Orpheus Uranium (ASX:ORP) reports rock chips from its McArthur Uranium-Copper Project in the Northern Territory returned up to 4.1% uranium oxide.
The samples came from the company’s first reconnaissance program at the Conways tenement (EL34013). Basalt-hosted quartz veins also returned copper grades of up to 0.8%.
Explorers traversing existing access tracks with a handheld gamma-ray spectrometer found radioactive rock in a windrow along a graded track. Further radioactive material also turned up at shallow depth in adjacent undisturbed ground.
A follow-up radiometric survey over a 315m by 250m grid outlined elevated readings across about 60m of strike. Mineralisation remains open along strike, and field observations suggest possible extensions beneath soil cover.
The occurrence sits near a gravity low and linear magnetic highs within the Pine Creek Orogen, which hosts major uranium deposits including Ranger, Jabiluka, and Koongarra.
Orpheus considers Conways underexplored, despite at least 55 historical exploration licences overlapping it since 1972.
Managing Director Clinton Dubieniecki says the results add “valuable diversity” to the company’s portfolio.
“These results bring together the strengths of our business: a technically driven project pipeline and a team that understands uranium mineralisation across different geological settings,” Dubieniecki says.
“The percent tenor of uranium results at surface is very rare in Australia and this provides a clear basis to accelerate follow-up exploration.”
Assays for additional samples are due in six to eight weeks. Fieldwork continues, including rock-chip sampling, petrological analysis, ground radiometric surveys, and geological mapping.
Orpheus also plans to progress regulatory approvals for advanced exploration, assess options to extend its tenure, and continue engaging with landholders and Traditional Owners.
The company is currently awaiting geochemical analysis of additional samples, with results expected in December.
Orpheus Uranium is focused on uranium exploration across South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Orpheus Uranium
