- Exercises Option on the Moran Lake Uranium and Vanadium
Project
- Labrador Uranium Enters Agreement with Altius Minerals to
Acquire Land Position in the Central Mineral Belt
Toronto, Ontario, Canada -- Oct. 19, 2021
-- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- Consolidated Uranium Inc.
("CUR", the "Company" or
"Consolidated Uranium") (TSXV: CUR)
(OTCQB:
CURUF) is pleased to announce the creation and planned
spin-out of Labrador Uranium Inc. ("Labrador
Uranium" or "LUR"), currently a
majority-controlled subsidiary of CUR focused on the consolidation,
exploration and development of uranium projects in Labrador. In
connection with the proposed spin-out of LUR, the Company has
provided notice to exercise its option pursuant to the option
agreement announced on November 18, 2020 (the "Option
Agreement") to acquire 100% of the Moran Lake project (the
"Moran Lake Project").
To effect the spin-out, the Company has entered
into an arrangement agreement with LUR (the "Arrangement
Agreement"), pursuant to which among other things the
Company will transfer ownership of Moran Lake Project to LUR in
exchange for common shares of LUR ("LUR Shares")
which the Company intends to distribute to its shareholders on a
pro rata basis (the "Arrangement"). The Company
also intends to apply to list the LUR Shares (the
"Listing") on the Canadian Securities Exchange
(the "CSE"). The Listing will be subject to LUR
fulfilling all of the requirements of the CSE.
In addition, the Company and Labrador Uranium
have entered into a purchase agreement (the "Altius
Agreement") with Altius Resources Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary or Altius Minerals Corporation
("Altius"), pursuant to which LUR has agreed to
acquire from Altius a 100% interest in the Central Mineral Belt
Uranium-Copper Project (the "CMB Project") and the
Notakwanon project (the "Notakwanon Project"
together, the "Altius Projects"), both located in
Labrador (the "Altius Transaction").
Transaction Highlights:
- Labrador Uranium Formed as New Entrant into Resurgent
Uranium Market – Purpose built to explore for and
develop uranium in Labrador, it is anticipated to hold a dominant
land position in the Central Mineral Belt of Labrador (the
"CMB"), a well-known uranium and multi-commodity
metal district.
- Moran Lake Expected to Form Cornerstone
Project – Located on the western side of the CMB, the
Moran Lake Project hosts historical uranium and vanadium mineral
resources. LUR intends to focus on confirming and potentially
expanding the known historic mineral resources as well as exploring
the property more generally. See "Technical Disclosure and
Qualified Person" below.
- Agreement with Altius Expected to Secure Large Land
Position – The ~125,000 hectare CMB Project is
located adjacent to the Moran Lake Project to the east, west and
south and spans to Paladin Energy's Michelin Project in the east.
In addition, the Notakwanon Project, located in Northern Labrador,
is drill ready with previous evidence of high-grade uranium on
surface.
- Proposed Spin-Out of Labrador Uranium is an Attempt to
Unlock Value for CUR Shareholders – LUR is being spun
out as a stand-alone, CSE-listed uranium exploration and
development company, with CUR shareholders receiving their pro-rata
portion of the LUR Shares issued to the Company.
- Experienced Team in Place - Under the
leadership of Stephen Keith as Chief Executive Officer and Philip
Williams as Chairman, the LUR management team and anticipated board
of directors has decades of experience in exploration, development,
and finance, with a significant focus on uranium.
- Summer 2021 Work Programs Completed Setting Up For
Active 2022 - Work programs completed this summer at
the Moran Lake Project and the CMB Project included: collecting and
analysing data from decades of historical exploration work on the
CMB Project by previous owners and government programs and field
work to verify the >140 targets generated by this data
collection and analysis. Results pending from this work are
expected to be used in designing an aggressive field exploration
program for 2022.
Philip Williams, President and CEO of CUR,
commented "We are pleased to be announcing the partnership with
Altius in the formation of Labrador Uranium. We believe that the
Central Mineral Belt is an important uranium camp in Canada, which
has tremendous exploration potential for uranium and other metals.
