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Spain

Salamanca Project

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StagePermitting
Commodities
  • Uranium
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotFinal permit required to commence construction (NSC II) rejected in 2021. BKY has appealed decision.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Berkeley Energia Limited 100 % Indirect
The Prospect lies on the Alisos Investigation Permit PI 6605-20 which is 100% owned by Minera de Río Alagón, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkeley Energia Limited.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Sediment-hosted
  • Vein / narrow vein
  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork

Summary:

The Salamanca project is made up of three distinct deposits which will be mined independently of each other, namely:
-Retortillo (including the Santidad satellite deposit);
-Zona 7; and
-Alameda.

Zona 7
The mineralised zone is a 2-3km scale fold structure with the dominant strike direction being NNE-SSW. Despite the general dip of the host geological units and structures ranging from 50-80°, the mineralised zone is interpreted to be sub-horizontal to shallowly dipping due to the nature of the mineralisation processes.

The uranium mineralisation is hosted within Lower Cambrian metasediments adjacent to granite. The mineralisation typically occurs as a sub-horizontal to shallowly dipping layer occurring between surface and 100m depth, although mineralisation has been recorded to a maximum depth of 217m. The style of the uranium mineralisation includes veins, stockwork and disseminated mineralisation in joint/fracture filling associated with brittle deformation. Uraninite and coffinite are the primary uranium minerals. Secondary uranium mineralisation is developed in "supergene-like" tabular zones corresponding to the depth of weathering. Most of the mineralisation is hosted within partially weathered and unweathered metasediment. This deposit falls into the category defined by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) as Vein Type, Sub Type Iberian Type.

Retortillo
The mineralisation at Retortillo covers a 6km sub-vertical syncline structure with the dominant strike direction being SE-NW. Despite the general dip of the host geological units and structures ranging from 50-70°, the mineralised zone is interpreted to be sub-horizontal (due to post mineralisation supergene processes) to shallowly dipping to the SE.

The uranium mineralisation is hosted within Ordovician metasediments adjacent to granite. The mineralisation typically occurs as a sub-horizontal to shallowly dipping layer occurring between surface and 90m depth. The style of the uranium mineralisation includes veins, stockwork and disseminated mineralisation in joint/fracture filling associated with brittle deformation. Uraninite and coffinite are the primary uranium minerals. Secondary uranium mineralisation is developed in "supergene-like" tabular zones corresponding to the depth of weathering. Most of the mineralisation is hosted within totally and partially weathered metasediment. This deposit falls into the category defined by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) as Vein Type, Sub Type Iberian Type.

Alameda
The mineralisation at Alameda has two strong orientations. The main body of the mineralisation trends in a NE-SW direction over a strike length of approximately 800m. To the north, the mineralisation trends in a NNW-SSE direction, sub parallel to lithology, over a strike length of approximately 1,500m. Despite the general dip of the host geological units and structures ranging from 50-70°, the mineralised zone is interpreted to be sub-horizontal (due to post mineralisation supergene processes) to shallowly dipping to the SE.

The uranium mineralisation is hosted within Cambrian metasediments adjacent to granite. The mineralisation typically occurs as a sub-horizontal to shallowly dipping layer occurring between surface and 180m depth with strong structural control on either side of a central breccia zone. The style of the uranium mineralisation includes veins, stockwork and disseminated mineralisation in joint/fracture filling associated with brittle deformation. Uraninite and coffinite are the primary uranium minerals. Secondary uranium mineralisation is developed in "supergene-like" tabular zones corresponding to the depth of weathering. Most of the mineralisation is hosted within partially weathered (51%) and unweathered (46%) metasediment. This deposit falls into the category defined by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) as Vein Type, Sub Type Iberian Type.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
U3O8 M lbs 3.549

Operational metrics

Metrics
Annual processing rate 6.1 Mt *
Stripping / waste ratio 1.4 *
Ore tonnes mined, LOM 61.3 Mt *
* According to 2016 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsEstimated
C1 cash costs U3O8 USD 15.4 / lb *  USD
All-in costs U3O8 USD 20.3 / lb *  USD
C2 total cash costs U3O8 USD 17.2 / lb *  USD
Assumed price U3O8 USD 52.1 / lb *  USD
* According to 2016 study / presentation.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
OP/UG OpEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Gross revenue (LOM) $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 10% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNamePhoneProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 16, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 16, 2024

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2016

Aerial view:

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