NASDAQ:EU
TSXV:EU
www.encoreuranium.com
DALLAS, Oct. 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ - enCore Energy Corp.
(NASDAQ: EU) (TSXV: EU) (the "Company" or
"enCore"), a United States
uranium producer, announced today on-going positive results from
its Alta Mesa In-Situ Recovery
Central Processing Plant ("CPP") and Wellfield drill program.
Drilling, designed to expand the producing wellfield capacity,
continues to significantly exceed the cutoff grade thickness
requirements for In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") of uranium. The Company
also reports that production from its first wellfield continues to
progress with increases to the number of Alta Mesa production and injection wells on
schedule for 2024 and continuing into 2025.
Significant operational highlights include:
- Drilling results, to mid-September
2024, at Alta Mesa Wellfield 7 (also known as Production
Area Authorization 7 or PAA-7), include intercepts with Grade
Thickness ("GT") up to 3.615. Maximum total thickness encountered
is 17.5 feet. The cutoff GT for ISR in South Texas is generally accepted to be 0.3
with GT being the relevant factor in determining reasonable
prospects for economic extraction. GT is defined as grade
multiplied by intercept thickness;
- The Alta Mesa CPP is processing, on average, 1,700 gallons per
minute of pregnant solution from initial patterns in Wellfield 7.
Additional injection and production wells are currently being
installed to increase the processing and production rate. The Alta
Mesa CPP continues to dry, package and ship uranium yellowcake
(U3O8);
- Production from Alta Mesa Wellfield 7 is expected to increase
as additional production patterns are completed and plumbed into
the Alta Mesa CPP. Drilling and wellfield installation for the
additional production patterns is well underway and will continue
as the Alta Mesa CPP capacity is reached and maintained.
Wellfield delineation drilling commenced in the spring of 2023
at Alta Mesa Wellfield 7 along a previously defined ore body
consisting of stacked roll fronts. The NI 43-101 Technical Report
dated January 19, 2023, and titled
"Technical Report Summary for the Alta Mesa Uranium Project,
Brooks and Jim Hogg Counties, Texas, USA" ("Technical Report") stated that
Wellfield 7 contains 1.292 million pounds
U3O8 indicated resources and 0.175 million
pounds U3O8 inferred resources with an
average grade thickness ranging from 0.59 to 0.68 GT using a 0.3 GT
cutoff. As has been observed from historic drilling at the Alta
Mesa Project, the density of drilling necessary to install an ISR
wellfield provides the opportunity to identify higher grade
portions of the ore body than initially estimated with the broader
spaced drilling programs used to support the Technical Report. The
Alta Mesa Drilling Table below continues to support that
observation. As drilling continues during additional wellfield
development in Wellfield 7, we expect that we will continue to
observe results that could lead to an average GT significantly
higher than the average GT reported in the Technical Report.
To view the Alta Mesa CPP and Wellfield maps please visit:
bit.ly/3fV9fTg.
Alta Mesa Wellfield Drilling Update
The Alta Mesa Wellfield drilling operations , commenced in
March 2023, are advancing rapidly
with 80 holes drilled since the previous update (March 18, 2024). In total, 749 drill holes have
been completed through mid-September
2024. At present there are seven (7) drill rigs in full
operation at Alta Mesa, with plans to double that number over
the next twelve (12) months.
