned by us.
Colorado: Slick Rock Project
Pursuant to a Uranium Mining Lease dated
May 23, 2012, the Company acquired from URenergy LLC a mining lease for uranium on the Slick Rock Project located in San Miguel
and Montrose Counties, Colorado.
Since January 2011, the Company has staked
a total of 129 claims in the Slick Rock district of the Uravan Mineral Belt. In June 2011, the Company acquired 103 claims from
Spider Rock Mining also in the Slick Rock District for a one-time payment of $500,000. As a result, the Company now holds a total
of 315 contiguous claims in the Slick Rock District. Certain claims of the Slick Rock Project are subject to a 1.0% or 3.0% net
smelter royalty, the latter requiring an annual advance royalty payment of $30,000 beginning in November 2017.
A Technical Report dated February 21,
2013 for the Slick Rock Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Bruce Davis and Robert Simm, consulting
geologists, and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
.
The Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to inferred mineral resource estimates for the Slick Rock Project. Such
mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute
of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian
regulations, is not a defined term under the SEC's Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and
registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this annual report or otherwise in the United
States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in this category will ever be converted
into mineral reserves. Inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to
their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves
do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources discussed
in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral
resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part
of the reported inferred mineral resources referred to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
A PEA dated April 8, 2014 for the Slick
Rock Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Douglas Beahm, PE, PG and filed by the Company on the public
disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
. The PEA contains certain disclosure relating
to inferred mineral resource estimates for the Slick Rock Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with
the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI
43-101. Inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, is not a defined term under the SEC’s
Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly,
we have not reported them in this Annual Report or otherwise in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that
any part or all of the mineral resources in this category will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Inferred resources have
a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular,
it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot
be assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources discussed in the PEA will ever be upgraded to a higher category.
In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic
studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported inferred mineral resources referred to in the PEA
are economically or legally mineable.
The following table provides information
relating to our mineral rights located in Colorado:
Property
|
|
Number of Claims
or Leases Held
|
|
Gross Acres
|
Carnotite
|
|
18 claims
|
|
360
|
Raven
|
|
37 claims
|
|
740
|
Slick Rock
|
|
315 claims
|
|
5,333
|
Radium Mountain
|
|
48 claims
|
|
979
|
Long Park
|
|
20 claims
|
|
400
|
New Mexico
The West Ranch Project consists of approximately
2,454 acres made up of lode mining claims and private leases in northwestern New Mexico, on the northwest end of the historically
uraniferous Ambrosia Lake trend of the Grants Uranium District. The property was drilled by United Nuclear Corporation and, more
recently, by Kerr McGee. Historical wide-spaced drilling across the property indicates the presence of several northwest-southeast
trending uranium mineralized zones within the Morrison Formation at average depths of 800 feet.
A property option agreement with AusAmerican
Mining Corporation, an Australian-listed mining company, over certain New Mexico claims including the F-33, Rick and Todilto claims
was cancelled by the Company for AusAmerican’s failure to meet certain financial obligations as required under the option.
During Fiscal 2014, an impairment loss on mineral properties of $166,720 was recognized related to these claims.
In December 2014, the Company staked 51
claims over the historic Dalton Pass project in the Crownpoint uranium district. Historic drilling at Dalton Pass by Pathfinder
Mines indicates that the uranium mineralization occurs as both primary tabular and roll front deposits. Mineralization is hosted
by the upper Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrison Formation, a sequence of stacked sands separated by discontinuous shale breaks,
at depths ranging from 1,900 to 2,100 ft.
The following table provides information
relating to our mineral rights located in New Mexico:
Property
|
|
Number of Claims
or Leases Held
|
|
Gross Acres
|
Todilto
|
|
1 lease
|
|
320
|
West Ranch
|
|
26 claims & 5leases
|
|
2,454
|
West Ambrosia Lake
|
|
6 mineral deeds
|
|
3,844
|
C de Baca
|
|
30 claims
|
|
600
|
Dalton Pass
|
|
51 claims
|
|
1,020
|
Texas
At July, 31, 2016, we currently own various
exploration projects located in the South Texas Uranium Trend. The location and acquisition of these leases are based on historical
information contained within our extensive database, as well as current, ongoing geologic analyses by our exploration staff.