As CUR focuses on near-term production in the United States, we
determined that repositioning the Moran Lake Project as a part of a
larger, Labrador-focused exploration portfolio would be the best
way to unlock value for our shareholders. We liken this transaction
to the original IPO of Aurora Energy in 2006 whose main asset was
the Michelin Project. That company garnered a peak market cap of
over $1.3b in 2007 and was ultimately taken over by Paladin Energy
in 2011."
Stephen Keith, CEO of LUR commented "I am
looking forward to working with such an experienced team on this
exciting new uranium exploration vehicle. LUR is expected to have
all the underpinnings of a dynamic and successful new player in the
resurgent uranium sector; a dominant land position in a prolific
camp, historic mineral resources, backing by key uranium and mining
industry players in CUR and Altius, and a strong team in place with
significant uranium exploration, development and finance
experience. Exploration success is driven by strong teams and
quality assets. Combining the excellent work completed by, and
historical successes of, these companies give me great confidence
in the future of Labrador Uranium. I plan on hitting the ground
running with the benefit of recently completed work programs on the
projects. These programs have already generated over 140 targets
setting the stage for an aggressive 2022 exploration season".
Moran Lake Option Exercise
On October 17, 2021, CUR provided notice to the
vendor of the Moran Lake Project that it has exercised the option
to acquire the Moran Lake Project, for total consideration of
$1,000,000 with $500,000 to be satisfied through the issuance of
191,570 common shares of CUR ("CUR Shares"), at a
deemed price of $2.61 per CUR Share based on the five-day volume
weighted average price of the CUR Shares up to October 15, 2021 and
$500,000 in cash. In addition, the vendor will be entitled to
receive certain future payments contingent upon the attainment of
certain milestones tied to the spot price of uranium, as further
described in the Company's press release dated November 18,
2020.
In accordance with the terms of the Option
Agreement, the vendor will be granted a 1.5% net smelter returns
royalty (the "Moran
Lake Royalty") from the sale of the
mineral products extracted or derived from the Moran Lake Project
by CUR, which will be transferred to LUR in connection with the
Arrangement. CUR shall have the right and option to purchase 0.5%
of the Moran Lake Royalty for a price equal to $500,000, which CUR
intends to retain following the transfer of the Moran Lake Project
to LUR pursuant to the Arrangement.
All CUR securities issued in connection with the
Option Agreement are subject to final approval of the TSX Venture
Exchange (the "TSXV") and will be subject to a
hold period expiring four months and one day from the applicable
date of issuance.
The Arrangement Agreement
Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, among
other things, CUR has agreed to transfer the Moran Lake Project to
LUR in exchange for 16,000,000 LUR Shares. Under the terms of the
Arrangement, the CUR shareholders will receive the LUR Shares on a
pro-rata basis based on the number of CUR Shares held at the
effective date of the Arrangement. There will be no change in CUR
shareholders' proportionate ownership in CUR as a result of the
Arrangement. In addition, holders of options and warrants of CUR as
of the effective date of the Arrangement will have such securities
adjusted in accordance with their terms as a result of the
Arrangement.
The Arrangement will be effected by way of a
court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business
Corporations Act (Ontario). The Arrangement will be
subject to regulatory approval, including the approval of the TSXV,
court approval, conditional approval from the CSE for the Listing,
as well as approval by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast
at the special meeting (the "Meeting") of the CUR
shareholders, anticipated to be held in the first quarter of 2022.
Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the management
information circular to be sent to CUR shareholders in connection
with the Meeting.
It is anticipated that the Arrangement and
Listing will be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
The Altius Agreements
On October 17, 2021, the Company and Labrador
Uranium entered into the Altius Agreement with Altius pursuant to
which LUR has agreed to acquire the Altius Projects from Altius in
exchange for 8,000,000 LUR Shares and a 2% gross overriding royalty
on the CMB Project. Completion of the Altius Transaction is subject
to certain closing conditions including, among other things,
completion of the Arrangement and the conditional approval from the
CSE for the Listing.
