false 2023-03-01 0001385849 Energy Fuels Inc. 0001385849 2023-03-01 2023-03-01

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2023

ENERGY FUELS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ontario 001-36204 98-1067994
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)

225 Union Blvd., Suite 600
Lakewood, Colorado, United States 80228
(Address of principal executive offices) (ZIP Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 974-2140

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class   Trading Symbols   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common shares, no par value   UUUU   NYSE American LLC
    EFR   Toronto Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b -2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐




Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

Energy Fuels Inc. is releasing revised versions of the initial assessment entitled "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA," and the preliminary feasibility study entitled "Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA," (the "Revised Reports"), the previously filed versions of which were released in March 2022 (the "Prior Reports").  The Revised Reports, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, were prepared for the purpose of providing further information regarding the calculation of cut-off grades, and to correct certain typographical errors.  The Revised Reports do not change any of the mineral resource or mineral reserve estimates contained in the Prior Reports.

Energy Fuels Inc. is also releasing a pre-feasibility study entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA," attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01, including Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA
   
99.2 Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA
   
99.3 Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA
   
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)



SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

  ENERGY FUELS INC.
  (Registrant)
   
Dated: March 1, 2023 By:  /s/ David C. Frydenlund
David C. Frydenlund
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary





 

 


Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA

SLR Project No:  138.02544.00001

Prepared by

SLR International Corporation

1658 Cole Blvd, Suite 100

Lakewood, CO  80401

for

Energy Fuels Inc.

225 Union Blvd., Suite 600

Lakewood, CO 80228

USA

Effective Date - December 31, 2021

Signature Date - February 22, 2022
Amended – February 8, 2023

Qualified Persons

Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng.

Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.

Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP

Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP

Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G.

FINAL

Distribution: 1 copy - Energy Fuels Inc.

 1 copy - SLR International Corporation


CONTENTS

1.0 SUMMARY 1-1
   
1.1 Executive Summary 1-1
1.2 Economic Analysis 1-6
1.3 Technical Summary 1-11
   
2.0 INTRODUCTION 2-1
   
2.1 Sources of Information 2-2
2.2 List of Abbreviations 2-4
   
3.0 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS 3-1
   
3.1 Reliance on Information Provided by the Registrant 3-1
   
4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION 4-1
   
4.1 Location 4-1
4.2 Land Tenure 4-6
4.3 Required Permits and Status 4-22
4.4 Encumbrances 4-22
4.5 Royalties 4-23
4.6 Other Significant Factors and Risks 4-24
   
5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY 5-1
   
5.1 Accessibility 5-1
5.2 Vegetation 5-1
5.3 Climate 5-2
5.4 Local Resources 5-2
5.5 Infrastructure 5-2
5.6 Physiography 5-3
   
6.0 HISTORY 6-1
   
6.1 Prior Ownership 6-1
6.2 Exploration and Development History 6-2
6.3 Historical Resource Estimates 6-4
   
6.4 Past Production 6-5
7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION 7-1
   
7.1 Regional Geology 7-1
7.2 Local Geology 7-4
7.3 Property Geology 7-5
7.4 Mineralization 7-16

 



8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES 8-1
   
9.0 EXPLORATION 9-1
   
10.0 DRILLING 10-1
   
10.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit 10-4
10.2 Satellite Properties 10-4
10.3 Procedures 10-5
   
11.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES, AND SECURITY 11-1
   
11.1 Sample Preparation and Analysis 11-1
11.2 Sample Security 11-7
11.3 In Situ Leach Amenability 11-7
11.4 Bulk Density 11-8
11.5 Quality Assurance and Quality Control 11-9
11.6 Conclusions 11-9
   
12.0 DATA VERIFICATION 12-1
   
12.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit 12-1
12.2 Satellite Properties 12-3
12.3 Limitations 12-5
   
13.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING 13-1
   
13.1 Metallurgical Testing 13-1
13.2 Opinion of Adequacy 13-2
   
14.0 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES 14-1
   
14.1 Summary 14-1
14.2 Resource Database 14-3
14.3 Geological Interpretation 14-4
14.4 Drill Data Statistics 14-4
14.5 Treatment of High-Grade Assays 14-13
14.6 Compositing 14-13
14.7 Search Strategy and Grade Interpolation Parameters 14-13
14.8 Bulk Density 14-14
14.9 Radiometric Equilibrium Factor 14-15
14.10 Cut-Off Grade and GT Parameters 14-16
14.11 Mineral Resource Classification 14-17
14.12 GT Model Validation 14-19
14.13 Mineral Resource Reporting 14-21
   
15.0 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES 15-1
   
16.0 MINING METHODS 16-1


16.1 Introduction 16-1
16.2 Mining Method 16-2
16.3 Mining Operations 16-2
16.4 Hydrogeology Data 16-4
16.5 Geotechnical Data 16-8
16.6 Life of Mine Plan 16-8
16.7 Mine Equipment 16-9
16.8 Mine Workforce 16-9
   
17.0 RECOVERY METHODS 17-1
   
17.1 Introduction 17-1
17.2 Chemical Reactions 17-1
17.3 Flow and Material Balance 17-2
17.4 Sources of Plant Liquid Effluents and Disposal Methods 17-4
17.5 Plant Workforce 17-4
17.6 White Mesa Mill Drying/Packaging Operation 17-4
   
18.0 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE 18-1
   
18.1 Introduction 18-1
18.2 Access Roads 18-1
18.3 Power 18-1
18.4 Water Supply 18-1
18.5 Tailings 18-1
18.6 Mine Support Facilities 18-1
   
19.0 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS 19-1
   
19.1 Markets 19-1
19.2 Contracts 19-3
   
20.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT 20-1
   
20.1 Summary 20-1
20.2 Environmental Studies 20-1
20.3 Project Permitting 20-2
20.4 Environmental Requirements 20-4
20.5 Social and Community 20-5
   
21.0 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS 21-1
   
21.1 Capital Costs 21-1
21.2 Operating Costs 21-4
   
22.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 22-1
   
22.1 Base Case (Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources) 22-1
22.2 Alternate Case (Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources Only) 22-8


23.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES 23-1
   
24.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION 24-1
   
25.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS 25-1
   
25.1 Geology and Mineral Resources 25-1
25.2 Mining Methods 25-2
25.3 Mineral Processing 25-2
25.4 Infrastructure 25-2
25.5 Environment 25-3
   
26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 26-1
   
26.1 Geology and Mineral Resources 26-1
26.2 Mining Methods 26-3
26.3 Mineral Processing 26-3
   
27.0 REFERENCES 27-1
   
28.0 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE 28-1
   
29.0 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON 29-1
   
29.1 Grant A. Malensek 29-1
29.2 Mark B. Mathisen 29-2
29.3 Jeremy Scott Collyard 29-3
29.4 Jeffery L. Woods 29-4
29.5 Phillip E. Brown 29-6
   
30.0 APPENDIX 1 30-1


TABLES

Table 1-1:PA2 Wellfield Development 1-5
Table 1-2:Base Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary 1-9
Table 1-3: Alternate Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary 1-10
Table 1-4:Attributable Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex - Effective December 31, 2021 1-15
Table 1-5:Base Case Capital Cost Estimate 1-18
Table 1-6:Base Case Operating Cost Estimate 1-19
Table 2-1:Summary of QP Responsibilities 2-2
Table 4-1:Nichols Ranch Lode Mining Claims 4-6
Table 4-2:Jane Dough Lode Mining Claims 4-8
Table 4-3:Hank Lode Mining Claims 4-12
Table 4-4:North Rolling Pin Lode Mining Claims 4-14
Table 4-5:West North Butte Lode Mining Claims 4-16
Table 4-6:East North Butte Lode Mining Claims 4-20
Table 4-7:Willow Creek Lode Mining Claims 4-21
Table 4-8:Current Reclamation Bond Summary 4-22
Table 6-1:Historic Mineral Resource Estimates 6-5
Table 10-1:Historical Drillhole Summary 10-1
Table 11-1:Radiometric Equilibrium Data 11-7
Table 12-1:EFR Drilling Database 12-2
Table 13-1:Past Production 2014 to 2021 13-1
Table 14-1:Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex - Effective Date December 31, 2021 14-2
Table 14-2:Summary of Available Drillhole Data 14-3
Table 14-3:GT Summaries 14-5
Table 14-4:Drillhole Results 14-5
Table 14-5:Bulk Density Measurements 14-14
Table 14-6:Nichols Ranch Project Cut-off Grade 14-16
Table 14-7:Average Intercept Thickness Nichols Ranch A-Sand Zone 14-16
Table 14-8:Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex - Effective Date December 31, 2021 14-22
Table 16-1:Nichols Ranch Area Life of Mine Plan (Attributable to EFR) 16-9



