Skeleton Coast Uranium has identified its first high-priority uranium exploration targets across three licences in Namibia’s Erongo Region after completing the first phase of work to convert decades of historical exploration information into digital datasets.
The work covers EPLs 8617, 8208 and 9727, where the Canadian-listed explorer says its initial interpretation has identified targets for both basement-hosted uranium mineralisation similar to deposits found around the Rössing-Husab area and shallower palaeochannel and calcrete-hosted mineralisation associated with deposits such as Langer Heinrich.
The results will now be used to determine where Skeleton Coast concentrates fieldwork during its 2026-2027 exploration programme, which is expected to include airborne and ground geophysics, geological mapping and surface sampling.
Much of the ground has seen limited modern exploration, with the company saying large portions of the three licences have not undergone the additional geophysical surveys, mapping and surface sampling now being considered.
Practara completed the compilation and digitisation of regional geological mapping, historical exploration reports, airborne geophysics, radiometric surveys and geochemical information covering the licences and surrounding areas.
It is also reprocessing historical airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey information to refine further targets where geophysical coverage already exists.
Skeleton Coast chief executive Nathan Chutas said bringing the historical information together improved the company’s understanding of the licences’ exploration potential before committing to field programmes.
“In finalising the digitisation of the datasets for EPLs 8617, 8208 and 9727, Skeleton Coast Uranium has consolidated a comprehensive digital record of historical exploration providing valuable insights into the exploration potential of these large-scale uranium licences located in Namibia’s Erongo Region,” Chutas said.
“EPLs 8617, 8208, and 9727 have seen very limited modern exploration and more comprehensive geophysical data, geochemistry, and radiometrics will provide data to help us identify our best targets.”
The three licences form part of a five-licence portfolio Skeleton Coast is assembling in Erongo, with the company holding options to acquire controlling interests of between 70% and 75% in EPLs 8617, 8208, 9727, 9872 and 9873.
Two uranium styles targeted
EPL 8617 covers about 10,491.5 hectares and lies about 75 km east of Swakopmund, within the broader geological setting that includes Namibia’s Rössing and Husab uranium mines.
The licence lies about 18 km east of Rössing and 17 km east of Husab, and Skeleton Coast says geological structures associated with uranium-bearing alaskites in the Valencia-Khan corridor are interpreted to extend toward the property.
Historical radiometric anomalies have been identified along the trend, although the company cautions that a radiometric response measures equivalent uranium and does not itself confirm uranium mineralisation.
The exploration proposition is different at EPL 8208, which covers about 7,840.7 hectares and shares its southern boundary with the mining licence area containing the Langer Heinrich uranium mine.
Skeleton Coast’s assessment of the historical data has identified interpreted tributaries feeding into the palaeochannel system associated with Langer Heinrich as higher-priority exploration targets. These areas display elevated radiometric signatures and are being investigated for palaeochannel and calcrete-hosted uranium mineralisation.
Langer Heinrich provides the geological comparison because its uranium occurs close to the surface within sediments filling an ancient drainage system.
EPL 9727, covering approximately 12,081 hectares, gives Skeleton Coast exposure to both exploration models.
Located approximately 25 to 30 km southeast of Husab and 20 to 25 km east of Rössing, the licence contains two distinct geological areas.
Skeleton Coast considers the northeastern portion prospective for palaeochannel and calcrete-type uranium mineralisation. In contrast, basement rocks and associated granitic and pegmatitic bodies in the southwestern portion provide targets for alaskite-hosted uranium.
The company has not yet announced a uranium resource or drilling discovery on any of the three licences. The targets identified through the digitisation programme are conceptual exploration targets that will require fieldwork and further exploration to establish whether uranium mineralisation is present.
NI 43-101 technical reports covering EPLs 8617, 8208 and 9727 were filed in July.
Skeleton Coast said its broader strategy is to assemble licences prospective for relatively shallow surficial and alaskite uranium deposits, generally targeting mineralisation at depths of less than 100 to 150 metres, while leveraging Erongo’s existing uranium mining infrastructure and skills base.
