IsoEnergy Launches Its 2026 Winter Drilling Program at Larocque East Project
IsoEnergy Ltd. has officially kicked off its winter exploration program for 2026 at the Larocque East project, located within the eastern Athabasca Basin, Canada. This initiative aims to leverage the recently identified high-grade Hurricane deposit, which is poised for resource expansion. The program is set to include approximately 5,200 meters of diamond drilling across up to 13 drill holes, meticulously crafted to pursue resource enhancement at the Hurricane deposit and evaluate promising greenfield targets extending up to three kilometers to the east along the geological trend.
Project Background and Infrastructure
The Larocque East project showcases a significant current Mineral Resource estimate of 48.6 million pounds of U₃O₈ at an impressive grade of 34.5% indicated and an additional 2.7 million pounds of U₃O₈ at 2.2% inferred. Enhanced by its advantageous geographical positioning, the project is situated just about 40 kilometers northwest of the McClean Lake mill. Moreover, the mineralization depth is relatively shallow, approximately 325 meters, facilitating efficient exploration and offering considerable future development possibilities.
Objectives and Exploration Strategy
The primary objective of this winter drilling program is to expand resources at the Hurricane deposit while also exploring new potential deposits along the Larocque Trend. The highlights of the drilling initiative include:
- - Resource Expansion Targets: The drill program will hone in on resource expansion within the North Trend and South Trend regions surrounding the Hurricane deposit. Prominent drill results from 2025 demonstrated significant intersections of mineralization, which has encouraged the team to investigate these regions further.
- - Greenfield Targets: In addition to known deposits, the drilling will extend to new areas, specifically targeting potential mineralized regions identified in earlier explorations.
Dan Brisbin, the Vice President of Exploration, conveyed enthusiasm about the program, stating, "Our project team has mobilized to the Larocque camp, and we are excited to launch our winter exploration program. Planned drilling is expected to build on positive 2025 results and continue our approach of testing both deposit expansion and searching for new deposits along the highly prospective Larocque Trend."
North Trend Exploration
The North Trend exploration zone will assess a low seismic velocity anomaly, previously recognized through advanced ambient noise tomography techniques. This anomaly is indicative of the prospective Hurricane alteration zone, where uranium mineralization was previously encountered during 2025. This year's drilling will focus on testing the north flank of the Hurricane deposit where prior drilling identified anomalous uranium geochemistry.
South Trend Insights
The South Trend remains an area of significant potential that is open for exploration. Drilling in this region has consistently yielded positive results, with various mineral intersections reported close to the unconformity. The upcoming winter drilling plan will aim to confirm and expand these findings, further solidifying the project's prospective value.
The Drilling Program's Future Outlook
This winter program is not only a continuation of the strategic exploration conducted in 2025 but also a pathway to potentially groundbreaking discoveries within the area. The comprehensive drilling approach aims to establish further understanding of the mineralization characteristics at both the Hurricane deposit and the greenfield exploration zones.
As the team sets its sights on the Larocque East project, the future looks promising for IsoEnergy, especially given the backing from robust infrastructure and favorable geological conditions. The outcomes of the upcoming drill holes will be crucial in shaping the subsequent phases of exploration and development at Larocque East.
Conclusion
With the launch of its 2026 winter drilling program, IsoEnergy is poised to not only bolster its existing resources but also uncover new opportunities within the esteemed Athabasca Basin. As developments unfold, the exploration team's findings could significantly impact the company's growth trajectory, reaffirming IsoEnergy's role as a leading entity in the uranium sector.