Table 20-1:Environmental Permits for Operation 20-3
Table 20-2:Reclamation Bonds 20-5
Table 21-1:Base Case Capital Cost Estimate Summary 21-1
Table 21-2:SLR Capital Cost Scale Adjustment Summary 21-2
Table 21-3:SLR Capital Cost Escalation Factors 21-3
Table 21-4:SLR 2021 Escalated Base Case Capital Cost Summary 21-3
Table 21-5:Operating Cost Estimate 21-4
Table 21-6:2015 Site Operating Cost Scale Adjustment 21-5
Table 21-7:2021 SLR Operating Cost Escalation Factors 21-5
Table 21-8:SLR 2021 Escalated Base Case Operating Cost Summary 21-5
Table 21-9:Workforce Summary 21-6
Table 22-1: Base Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary 22-4
Table 22-2:Base Case All-In Sustaining Costs Composition 22-5
Table 22-3:Base Case After-Tax Sensitivity Analysis 22-7
Table 22-4: Alternate Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary 22-10
Table 22-5:Alternate Case All-in Sustaining Costs Composition 22-11
Table 26-1:PA2 Wellfield Development 26-1

FIGURES


Figure 4-1:Location Map 4-3
Figure 4-2:Land Tenure Map 4-4
Figure 4-3:White Mesa Mill Location and Property Map 4-5
Figure 7-1:Cross Section of Local Geology 7-1
Figure 7-2:Regional Geologic Map 7-3
Figure 7-3:Schematic Fluvial Point Bar System 7-5
Figure 7-4:Regional Stratigraphic Column 7-7
Figure 7-5:Nichols Ranch Radiometric Log Cross Section Log 7-8
Figure 7-6:North Rolling Pin Radiometric Log Cross Section A-A' Log 7-10
Figure 7-7:North Rolling Pin Radiometric Log Cross Section B-B' Log 7-11
Figure 7-8:West North Butte Radiometric Log Cross Section Log A-A' 7-13
Figure 7-9:East North Butte Radiometric Log Cross Section Log B-B' 7-14
Figure 7-10:Willow Creek Radiometric Log Cross Section Log C-C' 7-15
Figure 7-11:Cross Section Stacked Roll Fronts 7-17



Figure 8-1:Typical Roll Front Cross Section 8-2
Figure 8-2:Typical Roll Front (REDOX) Boundary 8-2
Figure 10-1:Historical Drillhole Location Map 10-2
Figure 10-2:EFR Drillhole Location Map 10-3
Figure 11-1:Uranium Roll Front Natural Gamma Log Configuration and Associated Geochemistry 11-3
Figure 11-2:PFN versus Natural Gamma Trace Response 11-4
Figure 13-1:Nichols Ranch Production (2014 to 2021) 13-2
Figure 14-1:Nichols Ranch - PA1 HH-1 through HH-9 A Sand 30 -100 GT Map 14-6
Figure 14-2:Nichols Ranch - PA2 HH-10 through HH-13 A Sand 30 -100 GT Map 14-7
Figure 14-3:Jane Dough Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map 14-8
Figure 14-4:Hank Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map 14-9
Figure 14-5:North Rolling Pin Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map - North Half 14-11
Figure 14-6:North Rolling Pin Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map - South Half 14-12
Figure 14-7:Nichols Ranch PA1 and PA2 Drilling 14-20
Figure 16-1:Schematic of the ISR Process 16-1
Figure 16-2:Relevant Geologic/Hydrogeologic Units in the Vicinity of the Project Area 16-7
Figure 17-1:Nichols Ranch Plant Flow Sheet 17-3
Figure 18-1:Aerial View of Infrastructure Around the Nichols Ranch Processing Plant 18-2
Figure 18-2:Site Layout 18-3
Figure 19-1:Long Term Uranium Price Forecast 19-2
Figure 22-1:Base Case Annual U3O8 Production by Area 22-3
Figure 22-2:Base Case Project After-Tax Metrics Summary 22-3
Figure 22-3:Base Case Annual AISC Curve Profile 22-6
Figure 22-4:Base Case After-tax NPV 5% Sensitivity Analysis 22-8
Figure 22-5:Alternate Case Annual U3O8 Production by Area 22-9
Figure 22-6:Alternate Case After-tax NPV 5% Sensitivity Analysis 22-12

APPENDIX TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 30-1:Base Case Annual Cash Flow Model 30-2
Table 30-2:Alternate Case Annual Cash Flow Model 30-4


1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 Executive Summary

This Independent Technical Report (Technical Report) was prepared by Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng., Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP, Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP and Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G. of SLR International Corporation (SLR), for Energy Fuels Inc. (Energy Fuels), the parent company of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR), with respect to the Nichols Ranch Project (Nichols Ranch or the Project), located in eastern Wyoming, USA.  EFR owns 100% of the Project, with the exception of the Jane Dough area, over which EFR holds an 81% interest. 

EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels, is incorporated in Ontario, Canada.  EFR is a US-based uranium and vanadium exploration and mine development company with projects located in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico.  Energy Fuels is listed on the NYSE American Stock Exchange (symbol: UUUU) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: EFR).

This Technical Report satisfies the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Modernized Property Disclosure Requirements for Mining Registrants as described in Subpart 229.1300 of Regulation S-K, Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations (S-K 1300) and Item 601(b)(96) Technical Report Summary.  The purpose of this Technical Report is to disclose the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Project.  The term PEA is used throughout this Technical Report and is consistent with an Initial Assessment (IA) under S-K 1300.  Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng., Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP, Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP and Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G. are all Qualified Persons (QPs) within the meaning of both S-K 1300 and NI 43-101 (SLR QPs).

This Technical Report has been amended to add the parameters related to cut-off grade calculations and to correct typographical errors.  The effective date of the Mineral Resource, December 31, 2021, remains unchanged.  The SLR QPs have not reviewed any additional information on the Project

Resource estimates completed over Nichols Ranch in 2015 (Beahm and Goranson, 2015) and North Rolling Pin in 2010 (Graves, 2010) have been superseded by the Mineral Resource estimates of this Technical Report which includes additional new information and analysis.

The Project includes the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex (the Complex) near the city of Caspar, Wyoming, and the White Mesa Mill (the Mill) near the city of Blanding, Utah.  The Complex is currently on care and maintenance and the Mill is on a reduced operating schedule while processing materials as they become available.  When in full operation, the Project is expected to produce uranium concentrate known internationally as yellowcake.  A site visit was carried out to the Complex on October 28, 2021, and the Mill on November 11, 2021.

The Mill was developed in the late 1970s by Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (EFNI) as a processing option for the many small mines that are located in the Colorado Plateau region.  After approximately two and a half years, the Mill ceased ore processing operations altogether due to low uranium prices.  Since 1984, majority ownership interest has alternated between EFNI, Union Carbide Corporation, and Denison Mines Corporation (Denison, previously International Uranium Corporation).  EFR acquired the Complex in 2015.  EFR has controlled 100% of the Mill's assets and liabilities since August 2012.

The Complex includes the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit, which is comprised of the Nichols Ranch wellfield (Nichols Ranch Wellfield), Nichols Ranch plant (Nichols Ranch Plant), Jane Dough area, and Hank area, and several satellite properties.  The production scenario reviewed for this Technical Report assumes that the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit will be developed as an in situ recovery (ISR) mining operation with an onsite processing plant and based on the current resource, an expected 11 year mine life.  The Project will produce an average of 366 thousand pounds (klb) of U3O8 per year on-site, which will then be trucked to the Mill for final drying and upgrading before delivery to end-users.


1.1.1 Conclusions

The SLR QPs offer the following conclusions by area.

1.1.1.1 Geology and Mineral Resources


1.1.1.2 Mining Methods

1.1.1.3 Mineral Processing


1.1.1.4 Infrastructure

1.1.1.5 Environment

1.1.2 Recommendations

The SLR QPs offer the following recommendations by area:

1.1.2.1 Geology and Mineral Resources

The SLR QP offers the following recommendations regarding the data supporting the drillhole database at the Project:

1. Transition from a Microsoft Excel database to acQuire or a similar database.

2. Verify all drilling data collar coordinates as Wyoming NAD27 UTM zone 13 coordinates.  EFR should also consider moving to an updated coordinate system, such as WGS 84, for use in online graphic programs.

