Moab Minerals has upgraded its Manyoni Uranium Project resource by 25%, now totaling 27.19 million pounds of U3O8 at 136ppm grade, with promising shallow mineralisation suited for cost-effective strip mining.
- 25% increase in uranium resource to 27.19M lbs U3O8
- Upgrade from JORC 2004 to JORC 2012 compliance
- Shallow, flat-lying mineralisation amenable to low-cost strip mining
- Proximity of Areas A and C1 supports optimized mine planning
- Metallurgical recoveries up to 88% from historical testwork
Resource Upgrade and Compliance
Moab Minerals Limited (ASX, MOM) has announced a significant upgrade to the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Manyoni Uranium Project in Tanzania, marking a 25% increase in contained uranium oxide (U3O8) to 27.19 million pounds at an average grade of 136 parts per million. This upgrade not only expands the resource but also brings the estimate into full compliance with the more rigorous JORC 2012 reporting standards, replacing the previous JORC 2004 classification.
Geological and Mining Advantages
The Manyoni deposit features a consistently mineralised, flat-lying palaeochannel system with less than three metres of overburden, characteristics that are highly favourable for low-cost strip mining. The shallow depth and horizontal nature of the uranium mineralisation reduce the complexity and cost of extraction, potentially enabling a more straightforward mining operation. Notably, the project encompasses two key mineralised areas; Area A and Area C1; located 16 kilometres apart but part of the same palaeochannel system, offering opportunities for integrated mine planning and shared infrastructure.
Drilling and Data Integrity
The resource upgrade is underpinned by a comprehensive drilling campaign comprising 110 PQ core holes, which closely twinned historic drill holes to validate and enhance data quality. Rigorous quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols, including certified reference materials and duplicate sampling, have ensured the reliability of assay results. The drilling confirmed both shallow and deeper mineralisation zones, with the deeper horizons classified as Inferred due to limited data but representing a promising target for future exploration.
Metallurgical and Environmental Outlook
Historical metallurgical testwork indicates uranium recoveries of up to 88% in diagnostic leaches, although some samples showed high acid consumption due to carbonate content. Further metallurgical testing is underway at ANSTO in Australia to optimize processing pathways. Concurrently, Moab plans to initiate environmental baseline studies and community engagement programs to support permitting and sustainable development, reflecting a balanced approach to advancing the project responsibly.
Next Steps and Strategic Potential
Following metallurgical testwork, Moab intends to conduct a scoping study to assess the project’s economic viability and decide on progressing to a pre-feasibility study or expanding the resource through additional drilling. The company also contemplates acquiring adjacent AuKing tenements, which could further enhance the project’s scale and value. With a solid resource base, promising mining conditions, and a clear development pathway, Manyoni is positioned as a compelling uranium asset in East Africa.
Bottom Line?
Moab’s Manyoni upgrade sets the stage for a focused development push, but metallurgical and environmental hurdles remain to be cleared.
Questions in the middle?
- How will ongoing metallurgical testwork impact processing costs and recovery rates?
- What are the timelines and potential challenges for environmental permitting in Tanzania?
- Could the acquisition of AuKing tenements materially expand the Manyoni resource footprint?