Uranium Star Re-Commences Exploration on its Green Giant Vanadium Project in Madagascar
Uranium Star Corp. (OTCBB:URST) (FRANKFURT:YE5) (“Uranium Star” or “the Company”) announces it has re-commenced exploration on its Green Giant Vanadium Project in Madagascar.
The assay results from the 2008 drilling program indicated significant vanadium mineralization which is open along strike and at depth in all zones identified to date.
Uranium Star’s February 4, 2009 press release of the assay results from its 2008 drill program indicates the potential for a world-class vanadium deposit. Uranium Star’s vanadium project will now be called the “Green Giant Project” because of its potential size, tonnage and grade that, when quantified, could impact the world’s supply of vanadium.
Exploration Objective – Define Near-Surface Vanadium Mineralization
The exploration program will be roughly two months in duration and will expedite and add efficiency to the planned drill program. The prime objective of this program is to more accurately define the size and grade of the near-surface mineralization, with a particular focus on a 21-kilometre vanadium-rich trend identified from the 2008 exploration program
Ground geophysical and geochemical surveying from the 2008 program confirmed three distinct horizons hosting significant amounts of vanadium; two in the northern area of the Property, totalling at least 2500 metres in strike length, and one in the southern part of the Property with a strike length of at least 3500 metres. A land satellite imagery study, an airborne radiometric survey as well as an airborne EM survey indicated that the anomalous vanadium trend can be accurately traced over the entire 21 kilometre length of the Property.
The current phase of the exploration program will consist of systematic geochemical and radiometric surveying and trenching of the primary airborne geophysical trends with the use of hand-held Thermo Scientific Niton XRF analyzer units and scintillometers. These XRF units are state-of-the-art exploration tools that are currently used for accurate, in-the-field analysis of rocks and soils thus allowing the Company to more readily focus its attention on anomalous trends without having to wait for assay/analytical results from commercial laboratories.
Extensive trenching, using two mechanical excavators, will be conducted over the anomalous vanadium trends and their strike extensions defined by the 2008 drilling program. Additional trenches will be established over targets generated from the current exploration work.
Trenching To Enhance Targets for Upcoming Diamond Drilling Program
The 2008 drilling indicated that vanadium values within the near-surface oxide zone are enhanced over those from primary mineralization. The trenching program aims to provide a detailed assessment of the widths and grade of this style of vanadium mineralization and ultimately use it to assist in designing a full-scale drill program. The 2008 drilling results indicate that widths of near surface vanadium can be as high as 50 to 100 meters or more. The results of the upcoming drill program (scheduled for the latter part of 2009) will allow the Company to generate a preliminary resource statement.
Rock Sample Results as High as 7.16% V2O5
Previously unreported assayed surface rock-grab sample results from ALS Chemex of both the northern and southern areas of the Property have identified vanadium values over the detection limit of 10,000 ppm, and in excess of 1.785% V2O5 equivalent. XRF field analysis of these samples identified results as high as 7.16%, 6.49%, and 5.96% V2O5. ALS Chemex complies with international standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:2005.
Bill Nielsen, Company Director and Senior Consultant, states “we are very encouraged by the progress of the project to date. A very significant vanadium deposit of potential world-class proportions is emerging and Uranium Star is gearing up to advance the project at an accelerated pace. The current program is limited in scope and budget but will greatly improve the Company’s knowledge of the deposit and its size. Preliminary metallurgical results were better than expected and give the Company added reason to move forward more aggressively on the Green Giant Project.”
The physical setting of the Property is savannah in nature and not rainforest. This being the case, no environmental concerns with respect to local flora and fauna are anticipated. Uranium Star’s Vice President of Business Development, Brent Nykoliation states that “the Company has very good relations with the local population and work with district officials to make sure that all regulations are understood and complied with. Uranium Star continues to work very closely with the Madagascar Government to ensure that all permitting is in place and current.”
The Project underwent an initial base line environmental assessment before work commenced.
The Company continues to monitor the current political situation in the country as it relates to our exploration activities.
Mineralogy and Metallurgy
The Company has received the results of preliminary metallurgical work to determine what recoveries can be obtained from this unique vanadium discovery. A scanning electron microprobe analysis has also been completed on a suite of core and rock samples to specifically identify the vanadium mineralogy. Vanadium was found to occur in a variety of minerals, with most of the vanadium found associated with silicate and oxide receptor minerals.
The initial leach test results of both oxide and primary vanadium mineralization are particularly encouraging and the Company is ramping-up its efforts to rapidly define what is looking like a world class discovery.
Highlights of 2008 Drill Assays
Northern (a.k.a “Jaky”) Area
- Hole TH-08-24 encountered 0.85% vanadium-oxide (V2O5) over 56.4 metres, including 0.96% V2O5over 42.6 metres.
- Hole TH-08-27 encountered 0.4% V2O5 over 44.2 metres, including 0.77% V2O5 over 13.7 metres.
- Hole TH-08-02 encountered 0.37% V2O5 over 42.7 metres, including 0.44% V2O5 over 12.2 metres.
- Hole TH-08-29 encountered 0.38% V2O5 over 36.6 metres, including 0.56% V2O5 over 12.2 metres.
Southern (a.k.a “Mainty”) Area
- Hole TH-08-14 encountered 0.4% V2O5 over 79.3 metres, including 0.61% V2O5 over 19.8 metres.
- Hole TH-08-13 encountered 0.4% vanadium-oxide (V2O5) over 64.0 metres, including 0.51% V2O5 over 13.4 metres.
- Hole TH-08-11 encountered 0.41% vanadium-oxide (V2O5) over 21.3 metres, including 0.51% V2O5over 15.2 metres.
Bill Nielsen, P.Geo., Director is the qualified person for this report.
Craig Sherba, P.Geol, of Taiga Consultants Ltd. is supervising Uranium Star’s exploration activities on the Green Giant Vanadium Project in Madagascar.
For more information, please visit our website at www.uraniumstar.com
Vice President of Business Development
Uranium Star Corp.
Toll Free: 800.818.5442 or 416.364.4911
Email: bnykoliation@uraniumstar.com
WARNING: The statements made in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from expectations and projections set out herein.