3. Create 3D geologic models of the Wasatch Formation and individual Sand Units for use in verifying and auditing uranium mineralization.

4. Use a handheld X-ray diffraction (XRF) tool to replace the scintillometer reading in order to obtain more precise mineralogical information.

5. Resume using PFN as a QA/QC tool to confirm disequilibrium within the Satellite Properties not yet exposed to ISR mining.

In addition, the SLR QP provides the following deposit specific recommendations:

1.1.2.1.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

1.1.2.1.1.1 Nichols Ranch

The SLR QP makes the following recommendations regarding advancing the Project with Production Planning and Development for Production Area 2 (PA2):


1. Conduct drilling of 55 delineation to better define the mineralized trends in PA2 to meet a minimum 100 ft grid spacing.

2. Based on the results of the 55 delineation holes, drill and install 120 development wells, associated header houses and manifold to main production pipeline for the remaining four wellfields.

Additional plant upgrades are not required to put PA2 into production.  The proposed budget for bringing PA2 into production is shown in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1: PA2 Wellfield Development

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Cost
(US$)

Drilling (Delineation - 55 holes)

$110,000

Drill and Install Wellfield (120 wells)

$1,800,000

Header House and Manifold Construction

$390,000

Total

$2,300,000

1.1.2.1.1.2 Jane Dough

1. Complete exploration and delineation drilling at Jane Dough, in concurrence with ongoing delineation and production well drilling at Nichols Ranch, starting in the areas most proximate to Nichols Ranch and proceeding southward.

2. Complete an Engineering study to define the most efficient infrastructure for production.

3. Install monitor wells and conduct pump tests for state and federal permit/license requirements in a phased approach as drilling will define multiple production areas (PAs).

1.1.2.1.1.3 Hank

1. Complete additional drilling at Hank to access, define, and upgrade classification of the Mineral Resource.

2. After drilling, complete the economic evaluation of the Hank area project.

1.1.2.1.2 Satellite Properties

1.1.2.1.2.1 North Rolling Pin

1. Install additional monitor wells for future EFR hydrologic studies.  Determine groundwater levels and conduct pump tests to evaluate groundwater quality and impact on possible ISR mining.

2. Complete additional delineation drilling to meet a minimum 100 ft grid spacing. 

3. Conduct additional radiological disequilibrium studies using PFN, Delayed Fission Neutron (DFN) logging, and/or core assays to develop a site-specific model.  Also, conduct a bench scale leach tests to determine amenability to ISR.

4. Complete environmental baseline studies for preparation of state and federal permit/license applications.

5. After drilling, complete an economic evaluation of the North Rolling Pin project.


6. Update the current drilling database with all possible historical holes.

1.1.2.1.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek

1. Update, verify, and certify the drilling database and ensure that all drilling, both historical and recent, is included.

2. Prepare an updated resource estimation upon completion of updating and verifying the database to make 2008 resource estimations current.

3. Install additional monitor wells for future EFR hydrologic studies.  Determine groundwater levels and conduct pump tests to evaluate groundwater quality and impact on possible ISR mining.

4. Complete additional drilling to access the mineral resource. 

5. Conduct additional radiological disequilibrium studies using PFN, DFN logging, and/or core assays to develop a site-specific model.  Also, conduct bench scale leach tests to determine amenability to ISR.

6. Complete environmental baseline studies for preparation of state and federal permit/license applications.

7. After drilling, complete an economic evaluation of the West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek project.

1.1.2.2 Mining Methods

1. Consistent with the state and federal regulations requirements, environmental monitoring and analysis programs should be implemented to continually collect water level and water quality data when the mine site becomes fully operational. 

1.1.2.3 Mineral Processing

1. Continue the intermittent Plant operations with maintenance program.

2. Evaluate the Nichols Ranch Plant's historical operating data to determine possible flow sheet improvements or modifications to improve production rate/economics and make these changes before commencing production.

1.2 Economic Analysis

An economic analysis was performed using the assumptions  presented in this Technical Report.  The SLR QP notes that, unlike Mineral Reserves, Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.  This PEA is preliminary in nature, and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too geologically speculative to have modifying factors applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that this economic assessment will be realized. 

The Nichols Ranch base case cash flow is based on Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources (the latter being 17% of the total).  An alternative case with only Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources is also presented in this Technical Report.


1.2.1 Base Case (Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources)

1.2.1.1 Economic Criteria

An after-tax cash flow projection for the base case has been generated from the life of mine (LOM) schedule and capital and operating cost estimates in this Technical Report for the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit (Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas), and is summarized in the Section 1.2.1.2.  A summary of the key criteria is provided below.

1.2.1.1.1 Revenue

1.2.1.1.2 Capital and Operating Costs

1.2.1.1.3 Royalties and Severance Taxes


1.2.1.1.4 Income Taxes

The economic analysis includes the following assumptions for corporate income taxes (CIT):

1.2.1.2 Cash Flow Analysis

Table 1-2 presents a summary of the Nichols Ranch base case economics at an U3O8 price of $65.00/lb and production schedule with 17% Inferred Mineral Resources and 83% combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources.  The SLR QP notes that, unlike Mineral Reserves, Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.  The economic analysis for the base case contained in this Technical Report is based, in part, on Inferred Resources, and is preliminary in nature.  Inferred Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have modifying factors applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that this economic assessment will be realized.  The SLR QP notes that with the future exploration drilling planned at the Complex, it would be reasonable to expect a significant amount of Inferred Mineral Resources to become converted into the Indicated category through a subsequent resource model.

On an after-tax basis for the base case, the undiscounted cash flow totals $41.1 million over the mine life.  The after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) at 5% discount rate is $31.5 million.  The SLR QP notes that after-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is not applicable as the Nichols Ranch Plant at the Complex is already constructed and already operated for a number of years.  Capital identified in the economics is for sustaining operations and plant rebuilds as necessary. 


Table 1-2: Base Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Unit

Value

U3O8 Price

$/lb

65.00

U3O8 Sales

Mlb

4.02

Total Gross Revenue

US$ M

262

Wellfield Costs

US$ M

(12)

Processing Costs

US$ M

(39)

Deep Well Disposal Costs

US$ M

(1)

G&A Costs

US$ M

(26)

Selling Expense

US$ M

(2)

Production Taxes/Royalties

US$ M

(22)

Total Operating Costs

US$ M

(101)

Operating Margin

US$ M

161

Operating Margin

%

62

Corporate Income Tax

US$ M

(17)

Operating Cash Flow

US$ M

143

Sustaining Capital

US$ M

(81)

Restoration/Decommissioning

US$ M

(21)

Total Capital

US$ M

(102)

 

 

 

Pre-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

58.6

Pre-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

46.1

 

 

 

After-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

41.1

After-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

31.5

The average annual U3O8 sales for the base case during the 11 years of operation (and one year of preproduction expense) is 393 klb U3O8 per year at an average All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $50.43/lb U3O8 (or $45.30/lb U3O8 excluding Restoration/ Decommissioning costs).

1.2.1.3 Sensitivity Analysis

The Project is most sensitive to uranium price and recovery, and only less sensitive to operating cost and capital cost at an American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE) International Class 4 level of accuracy (15% to -30% to +20% to +50%).  The sensitivities to pounds of U3O8 and metal price are nearly identical.  The SLR QP notes that head grade variations in ISR mining are difficult to measure at this PEA stage and thus were not included in this sensitivity analysis.


1.2.2 Alternate Case (Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources Only)

The SLR QP also undertook an analysis of an alternative case, considering only combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (83% of the base case production schedule).  The SLR QP notes that while the alternate case does not contain Inferred Mineral Resources, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.  There is no certainty that economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized.

Using the same cost parameters and ISR mining and processing assumptions as the base case, the alternate case production schedule generates 3.3 Mlb U3O8 over a nine year mine life.

Table 1-3 presents a summary of the Nichols Ranch alternate case economics at an U3O8 price of $65.00/lb.  On an after-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $27.4 million over the mine life.  The after-tax NPV at 5% discount rate is $23.7 million. 

