London-listed Arkle Resources has announced that the initial 1 500 m reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme at its Erongo uranium project, in Namibia, is proceeding as planned.

Carnotite, a secondary uranium mineral, has been visually logged in RC drill chips in three holes across two fence lines at downhole depths of between 4 m and 15 m.

The company notes that laboratory assay is required to determine uranium content.

The drill programme is taking place entirely within one of the company's exclusive prospecting licences, EPL8995.

Based on programme efficiencies, the company has decided to add additional drilling and expand this phase, accelerating some of the planned third quarter of 2026 drill holes. 

The company notes that an initial fence of holes was completed across the western paleochannel target, previously mapped by horizontal loop electromagnetic (HLEM), meaning both the eastern and western channel areas have now been drill-tested.

Step-out holes are being planned on the eastern paleochannel target and drill holes on the primary uraniferous leucogranite (ULG) target have been brought forward from the planned third quarter follow-on programme because the recent trenching confirmed and exposed the target at surface, and an early test of the sequence at depth will provide vertical control that directly informs the design of the larger ULG-focussed follow-on drill programme.

CEO Rory Harding explains that downhole gamma ray spectrometry (GRS) of the completed holes began this week and, together with the geological logging, will determine which drill intervals are submitted for assay, focusing its spend where it matters.

Harding says grades will be confirmed by laboratory analysis, adding that shareholders should expect steady news flow through the second half of the year as results come through.

Additionally, the company says 1 016 one-metre samples have been collected to date and secured under the company's quality assurance and quality control protocols, with selected intervals to be dispatched to Actlabs, Windhoek, for laboratory assay.

The number of samples to be assayed will be finalised on review of the downhole GRS survey results and the geological logging. First assay results are expected in early September.

Arkle says the company expects various news flow through the second half of this year.

This includes the completion of the paleochannel drilling, including the eastern step-out holes; completion of the downhole GRS surveying and selection of assay intervals; trench and surface sample assay results; ULG reconnaissance holes and other drill sample assay results; and continued progress across the wider portfolio of paleochannel and ULG targets on EPLs 8995, 8290 and 8298.

The company explains that no assay results from the drilling programme have been received to date, and no conclusions as to the grade or continuity of uranium mineralisation in the areas being drilled can be drawn until laboratory assay results have been received, validated and reported.