Texas: Salvo Project
The Salvo Project is a 1,847-acre property
located in Bee County, Texas.
A Phase I exploration drill program was
completed in April 2011 with a total of 105 holes drilled. Phase II drilling began at the Salvo Project in October 2011, with two
drilling rigs targeting Lower Goliad P and Q sand objectives. A total of 122 exploration and delineation holes for a total of 70,760
feet were drilled during Phase II which was concluded in May 2012. Twenty-nine holes (23%) met or exceeded a grade-thickness (“GT”)
cutoff of 0.3 GT.
Interpretation of the Company’s exploration
and delineation drilling along with historic data from 1982 to 84 exploration drilling by Mobil and URI, revealed the existence
of two ore-bearing redox boundaries within the area, which has the potential to become PAA-1. A significant under-explored extension
to this area which exhibits strong mineralization remains open-ended. Future plans would include further exploration/delineation
drilling in this area in order to fully identify the extent of the mineralized zones in proposed PAA-1. Historic and recent Company
drilling results are being reviewed for future exploration/delineation activities in the Salvo Project in order to fully identify
the extent of the mineralized zones.
A Technical Report dated July 16, 2010
for the Salvo Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting geologist,
and filed by the Company on the CSA’s public disclosure website at
www.sedar.com
. A further Technical Report dated
March 31, 2011 for the Salvo Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting
geologist, and filed by the Company on the CSA’s public disclosure website at
www.sedar.com
. The March 31, 2011 Technical
Report contains certain disclosure relating to inferred mineral resource estimates for the Salvo Project. Such mineral resources
have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy
and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, is
not a defined term under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration
statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this Annual Report or otherwise in the United States.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in this category will ever be converted into
mineral reserves. Inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their
economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not
have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources discussed in the
Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral
resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part
of the reported inferred mineral resources referred to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
Texas: Longhorn Project
The Longhorn Project is located in Live
Oak County, Texas, which historically has produced uranium by both open pit and ISR methods. The property lies within the historic
US Steel Clay West production area where uranium was previously mined utilizing ISR methods along the historic George West district
trend. The Company has an extensive database of information regarding the area including drill maps and over 500 gamma logs. The
Project lies on trend between two former US Steel production areas, the Boots/Brown and the Pawlik. At least five separate roll-fronts
are believed to exist across the project area. Uranium grades within these Oakville deposits ranged from 0.10% to in excess
of 0.20% U
3
O
8
according to US Steel reports and historic well logs obtained by the Company. Well-developed
Oakville sands in this area exhibit higher than average uranium grades for South Texas, as shown on many historic gamma ray logs,
of which the Company has at least 500+ pertaining to the Project from various databases. These higher than average reported uranium
grades were later proven by excellent recoveries in the US Steel ISR production areas
The property is located approximately
65 miles northwest of Corpus Christi and 55 miles southwest of Hobson. It is comprised of 43 lease agreements covering 651 acres,
granting the Company the exclusive right to explore, develop and mine for uranium. The Company anticipates that any uranium identified
at the Longhorn Project will be extracted using ISR mining and processed at Hobson.
The following table provides information
relating to our main mineral rights located in the South Texas Uranium Trend, excluding the Palangana Mine and the Goliad and
Burke Hollow Projects:
Property
|
|
Number of Claims
or Leases Held
|
|
Gross Acres
|
Nichols
|
|
1 lease
|
|
909
|
Salvo
|
|
11 leases
|
|
1,847
|
Longhorn
|
|
43 leases
|
|
651
|
Wyoming
The Burnt Wagon Project, located 35 miles
west of Casper, Wyoming, was acquired from North American Mining and Minerals Company in 2006. Previous operations defined shallow
uranium mineralization in the Wind River formation of early Eocene age, at 50 to 200 foot depths, from 500 drill holes and 16,000
feet of electric logging data.