Table 1-3:  Alternate Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Unit

Value

U3O8 Price

$/lb

65

U3O8 Sales

Mlb

3.36

Total Gross Revenue

US$ M

219

Wellfield Costs

US$ M

(10)

Processing Costs

US$ M

(33)

Deep Well Disposal Costs

US$ M

(1)

G&A Costs

US$ M

(21)

Product Transport to Market Cost

US$ M

(1)

Production Taxes/Royalties

US$ M

(19)

Total Operating Costs

US$ M

(85)

Operating Margin

US$ M

133

Operating Margin

US$ M

61%

Corporate Income Tax

US$ M

(16)

Operating Cash Flow

US$ M

117

Sustaining Capital

US$ M

(73)

Restoration/Decommissioning

US$ M

(17)

Total Capital

US$ M

(90)

 

 

 

Pre-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

43.7

Pre-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

37.4

 

 

 

After-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

27.4

After-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

23.7



The average annual U3O8 sales for the alternate case during the nine years of operation are 418 klb U3O8 per year at an average AISC of $52.00/lb U3O8 (or $47.05/lb U3O8 excluding Restoration/Decommissioning costs) 

The after-tax cash flow sensitivities for the alternate case are similar in magnitude to the base case with the Project being most sensitive to uranium price and recovery, and only slightly less sensitive to operating cost and capital cost at an AACE International Class 4 level of accuracy.

1.3 Technical Summary

1.3.1 Property Description and Location

The Complex is located in Campbell and Johnson Counties, in eastern Wyoming, USA in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District of the Powder River Basin, 80 miles northeast of the city of Casper, Wyoming.  The Complex is located approximately at latitude 43°42' North and longitude 106°01' West.  The Mill is located in San Juan County, in southeastern Utah, USA, immediately south of the town of Blanding, Utah.  The Mill is located at latitude 37°32'10.49" North and longitude 109°30'12" West.  The proposed Project will produce approximately 366 klb U3O8 annually.

1.3.2 Land Tenure

Excluding the Jane Dough area in which EFR owns 81%, EFR owns 100% interest in the remaining areas which comprise the Complex land holdings totaling 10,755 acres and the Mill land holdings totalling 5,389 acres.

The Complex is divided into two primary areas, the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and the Satellite Properties.

The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit includes the following:

Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough are contiguous, and the Hank area is located approximately six miles north of Nichols Ranch.

EFR currently controls four additional properties (the Satellite Properties) which are known to have significant mineralization, but not currently included in the mine permit.  These include:

1.3.3 History

The Complex is an advanced stage project which is licensed to operate by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ).  Construction of the processing facility began in 2011.  Plant construction and initial wellfield installation was competed in 2014 and operations were initiated in April 2014.  Production of 1,265,805 pounds of uranium oxide has been reported from initiation of production through December 31, 2019, via ISR mining. 


1.3.4 Geology and Mineralization

1.3.4.1 Geologic Setting

The Complex is located in the Powder River Basin, which is a large structural and topographic depression sub-parallel to the trend of the Rocky Mountains.  The Basin is bounded on the south by the Hartville Uplift and the Laramie Range, on the east by the Black Hills, and on the west by the Big Horn Mountains and the Casper Arch.  The Miles City Arch in southeastern Montana forms the northern boundary of the Basin.

The Powder River Basin is an asymmetrical syncline with its axis closely paralleling the western basin margin.  During sedimentary deposition, the structural axis (the line of greatest material accumulation) shifted westward resulting in the Basin's asymmetrical shape.

Uranium mineralization at the Complex deposits is hosted by the Eocene Wasatch Formation.  The Wasatch Formation was deposited in a multi-channel fluvial and flood plain environment.  The climate at the time of deposition was wet tropical to subtropical with medium stream and river sediment load depositing most medium grained materials.  The source of the sediments, as evidenced by abundant feldspar grains in the sandstones, was the nearby Laramie and Granite Mountains.

Within the Complex, there is a repetitive transgressive/regressive sequence of sandstones separated by fine-grained horizons composed of siltstone, mudstone, carbonaceous shale, and poorly developed thin coal seams.  The fine-grained materials were deposited in flood plain, shallow lake (lacustrine), and swamp environments.  Ultimately, deposition of the Wasatch Formation was a function of stream bed load entering the basin and subsidence from within the basin.  However, in the central part of the Powder River Basin, long periods of balanced stability occurred.  During these periods the stream gradients were relatively low and allowed for development of broad (0.5 mi to 6.0 mi wide) meander belt systems, associated over-bank deposits, and finer grained materials in flood plains, swamps, and shallow bodies of water.

Meander belts in the Wasatch Formation are generally 5 ft to 30 ft thick.  The A Sand at Nichols Ranch area is made up of three to four stacked meander belts and the F Sand at Hank area has two to three stacked meander belts.  Individual meander belt layers will rarely terminate at the same location twice.  Meanders have been noted to frequently terminate in the interior of a belt system but are more likely to terminate somewhere closer to the edge of the meander stream valley.  The net effect for fluvial sands is to generally thin away from the main axis of the meander belt system. The A Sand meander belt system at Nichols Ranch area is approximately four miles wide.  At Hank, the F Sand meander belt system is smaller than Nichols Ranch at approximately one and a half miles wide.

At the North Rolling Pin area, the mineralized sand horizon (F Sand) occurs within the Wasatch Formation at an approximate depth from surface ranging from 51 ft to 403 ft and averaging 282 ft to the top of the mineralization. Generally, the depth of mineralization decreases from the northeast to the southwest due mainly to topography along which the surface elevation decreases from approximately 5,180 ft to approximately 4,800 ft.  The F Sand primarily consists of two stacked sand sets, termed the Upper and Lower F Sands that each average 20 ft to 25 ft thick

The mineralized sand horizons occur within the lower part of the Wasatch Formation, at an approximate depth from surface ranging from 482 ft to 1,012 ft at West North Butte, 540 ft to 660 ft at East North Butte, and 172 ft to 567 ft at Willow Creek. The host sands are primarily arkosic in composition, friable, and contain trace carbonaceous material and organic debris. There are local sandy mudstone/siltstone intervals with the sandstones, and the sands may thicken or pinch-out in some locations.  Mineral resources are located in the Eocene age Wasatch Formation in what is identified as the A, B, C and F host sand units of the WNB area, the A and B host sands of the ENB area and in the A and F host sand units of the WC area.


1.3.4.2 Mineralization

The uranium mineralization is composed of amorphous uranium oxide, sooty pitchblende, and coffinite, and is deposited in void spaces between detrital sand grains and within minor authigenic clays.  The host sandstone is composed of quartz, feldspar, accessory biotite and muscovite mica, and locally occurring carbon fragments.  Grain size ranges from very fine to very coarse sand but is medium-grained overall.  The sandstones are weakly to moderately cemented and friable.  Pyrite and calcite are associated with the sands in the reduced facies.  Hematite or limonite stain from pyrite are common oxidation products in the oxidized facies.  Montmorillonite and kaolinite clays from oxidized feldspars are also present in the oxidized facies (Uranerz, 2010a).  The uranium being extracted is hosted in a sandstone, roll front deposit at a depth ranging from 400 ft to 800 ft.

1.3.4.3 Deposit

Wyoming uranium deposits are typically sandstone roll front uranium deposits as defined in the "World Distribution of Uranium Deposits (UDEPO) with Uranium Deposit Classification", (IAEA, 2009).  The key components in the formation of roll front type mineralization include:


1.3.5 Exploration Status

On October 15, 1951, J. D. Love discovered uranium mineralization in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District in the Wasatch Formation on the south side of North Pumpkin Butte in the west central portion of the Powder River Basin.  The mineralization was one of eight areas recommended in April 1950 for investigation in the search for uranium bearing lignites and volcanic tuffs.  In response to this recommendation, an airborne radiometric reconnaissance of most of these areas was undertaken by the USGS in October 1950.  The uranium mineralization discovered by J. D. Love was in the vicinity of an aerial radiometric anomaly identified from this survey (Love, 1952).

Early mining focused on shallow oxidized areas using small open pit mines.  Primary exploration methods included geologic mapping and ground radiometric surveys.  Modern exploration and mining in the district have focused on deeper reduced mineralization.

Rotary drilling on the Complex is the principal method of exploration and delineation of uranium mineralization. Drilling can generally be conducted year-round on the Project.

As of the effective date of this Technical Report, EFR and its predecessor companies have completed a total of 3,942 drillholes across the Complex over the course of several drilling programs that began in 1960.  Of the 3,942 drillholes recorded, EFR drilling database contains 3,504 drillholes totaling 2,363,890 ft drilled of which 449 totaling 281,126 ft have been completed by EFR since acquiring the Project in 2015. The drill record includes both Rotary and Diamond Drill (DD) drilling, monitor wells, and injection and production wells. No drilling has occurred across the properties since December 5, 2016.

