The Western Athabasca Syndicate Updates the Ongoing Winter Exploration Program at the Preston Lake Uranium Property
January 7, 2014 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Noka Resources Inc. (the "Company" or "Noka") (TSX-V: NX FSE: 2NK) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing exploration activity at the Western Athabasca Syndicate's flagship Preston Lake Property (the "Property"). The program consists of ground gravity and electromagnetic (EM) surveys, as well as a RadonEx survey (ground and water) for final targeting in advance of Q1-Q2 drilling.
MWH Geo-Surveys Ltd. has been contracted to complete the gravity survey over seven priority areas identified by the Syndicate's Technical Committee, based on the extensive 2013 summer/fall field work. The survey commenced in late November with approximately 50% of the planned stations having been completed to date, including infill over several high-priority anomalies that have just been identified. Initial interpretation of the gravity data has successfully delineated gravity low anomalies associated with previously identified high-potential exploration corridors defined by structure, magnetic lows, conductors, favorable geology and geochemistry (elevated radon-in-water and lake sediment sample values).
The gravity survey is anticipated to be completed by the third week of January with the RadonEx survey starting around January 17th. Drilling is expected to commence in March, 2014.
Gravity is a powerful and economic tool of exploration for uranium in the Athabasca Basin. Hydrothermal fluids associated with high grade uranium deposits will cause extensive alteration of the host rock, resulting in displacement and removal of minerals/elements, creating porosity and subsequent density contrast. This density contrast will be expressed as a gravity low anomaly and is a prime drill target when qualified by other coincident indicators of uranium mineralization such as geochemistry and radon. The Syndicate will further refine these gravity low targets by RadonEx and EM surveys in advance of drilling.
About the Preston Lake Property:
The 246,643 hectare Preston Lake Property is the largest land package proximal to the Patterson Lake South (PLS) high-grade uranium discovery, owned by Fission Uranium Corp. The Syndicate continues to employ a systematic, proven exploration methodology that has led to numerous uranium discoveries in the region and throughout the Athabasca Basin. This has been very effective with the summer program yielding numerous high-quality targets with similar geological features and exploratory indicators also present at the nearby PLS discovery. Management cautions, mineralization present on proximal properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Syndicate's Property.
About the Western Athabasca Syndicate:
The Western Athabasca Syndicate is a strategic partnership formed between Skyharbour, Athabasca Nuclear, Lucky Strike and Noka to explore and develop a 287,130 hectare suite of uranium properties that is the largest land position along the highly prospective margin of the Western Athabasca Basin controlled by a single group. Under the terms of the agreement, each of the four companies has an option to earn 25% of the five uranium properties comprising the Western Athabasca Syndicate Partnership by making a series of cash payments, share payments, and incurring their pro-rata amount of the total $6,000,000 in exploration expenditures over the two-year earn-in term of the agreement. The properties were acquired for their proximity to the PLS discovery and interpreted favourable geology for the occurrence of PLS style uranium mineralization. The bulk of the Syndicate land package is bisected by all-weather Highway 955 which runs north through the PLS discovery on to the former Cluff Lake uranium mine.
The Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan hosts the world's largest and richest high-grade uranium deposits which have grades substantially higher than the world average grade of about 0.1% U3O8. The Patterson Lake area has received escalating exploration attention and claim acquisition activity as a result of the new, near surface discoveries made by Alpha Minerals and Fission Uranium which includes the recently reported drill interval of 9.08% U3O8 over 54.5 metres in drill hole PLS13-075. Consistent high-grade, near surface U3O8 assays from the discovery demonstrate the potential for high-grade uranium mineralization on the geologically prospective yet underexplored margins of the western side of the Athabasca Basin.
Qualified Person:
Athabasca Nuclear President and CEO, Charles C. (Chuck) Downie, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical information in this release.
About Noka Resources Inc.:
Noka Resources Inc. is a junior exploration company with a focus on uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan. Noka's exploration strategy is focused in relatively underexplored areas of the Athabasca Basin Region, targeting favourable geology and structure amenable to near surface, unconformity-style uranium mineralization.
With a total land position of 488,463 hectares, Noka holds one of the largest geologically prospective land packages in the region through a 100% interest in the Clearwater and Athabasca North group of properties, as well as a 25% interest in the Western Athabasca Syndicate group of properties.
For further information, please contact Nav Dhaliwal, President, at [email protected] or visit www.nokaresources.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Nav Dhaliwal"
Nav Dhaliwal
President and CEO
(604) 678-5308
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This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.