Situated in the Lower Eocene Wasatch formation
of the southwest Powder River Basin is our Powder River Basin LO-Herma uranium property. The exploration data was acquired from
H. Brenniman as a part of the Pioneer Nuclear, Inc., package in 2006. The 29 mining claims total 592 acres and are contiguous
to the Uranium One (formerly Energy Metals Corp.) property.
The DL Prospect was assessed and acquired
by using Pioneer Nuclear, Inc., 1970 uranium exploration data from the Brenniman database.
The following table provides information
relating to our mineral rights located in Wyoming:
Wyoming Property
|
|
Number of Claims
or Leases Held
|
|
Gross Acres
|
Burnt Wagon
|
|
10 claims and 1 lease
|
|
638
|
DL Prospect
|
|
1 lease
|
|
1,275
|
LO-Herma
|
|
29 claims
|
|
592
|
Paraguay
We hold interests in two projects within
the South American country of Paraguay. The following map shows the location of both projects, Coronel Oviedo and Yuty.
Coronel Oviedo Project
Property Description and Location
The Coronel Oviedo Project is located in
southeastern Paraguay, approximately 95 miles east of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay. The Coronel Oviedo Project consists of
a large mineral concession covering a total area of 464,548 acres. The property can be classified as an early to intermediate stage
exploration project. Several areas have undergone drilling in the past by The Anschutz Company (“Anschutz”) of Denver,
Colorado (early 1980s) and recently by Crescent Resources (“Crescent”) in 2007. Access to the project is by paved roads
from Asuncion to the City of Coronel Oviedo and other populated areas. There is good access into the interior of the concession
mainly by unpaved secondary roads. The terrain is rolling hills with areas of forest, small farms, and some large cattle ranches.
Prior Exploration
The Coronel Oviedo Project located in central
Paraguay was subject to reconnaissance uranium exploration between 1976 and 1983 by Anschutz Corporation of Denver, Colorado, and
by Crescent Resources of Vancouver, Canada between 2006 and 2008. Most of the uranium occurrences in this environment are “roll
front” type deposits similar to those currently being produced by low-cost ISR methods in Texas, the western United States,
Central Asia and Australia. The work by Anschutz and Crescent was centered on a large belt of Permo-Carboniferous age continental
sandstones that represent the western flank of the Parana Basin. According to the Geological Survey of Brazil or CPRM, these same
sandstones within the Brazilian section of the Parana Basin contain numerous uranium occurrences including the Figueira Mine.
From 2006 to 2008, the Coronel Oviedo Project
was optioned to Crescent Resources. During this period, a total of 24 holes were drilled and logged in the southern portion, offsetting
mineralized holes drilled by Anschutz. A NI 43-101 Technical Report reported that 14 of the 24 holes had a grade-thickness (“GT”)
product (in feet) equal to or greater than 0.30 GT. GT values equal to and above 0.30 are typically considered producible under
ISR production methodology. The known uranium mineralization on the Coronel Oviedo Project intersected by the past drilling is
at depths between 450 and 750 feet. Crescent Resources dropped the option on the Coronel Oviedo Project in 2008.
Aquifer Test
During 2010, and prior to the acquisition
of the Coronel Oviedo Project, the Company conducted a 24-hour aquifer test in the area of the resource trend identified by the
combined Anschutz-Crescent drilling programs. The test was designed to assess aquifer properties of the lower massive sand, a uranium-bearing
sandstone within the San Miguel Formation. The focus of the test was to determine if the aquifer could sustain extraction rates
typical of ISR mining of uranium.
Results of the test indicate that the
uranium-bearing unit has aquifer characteristics that would support operational rates for ISR mining. The aquifer properties determined
from the hydrologic test fall within the range of values determined at other uranium ISR projects located in Wyoming, Texas and
Nebraska.