Significant Alta Mesa CPP Wellfield 7 Drilling
Drill
Hole
|
Goliad
Sandstone
Horizon
|
Depth
(ft)
|
Grade %
U3O8
|
Thickness
(feet)
|
Grade
Thickness
(GT)
|
Total
Hole
GT
|
164-117
|
LCU2
|
491.0
|
0.162
|
5.0
|
0.81
|
|
161-119
|
LCU2
|
494.0
|
0.092
|
9.0
|
0.828
|
|
183-97
|
LCU2
|
511.0
|
0.051
|
6.5
|
0.329
|
|
174-96
|
LCU2
|
508.5
|
0.129
|
6.0
|
0.776
|
|
170-100
|
LCU2
|
508.0
|
0.145
|
3.0
|
0.435
|
|
|
LCL1
|
515.0
|
0.069
|
3.5
|
0.242
|
0.677
|
181-93
|
LCL1
|
517.0
|
0.424
|
7.5
|
3.179
|
|
180-89
|
LCU1
|
497.5
|
0.211
|
7.5
|
1.580
|
|
163-118
|
LCU2
|
494.5
|
0.125
|
6.0
|
0.752
|
|
172-97
|
LCL1
|
507.5
|
0.185
|
2.0
|
0.370
|
|
161-118
|
LCU1
|
485.5
|
0.111
|
2.5
|
0.277
|
|
|
LCL1
|
503.0
|
0.055
|
5.5
|
0.301
|
0.578
|
172-96
|
LCU2
|
507.5
|
0.157
|
8.0
|
1.260
|
|
171-100
|
LCU1
|
489.5
|
0.106
|
6.0
|
0.633
|
|
172-97
|
LCL1
|
507.5
|
0.185
|
2.0
|
0.370
|
|
162-117
|
LCU2
|
495.5
|
0.179
|
5.0
|
0.895
|
|
161-1182
|
LCU1
|
489.0
|
0.138
|
5.5
|
0.758
|
|
|
LCU2
|
495.0
|
0.238
|
12.0
|
2.857
|
3.615
|
171-95
|
LCU2
|
502.5
|
0.137
|
5.5
|
0.756
|
|
181-92
|
LCU1
|
495.0
|
0.362
|
5.0
|
1.811
|
|
181-90
|
LCU2
|
501.0
|
0.141
|
3.5
|
0.493
|
|
177-88
|
LCU2
|
503.0
|
0.203
|
4.5
|
0.912
|
|
183-96
|
LCL1
|
522.0
|
0.108
|
6.0
|
0.647
|
|
|
LCL2
|
529.0
|
0.291
|
9.0
|
2.617
|
3.264
|
172-98
|
LCU2
|
500.0
|
0.236
|
4.0
|
0.946
|
|
181-91
|
LCL1
|
518.0
|
0.306
|
6.5
|
1.988
|
|
191-89
|
LCU2
|
510
|
0.201
|
3.5
|
0.705
|
|
173-96
|
LCL1
|
516.5
|
0.130
|
3.5
|
0.454
|
|
171-96
|
LCU1
|
488.5
|
0.228
|
6.5
|
1.485
|
|
176-90
|
LCU2
|
508.5
|
0.134
|
3.5
|
0.468
|
|
193-112
|
LCL2
|
534.0
|
0.235
|
7.0
|
1.644
|
|
181-89
|
MCM1
|
427.0
|
0.125
|
3.5
|
0.439
|
|
163-118
|
LCU1
|
493.5
|
0.092
|
3.0
|
0.275
|
|
|
LCU2
|
499.0
|
0.472
|
4.5
|
2.125
|
2.400
|
-
|
All intercepts are
located in the Alta Mesa Wellfield 7 which hosts mineralization
within the Goliad
Formation. The Company has identified five saturated (required
for ISR), mineralized sandstone horizons
within the Goliad Formation lying approximately 400 to 535 feet
below the surface. The water level is
located approximately 120 feet below the surface. Grade Thickness
is Grade % U3O8 multiplied by the
thickness of the mineralization. ISR recoverable
uranium with a Grade Thickness of >0.3 is considered
suitable for inclusion in a wellfield.
|
Alta Mesa In-Situ Recovery
("ISR") Uranium Central Processing Plant ("CPP") &
Wellfield
The Alta Mesa CPP and Wellfield hosts a fully licensed and
constructed ISR uranium plant, located on 200,000+ acres of private
land in the state of Texas.
Alta Mesa is enCore's second
producing location and operates under a 70/30 joint venture between
enCore Energy Corp. and Boss Energy Limited (ASX:BOE; OTCQX:BQSSF)
with enCore Energy as the managing operator.
Total operating capacity at the Alta Mesa CPP is 1.5 million
lbs. U3O8 (uranium) per year with an
additional drying and packaging capacity of more than 0.5 million
lbs. U3O8. The Alta Mesa CPP historically
produced nearly 5 million lbs. U3O8 between
2005 and 2013, when full production was curtailed as a result of
low uranium prices.
Alta Mesa CPP and Wellfield highlights:
- Alta Mesa CPP's operations are located on 200,000 acres of
private land, with 100% of minerals privately owned, and in a
supportive jurisdiction with primary regulatory authority residing
with the State of Texas.
