Core Energy Minerals Launches First Drill Program at Namibia Uranium Prospect
Key Takeaways
- Core Energy Minerals initiated a drill contractor tender for a maiden 2,500m RC/Diamond program across approximately 15 holes at the Barking Gecko Prospect, just one week after executing the Nova JV earn-in agreement.
- The drilling program is designed to test CR3's updated geological model for high-grade, hard-rock alaskite-hosted uranium mineralisation identified in historic drilling at Barking Gecko.
- CR3 holds an earn-in interest of up to 51% in the Nova JV tenements (EPL3669 and EPL3670), which sit adjacent to its 100%-owned Gemsbok and Oryx tenements, forming a district-scale uranium package in Namibia.
- Re-logging and sampling of existing Barking Gecko drill core and RC samples commences immediately while the tender process concludes, with a specialist structural geologist being engaged to build a 3D geological model.
- The project sits in the same Namibian uranium belt as Paladin's Langer Heinrich Mine and deposits held by Deep Yellow, Bannerman Energy, and Elevate Uranium.
Drilling campaign takes shape at Barking Gecko uranium prospect
Just one week after executing the Nova Joint Venture earn-in agreement, Core Energy Minerals (ASX:CR3) has initiated a drill contractor tender process for its maiden Reverse Circulation and Diamond (RC/D) drilling program at the Barking Gecko Prospect within the Nova JV Project in Namibia. The initial program is anticipated to comprise approximately 2,500m across an estimated 15 drill holes, with contingency for additional infill and step-out holes, marking a tangible operational step of CR3’s on-ground deployment strategy.
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What the drilling program is designed to test
The program is designed to test CR3’s updated geological model interpretation for high-grade, hard-rock uranium mineralisation identified in historic drilling by previous JV operators at Barking Gecko.
The two-pronged drilling design includes:
- Fully oriented diamond drill core holes to support development of a detailed structural model for Barking Gecko mineralisation
- Step-out drill traverses designed to extend the known mineralisation boundaries
Running in parallel, CR3 is finalising the engagement of a specialist structural geologist familiar with the style and setting of the Barking Gecko mineralisation. That scope of work will include re-logging of existing drill core, integration of existing Down Hole Optical Logger (DHOL) data, and generation of a 3D geological model for the alaskite-hosted mineralisation.
Full-suite multi-element geochemical analysis is also planned for both existing re-sampled holes and new holes. The aim is to “fingerprint” the mineralisation and better understand the wider metallogenic controls, building a detailed geochemical model for Barking Gecko.
What is RC/Diamond drilling, and why does it matter for uranium exploration?
Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling is a fast, cost-effective method that returns rock chip samples to surface using high-pressure air. It is well suited to rapidly testing large target areas and provides good geochemical data. Diamond drilling, by contrast, retrieves a continuous cylinder of intact rock called core, which allows geologists to study rock structure, orientation, and precise mineralisation boundaries in detail.
Combining both methods in a single program gives CR3 the speed of RC drilling alongside the structural precision of diamond core. For a hard-rock uranium target like Barking Gecko, where the mineralisation is hosted within alaskite (a coarse-grained granite-type rock), understanding the structural controls on mineralisation is critical. The oriented diamond core will feed directly into the 3D geological model being built by the specialist structural geologist.
For investors, this structural model matters because it guides future resource estimation and helps prioritise where follow-up drilling delivers the most value across the broader tenement package.
A district-scale uranium position in Namibia’s premier uranium belt
The Nova JV tenements (EPL3669 and EPL3670), in which CR3 has an earn-in interest of up to 51%, sit adjacent to CR3’s 100%-owned Gemsbok (EPL9725) and Oryx (EPL9652) tenements. Together, these form a district-scale uranium exploration package in one of the world’s most established uranium jurisdictions.
The neighbourhood quality is significant. Figure 3 of the announcement maps the regional context, with the Langer Heinrich Mine (Paladin, ASX:PDN) positioned nearby, along with deposits from regional operators including Deep Yellow, Bannerman Energy, and Elevate Uranium. The Nova JV tenements themselves contain labelled uranium deposits within the regional figure.
The tenement summary across CR3’s Namibian position is set out below:
| Tenement | Project Name | CR3 Interest | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPL3669 | Nova JV | Up to 51% | Earn-in, active | Barking Gecko Prospect; maiden RC/D program planned |
| EPL3670 | Nova JV | Up to 51% | Earn-in, active | Part of district-scale Nova JV package |
| EPL9725 | Gemsbok | 100% | 100% owned | Adjacent to Nova JV tenements |
| EPL9652 | Oryx | 100% | 100% owned | Part of contiguous CR3 Namibia package |
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What’s next for CR3 investors
The near-term activity sequence is now well defined:
- Drill contractor tender process underway, with rig selection pending
- Re-logging and sampling of existing Barking Gecko drill core and RC samples commences immediately, while the tender concludes
- Specialist structural geologist engagement being finalised
- Rig mobilisation and maiden RC/D drilling program commencement, timing subject to tender outcome
Tony Greenaway, Managing Director
“[I]n line with our rapid on-ground deployment strategy, we are pleased to have initiated the drill contract tender process just a week after executing the final earn-in agreement with the Nova Joint Venture. Our initial disc[u]ssions with the multiple local drilling contractors in Namibia were very positive, and we are confident that we can secure a suitable drilling rig for this maiden drilling campaign.
Our Geological team is ready [to] go, so we will commence the re-logging and sampling of the existing drill core and RC samples for Barking Gecko while we wait for the tender process to be completed and rigs mobilised. We will be running full suite multi-element analysis for the existing holes we re-sample as well as our new holes to build a detailed geochemical model for the Barking Gecko mineralisation. The aim of this work [is] to fingerprint the mineralisation to better understand the wider metallogenic province[ ]and controls to mineralisation.”
The maiden drill program at Barking Gecko represents CR3’s first direct test of its updated geological model under the Nova JV earn-in, with results expected to shape the resource development pathway across both the Nova JV tenements and the company’s 100%-owned Gemsbok and Oryx package.
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