1.3.6 Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Resources in S-K 1300, which are consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM, 2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI43-101.

The SLR QP has reviewed and accepted the Mineral Resource estimate prepared by EFR for the Complex. Resource estimates were completed with the following effective dates using the GT contour method and audited by the SLR QP for accuracy and completeness:

The effective date of this Mineral Resource estimate is December 31, 2021.  The U3O8 Mineral Resource for the Complex is reported at a GT cut-off grade of 0.20 %-ft and have been depleted as of December 31, 2021.  The total production from Nichols Ranch is now 1,276,589 pounds eU3O8.as of December 31, 2021.

Total Measured + Indicated Resources for the Complex are 3.294 Mst at an average grade of 0.106% eU3O8 containing 6.988 Mlb eU3O8.  Additional Inferred Resources total 0.65 Mst at an average grade of 0.097% eU3O8 containing 1.256 Mlb eU3O8, of which 1.176 Mlb is attributable to EFR.  A summary of the Mineral Resource estimate is presented in Table 1-4..

The SLR QP is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.


Table 1-4: Attributable Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex - Effective December 31, 2021

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Project Area

Classification

Tonnage
(ton)

Grade
(% eU3O8)

Contained Metal
(lb U3O8)

EFR Attrib. Basis
(%)

EFR Attributable
(lb U3O8)

Recovery
(%)

Nichols Ranch Mining Unit + Satellite Properties

Total Measured

11,000

0.187

41,140

100.0

41,140

71.0

Total Indicated

3,283,000

0.106

6,946,693

88.4

6,141,663

60.4

Total Measured + Indicated

3,294,000

0.106

6,987,833

88.5

6,182,803

60.4

Total Inferred

650,000

0.097

1,256,000

93.6

1,176,200

60.4

Notes:

1. SEC S-K 1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Measured Mineral Resource includes reduction for production through December 31, 2021.

3. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR for Nichols Ranch, Hank, and North Rolling Pin, and are in situ.

4. Mineral Resources are 81% attributable to EFR and 19% attributable to United Nuclear Corp in parts of Jane Dough, and are in situ.

5. Mineral Resource estimates are based on a GT cut-off of 0.20 %-ft

6. The cut-off grade is calculated using a metal price of $65/lb U3O8, operating costs of $19.28/lb U3O8, and 60.4% recovery (based on 71% process recovery and 85% under wellfield).

7. Mineral Resources are based on a tonnage factory of 15.0 ft3/ton (Bulk density 0.0667 ton/ft3 or 2.13 t/m3).

8. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.


1.3.7 Mineral Reserves

There are no current Mineral Reserves at the Complex.

1.3.8 Mining Method

The production schedule in this Technical Report is based on ISR mining of the uranium mineralization at the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit section of the Complex (Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas).  ISR is an injected-solution mining process that reverses the natural processes that originally deposited the uranium in the sandstones.  On-site ground water is being fortified with gaseous oxygen and introduced to the zones of uranium mineralization through a pattern of injection wells.  The solution dissolves the uranium from the sandstone host.

The uranium-bearing solution is brought back to surface through production wells where the uranium is concentrated at a central processing plant and dried into yellowcake for market.

ISR mining and milling utilizes the five steps described below.  The first three steps describe the mining process while steps 4 and 5 describe the milling (i.e., processing and refinement).

1. A solution called lixiviant (typically containing water mixed with oxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide, as well as sodium bicarbonate or carbon dioxide) is injected through a series of wells into the mineralized zones to dissolve and to complex the uranium.

2. The lixiviant with uranium in solution is then collected in a series of recovery wells, through which it is pumped to a processing plant, where the uranium is extracted from the solution through an ion-exchange process.

3. Once the uranium has been extracted, the lixiviant is fortified and reused in the wellfield. Typically, 99% of the solution is reused. The remaining percentage is waste which is disposed of in deep injection wells within EPA exempted aquifers.

4. The uranium extract is then further purified, concentrated, and dried to produce a material, which is called "yellowcake" because of its yellowish color. 

5. Finally, the yellowcake is packed in 55-gallon drums to be transported to a uranium conversion facility, where it is processed through the stages of the nuclear fuel cycle to produce fuel for use in nuclear power reactors.

Due to the absence of the on-site drying and packaging circuit, the U3O8 slurry produced on-site will be trucked 643 road miles to the Mill near Blanding, Utah, for drying and drumming for final delivery to end users.

A production schedule has been developed for this Technical Report with a mine life of 11 years producing an average of 366 klb of U3O8 per year.

1.3.9 Mineral Processing

1.3.9.1 Nichols Ranch Plant

The Nichols Ranch Plant is licensed and designed to have four major solution circuits: 1) the recovery circuit, 2) the elution circuit, 3) the precipitation and filtration circuit, 4) the drying and packaging circuit.  The first three solution circuits are constructed and operated from 2014 to 2019.  Due to the absence of the on-site drying and packaging circuit, the Project proposes to truck the U3O8 produced on-site 643 road miles to the Mill near Blanding, Utah, for drying and drumming for final delivery to end users. 


The Nichols Ranch Plant's recovery circuit includes the flow of lixiviant from the wellfield to the sand filters, or directly to the ion exchange (IX) columns, and back to the wellfield.  The uranium that is liberated underground is extracted in the ion exchange system of the process plant.  The bleed from the circuit is permanently removed from the lixiviant flow to create a "cone of depression" in the wellfield's static water level and ensure that the lixiviant is contained by the inward movement of groundwater within the designated recovery area.  The bleed is disposed of by means of injection into two deep, approved, Class I - Non Hazardous disposal wells.  The volume of the concentrated bleed is approximately 0.5% to 1.5% of the circulating lixiviant flow for the Nichols Ranch area and projected to be 2.5% to 3.5% for the Hank area.

The elution circuit consists of transferring the uranium loaded resin bed contained in an IX column into an elution column and to circulate a briny-carbonated solution through the resin bed to remove the uranium from the ion exchange resin until it is completely stripped.  The barren or eluted ion exchange resin is then transferred back from the elution column to the IX column. 

The uranium concentration in the eluate will be built up at a controlled concentration range of between 20 g/L to 40 g/L.  This uranium rich eluate is ready for the de-carbonation process that occurs in the uranium precipitation circuit.

The precipitation and filtration circuit starts when the eluate is treated with acid to destroy the carbonate portion of the dissolved uranium complex.  In addition to adding the acid slowly, a common defoamer may be used to reduce the foaming activity.  The precipitation reagents, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide, are added to the eluate to start precipitating uranium yellowcake.  The yellowcake slurry is then filtered, washed, and loaded into a slurry trailer. When full, the yellowcake slurry trailer is transported by road to the Mill in Blanding, Utah, where it will be unloaded, dried, and drummed for final delivery to end users.

1.3.9.2 White Mesa Mill

Yellowcake produced at the Nichols Ranch Plant will only be dried and packaged at the Mill.

The Mill is currently on a reduced operating schedule processing materials as they become available.  The Mill is currently processing Rare Earth Element (REE) materials in part of the circuit, functioning essentially as a pilot plant, therefore the facility is sufficiently staffed to initiate U3O8 production relatively quickly.

1.3.10 Project Infrastructure

The Complex previously operated from 2014 to 2019 and is located within uranium-producing regions of central Wyoming.  All the infrastructure necessary to mine and process significant commercial quantities of U3O8 is in place.

The Infrastructure items include:


1.3.11 Market Studies

The majority of uranium is traded via long-term supply contracts, negotiated privately without disclosing prices and terms.  Spot prices are generally driven by current inventories and speculative short-term buying.  Monthly long-term industry average uranium prices based on the month-end prices are published by Ux Consulting, LLC, and Trade Tech, LLC.  An accepted mining industry practice is to use "Consensus Forecast Prices" obtained by collating commodity price forecasts from credible sources, with the long-term forecast price used for estimating Mineral Reserves, and 10% to 20% higher prices used for estimating Mineral Resources.

For Mineral Resource estimation and cash flow projections, EFR selected a U3O8 price of $65.00/lb, on a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) basis to customer facility, based on independent forecasts.  The SLR QP considers this price to be reasonable and consistent with industry practice.

1.3.12 Environmental, Permitting and Social Considerations

Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and the Hank areas are fully licensed and permitted for ISR mining and processing by major licenses and permits issued by the NRC, the WDEQ/LQD, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD), and the WDEQ/AQD.  Portions of the Hank area, totaling 280 acres, are on public lands managed by the BLM.  This area is permitted for operation by the BLM and a FONSI and Decision Record were issued in July 2015.  Nichols Ranch and the Hank areas consist of 3,370 acres and Jane Dough has approximately an additional 3,680 acres which have been approved and amended to the permitted Project boundary.

