Dec 3 2013
NexGen Energy Ltd ("NexGen" or "the Company") is pleased to announce initial results from the recently acquired aerial geophysical surveys along its southern Athabasca Basin margins, at the Rook and Dufferin areas.
Highlights:
- At least 5 individual zones of elevated U-channel radiometrics have been identified along the Rook I claim block area (see Fig 1).
- Two of these zones are proximal to the area at Rook I drilled during the summer 2013 program, (see Fig 2 - U1 and U2). U1 and U2 are areas of focus for the upcoming winter drilling program commencing in January 2014.
- Regional and local basement structures are evident in the aeromagnetic data.
Ground follow up of the U-channel zones is planned for next summer season to identify the sources of the elevated radiometrics. This will involve detailed ground radiometric surveys, and boulder mapping and sampling.
Leigh Curyer, President and CEO states, "Further detailed interpretation is ongoing with the data being integrated with the summer 2013 drill program results. We have the most dominant land position along the shallower sections of the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin with multiple areas of exploration focus. We are well capitalized, and look forward to finalizing our exploration strategy at Rook I for 2014, which will incorporate following up on specific mineralized drill holes together with existing geophysical targets best accessible during the winter."
Key Survey Information
The high sensitivity aeromagnetic, VLF-EM, and radiometric surveys were performed by Goldak Airborne Surveys (Goldak) on behalf of NexGen between June 20 and July 17, 2013. Seventeen flights, including calibrations and reflights, were required to complete the survey blocks. A total of 5,772 line kilometres of high resolution magnetic, VLF and radiometric data were collected, processed and plotted. The traverse lines were flown 117°/307° on a spacing of 200 metres, with perpendicular control lines flown at a separation of 2000 metres, and a nominal 120 metres mean terrain clearance. Data is being interpreted by Koch Geophysical Consultants of Saskatoon.
The Rook block survey covered claims in the Rook 1, Bishop 1, Bishop 2, and parts of R-Seven and Meanwell groups. The Dufferin survey covered claims in the Dufferin and Sandhill Lake groups.
For each area, the magnetic results are assisting in interpretation of the basement lithologies and structures. The 4-channel radiometric data (total count, uranium, thorium, and potassium channels) are being interpreted to assist in discovery of radioactive boulder trains which may exist in the region. The outcropping and subcropping uraniferous boulder trains at Fission/Alpha's Patterson Lake South project are detectable by detailed aeroradiometric survey.
Detailed interpretation is ongoing, and ground follow-up is planned. The interpreted data will be additional to that obtained from the current summer drilling program at Rook 1, and will be invaluable in planning the proposed winter drilling programs.
For both survey blocks, maps shown include the total magnetic intensity (TMI) data, and the combined ternary radiometric data incorporating responses from the uranium, thorium, and potassium channels. Readers need to be aware that magnetic orientations and radiometric responses may result from a range of mineral concentrations within the overlying glacial cover sequence, rather than from basement lithologies and structures. Detailed ground examination is required.
Qualified Person
Andrew Browne, FAusIMM(CP), NexGen's Vice President, Exploration & Development, is a "qualified person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.