During Fiscal 2012, the Company completed
a 10,000-meter drilling program. A total of 35 holes were drilled, averaging 950 feet in depth. The holes were drilled on east
to west lines across known geologic structures believed to be integral in controlling uranium occurrence. The holes were drilled
on wide spacings, approximately one to 1.5 miles apart (see map above). Historic and recent drilling results are being reviewed
for future exploration/delineation drilling at the Oviedo Project. A radon extraction survey is being completed along the western
basin margins, following up on historic airborne radiometric anomalies and outcrop sampling results that indicate a potential
for shallow uranium mineralization.
A Technical Report dated October 15, 2012
for the Coronel Oviedo Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G, a consulting
geologist/engineer, and filed by the Company on the public disclosure website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at
www.sedar.com
.
The Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to an Exploration Target for the Coronel Oviedo Project. An Exploration
Target has been calculated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining,
Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Exploration Targets, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations,
is not a defined term under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration
statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this Annual Report or otherwise in the United States.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the Exploration Target will ever be converted into mineral resources
or reserves. Exploration Targets have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic
and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that Exploration Targets do not have demonstrated economic viability.
It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the Exploration Target discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to
a higher category, or if additional exploration will result in discovery of an economic mineral resource on the property.
Yuty Project, Paraguay
Property Description and Location
The Yuty Project covers 289,680 acres
and is located approximately 125 miles east and southeast of Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. It is located within the
Paraná Basin, which is host to a number of known uranium deposits, including Figueira and Amorinópolis in Brazil.
Preliminary studies indicate amenability to extraction by in situ recovery methods, which is the same process currently used by
the Company at its Texas operations. Cue Resources Ltd. spent over CAD$16 million developing Yuty since 2006.
History
Exploration for uranium in Southeastern
Paraguay was started in 1976 by Anschutz, after a Concession Agreement between the Government of Paraguay and Anschutz in December
1975. This agreement allowed Anschutz to explore for “all minerals, excluding oil, gas, and construction materials.”
The initial uranium exploration by Anschutz in 1976 covered an exclusive exploration concession of some 162,700 square kilometers,
virtually the whole eastern half of Paraguay. This was followed by a program of diamond drilling and rotary drilling over selected
target areas. In total, some 75,000 meters of drilling were completed from 1976 to1983. Data is available for a total of 257 drill
holes in the San Antonio area. Anschutz carried out exploration on behalf of a joint venture with Korea Electric Power Corporation
and Taiwan Power Company. Anschutz intersected uranium mineralization in drill holes ranging from 0.115% U
3
O
8
over 10.2 meters to 0.351% U
3
O
8
over 0.3 meters in sandstones and siltstones. Work was suspended in 1983
due to the slump of the price of uranium, and no further work was done at that time.
During the exploration programs by Anschutz,
airborne radiometric surveys, regional geological mapping and geochemical sampling were the main exploration tools for uranium
exploration in the southeastern part of Paraguay. This was followed-up by core and rotary drilling, in two phases. The initial
phase was to drill wide-spaced reconnaissance diamond drill holes along fences spaced approximately ten miles apart. The objective
of this initial phase was to obtain stratigraphic information across an inferred host trend. The second phase was to drill rotary
holes, spaced approximately 1,000 feet apart, within and between the fences of reconnaissance holes, to establish and outline
target areas. All drill holes were logged and probed by gamma, neutron and resistivity surveys.
Exploration work by Anschutz outlined
several large target areas including what is now the Yuty Project. These include the San Antonio, San Miguel, Typychaty and Yarati-ítargets
near and around the village of Yuty, approximately 125 miles southeast of Asunción.
Geologic Setting and Mineralization
The Yuty Uranium Project area is situated
within the western part of the Paraná Basin in Southeastern Paraguay, which also hosts the Figueira uranium deposit in
Brazil. The area is underlain by upper Permian-Carboniferous (“UPC”) continental sedimentary rocks. The exploration
methodology applied during past programs has been to determine the favorable host rocks of the UPC sequence and to explore favorable
areas of the host sandstone.
