Aim-listed Katoro Gold has completed initial reconnaissance fieldwork activities, alongside ongoing desktop work, on its 100%-owned White Pine uranium project in Ontario, Canada.

White Pine was acquired through direct staking on the basis of sustained, highly anomalous uranium in lake sediments; geophysical airborne radiometric signatures indicating the presence of radioactive minerals; and a prospective geological setting between two granitic rock bodies and associated radioactive mineral occurrences.

The company, which also owns an interest in exploration projects in Africa, says its analysis of public domain data, historical reports and observations made during the reconnaissance at the White Pine project reinforces the initial observations that the project may have the potential to host significant uranium mineralisation.

Geology observed at White Pine is consistent with intrusive-style uranium deposits, the company reports, adding that comprehensive public domain historical and government data has been compiled to feed into future exploration.

It adds that there is “excellent” access available through well-maintained roads, which will reduce overheads for future work.

"In the short time since staking the White Pine claims, we've put together a comprehensive body of historical and open source data and have followed up with orientation in the field. The geology observed, combined with elevated radiometric signatures, is consistent with intrusive-style uranium mineralisation,” says Katoro interim CEO Patrick Cullen.

He notes that the company has compiled various spatial data available on the Ontario GeoHub, lake sediment sampling data and airborne survey reports sourced through the Ontario Geological Survey, noting that these sources provide substantial value.

He says the field reconnaissance work provides important context to the ongoing analysis of the data that the company has and gives it the inputs needed to design the most appropriate and cost-effective exploration and sampling strategies going forward.

“Accessibility is excellent, meaning expenditure will be dedicated to direct exploration activities, while avoiding expensive transport and camp establishment costs typical of remote sites.

“I look forward to updating investors on further findings and our programme. The company continues to evaluate further project opportunities and expects to make related announcements in the near term,” says Cullen.

WHITE PINE FIELDWORK

The White Pine project is located 25 km north-west of the town of Ignace, from where activities were conducted.

Katoro says the project enjoys excellent access along a network of graded roads, which connect to the Trans Canada Highway situated 7 km to the south of White Pine.

It notes that logging activities provide extensive, ready-made access. Partially overgrown trails remain accessible to all-terrain vehicles such as quad bikes and snowmobiles.

The company says it has appointed an experienced prospector to perform reconnaissance exploration, recording observations on rock type and extent of outcrop, terrain and forest cover and taking surface radiometric measurements to ground check features identified from existing airborne geophysical data.

“This work, although preliminary, provides vital input for more comprehensive and systematic fieldwork in the future,” it says.

A variety of outcropping geology has been observed, including predominantly coarse-grained to pegmatitic leucogranites and pegmatites consistent with intrusive-style uranium deposits, supporting White Pine's underlying prospectivity.

Granite outcrops are regularly observed with a glacially polished 'whale back' appearance.

Katoro says, elsewhere, steep bluffs are noted, which are inferred to be related to fault structures; such fault structures can help control mineralisation or distribute geochemical anomalies and thus understanding will be a key factor in future exploration.

A historical airborne radiometric survey report provides a series of radiometric maps that cover the entire area of the White Pine claims.

Maps include equivalent uranium concentration and ratio of equivalent uranium to equivalent thorium, which are providing the focus of analysis of radiometric anomalies identified across the project.

The company notes that the ratios of equivalent uranium to equivalent thorium recorded support a primary, local uranium source in bedrock.

Additionally, the company has gained access to a high-resolution magnetic survey that covers the White Pine claims area.

The report includes a total magnetic intensity map and a processed first vertical derivate map. The first vertical derivative provides sharpened anomalies which outline two major structural trends.

Further analysis is ongoing.

Additionally, the company has recently compiled high-resolution LiDAR data over the project area sourced from the Ontario GeoHub. LiDAR is a remote sensing method that gives detailed elevation data of the ground, effectively seeing through vegetation and forest cover.

“This data is of sufficient resolution to give meaningful input to geological interpretations – especially structure – as well as delineating areas of outcrop and access,” says Katoro.