- The Alta Mesa CPP utilizes well-known ISR technology to extract
uranium in a non-invasive process using natural groundwater and
oxygen, coupled with a proven ion exchange process, to recover the
uranium.
Alta Mesa &
MesteƱa Grande Mineral
Resource Summary (0.30 GT cutoff)1,2
|
Tons
|
Avg.
Grade
(% U3O8)
|
Pounds
|
Total Measured Mineral
Resource1
|
54,000
|
0.152
|
164,000
|
Alta Mesa Indicated
Mineral Resource
|
1,397,000
|
0.106
|
2,959,000
|
MesteƱa Grande
Indicated Mineral Resource
|
119,000
|
0.120
|
287,000
|
Total Measured &
Indicated Resources
|
1,570,000
|
0.109
|
3,410,000
|
Alta Mesa Inferred
Mineral Resource
|
1,263,000
|
0.126
|
3,192,000
|
MesteƱa Grande Inferred
Mineral Resource
|
5,733,000
|
0.119
|
13,601,000
|
Total Inferred
Resources
|
6,996,000
|
0.120
|
16,793,000
|
1,2 Represents that portion
of the in-place mineral resource that are estimated to be
recoverable within existing wellfields. Wellfield recovery
factors have not been applied to indicated and inferred mineral
resources. As reported in the NI-43-101 Technical Report
Summary for the Alta
Mesa Uranium Project, Brooks and Jim Hogg Counties, Texas, USA
completed by Doug Beahm, PE, PG, of BRS Engineering. (Effective
January 19,
2023).
|
John M. Seeley, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., enCore's Manager of
Geology and Exploration, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101,
has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news
release on behalf of the Company.
About enCore Energy Corp.
enCore Energy Corp., America's Clean Energy Companyā¢, is
committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable fuel for
nuclear energy as the only United
States uranium producer with multiple production facilities
in operation. The enCore team is led by industry experts with
extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of In-Situ
Recovery ("ISR") uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle.
enCore solely utilizes ISR for uranium extraction, a well-known and
proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy.
Following upon enCore's demonstrated production success in
South Texas, future projects in
the production pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in
South Dakota and the Gas Hills
project in Wyoming. The Company
holds other assets including significant New Mexico resources, non-core assets and
proprietary databases. enCore is committed to working with
local communities and indigenous governments to create positive
impact from corporate developments.
www.encoreuranium.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking
Statements:
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
Certain information contained in this news release,
including: any information relating to the Company being a leading
uranium company, statements regarding future or potential
production, and any other statements regarding future expectations,
beliefs, goals or prospects; may constitute "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
applicable Canadian and United
States securities laws and regulations (collectively,
"forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release
that are not statements of historical fact (including statements
containing the words "expects", "is expected", "does not expect",
"plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes",
"intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled",
"forecast", "budget" and similar expressions or variations
(including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or
statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could",
"would", "might" or "will" be taken) should be considered
forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are
subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which
are beyond the company's ability to control or predict.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown
risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general
economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative
and regulatory developments; the ability of enCore to implement its
business strategies; including achieving expected levels of
production at Rosita and Alta Mesa in the planned time frame or at
all; and other risks. A number of important factors could cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated
or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without
limitation exploration and development risks, changes in commodity
prices, access to skilled mining personnel, the results of
exploration and development activities; production risks; uninsured
risks; regulatory risks; defects in title; the availability of
materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals and
unanticipated environmental impacts on operations; litigation
risks; risks posed by the economic and political environments in
which the Company operates and intends to operate; increased
competition; assumptions regarding market trends and the expected
demand and desires for the Company's products and proposed
products; reliance on industry equipment manufacturers, suppliers
and others; the failure to adequately protect intellectual
property; the failure to adequately manage future growth; adverse
market conditions, the failure to satisfy ongoing regulatory
requirements and factors relating to forward looking statements
listed above which include risks as disclosed in the Company's
annual information form filings. Should one or more of these risks
materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking
statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from
those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed,
estimated or expected. The Company assumes no obligation to update
the information in this communication, except as required by law.
Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is
contained in filings by the Company with the various securities
commissions which are available online at
www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.
Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of
providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and
plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for
other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof,
as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or
expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such
information, although considered reasonable by management at the
time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results
may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking
statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
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SOURCE enCore Energy Corp.