Australian-listed Core Energy Minerals Limited has commenced drilling at the Barking Gecko uranium prospect in Namibia’s Erongo Region, targeting high-grade uranium mineralisation as part of its exploration programme under the Nova Joint Venture (JV) Project.
The company announced on Thursday that drilling had started on schedule, with an initial programme comprising 12 holes covering approximately 2,650 metres using diamond and reverse circulation drilling methods.
The drilling campaign will target uranium mineralisation hosted in alaskite rocks at the Barking Gecko prospect, located within exploration licence EPL3669.
Core Energy said the initial drilling phase would test its revised geological interpretation of high-grade uranium mineralisation identified during historical exploration activities.
Subsequent drilling will seek to establish whether the mineralisation extends beyond previously identified areas, potentially expanding the prospect’s exploration footprint.
Core Energy Minerals Managing Director Tony Greenaway said the commencement of drilling marked a significant milestone in the company’s Namibian exploration programme.
“Getting the rig turning at Barking Gecko on schedule is an exciting and important milestone for Core Energy. Our team has done a lot of work reinterpreting the historic drilling, and this program is designed to test that interpretation directly before stepping out to see how far the mineralisation extends,” Greenaway said.
The company confirmed that drilling contractor Torque Drilling had completed mobilisation and safety preparations, with diamond drilling underway at the first drill site.
Barking Gecko is the first drilling target under the Nova JV Project, which covers exploration licences EPL3669 and EPL3670.
Core Energy holds a binding earn-in agreement allowing it to acquire up to a 51% interest in the Nova tenement package through an arrangement involving Deep Yellow Limited and former ASX-listed Toro Energy Limited.
The company said it would provide further exploration updates as drilling progresses, including downhole gamma measurements and laboratory assay results once received and interpreted.
The drilling results will help determine the extent and characteristics of uranium mineralisation at Barking Gecko and guide subsequent exploration activities.
In addition to its interest in the Nova JV Project, Core Energy holds wholly owned exploration licences EPL9725 and EPL9652 in Namibia’s Erongo Region, forming part of its broader uranium exploration portfolio.