In the event that the Arrangement and Listing
are not completed, Altius has the right (the "Put
Right") to require CUR to acquire the Altius Projects in
exchange for $3,000,000 to be satisfied by the issuance of CUR
Shares based on the volume weighted average price of the CUR Shares
at the time of the exercise of the Put Right, subject to approval
of the TSXV. In the event that the Put Right is not exercised by
Altius, CUR has the right to acquire the Altius Projects on the
same terms and conditions as the Put Right, subject to approval of
the TSXV. Any CUR securities issued in connection with the Altius
Transaction are subject to final approval of the TSXV and will be
subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the
applicable date of issuance.
Additionally, Altius, LUR and CUR have agreed on
an area of interest whereby the two companies will work together in
generating new targets and claims to bring to LUR.
In connection with closing of the Altius
Transaction, LUR and Altius have agreed to enter into an investor
rights agreement pursuant to which, for so long as Altius' equity
ownership in LUR remains at or above 10%, Altius will be entitled
to equity participation rights to maintain its pro rata equity
ownership in LUR. Altius has also agreed to certain resale
restrictions on the LUR Shares it will hold and to provide voting
support in certain circumstances.
About Labrador Uranium Inc.
Management and Board of
Directors
- Stephen Keith P.Eng, Chief Executive Officer
- Experienced engineer, investment banker and executive with over
20 years in the natural resources industry.
- Lead Director of Aura Minerals Inc., Director of Sterling
Metals Corp.
- Previous positions include President and CEO of several public
companies, including Rio Verde Minerals Development Corp., which
Mr. Keith co-founded and took from a small private company, making
several acquisitions and a public listing on the Toronto Stock
Exchange through to its eventual sale to one of Brazil's largest
private equity firms.
- Greg Duras, Chief Financial Officer
- Over 10 years of corporate and project finance experience in
the resource sector.
- Currently the CFO of Consolidated Uranium
- Previous positions include, VP of Finance and Administration at
S.C. Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A. (RMGC) as well as
Controller of TSX-listed Gabriel Resources Ltd. and High River Gold
Mines Ltd.
- Philip Williams CFA, Chairman
- Over 20 years of mining and finance industry experience.
- Currently the President, CEO & Chairman of Consolidated
Uranium.
- Extensive uranium and metals and mining experience in corporate
development, as a sell-side research analyst, in fund management,
investment banking.
The Projects
Moran Lake Project (Uranium-Vanadium)
The Moran Lake Project is an advanced-stage
exploration project located within the Central Mineral Belt
of Labrador, approximately 140 km north of the town
of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and 85 km southwest of the
coastal community of Postville on Kaipokok Bay. Access to
the property is by helicopter and float plane out of Goose Bay.
Uranium was first discovered near Moran Lake by
British Newfoundland Exploration Limited (Brinex) who conducted
prospecting, geological mapping and radiometric surveying in the
area from 1956 to 1958. The uranium mineralization is structurally
controlled, typically hosted within fracture systems and to a
lesser extent within shear zones. In outcrop, it is clear that
local faulting, brecciation and alteration, all of uncertain age,
are associated with the U-Cu mineralization at the Moran Lake C
Zone. The mineralization is epigenetic and occurs in mafic
volcanics of the Joe Pond Formation, Moran Lake Group, as well as
in overlying sedimentary rocks of the Heggart Lake Formation, Bruce
River Group.
Uranium mineralization at the C Zone mainly
occurs in two distinct zones, referred to as the Upper C
("UC") and Lower C ("LC").
Mineralization in the UC is hosted within brecciated, hematite
altered and/or bleached mafic volcanics and hematitic cherts of the
Joe Pond Formation, while mineralization in the structurally
underlying LC is hosted predominantly within chloritized (reduced)
sandstones of the Heggart Lake Formation. The UC also contains
vanadium mineralization hosted mainly by hematized and brecciated
mafic volcanic rocks of the Joe Pond Formation and brecciated
gabbro or diabasic intrusives. In many areas, the vanadium
concentration is directly proportional to the intensity of
hematization and brecciation. The occurrence of vanadium
mineralization may coincide with, but is not restricted to, zones
of uranium mineralization.