EFR has strong relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies and has a positive record of environmental performance at Nichols Ranch.  The SLR QP is not aware of environmental, permitting, or social/community, factors which would materially affect the mineral resource estimates.

1.3.13 Capital and Operating Cost Estimates

The base case capital cost estimate summarized in Table 1-5 covers the life of the Project and includes sustaining capital and restoration/decommissioning capital in Q1 2021 US dollar basis.  These cost estimates are based on 2015 estimates for a 6.3 Mlb production schedule that has been adjusted by the SLR QP to 4.0 Mlb for this Technical Report and escalated to a Q1 2021 US dollar basis using subscription-based Mining Cost Services (MCS) cost indices (Infomine, 2021).  The SLR QP is of the opinion that the inflationary indices since Q1 2021 are too volatile to apply against a long lived asset. 

Table 1-5: Base Case Capital Cost Estimate

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Capital Cost Area

Cost
(US$ 000)

Wellfield Development

61,327

Trunkline

227

Soft Costs

12,721




Capital Cost Area

Cost
(US$ 000)

Plant - CPP Buildout

4,990

Plant - Hank Pipeline

2,177

Total Sustaining Capital

81,442

Restoration/Decommissioning

20,664

Grand Total

102,105

The average LOM operating cost of $24.5568/lb U3O8 produced for the base case is summarized in Table 1-6 in Q1 US dollar basis.  The production cost estimate of $18.91/lb U3O8 is based on 2015 estimates for a 6.3 Mlb production schedule that has been adjusted by the SLR QP to 4.0 Mlb for this Technical Report and escalated to a Q1 2021 US dollar basis using the MCS cost indices.  The SLR QP is of the opinion that the inflationary indices since Q1 2021 are too volatile to apply against a long lived asset.

Table 1-6: Base Case Operating Cost Estimate

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Cost
(US$ 000)

Unit Cost
(US$/lb produced)

Wellfield

11,575

2.88

Processing

39,494

9.81

Deep Well Disposal

656

0.16

G & A

25,865

6.43

Total Site Operating Costs

77,590

19.28

Product Transport to Market

1,533

0.38

Total Production Costs

79,123

19.66

Ad Valorem Tax

10,583

2.63

WY Severance Tax

6,408

1.59

Royalties

4,717

1.17

Total Operating Costs

100,832

25.06

In the SLR QP's opinion, the base case capital and operating cost estimates meet an AACE International Class 4 cost estimate with an accuracy range of 15% to -30% to +20% to +50%.


2.0 INTRODUCTION

This Independent Technical Report (Technical Report) was prepared by Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng., Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP, Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP and Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G. of SLR International Corporation (SLR), for Energy Fuels Inc. (Energy Fuels), the parent company of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR), with respect to the Nichols Ranch Project (Nichols Ranch or the Project), located in eastern Wyoming, USA, for EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels Inc.  EFR owns 100% of the Project, with the exception of the Jane Dough area, over which EFR holds an 81% interest. 

EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels, is incorporated in Ontario, Canada.  EFR is a US-based uranium and vanadium exploration and mine development company with projects located in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico.  Energy Fuels is listed on the NYSE American Stock Exchange (symbol: UUUU) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: EFR).

This Technical Report satisfies the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Modernized Property Disclosure Requirements for Mining Registrants as described in Subpart 229.1300 of Regulation S-K, Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations (S-K 1300) and Item 601(b)(96) Technical Report Summary.  The purpose of this Technical Report is to disclose the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Project.  The term PEA is used throughout this Technical Report and is consistent with an Initial Assessment (IA) under S-K 1300.

This Technical Report has been amended to add the parameters related to cut-off grade calculations and to correct typographical errors.  The effective date of the Mineral Resource, December 31, 2021, remains unchanged.  The SLR QPs have not reviewed any additional information on the Project.

Resource estimates completed over Nichols Ranch in 2015 (Beahm and Goranson, 2015) and North Rolling Pin in 2010 (Graves, 2010) have been superseded by the Mineral Resource estimates of this Technical Report which includes additional new information and analysis.

The Project includes the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex (the Complex) near the city of Caspar, Wyoming, and the White Mesa Mill (the Mill) near the city of Blanding, Utah.  The Complex is currently on care and maintenance and the Mill is on a reduced operating schedule while processing materials as they become available.  When in full operation, the Project is expected to produce uranium concentrate known internationally as yellowcake.  Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng., Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP, Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP and Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G. are all QPs within the meaning of both S-K 1300 and NI 43-101 (SLR QPs).

The Mill was developed in the late 1970s by Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (EFNI) as a processing option for the many small mines that are located in the Colorado Plateau region.  After approximately two and a half years, the Mill ceased ore processing operations altogether due to low uranium prices.  Since 1984, majority ownership interest has alternated between EFNI, Union Carbide Corporation, and Denison Mines Corporation (Denison, previously International Uranium Corporation).  EFR acquired the Complex in 2015.  EFR has controlled 100% of the Mill's assets and liabilities since August 2012.

The Complex includes the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit, which is comprised of the Nichols Ranch wellfield (Nichols Ranch Wellfield), Nichols Ranch plant (Nichols Ranch Plant), Jane Dough area, and Hank area, and several satellite properties.  The production scenario reviewed for this Technical Report assumes that the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit will be developed as an in situ recovery (ISR) mining operation with an onsite processing plant and based on the current resource, an expected 11 year mine life.  The Project will produce an average of 366 thousand pounds (klb) of U3O8 per year on-site, which will then be trucked to the Mill for final drying and upgrading before delivery to end-users.


2.1 Sources of Information

Sources of information and data contained in this Technical Report or used in its preparation are from publicly available sources in addition to private information owned by EFR, including that of past property owners.

The SLR QPs, Messers. Mathisen, Collyard, and Woods, in addition to Mr. Tedros Tesfay, PhD, SLR Senior Hydrogeologist, visited the Complex on October 28, 2021, and inspected the wellfields and ISR Plant. The SLR QPs, Messers. Malensek, Collyard, and Woods, also visited the Mill on November 11, 2021, and toured the operational areas, mill offices, and tailings storage facility (TSF).

Table 2-1 presents a summary of the SLR QP responsibilities for this Technical Report.

Table 2-1: Summary of QP Responsibilities

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Qualified Person

Company

Title/Position

Section

       

Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng.

SLR

Senior Principal Mining Engineer

1.2, 1.3.11, 1.3.13, 19, 21, 22, and 30

       

Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.

SLR

Principal Geologist

1.1.1.1, 1.1.2.1, 1.3.1 to 1.3.7, 2, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1 to 5.4, 5.6, 6 to 12, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25.1, and 26.1

       

Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP

SLR

Mining & Minerals Sector Lead

1.1.1.5, 1.3.12, 4.3, 4.6, 20, and 25.5

       

Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP

Woods Process Services

Principal Consulting Metallurgist

1.1.1.3, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.2.4, 1.3.9, 1.3.10, 5.5, 13, 17, 18, 25.3, 25.4, 26.3, and 26.4

       

Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G.

Consultants in Hydrogeology

Principal Consulting Hydrogeologist

1.1.1.2, 1.1.2.2, 1.3.8, 16, 25.2, and 26.2

       

All

-

-

27

During the preparation of this Technical Report, discussions were held with EFR, Uranerz (a wholly owned subsidiary of EFR), and the Mill personnel:

This Technical Report supersedes the previous NI 43-101 Technical Report completed by Beahm and Goranson, dated February 28, 2015, and the previous Technical Report completed by Graves, dated June 4, 2010.


This Technical Report was prepared by the SLR QPs.  The documentation reviewed, and other sources of information, are listed at the end of this Technical Report in Section 27.0, References.


2.2 List of Abbreviations

The U.S. System for weights and units has been used throughout this Technical Report .  Tons are reported in short tons (ton) of 2,000 lb unless otherwise noted.  All currency in this Technical Report is US dollars (US$) unless otherwise noted.

Abbreviations and acronyms used in this Technical Report are listed below.

