Atomic Eagle has sharpened its uranium exploration focus at Muntanga North, Zambia, completing 53 of 80 planned line kilometres of ground radiometric surveys that confirm and refine large-scale anomalies. Drilling is set to begin imminently on these high-priority targets.
- 53 line kilometres surveyed across five priority targets
- Large-scale radiometric anomalies up to 4km strike length confirmed
- Drilling at Muntanga North to start shortly
- Integrated geophysical and geochemical data underpin target prioritisation
- Ongoing exploration at Chisebuka and upcoming surveys at Namakande
Ground Radiometric Surveys Sharpen Drill Targets
Atomic Eagle Limited (ASX:AEU) has made significant progress in uranium exploration at its Muntanga North area in Zambia, completing 53 line kilometres of a planned 80-kilometre ground radiometric survey across five priority targets. This close-spaced survey has not only confirmed broad airborne radiometric anomalies but also resolved higher intensity zones within these anomalies, which will guide imminent drilling efforts.
The survey employed 100-metre line spacing with 50-metre station intervals, generating 854 readings, of which nearly half exceeded background levels (300 counts per second), and 87 readings topped 500 CPS. These strong radiometric responses align with favourable Escarpment Grit Formation host rocks, soil geochemical anomalies, and structural corridors consistent with known mineralisation at Muntanga and Dibbwi East.
Strategic Integration of Multiple Datasets
The Muntanga North targets represent a convergence of multiple datasets: historic airborne radiometrics, soil geochemical and radon surveys, and now refined ground radiometric data. This multi-faceted approach enhances confidence in the prospectivity of the targets and supports a robust technical basis for drilling. CEO Phil Hoskins highlighted the value of the detailed ground surveys in pinpointing higher intensity zones within the broader anomalies, which is critical for efficient drill targeting.
Drilling at Muntanga North is expected to commence shortly on targets 1 to 5, with ground radiometric surveys continuing over targets 6 to 8 through Q2 and Q3 2026. Concurrently, drilling continues at the Chisebuka deposit, where recent results have expanded a higher-grade uranium zone, and ground surveys are planned at Namakande 1 and 2 to refine further drill targets. This integrated exploration momentum builds on the company’s recent resource growth and feasibility validation at the Muntanga Project, which holds a combined resource of 58.8 million pounds U3O8, as detailed in a 24% resource increase announcement earlier this year.
Geological Context and Historical Data Support Prospectivity
The uranium mineralisation at Muntanga North is hosted within the Escarpment Grit Formation, the same geological unit underpinning the company’s existing resources. The anomalies lie along strike from the Muntanga and Dibbwi East deposits, extending the fertile corridor. Historical exploration by AGIP, New Resolution Geophysics, and Denison Mines laid the groundwork with airborne geophysics and soil/radon surveys, which the current ground program has refined with higher resolution data.
Notably, previous drilling at the Nabbanda prospect within target area 5 intersected uranium mineralisation, including 1.8 metres at 294ppm U3O8 from 29.3 metres depth, supporting the validity of the radiometric anomalies detected. The company cautions that scintillometer readings are preliminary and influenced by other radioactive elements, so laboratory assays from upcoming drill holes will be critical to quantify uranium grades accurately.
Infrastructure and Strategic Location Enhance Project Viability
The Muntanga Uranium Project benefits from solid infrastructure, situated near Chirundu town close to the Zimbabwe border, with sealed road access to Lusaka and onward export routes via Namibia’s Walvis Bay port. This connectivity supports potential project development and export logistics. The company’s ongoing and planned exploration activities at Muntanga North, Chisebuka, and Namakande form part of a broader strategy to unlock value across its district-scale uranium assets in Zambia, complementing recent expansions in its landholding, including the Sitwe option acquisition.
Bottom Line?
Atomic Eagle’s refined radiometric targeting at Muntanga North sets the stage for focused drilling that could unlock new uranium zones, but assay results remain the key near-term catalyst.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling confirm the high-grade uranium potential indicated by radiometric anomalies?
- How will results from targets 6 to 8 influence the broader exploration strategy at Muntanga North?
- What impact will the integration of new discoveries have on the overall resource and project economics?