In January 2011 (revised March
2011), Crosshair Exploration & Mining Corp. published a report
entitled "Technical Report on the Central Mineral Belt (CMB)
Uranium – Vanadium Project, Labrador, Canada", which includes
the mineral resource estimate set out in the table below for the C
Zone. This mineral resource estimate is considered to be a
"historical estimate" as defined under NI 43-101
– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects ("NI 43-101"). A Qualified
Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical
estimate as a current mineral resource, and CUR is not treating the
historical estimate as a current mineral resource. An updated
technical report in prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 is
underway and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of
2021. See below under "Technical Disclosure and Qualified
Person".
Indicated Vanadium Resources Within Uranium
Resource |
U3O8 |
Tonnes > |
Grade > Cutoff |
Contained Million |
Cutoff (%) |
Cutoff (tonnes) |
U3O8 (%) |
V2O5 (%) |
Pounds (U3O8) |
Pounds (V2O5) |
0.015 |
6,920,000 |
0.034 |
0.078 |
5.19 |
11.9 |
Inferrred Vanadium Resources Within Uranium
Resource |
Upper C Zone |
|
|
|
|
U3O8 |
Tonnes > |
Grade > Cutoff |
Contained Million |
Cutoff (%) |
Cutoff (tonnes) |
U3O8 (%) |
V2O5 (%) |
Pounds (U3O8) |
Pounds (V2O5) |
0.015 |
5,320,000 |
0.024 |
0.089 |
2.84 |
10.44 |
Indicated Vanadium Resources Within Uranium
Resource |
Lower C Zone |
|
|
|
|
U3O8 |
Tonnes > |
Grade > Cutoff |
Contained Million |
Cutoff (%) |
Cutoff (tonnes) |
U3O8 (%) |
V2O5 (%) |
Pounds (U3O8) |
Pounds (V2O5) |
0.035 |
1,450,000 |
0.05 |
0.058 |
1.6 |
1.85 |
Indicated Vanadium Resources Outside of
Uranium Resource |
V2O5 Cutoff (%) |
Tonnes > Cutoff (tonnes) |
V2O5 (%) |
Million Pounds (V2O5) |
0.15 |
7,790,000 |
0.18 |
30.92 |
Inferred Vanadium Resources Outside of
Uranium Resource |
V2O5 Cutoff (%) |
Tonnes > Cutoff (tonnes) |
V2O5 (%) |
Million Pounds (V2O5) |
0.15 |
21,570,000 |
0.171 |
81.33 |
CMB Project (Uranium and Other Metals)
The CMB Project comprises ~125,000 hectares
covering a significant portion of the Central Mineral Belt in
Labrador. There are several known uranium prospects along the CMB
which have been identified over decades of historical work in the
region. To date, LUR, in combination with Altius, CUR and its
advisors, has generated more than 140 targets meriting further
exploration work.
We believe the CMB is a globally significant
Copper and Uranium region. It is an approximately 260 km long by 75
km wide belt endowed with hundreds of copper, uranium, silver,
gold, REE, iron and molybdenum showings. It overlies the junction
of four major geological provinces and affected by major magmatic
and orogenic events. Originally recognized for its copper
potential, copper exploration was mostly displaced in favour of
uranium in the early 2000s. This land package contains numerous
occurrences of copper, gold, silver, uranium, iron and REEs, with
copper, gold and magnetite content showing a strong positive
correlation. Uranium occurs with hematite and/or albite
dominant alteration, in breccias or along shear zones.
Notakwanon Project (Uranium)
Located in northern Labrador, approximately 60 km west of the
Labrador coast, the Notakwanon Project straddles the Churchill and
Nain Provinces boundary. The Notakwanon Project is accessible by
float plane or helicopter from Hopedale, Nain or Happy Valley-Goose
Bay.
Previous exploration has identified a cluster of uranium
prospects with greater than 20 occurrences. Three main zones with
traces of high-grade uranium mineralization have been identified.