Continental sedimentary units of the Independencia
Formation (of the UPC) are known to have high potential for uranium exploration in eastern Paraguay. The source of the uranium
is thought to be the Lower Permian-Carboniferous Coronel Oviedo Formation, which is correlated with the Itataré Formation
underlying the Rio Benito Formation in Brazil. Occasional diabase sills and dikes intrude the sedimentary rocks, such as at the
San Antonio area near the village of Yuty. Outcrops are rare, mostly along road cuts, and mapping is done by drilling.
The rocks of the Yuty area are very gently
east dipping and undeformed. Occasional northwest and northeast trending normal faults cut the sedimentary units. Exploration
work to date suggests that the uranium mineralization within the San Miguel Formation is stratabound and possibly syngenetic or
diagenetic in origin. Recent interpretation of exploration data suggests that areas of limonite + hematite alteration within the
grey-green, fine-grained sandstones in the San Antonio area have characteristics similar to the alteration assemblages present
at roll front-type uranium deposits of the Powder River basin in the United States.
Geologic Setting of the Yuty Project, Paraguay
Recent Exploration
In late July 2006, Cue Resources Ltd.
signed an agreement with the shareholders of Transandes Paraguay S.A. to option the Yuty Property, followed by a formal earn-in
agreement signed on November 6, 2007, and started a systematic uranium exploration program. This included a compilation of all
previous exploration data, including lithologic and radiometric logs, stored at Ministry of Public Works (the “MOPC”)
in Asunción. The most recent drilling completed in the San Antonio area was in November and December 2010 at which time
33 holes were completed for a total of 11,500 feet. Of these holes, five were not successfully completed. Of the 28 holes that
reached the target, ten had intersections greater than a GT (grade x thickness) of 0.10m% e U
3
O
8
, and an
additional 13 had intersections exceeding a GT of 0.03 m% e U
3
O
8
.
Drilling and Sampling
Approximately 240,000 feet of drilling
(core as well as rotary) were completed by Anschutz in previous campaigns.
The procedures used during the diamond
and rotary drilling programs were drafted by Anschutz technical personnel. Healex reviewed all of drill logs at the MOPC in Asunción
and is of the opinion that the lithologic logging procedures are comparable to industry standards. Detailed information on sampling
methods and approach during the Anschutz drilling campaigns is not available. Nevertheless, previous Technical Reports (Scott
Wilson (2008) and Healex (2009)) have concluded that sampling procedures were comparable to industry standards of that time. Mr.
Beahm (2011 Technical Report) concurs with this determination. From 2007 to 2010, Cue Resources Ltd. completed over 100,000 feet
of drilling at the San Antonio target area in 256 drill holes. Most of the holes were collared with a rotary drilling rig, surface
casing was then installed, and the holes were drilled to completion depth with a diamond rig.
To date, diamond drilling totals approximately
52,800 feet, and rotary drilling approximately 50,000 feet. For diamond drill holes, HQ-size core was retrieved and the drilling
contractor was Empire Drilling S.A. of Quito, Ecuador. For rotary drilling, the contractor was 9 de Junio S.A. (Primo) of Asunción,
Paraguay.
Exploration Potential
Except for the San Antonio area, the Yuty
Uranium Project is at an early-to intermediate stage of exploration. A number of areas of anomalous concentrations of uranium
occur in UPC sedimentary rocks within the property area. Past work was focused on developing roll front-type targets. Preliminary
interpretation of the drill results in the San Antonio area suggests that the basal sandstone unit (San Miguel Formation) is a
favorable host for uranium mineralization. These results also suggest that the diabase sill overlying the San Miguel Formation
may have acted as a trap for diagenetic fluids and provided a horizontal conduit for the circulation of the diagenetic fluids
and emplacement of uranium mineralization near the margin of a topographic high (gentle hill) below the diabase sill.
Historic and recent drilling results are
being reviewed for future exploration/delineation drilling at the Yuty Project.
