Mr. David Cates reports
DENISON ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF INAUGURAL ISR FIELD TEST PROGRAM AT TTHE HELDETH TUE (THT)
Denison Mines Corp. has successfully completed the inaugural in situ recovery (ISR) field test program within the Tthe Heldeth Tue uranium deposit (THT) at the company's 67.41-per-cent-owned Waterbury Lake uranium project, which is located in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, and is situated in close proximity to key regional infrastructure, including roads, the provincial power grid and Denison's 22.5-per-cent-owned McClean Lake mill.
The THT ISR field test involved the installation of an eight-well ISR test pattern designed to collect an extensive database of hydrogeological data, and the program successfully achieved each of its planned objectives, including:
- Confirmed hydraulic conductivity: Pump and injection tests were successfully completed within the test pattern, validating hydraulic connectivity in 100 per cent of the test wells within the ore zone, and achieving hydraulic conductivity values (a measure of permeability) consistent with the 2020 preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the project. Sufficient permeability within the ore zone is a key criteria for the successful deployment of the ISR mining method.
- Established 10-hour breakthrough time with ion tracer test: A subsequent tracer test significantly increased the confidence in the initial hydrogeological evaluations (pump and injection tests) within the test pattern. The tracer test demonstrated Denison's ability to maintain hydraulic control of injected solutions and achieve breakthrough times consistent with expectations.
- Demonstrated
the effectiveness of permeability enhancement: One method of permeability enhancement was successfully deployed from multiple wells demonstrating the suitability of the method to the THT deposit. Efficiency of permeability enhancement was verified by comparison of pre- and postpermeability enhancement hydraulic testing.
David Cates, Denison's president and chief executive officer, commented:
"Our
recently completed
ISR derisking efforts at THT demonstrate the competitive advantage of our in-house
Saskatoon-based
technical team. While there is no shortcut for the collection of key
project-specific
technical data, our team developed a program
for THT
that leveraged
our experience
and maximized
the value of our time and efforts in the field.
The program was completed safely and delivered excellent results, confirming
our previous expectations that THT
can be
amenable to ISR mining and should be considered as a potentially low-cost and highly prospective uranium development project.
"Despite higher uranium prices, many
potential projects in the uranium mining industry struggle to meaningfully advance towards a future
development or restart
decision.
We continue to meaningfully invest in our exploration and development pipeline projects, and the results from the ISR field test program
support bringing
THT forward for
additional
evaluation,
and
reinforce
the project's
potential
to
become Denison's second ISR uranium mine development asset in the
Athabasca
basin."
In November, 2020, an independent PEA was completed for Waterbury evaluating the potential use of the ISR mining method at THT. The PEA demonstrated robust economics for a small-scale Athabasca basin ISR mining project, highlighted by an estimated all-in cost per pound U3O8 (triuranium octoxide) of $24.93 (U.S.)
and a pretax internal rate of return estimated at 50 per cent based on a uranium selling price of $65 (U.S.) per pound U3O8 (see press release dated Nov. 17, 2020).
The PEA included recommendations to further advance the technical derisking of the project with the collection of site-specific data. As the PEA is preliminary in nature, there is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized and mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
2023 ISR field test program
The 2023 ISR field test program was designed to validate the permeability of THT, and to collect a database of hydrogeological and metallurgical data to further evaluate the ISR mining conditions present at the deposit. These data are expected to derisk the ISR requirements related to permeability and are to be further incorporated into ISR mine planning efforts as part of the completion of a potential future prefeasibility study (PFS) for THT.
The test pattern consists of eight small-diameter wells in the Eastern Pod of THT -- made up of four monitoring wells, two pump/injection wells, one vibrating wire piezometer (VWP) and one recharge well. Each test well was drilled to its target depths and, as applicable, outfitted with well screens and/or pressure monitoring devices.
Core collected from the test wells within the mineralized zone is also expected to allow Denison to verify and update the current mineral resource estimate for the deposit and support future wellfield design and mineral processing assessments.
Successful completion of hydrogeologic test work
The 2023 ISR field test program included preliminary hydrogeological tests completed by using the test wells to move water through the test pattern. Measurements of the movement of water (hydraulic pressure changes) within the ore zone provide evidence of the hydraulic conditions present and are indicative of the potential movement of mining solution in an ISR mining operation. Over 20 different pump, injection or slug tests were completed during the program.
Results from the hydrogeological testing produced hydraulic conductivity values consistent with the PEA. Importantly, 100 per cent of the wells located within the test pattern showed hydraulic connectivity with another test well.
