Eight prospecting licenses covering a total area of 1,673,644 acres (6,773 square kilometers).
Irhazer and In Gall have returned uranium values ranging from 0.22% U3O8to 1.0% U3O8 from five of 16 surface rock samples collected from outcrops, as noted in the Competent Persons Report prepared by MSA Geoservices.
Producing mines and deposits in Niger typically grade from 0.1% to 0.42% U3O8, with the highest grades being mined at greater depths.
Kamas 1 to 4 and Dabala 3 and 4 are adjacent and situated along the proven Arlit fault, north of a successful uranium-producing mine.
The In Gall, Irhazer, Kamas and Dabala properties are all located within the Tim Mersoi Basin, which is known for its potential to contain sandstone-hosted uranium deposits.
The Tim Mersoi basin is a world-class uranium province wherein the deposits, hosted by sandstones, occur as tabular stratabound, roll-front and tectonic-lithologic deposits, which formed under reducing conditions and consist of pitchblende and coffinite (Akouta, Arlit, Afasto, Madaouela) associated with Carboniferous terrains or oxidized (Imouraren) within Jurassic age formations.
The Arlit flexure/fault and related structures lie just inside and along the Niger Uranium concessions and its influence dominates the sedimentology and paleogeography, and consequently also the distribution of uraniferous mineralisation.
Tim Mersoi Basin - A World Class Uranium Province
Geology of west Niger
Primary uranium minerals formed under reducing conditions are uraninite, pitchblende and coffinite with a variety of secondary uranium minerals. Where oxidising conditions have occurred, due to weathering and groundwater movement, the primary uranium mineral is carnotite.
The uranium is mainly recovered by conventional mining/milling, open-pit and underground operations, although cheaper in situ leaching processes may replace conventional mining techniques where appropriate.
Schematic diagram indicating the proposed sites of formation of uranium deposits in the Tim Mersoi Basin