Arkle Resources plc has identified uranium in trenching and legacy drill holes, ahead of beginning inaugural drilling at its Erongo project in Namibia.
ULG
The company previously defined two distinct mineralisation styles of paleochannel-hosted and uraniferous-leucogranite (ULG) hosted uranium on its acreage.
A GRS* survey in 106 drillholes across EPLs** 8995 and 8298, resulted in 16 holes returning intercepts “exceeding 50 ppm eU₃O₈ [equivalent triuranium octoxide] over one metre or more”.
Arkle said that seven of the 16 holes exceeded 100 ppm eU₃O₈, with peak intercepts of one metre at 303 ppm eU₃O₈ from 6.5m and two metres at 215 ppm eU₃O₈ from 15.5m.
Seven trenches have to date also been completed, with lengths of 70m to 170m across, and 0.5m to 2m deep over a large ULG target of the centre-north area on EPL 8995.
The ULG target extends some one kilometre by 700m.
“Excavations continue to expose bedrock geology, including uraniferous leucogranites for sampling,” added the company.
“Trenching has exposed multiple stacked leucogranite sheets interleaved with metasediment, with the secondary uranium mineral carnotite logged in fractures; field radiometric readings indicate uranium across these zones, subject to confirmation by laboratory assay.”
Arkle also progresses geological mapping to understand further the ULG geological setting.
DRILLING
A rig is due to arrive on 29 June at the site for reverse circulation of an initial 42 drill holes across the eastern and central paleochannel target area of EPL 8995.
An additional fully funded 2,500m additional RC drilling programme on the ULG target is subject to the assay results of the trenching and sampling.
During the second half of 2026, Arkle plans further horizontal-loop electromagnetic (HLEM) survey lines, mapping and sampling across more paleochannel and ULG targets on EPLs 8290, 8298 and 8995.
The results will help develop the next round of drill targets.
“We are now firmly into the field, and the early signs from the ground are encouraging,” added chief executive officer Rory Harding.
“With the contractor engaged and making preparations, we expect to be drilling within days.
“This is the start of a sustained, fully funded drilling campaign of around 4,000 metres across both of our principal uranium styles, with multiple further targets behind it.”
*gamma-ray spectrometry **exclusive prospecting licences