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Hemisphere Resources has secured six priority Exploration Licence
Applications (ELA’s) and will target uranium mineralisation associated
with both valley calcrete and playa lake sediments. The total area
secured is over 600sqkm. The Company has carried out a radiometric
data review of the lease areas with positive results.
All of the Hemisphere properties are in the proximity of known
uranium occurrences, including Yeelirrie (the world’s largest unmined
calcrete uranium deposit), Windimurra Uranium, Wondinong, Lake Mason,
Anketell, and Lake Noondie. Figure 9 shows the Hemisphere lease
applications and the known uranium deposits.
Typically in the area, uranium mineralisation occurs at shallow
depths. The predominant minerals are bright yellow carnotite
(potassium-uranium vanadate) and green-yellow autunite
(calcium-uraniumphosphate).
Hemisphere has carried out a review of the Western Australian
Government’s radiometric maps covering the lease areas. These maps
support the potential for uranium mineralisation. Figure 10 shows the
palaeochannel and the radiometrics that support the uranium
prospectivity on ELA57/720, ELA57/721 and ELA57/722.
Uranium exploration in the area dates from the 1970’s and 1980’s when
major companies conducted reconnaissance mapping, stream sediment
sampling programs, airborne magnetics, gravity and radiometry in search
of uranium and base metals. These activities led to the discovery
within the district of calcrete-hosted uranium at Yeelirrie in 1972,
and other uranium deposits in the widespread palaeodrainage systems.
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