Unit Abbreviation

Definition

Unit Abbreviation

Definition

μ

micron

L

liter

a

annum

lb

pound

A

ampere

m

meter

bbl

barrels

m3

meter cubed

Btu

British thermal units

M

mega (million); molar

°C

degree Celsius

Ma

one million years

cm

centimeter

MBtu

thousand British thermal units

cm3

centimeter cubed

MCF

million cubic feet

d

day

MCF/h

million cubic feet per hour

°F

degree Fahrenheit

mi

mile

ft ASL

feet above sea level

min

minute

ft

foot

MPa

megapascal

ft2

square foot

mph

miles per hour

ft3

cubic foot

MVA

megavolt-amperes

ft/s

foot per second

MW

megawatt

g

gram

MWh

megawatt-hour

G

giga (billion)

ppb

part per billion

Ga

one billion years

ppm

part per million

gal

gallon

psia

pound per square inch absolute

gal/d

gallon per day

psig

pound per square inch gauge

g/L

gram per liter

rpm

revolutions per minute

g/y

gallon per year

RL

relative elevation

gpm

gallons per minute

s

second

hp

horsepower

ton

short ton

h

hour

stpa

short ton per year

Hz

hertz

stpd

short ton per day

in.

inch

t

metric tonne

in2

square inch

US$

United States dollar

J

joule

V

volt

k

kilo (thousand)

W

watt

kg/m3

kilogram per cubic meter

wt%

weight percent

kVA

kilovolt-amperes

WLT

wet long ton

kW

kilowatt

y

year

kWh

kilowatt-hour

yd3

cubic yard



3.0 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS

This Technical Report has been prepared by the SLR QPs for Energy Fuels.  The information, conclusions, opinions, and estimates contained herein are based on:

3.1 Reliance on Information Provided by the Registrant

For the purpose of this Technical Report, the SLR QPs have relied on ownership information provided by Energy Fuels in a legal opinion by Brown, Drew, Massey & Durham, LLP dated February 7, 2022 entitled Ownership Summary, Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming.  The SLR QPs have not researched property title or mineral rights for the Project as we consider it reasonable to rely on Energy Fuels' legal counsel who is responsible for maintaining this information.  The opinion was relied on in Section 4 Property Description and Location and the Summary of this Technical Report.

The SLR QPs have relied on Energy Fuels for guidance on applicable taxes, royalties, and other government levies or interests, applicable to revenue or income from the Project, to the extent such information constitutes legal matters or governmental factors outside the expertise of the SLR QPs in the Executive Summary and Section  22.0.  Taxation calculations in the cash flow model presented in this Technical Report were reviewed and approved by Kara. P. Beck, EFR Tax Manager in an email dated December 14, 2021.

The SLP QPs have taken all appropriate steps, in their professional opinion, to ensure that the above information from Energy Fuels is sound.

Except for the purposes legislated under applicable laws, any use of this Technical Report by any third party is at that party's sole risk.


4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

4.1 Location

4.1.1 Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex

Nichols Ranch is located in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District of the Powder River Basin in Campbell and Johnson Counties in Wyoming.  The Complex facilities and mine office are located at latitude of 43°42' N and longitude 106°01' W.  The Complex is located approximately 70 mi southwest of Gillette, Wyoming, and 80 mi northeast of Casper, Wyoming (Figure 4-1).

The Complex (Figure 4-2) is divided into two primary areas, the Nichols Ranch mining unit (the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit) and the satellite properties (the Satellite Properties).

The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit includes the following:

Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough are contiguous, and the Hank area is located approximately six miles north of Nichols Ranch.  All surface data is in local grid or modified NAD 1927 UTM Zone 13 (US feet) system.

EFR currently controls four additional properties (the Satellite Properties) which are known to have significant mineralization, but not currently included in the mine permit.  These include:


4.1.2 White Mesa Mill

The Mill is located on 4,816 acres of private land owned by EFR.  This land is located in Township 37 South and 38 South, Range 22 East, Salt Lake Principal Meridian.  The Mill is located approximately six miles south of Blanding, Utah, along US Highway 191.  EFR also holds 253 acres of mill site claims and a 320 acre Utah state lease.  No facilities are planned on the claims or leased land, which will be used as a buffer surrounding the operations (Figure 4-3). 

Figure 4-3 shows the relative locations of the Complex and the Mill, and the proposed haul route for the Nichols Ranch U3O8 production to the Mill.  The Complex and the Mill are located approximately 643 road miles apart.  Each operation would be considered as a "stand-alone" operation, i.e., each would have its own administration, warehouse, accounting, environmental, and safety staff.


Figure 4-1: Location Map


Figure 4-2: Land Tenure Map


Figure 4-3: White Mesa Mill Location and Property Map


4.2 Land Tenure

4.2.1 Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex

4.2.1.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

4.2.1.1.1 Nichols Ranch Area

The permit boundary for the Nichols Ranch area, located in Sections 7, 8, 17, and 18, T43N, R76W, encompasses 1,120.00 acres.  Within the Nichols Ranch permit boundary, EFR has 38 unpatented lode-mining claims, two fee mineral leases and three Surface Use Agreements (SUAs).  The claims and fee leases encompass approximately 920 acres.  The mineral fee leases and SUA have a 10 year term.  Provisions are set by the SUA for reimbursement to the surface owner for damages resulting from operations.

Claims do not have an expiration date, however, affidavits must be filed annually with the federal U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and respective county recorder's offices in order to maintain the claims' validity.  In addition, most of the unpatented lode claims are located on Stock Raising Homestead land where the U.S. government has issued a patent for the surface to an individual and reserved the minerals to the U.S. government subject to the location rights by claimants as set forth in the 1872 Mining Law.

Table 4-1 presents the Nichols Ranch lode mining claims.  The Nichols Ranch lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-1: Nichols Ranch Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

EB-69

SE

17-43N-76W

WY101420762

Campbell

09/15/1968

9/1/2022

EB-70

SE

17-43N-76W

WY101420906

Campbell

09/15/1968

9/1/2022

EB-71

NE, SE

17-43N-76W

WY101608724

Campbell

09/15/1968

9/1/2022

EB-73

NE

17-43N-76W

WY101731931

Campbell

09/15/1968

9/1/2022

EB-81

SW

17-43N-76W

WY101422980

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-83

SW

17-43N-76W

WY101606644

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-85 Am

NW, SW 17; SE, NW SE 18

17-43N-76W

WY101343361

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-87 Am

NW 17, NE 18

17,18-43N-76W

WY101425489

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-88

NW

17-43N-76W

WY101422584

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-89 Am

NW, NE

17,18-43N-76W

WY101423120

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-90

NW

17-43N-76W

WY101422355

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-91 Am

NW 17, NE 18

17,18-43N-76W

WY101731972

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-92

NW

17-43N-76W

WY101854615

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

EB-93 Am

NW 17, NE 18

17-43N-76W

WY101458512

Johnson

09/19/1968

9/1/2022

EB-77

SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524364

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-78

SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524365

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-79

SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524366

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-80

SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524367

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-82

SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524368

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-84

SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524369

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-86

NW,SW

17-43N-76W

WY102524370

Johnson

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-94

NW

17-43N-76W

WY102524371

Johnson

02/06/2006

9/1/2022

EB-95

SE,SW 7, NW 17,NE 18

7,8,17,18-43N-76W

WY102524372

Johnson

02/06/2006

9/1/2022

EB-96

SW 8, NW 17

8,17-43N-76W

WY102524373

Johnson

02/06/2006

9/1/2022

EB-98

SE, SW

8-43N-76W

WY101313966

Johnson

01/28/2006

9/1/2022

EB-99

SW

7,8-43N-76W

WY102524374

Johnson

01/28/2006

9/1/2022

EB-100

SE

8-43N-76W

WY102524375

Johnson

01/28/2006

9/1/2022

EB-68

SE

17-43N-76W

WY101856483

Campbell

01/27/2006

9/1/2022

EB-97

SE 7, SW 8

7,8-43N-76W

WY101856484

Johnson

01/28/2006

9/1/2022

EB-102

NE

17-43N-76W

WY101856485

Campbell

09/26/2007

9/1/2022

EB-103

NE

17-43N-76W

WY101519051

Campbell

09/26/2007

9/1/2022

EB-104

NE

17-43N-76W

WY101519052

Campbell

09/26/2007

9/1/2022

EB-105

NE

17-43N-76W

WY101519053

Campbell

09/26/2007

9/1/2022

EB-106

NE

17-43N-76W

WY101519054

Campbell

09/26/2007

9/1/2022

EEB-1

NE, SE

18-43N-76W

WY101519055

Johnson

08/11/2009

9/1/2022

EF-1

NW

17-43N-76W

WY101474091

Campbell

03/22/2016

9/1/2022

EF-2

NW 17, NE 18

17-43N-76W

WY101474092

Campbell

03/22/2016

9/1/2022

4.2.1.1.2 Jane Dough Area

The permit boundary for the Jane Dough area encompasses approximately 3,680 acres.  Within the Jane Dough permit boundary, EFR controls 117 unpatented lode-mining claims, three SUAs, and 16 fee mineral leases. The fee mineral leases and claims encompass approximately 3,121.43 acres.  The fee mineral leases and SUAs have terms of 10 years, which can be extended indefinitely.  The SUAs have set provisions for reimbursement to the surface owner for damages resulting from EFR operations. In the south half of Section 28, T43N, R76W, EFR controls 59.29% of the fee mineral estate under various fee mineral leases mentioned above.


