Warmbad
Warmbad Uranium Project – Namibia
The Warmbad Project spans 271 square kilometres under Exclusive Prospecting Licence 8838 and is located within the Namaqua Metamorphic Complex, a known uranium-bearing province where mineralisation typically occurs within leucocratic alaskitic intrusions.
At Warmbad, uranium is structurally controlled along fold hinges and northeast-trending faults within granite-hosted systems, directly analogous to the setting at Rossing. Drilling at Area 5 returned multiple thick intercepts of uranium mineralisation, with individual holes recording cumulative uranium contents of up to 1% cumulative grade thickness U₃O₈, and several holes intersecting mineralisation over downhole intervals exceeding 50 metres. These zones remain open in multiple directions and at depth, presenting clear vectors for immediate follow-up Between 2007 and 2009, previous explorer Xemplar Energy Corp undertook a comprehensive drilling program across the Warmbad tenement, completing 161 reverse circulation (RC) holes and 11 diamond drill holes for a total of 31,685 metres. These efforts defined three priority mineralised zones, Areas 1, 3 and 5, each demonstrating strong continuity of uranium mineralisation within alaskitic granites and clear potential for expansion. Pioneer intends to completed follow up exploration drilling with the goal of converting the known mineralisation to a JORC Complaint Resource.
Warmbad Uranium Project Infrastructure
Map showing the location of historic drill holes on EPL 8838 Warmbad and main pods of known mineralisation.
Area 1 is situated along the limb of a regional fold hinge and remains open to the east and at depth. Importantly, the nose of the fold, a classic trap for mineralisation remains untested and represents a priority target for Pioneer’s upcoming drill program
Area 1 zone of uranium mineralisation defined by historic exploration between 2007 and 2009. Diagram shows total uranium mineralisation intercepted in each drillhole and expressed as cumulative GT
Cross section across the north of area 1 showing significant intercepts within the Alaskite body showing mineralisation open to the east and at depth.
Area 3 is located to the north and connected structurally to Area 5 by a northeast-trending fault and has similar mineralised characteristics and geometry.
Area 3 zone of uranium mineralisation defined by historic exploration between 2007 and 2009. Diagram shows total uranium mineralisation intercepted in each drillhole and expressed at as cumulative GT
Cross section across the north of area 3 showing significant uranium intercepts within the Alaskite body
Area 5, which hosts the strongest historic results, covers a footprint of approximately 500 by 400 metres and contains southeast-dipping alaskite bodies with open mineralisation to the northeast and southeast.
What’s next at Warmbad for Pioneer
Geophysics
Pioneer is currently in the process of organising access to the project area for the purposes of completing both a radiometric and magnetic airborne survey. The previous survey completed in 2007 was done of a regional scale on a much larger area and was completed prior to the discovery of mineralisation at Warmbad. The raw survey data is not available to Pioneer and the images contained in historic reports are to course and of an unsatisfactory resolution for use in future exploration.
Magnetite is also found within the uranium bearing alaskite host rock and an association between the magnetite and uranium mineralisation was observed during geological logging. This observed relationship was never defined or followed up and the relationship needs to be further clarified. Discrete magnetic highs identified within the mineralised zones and in broader untested areas at Warmbad may lead to the discovery of higher-grade mineralisation.
Resource and Exploration Drilling
Following the completion of the radiometric and magnetic surveys Pioneer plans to complete both resource and exploration drilling at the project.
Resource drilling will be completed at all three of the existing known mineralised zones to confirm the historic drill results and collect the information required to enable enough confidence in the historic exploration work for it to meet and be included in a JORC 2012 resource calculation.
Diamond drilling will be completed to gather material for metallurgical studies and to better understand the structural controls and geological model.
Step out exploration drilling will target open areas of the existing prospects so expand the extent of known existing mineralisation while other areas yet to be drill tested will be followed up. These potential targets include the nose of the fold hinge at Area 1 and the NE trending fault that connects areas 3 and 5.
Surprisingly little to no exploration drilling was completed at Warmbad to target the fault structures which Pioneer currently assess as being critical in the formation and emplacement of the mineralised alaskite bodies.