Alligator finds more uranium at Blackbush
Alligator Energy’s recent drilling campaign in South Australia has pushed uranium mineralisation 600 metres south of the Blackbush deposit, opening new ground for systematic evaluation on the Mullaquana Crown Lease.
Southward extension of Blackbush mineralisation
The latest results come from holes BBRM26‑472, BBRM26‑482 and BBRM26‑484, which intersected 3.2 metres at 0.12 % eU₃O₈, 5 metres at 0.13 % eU₃O₈ and 2.4 metres at 0.20 % eU₃O₈ respectively. These intersections were recorded from depths of 54.6 m, 63.6 m and 61 m and were derived from calibrated downhole gamma logging rather than chemical assays. A further notable intercept was 4.3 metres at 0.11 % eU₃O₈ from 56 m in hole BBRM26‑479.
Alligator secured access to the Mullaquana Crown Lease through a call option signed in June, enabling the deployment of two rigs across the Samphire growth program. The company’s drilling plan targets three fronts: the southern Blackbush extension, infill work at Plumbush, and a 5‑kilometre corridor between the two deposits.
CEO and managing director Dr Andrea Marsland‑Smith said the early results “demonstrate the strategic importance of securing access to the Mullaquana Crown Lease” and highlighted the value of extending mineralisation further south.
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Plumbush infill drilling aims for resource upgrade
Plumbush, inactive since 2011, is now undergoing infill drilling with spacing tightened from 200–400 m to 25–50 m. The goal is to convert the current inferred resource to an indicated one, providing higher confidence for inclusion in the ongoing Samphire feasibility study. Historical intersections at Plumbush include 3.5 metres at 0.10 % eU₃O₈ from 62.4 m, 2.9 metres at 0.25 % eU₃O₈ from 65.7 m, and 5.6 metres at 0.12 % eU₃O₈ from 64 m.
Current infill results are still being compiled, but the tighter drill spacing is expected to generate a more robust geological dataset. An indicated resource would support wellfield layout work for the Samphire feasibility study and strengthen the overall project economics.
Corridor focus and next steps
The underexplored paleochannel corridor between Blackbush and Plumbush remains the program’s principal focus. With two rigs operating on continuous day shifts, drilling is slated to continue through late Q4 2026. The campaign will blend resource infill at known zones with step‑out testing of prospective paleochannel targets.
The company plans to integrate drilling, geological and geophysical data into the next Samphire resource update and the ongoing feasibility study. The information will feed mine‑planning efforts, wellfield design and project‑approval processes.
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Within Blackbush itself, the company has completed 108 additional delineation holes on a 25 m × 25 m grid. Results to date align with the existing resource model, providing confidence for a planned Blackbush resource update in the first half of 2027.
From a broader perspective, extending mineralisation into previously untested ground reduces the exploration risk inherent in early‑stage projects. By confirming continuity of the uranium‑bearing paleochannel, Alligator can justify further capital allocation and potentially attract downstream partners interested in stable, high‑grade supplies.
Drilling across the corridor will finish by end‑2026.
Afterward, the company will focus on consolidating data for the upcoming resource update. The continued expansion of the known uranium envelope highlights the importance of securing lease access early in a project’s life cycle, a lesson that may influence other junior miners operating in the region.