These historical exploration results include:
- Rumble: Grab samples have returned values
of up to 3.49% U3O8 and saw-cut channel samples have yielded up to
0.48% U3O8 over 2.5 metres.
- Old School: Grab samples have yielded up to
2.08% U3O8.
- Notak-1: Grab samples have yielded up to 1.81%
U3O8
Overall, the Notakwanon prospect is an untested, drill-ready,
multi-target project with similarities to basement-style uranium
deposits.
Technical Disclosure and Qualified
Person
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Peter
Mullens (FAusIMM), CUR's VP Business Development, who is a
"Qualified Person" (as defined in NI 43-101).
The mineral resource estimate contained in this
presentation is considered to be a "historical estimate" as defined
under NI 43-101, and has been derived from a report entitled
"Technical Report on the Central Mineral Belt (Cmb) Uranium –
Vanadium Project, Labrador, Canada" dated January 20, 2011 as
revised March 10, 2011 prepared for Crosshair Exploration &
Mining Corp. The historical estimate was prepared by C. Stewart
Wallis P. Geo, Barry A. Sparkes, P. Geo., Gary H. Giroux, P. Eng.
(Qualified Person) using three-dimensional block models utilizing
ordinary kriging to interpolate grades into each 10m x 10m x 4m
high block. For the purpose of the vanadium mineral resource
estimate, a vanadium specific model was created in the Upper C rock
package above the C Zone thrust fault. The vanadium model is based
on a wireframe solid defining the vanadium mineralized envelope
using an external cut-off of approximately 0.1% V2O5. For the
purposes of the estimates, a specific gravity of 2.83 was used.
A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work
to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource,
and CUR is not treating the historical estimate as a current
mineral resource. The Company would need to conduct an exploration
program, including twinning of historical drill holes in order to
verify the Moran Lake historical estimate as a current mineral
resource.
About Consolidated Uranium
Inc.
Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV:
CUR) (OTCQB:
CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an
anticipated uranium market resurgence using the proven model of
diversified project consolidation. To date, the company has
acquired or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia,
Canada, Argentina and the United States each with significant past
expenditures and attractive characteristics for development. Most
recently, the Company entered a transformational strategic
acquisition agreement and alliance with Energy Fuels Inc (NYSE
American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR), a leading U.S.-based uranium mining
company, to acquire a portfolio of permitted, past-producing
conventional uranium and vanadium mines in the Utah and Colorado.
These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as
market conditions permit, positioning CUR as a near-term uranium
producer.
Philip Williams
President and CEO
+1 778 383 3057
pwilliams@consolidateduranium.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations
Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information.
This news release contains "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the
Arrangement and the Altius Transaction; the anticipated timing of
the Meeting, closing of the Arrangement and the Listing; the
anticipated timing of a technical report on the Moran Lake project.
the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement for CUR shareholders;
the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set out in the
Arrangement Agreement and the purchase agreement for the Altius
Projects, including receipt of all regulatory approvals; the field
exploration program anticipated for 2022; the anticipated
management team and board of directors of LUR; and the satisfaction
final approval of the Agreement by the TSX Venture Exchange and
other activities, events or developments that the Company expects
or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not
always, forward-looking information and statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is
expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation
thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might"
or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative
connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and
statements are based on numerous assumptions,
including the ability of the parties to receive, in a
timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory,
court and shareholder approvals; the ability of the parties to
satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion
of the Arrangement, the Listing and the Altius
Transaction; that general business and economic
conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that
financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable
terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and
governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's
planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable
terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the
Company in providing forward-looking information or making
forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management
at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will
prove to be accurate.
Forward-looking information and statements
also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other
factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods
to differ materially from any projections of future events or
results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or
statements, including, among others: the diversion of management
time on Transaction-related issues; expectations regarding negative
operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing,
uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or
resources, reliance on key management and other personnel,
potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of
exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in
exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally
associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental
risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and
delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.
Although the Company has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking
information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be
other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking information and statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes
no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a
result of new information or events except as required by
applicable securities laws.
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