A Technical Report dated August 24, 2011
for the Yuty Project, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Douglas Beahm, P.G., P.E., Bill Northrup and Andre
Deiss consulting geologists, and filed by the Company on the CSA’s public disclosure website at
www.sedar.com
. The
Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates for the Yuty
Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources, while
recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under the SEC's Industry Guide 7, and are normally not
permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this
Annual Report or otherwise in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources
in this category will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Measured, indicated and inferred resources have a great amount
of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should
be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed
that all or any part of measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded
to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility
or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported mineral resources referred to in
the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
In April 2015, the Yuty Project received
a signed resolution from the Ministry of Public Works and Communication (the “MOPC”), the national agency that regulates
mining in Paraguay, advancing the Project from the Exploration Phase into the Exploitation Phase. The Yuty Project is only the
third mining project to achieve the Exploitation Phase since the current Paraguayan mining law was promulgated in 2007.
When the MOPC grants a mineral concession
to an operator, the project initially enters the Exploration Phase for a maximum of six years, during which period a company must
advance and demonstrate a viable project. The Exploration Phase is followed by the Exploitation Phase for a maximum of 20
years renewable every 5 years indefinitely, during which period the environmental licensing process may begin, a key milestone
required before starting production, as well as allowing for reductions in land and various investment costs. The Exploitation
Phase is followed by the Production Phase which lasts for an indefinite period.
Other Properties
As of July 31, 2016, we own 32 acres of
real estate located in Goliad County, Texas, and 76.6 acres of real estate located in the Republic of Paraguay. As of July 31,
2016, we have entered into office rental and service agreements as follows:
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an office lease at $8,985 per month for our Corpus Christi administration office located at 500 N. Shoreline
Blvd., Suite 800N, Corpus Christi, Texas 78471. The lease expires on July 31, 2018; and
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an
office lease at $7,140 per month for our Vancouver administration office at 1030 West
Georgia Street, Suite 1830, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6E 2Y3. The lease expires on March
31, 2021.
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Our Databases
We have acquired historical exploration
data that will assist in the direction of proposed exploration program on lands held in our current property portfolio. This prior
exploration data consists of management information and work product derived from various reports, drill hole assay results, drill
hole logs, studies, maps, radioactive rock samples, exploratory drill logs, state organization reports, consultants, geological
study and other exploratory information.
The following provides information relating
to our database:
Tronox Worldwide
Effective February 20, 2008, we acquired
from Tronox Worldwide LLC certain assets, consisting of certain maps, data, exploration results and other information pertaining
to lands within the United States (excluding New Mexico and Wyoming), Canada and Australia, and specifically including the former
uranium exploration projects by Kerr McGee Corporation. The Tronox database contains records on some of our properties located
in Arizona, the Colorado Plateau and Texas. We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Jebsen
The Jebsen database covers territory in
Wyoming and New Mexico, including some of our existing properties. The database belonged to a pioneering uranium developer and
represents work conducted from the 1950s through to the present.
This database adds over 500 drill holes
and over 500,000 feet of drilling data results to the Company’s existing library of data. Other than logs, the data set
consists of volumes of maps, lithographic logs, geologic reports, and feasibility studies, and many other essential tools for
uranium exploration and pre-extraction.
Our geologists have linked contents of
the database to some of our existing properties, specifically pertaining to our projects in the Shirley Basin and Powder River
Basin of Wyoming, and in the Grants Uranium District of New Mexico. We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Halterman
The Halterman database consists of exploratory
and pre-extraction work compiled during the 1970s and 80s, including extensive data on significant prospects and projects in the
following known uranium districts in the States of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, including Grants, San Juan Basin, Chama Basin,
Moab, Lisbon Valley, Dove Creek, Slick Rock and Uravan districts.
