Tournigan Increases Indicated Resource, Adds High Grade, at Kuriskova Uranium Deposit, Slovakia
Vancouver, March 24, 2010 -- Tournigan Energy Ltd. (TVC: TSX-V; TGP: Frankfurt) has completed an updated resource estimate for the company's Kuriskova uranium deposit in Slovakia which significantly increases the amount of uranium contained in the Indicated resource and increases the overall size and grade of the deposit. Tetra Tech, Inc., the firm that is conducting the ongoing prefeasibility study on Kuriskova, has reviewed and audited the updated resource estimate.
Highlights of the updated estimate include:
About 5.9 million pounds of U3O8 have been added to the Indicated resource category, bringing the Indicated resource to over 20.5 million pounds of U3O8;
The average grade of the Indicated resource has increased from 0.558% to 0.571% U3O8;
Overall the uranium oxide contained in the Kuriskova deposit has increased by 5.5 million pounds of U3O8 and now comprises 20.5 million pounds in Indicated resource and an additional 17.5 million pounds in Inferred resource;
A new zone of high grade uranium mineralization, currently showing an average grade of 0.677% U3O8 and known as Zone 45, has been discovered. This zone remains open along strike and has the potential to add significant amounts of high grade uranium mineralization with further drilling.
"This interim resource update shows that we are succeeding in our objective of adding high grade mineralization to the Indicated resource category while increasing the size and overall grade of the Kuriskova deposit," said Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, Tournigan's president and CEO. "We are confident that this Indicated resource will be the basis of a reserve as we continue with the ongoing prefeasibility study at Kuriskova. We are modifying our future drilling plans to focus on expansion of the Indicated resource in the newly discovered Zone 45. Other aspects of the prefeasibility study continue to progress well and we expect the increase in high-grade resource to have a positive effect on overall project economics.
"We emphasize that we believe that there remains significant exploration potential to increase the size of the Kuriskova resource both immediately adjacent to the current resource and in the surrounding exploration license. Our current estimated average grade of 0.571% U3O8 compares favorably with most other uranium deposits currently under development which typically have grades in the range of 0.1% to 0.2% U3O8. This new resource estimate also demonstrates the presence of a significant amount of molybdenum within the uranium resource which could represent a by-product credit."
The following tables summarize the current and previous resource estimates:
Current Resource:
Kuriskova Resource Estimate March 2010 -- Cut-off 0.05%U *
U%
Tonnes
(000)
%U3O8
U3O8 lbs
(000)
Mo%
Tonnes
(000)
Mo lbs
(000)
Total Indicated (Main Zone
and new Zone 45 )
0.484
1,631
0.571
20,539
0.08
1,564
2,760
Total Inferred
(Main Zone, new Zone 45 and HW Zones)
0.194
3,481
0.228
17,528
0.032
3,417
2,442
* Mo resource numbers represent Mo associated with Uranium resource blocks above a 0.05%U cutoff
Previous Resource:
Kuriskova Resource Estimate February 2009 -- Cut-off 0.05%U *
U%
Tonnes
(000)
%U3O8
U3O8 lbs
(000)
Mo%
Tonnes
(000)
Mo lbs
(000)
Total Indicated (Main Zone)
0.473
1,191
0.558
14,654
Total Inferred
(Main and HW zones)
0.182
3,780
0.215
17,901
0.030
4,897
3,261
A complete table of the new resource estimate prepared by Tournigan and reviewed, audited and approved by Tetra Tech, Inc., can be found in Appendix A or by visiting Tournigan's web site from this link: http://www.tournigan.com/i/pdf/March24-Appendix-A.pdf.
A graphic showing the changes in outlines of the resource zones can be found in Appendix B or can be viewed from this link: http://www.tournigan.com/i/jpg/March24-Appendix-B.jpg.
The updated estimate incorporates the results of 28 diamond drill holes totaling 7,548 metres that were drilled since the last resource estimate previously disclosed in a news release dated February 24, 2009. The estimate was prepared by Ravi Sharma, Tournigan's manager of resources and reserves, and reviewed, audited and approved by Tetra Tech, Inc., who is preparing an NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report which will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news release. Mr. John W. Rozelle, P.G., is Tetra Tech, Inc.'s Qualified Person (QP) for this updated report and is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
Drill core samples are analyzed by ALS Chemex in Seville, Spain for chemical assay, under Tournigan's strict Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols. Interpretation and outlining of mineralization was conducted section-by-section by incorporating geological, structural and assay information for each geological domain and by snapping points for both upper and lower contacts while performing section interpretation. Triangulations of outlines between sections were done to create 3D wireframe solids for each geological domain using Datamine Studio 3 software. Interpolation of grade to populate the block model within domain wireframes was carried out using inverse distance squared methods and a dynamic anisotropy search option for Main Zone North and inverse distance cubed methods for the other zones. The 3D wireframe solids of the previous resource estimate dated February 24, 2009 were updated with infill holes for the Main Zone and Hanging Wall Zones and were reviewed by Tetratech. New wireframe solids were created for Zone 45 based on step-out drill holes; these were also reviewed by Tetra Tech. Interpolation and NI 43-101 compliant resource classification parameters were reviewed by Tetratech.
Ravi Sharma, MAusIMM, Tournigan's manager of resources and reserves, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Tetra Tech, Inc. has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.
About Tournigan Energy Ltd.
Tournigan is a uranium exploration and development company that has built a portfolio of highly prospective assets in Slovakia, a member of the European Union since 2004. Slovakia is economically and politically stable, has excellent infrastructure and currently has four nuclear reactors generating half of its electricity with two more under construction. Tournigan is committed to safe and sustainable exploration and mine development in Slovakia. In addition to Kuriskova, Tournigan has several other exploration targets along the Slovakian uranium belt which are showing positive exploration results.
TOURNIGAN ENERGY LTD.
"Dusty Nicol"
Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol, President and CEO |
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