Exploration and development company Uranex has postponed a helicopter-borne geophysical survey of the Likuyu North prospect, which forms part of its Mkuju uranium project, in southern Tanzania, to the second quarter of this year.

The company had initially intended for the geophysical survey, which will comprise radiometric and magnetic components, to be undertaken in November 2011, but postponed this owing to the start of the rainy season.

Once completed, the survey will contribute to the setting of exploration targets for the 2012 programme and will include the delineation of geological structures that control mineralisation at Likuyu North and elsewhere within the Mkuju project area.

The Mkuju project comprises 12 granted licences and covers a 4 000 km2 area.

Uranex has identified five key radiometric anomalies within the project area, namely Likuyu North, Likuyu South, the Matemanga cluster, Mteramwahi North and Mteramwahi South.

The 2011 drilling programme undertaken at the Likuyu North prospect entailed the drilling of 213 aircore drill holes and eight diamond drill holes. Uranex states that the programme indicated a significant new uranium discovery.

Results provided by German geophysical consultant Terratec Geophysical Services showed significant intersections that expand the existing east and west mineralised zones that will form the basis of an initial resource estimate to be released during the first quarter of this year.

Further, a series of exploration holes and additional exploration targeting have identified new target zones, distant from the existing 5 km × 1 km radiometric anomaly. This will form the basis of a resource expansion programme being planned for this year.

Uranex is targeting sandstone-hosted stacked tabular and roll-front deposits similar to those found at Canada-based Uranium One’s Nyota prospect, in southern Tanzania and Australia-based Paladin Energy’s Kayelakera mine, in Malawi.