This database includes drilling and logging
data from over 200,000 feet of uranium exploration and pre-extraction drilling, resource evaluations and calculations, drill-hole
locations and grade thickness maps, competitor activity maps as well as several dozen geological and project evaluation reports
covering uranium projects in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Texas and California. We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Brenniman
The Brenniman database includes drilling
and logging data from over two million feet of uranium exploration and pre-extraction drilling, resource calculation reports and
various other geological reports, drill hole location maps and other mapping. This database includes approximately 142 drill hole
gamma and E-logs. The data was originally compiled from 1972 to 1981 by various exploration companies, and covers over 100 uranium
prospects in 15 southern U.S. states. This library will be used by our technical personnel to determine locations of where drill-indicated
uranium may exist. We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Kirkwood
We acquired a database of uranium exploration
results covering an area of approximately 13,000 acres within the uranium zone known as the Poison Spider area, in central Wyoming.
The area covered includes property already held by us, as well as by other publicly-traded uranium exploration companies. The
database was compiled by William Kirkwood of North American Mining and Minerals Company, a significant participant in the uranium,
coal, gold and oil and gas industries in the western United States since the 1960s. The data acquired was generated from exploration
originally conducted by companies such as Homestake Mining, Kennecott Corp, Rampart Exploration and Kirkwood Oil and Gas, largely
between 1969 and 1982. The database consists of drill hole assay logs for 470 holes, including 75,200 feet of drilling, 22,000
feet of gamma logs, drill hole location maps, cross sections, geological maps, geological reports, and other assay data and will
be used to locate possible mineralized zones in the Poison Spider area in central Wyoming. We have exclusive ownership of this
database.
Odell
We acquired the rights to a database containing
over 50 years of uranium exploration data for the State of Wyoming.
This database consists of 315,000 feet
of drill logs, over 400 maps, copies of all US geological survey uranium publications dating back to 1954, and geological reports
on uranium ore bodies throughout Wyoming. The database will be used to locate possible mineralized zones. The database is made
available to the Company by Robert Odell, the compiler and publisher of the Rocky Mountain Uranium Minerals Scout since 1974.
We do not own or have exclusive rights to this database.
Moore
We acquired a database of U.S. uranium
exploration results from Moore Energy, a private Oklahoma-based uranium exploration company.
The Moore Energy U.S. uranium database
consists of over 30 years of uranium exploration information in the States of Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming, originally conducted
during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It includes results of over 10,000 drill holes, plus primary maps, and geological reports. It covers
approximately one million acres of prospective uranium claims, in the South Texas uranium trend, New Mexico, and Powder River
Basin, Wyoming, as well as zones in Texas, and will be used to locate possible mineralized zones.
The database also provides the Company
with exploration data about its Goliad Project in south Texas, including 250,000 feet of drill logs and further delineates zones
of potential uranium mineralization. It also contains drilling results from properties that are being developed by other uranium
exploration companies, and also widespread regional data from throughout the South Texas uranium trend. We have exclusive ownership
of this database.
Uranium Resources Inc.
We acquired the full database of historic
drill results for the Company’s Salvo ISR uranium project located in Bee County, Texas. The database consists of 425 gamma
ray/resistivity and lithology logs, PGT logs and drill plan maps.
Uranium One – South Texas
Goliad Project
The South Texas Goliad database includes
raw and interpreted data compiled by Total Minerals (“TOMIN”) and others from the mid 1980s to 1993. The database
is an evaluation of the uranium potential within the Goliad Formation from south of Houston to the Mexican border.
Through TOMIN’s purchase of the
Holiday - El Mesquite project, located in Duval County, Texas, in 1990, TOMIN acquired the Mobil uranium exploration database.
Starting with this data, and earlier data purchased from Tenneco Uranium, TOMIN also acquired regional oil and gas logs (included
in the database), water well driller logs and other regional information to begin their study of the Goliad Formation along the
South TX Uranium Trend.
As a result of the study, TOMIN identified
62 targets and drilled 22 by project end in 1993. Of the 22 drilled, 19 were disproved and the remaining three await further drilling
to assess trends. Another 40 targets remain to be drill-evaluated.
In summary, the database contains:
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4,894
South Texas uranium logs - 2.8 million feet of drilling;
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13,882 South Texas oil and gas logs - 41.6 million feet;
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752
maps/sections across South Texas; and
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103
documents, reports and analyses documenting the study.
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