Core Energy Minerals speeds up exploration in Brazil

• Core Energy Minerals’ exploration at Rio Grande gets underway
• Sedimentary and basement hosted uranium mineralisation has been indicated over a broad area
• Applications for additional tenure have been lodged, increasing the total Grande project area from 330.3km2 to 364.52km2

Special Report: Core Energy Minerals has started exploration activities across the Grande project in Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, where sedimentary and basement hosted uranium mineralisation has been indicated.

A field reconnaissance program kicked off in May with the purpose of ground truthing the geological potential for hosting uranium and rare earth mineralisation and assessing logistical aspects of the project area.

Core Energy Minerals’ (ASX:CR3) Brazil-based geologist conducted preliminary mapping, rock chip sampling of main target lithologies for chemical analysis and engaged with local stakeholders.

The reconnaissance program included the use of a handheld spectral scintillometer (RS125 Super-Spec) to identify areas of anomalous radioactivity and confirm airborne radiometric anomalism.

Reconnaissance in the Grande Project North Block (Cerro Partido) confirmed the airborne radiometric anomaly with the handheld scintillometer, showing uranium anomalism around the edges of Cerro Partida Basin sediments where the lower sedimentary units were exposed on the hillsides.

Strongly oxidised basal sandstone conglomerates generally returned consistently anomalous scintillometer readings with the highest readings of 3000-4000 counts per second occurring at the base of the overlying reduced black shales and silts.

Meanwhile, reconnaissance in the South Block showed that the outcropping sediments of the Rosário do Sul Group consist of conglomeratic sandstones with a reddish matrix, overlain by fine, laminated, also reddish sandstones, with no evidence of radiometric anomalies.

Background on Grande

CR3’s Grande project consists of two distinct areas, separated by 4km.

The northern area consists of six licences for 94.8km2 and is approximately 10km west of Figueiras.

The southerly area consists of 12 licences for 235.5km2 and is approximately 24.5km southwest of the town of Encruzilhada do Sul.

Both areas are approximately 140km and 165km respectively southwest of the capital city Porto Alegre.

‘Highly encouraging’

CR3 executive director Tony Greenaway said the company is pleased with the positive progress of its exploration activities in Rio Grande.

“Initial field reconnaissance is highly encouraging with broad uranium anomalism at surface and the identification of new prospective areas now subject to application for additional tenure,” he said.

“On ground field inspection and scintillometer readings of anomalies on CR3’s Grande project gives us confidence to expand our anomaly evaluation program, progress to geological mapping and where appropriate, drill follow-up.”

What’s next?

CR3 is next looking to conduct a reconnaissance program across its Tunas project, in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, to assess the geological potential for uranium and rare earth element (REE) mineralisation.

The work will focus on stakeholder engagement, evaluate access to the project area and identify logistical constraints, geological reconnaissance and mapping, with rock and soil sampling of main lithologies for chemical analysis.

Airborne radiometric data shows strong thorium > uranium – potassium, typical signature of REE deposits.

For that, a handheld spectral scintillometer (RS-125) will be used to detect thorium anomalism (as well as any previously undetected uranium anomalism).

Field reconnaissance is expected to begin in June 2025.

Meanwhile, applications for additional tenure have been lodged, incorporating surface uranium anomalism identified during the reconnaissance field program outside existing CR3 tenure, increasing the total Grande project area from 330.3km2 to 364.52km.

This article was developed in collaboration with Core Energy Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.