Additional supportive test work completed during the program included permeability and porosity tests conducted either down hole or on mineralized drill core recovered during the test program.
Execution of ion tracer test
Following hydrogeologic testing, a two-hole ion tracer test was completed within the test pattern. The ion tracer was injected into GWA-003A (injection well), with pumping occurring from the extraction well (GWA-002). Water recovered from the extraction well was then recirculated until concentrations of the ion tracer stabilized.
After completion of the ion tracer test, remediation was then conducted to demonstrate the ability to remove injected tracer fluid from the test pattern. Injection was halted at the injection well and the extraction well continued to pump to remove the remaining injected ion tracer. Based upon tracer concentrations measured during the two-day cleanup period, 89 per cent of the injected tracer mass was recovered in the extraction well.
Vertical hydraulic control during the tracer test was confirmed through monitoring of the VWP installed in GWA-004, which provided pressure recordings at three positions in the sandstone above the mineralized zone, three positions in the mineralized zone and two positions in the basement horizons. Hydraulic control was also validated through sampling of the four perimeter monitoring wells for total dissolved solids (TDS) values before and after the ion tracer test. No elevated values in TDS were observed outside of the test area during the ion tracer test, confirming no migration of the tracer outside of the two-spot pattern.
Demonstration of the effectiveness of permeability enhancement method
One method of permeability enhancement was successfully evaluated on three test wells, with efficiency verified by comparison of pre- and postpermeability enhancement hydraulic conductivity tests. Permeability enhancement has been proven to increase and normalize hydraulic conductivity in the area proximal to the wellbore. This is important as it provides a useful tool for increasing contact of injected fluids with the ore zone to maximize uranium recoveries in an ISR mining environment.
Collection of other supporting ISR data sets
In addition to the hydrogeological tests described above, samples will be collected from the drill core recovered from the test wells to facilitate (1) assessment of matrix permeability to inform an initial model of the hydrogeological variations of the deposit; (2) future column leach and core leach testing to investigate the uranium extraction curve, lixiviant requirements, reagent consumption and solution flow rates; and (3) characterization of hydrogeologic units and anticipated flow path distribution.
About Waterbury Lake
Waterbury Lake is owned by the Waterbury Lake uranium limited partnership, of which Denison
Waterbury Corp.
(a wholly owned subsidiary of Denison) owns
67.41
per cent and Korea Waterbury Lake Uranium LP (KWULP) owns
32.59
per cent. KWULP comprises a consortium of investors, in which Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power holds a majority position.
More information about the project is available in the technical report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Tthe Heldeth Tue (J Zone) Deposit, Waterbury Lake Property, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada," with an effective date of Oct. 30, 2020, a copy of which
is available on
Denison's
website and under its profile on SEDAR+ and on EDGAR.
About Denison
Mines Corp.
Denison is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca basin region of Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The company has an effective 95-per-cent interest in its flagship Wheeler River uranium project, which is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure-rich eastern portion of the Athabasca basin region of Northern Saskatchewan. In mid-2023, a feasibility study was completed for Wheeler River's Phoenix deposit as an ISR mining operation, and an update to the previously prepared PFS was completed for Wheeler River's Gryphon deposit as a conventional underground mining operation. Based on the respective studies, both deposits have the potential to be competitive with the lowest-cost uranium mining operations in the world. Permitting efforts for the planned Phoenix ISR operation commenced in 2019 and have advanced significantly, with licensing in progress and a draft environmental impact statement submitted for regulatory and public review in October, 2022.
Denison's interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5-per-cent ownership interest in the McClean Lake joint venture, which owns several uranium deposits and the McClean Lake uranium mill, contracted to process the ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement, plus a 25.17-per-cent interest in the Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits and a 67.41-per-cent interest in the THT and Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake property. The Midwest Main, Midwest A, THT and Huskie deposits are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill.
Through its 50-per-cent ownership of JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Ltd., Denison holds additional interests in various uranium project joint ventures in Canada, including the Millennium project (JCU, 30.099 per cent), the Kiggavik project (JCU, 33.8118 per cent) and Christie Lake (JCU, 34.4508 per cent).
Denison's exploration portfolio includes further interests in properties covering approximately 285,000 hectares in the Athabasca basin region.
Qualified person
The technical information contained in this release has been reviewed and approved by Chad Sorba, PGeo, Denison's director, technical services, who is a qualified person in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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