Eagle Mountain’s geology team has followed up previously encountered uranium and thorium occurrences at Silver Mountain. Pic via Getty Images
Mining
Special Report: Arizona copper developer Eagle Mountain has uncovered several uranium anomalies with elevated thorium in radiogenic pegmatites in the northwest area of its Silver Mountain project.
Eagle Mountain Mining’s (ASX:EM2) Silver Mountain project, north-west of Phoenix in Arizona, sits on the Laramide Arc, a northwest-southeast trending geological feature containing world-class porphyry copper mines such as Freeport McMoran’s Bagdad, Miami and BHP/Rio Tinto’s Resolution deposit.
It also lies on the southern extension of a northeast-southwest prospective metallogenic belt that hosts United Verde and Iron King, two historical mines of volcanogenic massive sulphide affinity.
The intersection of these two trends results in a favourable geologic setting with high complexity and potential for multiple mineralisation styles.
While EM2 continues with its scoping study on Oracle Ridge, it recently had the opportunity to reassess its early exploration at the 100%-owned Silver Mountain project, which encompasses three main prospects – Pacific Horizon, Scarlett and Red Mule.
Following up on a known uranium occurrence, a field team recently undertook further investigation through a mapping and sampling program.
Altered pegmatites and other granitic rocks were mapped and sampled that showed spectrometer radioactivity and confirmed pegmatite dykes in the Scarlett area near the historical Silver Dollar mine.
Consulting geologist Dr Linus Keating concluded his recent report with the acknowledgment of Silver Dollar as a unique occurrence for the state.
“It should be followed up thoroughly as a unique uranium-rare earth deposit could be present,” he said.
“With the recent pause in exploration, sampling and mapping at Oracle Ridge, our geology team has had a close look at the previous work conducted at the Scarlett project and has developed a new model focussed on the unique radioactive pegmatites and granites,” EM2 managing director Charlie Bass says.
EM2 now plans to undertake detailed mapping of pegmatites at Silver Dollar, including a systematic scintillometer survey along known outcrops.
Petrography work to identify key uranium, thorium and rare earth minerals will aid in determining the key recoverable elements and potential mill grade, EM2 says.
A drill program will then be designed to find productive mineral intercepts, test the vertical extent of the mineralisation system and test downhole radioactivity.
This article was developed in collaboration with Eagle Mountain Mining, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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