17 of 23 Drill Holes Return Economic Uranium Grades in Phase 2 at Etango North-East
Connected Minerals reports robust Phase 2 drilling results at its Etango North-East uranium project in Namibia, with 17 of 23 holes returning economic uranium grades and confirming promising geological parallels to a world-class deposit.
- 17 of 23 Phase 2 drill holes at Ondapanda Prospect yield economic uranium grades
- Multiple stacked mineralised alaskite zones identified, supporting Bannerman Energy’s Etango model
- High-grade uranium intersections near surface enhance project potential
- Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike, prompting further exploration plans
- Chemical assay validation underway to confirm radiometric results
Phase 2 Drilling Success at Etango North-East
Connected Minerals Limited (ASX – CML) has announced encouraging results from its Phase 2 reverse circulation drilling programme at the Etango North-East uranium project in Namibia. The company drilled 23 holes at the Ondapanda Prospect, with 17 returning economic uranium grades, maintaining an impressive success rate of over 80% when combined with Phase 1 results earlier this year.
The drilling intersected multiple stacked zones of mineralised alaskite (a type of leucogranite), which aligns closely with the geological model of Bannerman Energy’s world-class Etango Uranium Project. This comparison is significant given Bannerman’s deposit hosts 429 million tonnes at 225 ppm uranium oxide, underscoring the potential scale and quality of Connected Minerals’ discovery.
Notable High-Grade Intersections
Several drill holes delivered standout uranium grades at shallow depths, a positive indicator for potential mining economics. For example, hole OPRC0020 returned 3 metres at 265 ppm eU3O8 from 34 metres, including 1 metre at 435 ppm, and 6 metres at 295 ppm from 42 metres, including 2 metres at 485 ppm. Similarly, OPRC0024 intersected 2 metres at 467 ppm from 14 metres, including 1 metre at 635 ppm.
These results suggest an enrichment of uranium within the central zone of the Ondapanda Prospect, with mineralisation starting near surface and extending to significant widths. The western portion of the prospect also revealed promising mineralisation requiring follow-up drilling.
Geological and Strategic Implications
The presence of multiple stacked alaskite units supports the company’s view that Etango North-East shares key geological characteristics with the Etango deposit, potentially positioning Connected Minerals to develop a substantial uranium resource. The mineralisation remains open both at depth and along strike, indicating further upside potential as exploration continues.
Connected Minerals’ Managing Director Warrick Clent highlighted the shallow nature of the higher-grade intersections as particularly encouraging, enhancing the project’s attractiveness for future development. The company is currently planning the next stage of exploration and will provide updates on timing and scope in due course.
Next Steps and Market Context
While the radiometric equivalent uranium grades reported are promising, chemical assay results from ALS Global laboratories are pending to validate these findings. This step is crucial to confirm the true uranium content and support resource estimation efforts.
Situated in Namibia’s prolific uranium-producing Erongo Region, Etango North-East benefits from established infrastructure and a mining-friendly jurisdiction. Connected Minerals also holds exploration licences in Western Australia, signaling a diversified approach to mineral exploration.
Bottom Line?
With strong grades confirmed and further drilling planned, Connected Minerals is poised to deepen its footprint in Namibia’s uranium sector.
Questions in the middle?
- How will chemical assay results compare to the radiometric grades reported?
- What is the timeline and scale for the next phase of drilling at Etango North-East?
- Could the project’s geology support a resource comparable to Bannerman’s Etango deposit?