Portions of the Jane Dough area were formerly held separately by EFR and the joint venture (JV) on the Arkose project (Arkose Project). These holdings have been combined. EFR retains 100% of the mineral rights for the portion it originally held and 81% of the mineral rights for the Arkose Mining Venture portion of Jane Dough.  Mineral Resources for Jane Dough reflect this partition of mineral ownership.

Table 4-2 presents the Jane Dough lode mining claims.  The Jane Dough lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-2: Jane Dough Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

EB-40

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101423165

Campbell

9/17/1968

9/1/2022

EB-42

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101605103

Campbell

9/17/1968

9/1/2022

EB-43

NE,NW

20,21-43N-76W

WY102523137

Campbell

2/6/2006

9/1/2022

EB-44

NW

21-43N-76W

WY102524361

Campbell

2/6/2006

9/1/2022

EB-45

NE,NW

20,21-43N-76W

WY102524362

Campbell

2/6/2006

9/1/2022

EB-46

NW

21-43N-76W

WY102524363

Campbell

2/6/2006

9/1/2022

RK-453

NW

33-43N-76W

WY102523280

Campbell

2/8/2006

9/1/2022

RK-454

NW

33-43N-76W

WY102523281

Campbell

2/8/2006

9/1/2022

RK-455

NW

33-43N-76W

WY102523282

Campbell

2/8/2006

9/1/2022

RK-456

NW

33-43N-76W

WY102523283

Campbell

2/8/2006

9/1/2022

RK-457

NW

33-43N-76W

WY102523284

Campbell

2/8/2006

9/1/2022

RK-458

NW

33-43N-76W

WY102524508

Campbell

2/8/2006

9/1/2022

TR-229

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101512156

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-230

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101512157

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-231

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101512158

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-232

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101512159

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-233

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101512160

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-234

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101512161

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-235

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101513425

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-236

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101513426

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-237

SE

29-43N-76W

WY101513427

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-238

NE

29-43N-76W

WY101513428

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-239

NE

29-43N-76W

WY101513429

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-240

NE

29-43N-76W

WY101513430

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-241

NE

29-43N-76W

WY101513431

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

TR-242

SE,NE

20,29-43N-76W

WY101513432

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-243

SE

20,29-43N-76W

WY101513433

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-244

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101513434

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-245

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101513435

Campbell

2/24/2006

9/1/2022

TR-246

SE

31-43N-76W

WY101514714

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-247

SE

31-43N-76W

WY101514715

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-248

SE

31-43N-76W

WY101514716

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-249

SE

31-43N-76W

WY101514717

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-250

SE

31-43N-76W

WY101514718

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-251

NE,SE

31-43N-76W

WY101514719

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-252

NE

31-43N-76W

WY101514720

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-253

NE

31-43N-76W

WY101514721

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-254

NE

31-43N-76W

WY101514722

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-255

SE,NE

30,31-43N-76W

WY101514723

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-256

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101514724

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-257

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101515999

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-258

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516000

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-259

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516001

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-260

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516002

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-261

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516003

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-262

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516004

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-263

SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516005

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

TR-264

NE,SE

30-43N-76W

WY101516006

Johnson

2/23/2006

9/1/2022

WC-319

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523401

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-320

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523402

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-321

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523403

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-322

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523404

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-323

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523405

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-324

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523406

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-325

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523407

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-326

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523408

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-327

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523409

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-328

SE

32-43N-76W

WY102523410

Campbell

2/22/2006

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

WC-365

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522273

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-366

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522274

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-367

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522275

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-368

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522276

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-369

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522277

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-370

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522278

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-371

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102522279

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-372

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102523468

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-373

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102523469

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

WC-374

SW

32-43N-76W

WY102523470

Johnson

2/22/2006

9/1/2022

DS-3

NE,SE

28-43N-76W

WY101353836

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-4

SE,NE

21,28-43N-76W

WY101353837

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-5

NE,SE

28-43N-76W

WY101353838

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-6

SE,NE

21,28-43N-76W

WY101353839

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-7

NE,SE

28-43N-76W

WY101353840

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-8

SE,NE

21,28-43N-76W

WY101353841

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-9

NE,NW,SE,SW

28-43N-76W

WY101353842

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-10

SE,NE,SW

21,28-43N-76W

WY101353843

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-11

NW,SW

28-43N-76W

WY101354747

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-12

SW,NW

21,28-43N-76W

WY101354748

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-13

NW,SW

28-43N-76W

WY101354749

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-14

SW,NW

21,28-43N-76W

WY101354750

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-15

NW,SW

28-43N-76W

WY101354751

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-16

SW,NW

21,28-43N-76W

WY101354752

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-17

NW,SW

28,29-43N-76W

WY101354753

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-18

NW 28; NE 29

20,21,28,29-43N-76W

WY101354754

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-19

NE,SE

29-43N-76W

WY101354755

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-20

SE 20; NE 29

20,29-43N-76W

WY101354756

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-21

NE,SE

29-43N-76W

WY101354757

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-22

SE 20; NE 29

20,29-43N-76W

WY101354758

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-23

NE,SE

29-43N-76W

WY101354759

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-24

SE 20; NE 29

20,29-43N-76W

WY101354760

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

DS-25

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101354761

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-26

NE

20-43N-76W

WY101354762

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-27

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101354763

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-28

NE

20-43N-76W

WY101354764

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-29

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101354765

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-30

NE

20-43N-76W

WY101354766

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-31

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101354767

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-32

NE

20-43N-76W

WY101354768

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-33

SE,SW

20-43N-76W

WY101355711

Campbell/
Johnson

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-34

NE,NW

20-43N-76W

WY101355712

Campbell/
Johnson

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-35

NW

20-43N-76W

WY101355713

Johnson

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-36

NW

20-43N-76W

WY101355714

Johnson

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-37

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101355715

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-38

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101355716

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-39

SE

20-43N-76W

WY101355717

Campbell

12/10/2006

9/1/2022

DS-100

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101371502

Campbell

3/1/2007

9/1/2022

DS-101

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372148

Campbell

3/1/2007

9/1/2022

DS-102

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372149

Campbell

3/1/2007

9/1/2022

DS-103

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372150

Campbell

3/2/2007

9/1/2022

DS-104

SE,SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372151

Campbell

3/2/2007

9/1/2022

DS-105

SE

21-43N-76W

WY101372152

Campbell

3/2/2007

9/1/2022

DS-106

SE

21-43N-76W

WY101372153

Campbell

3/2/2007

9/1/2022

DS-109

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372154

Campbell

3/1/2007

9/1/2022

DS-110

SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372155

Campbell

3/1/2007

9/1/2022

DS-111

SE,SW

21-43N-76W

WY101372156

Campbell

3/2/2007

9/1/2022

DS-112

NE,NW

21-43N-76W

WY101546607

Campbell

6/3/2015

9/1/2022

DS-113

NW

21-43N-76W

WY101546608

Campbell

6/3/2015

9/1/2022



4.2.1.1.3 Hank Area

The Hank area permit boundary encompasses approximately 2,250 acres.  Within the permit boundary, EFR has 49 unpatented lode-mining claims, and one SUA covering approximately 1,392.58 acres.

Table 4-3 presents the Hank lode mining claims.  The Hank lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-3: Hank Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

B-81

SE

31-44N-75W

WY101606674

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-83

SE

31-44N-75W

WY101421365

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-85

SE

31-44N-75W

WY101426704

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-87

SE

31-44N-75W

WY101604478

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-89

NE

31-44N-75W

WY101731939

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-91

NE

31-44N-75W

WY101607996

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-93

NE

31-44N-75W

WY101608986

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-94A

NW

31-44N-75W

WY101424771

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-95

NE

31-44N-75W

WY101342049

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

B-96A

NW

31-44N-75W

WY101603271

Campbell

9/15/1968

9/1/2022

MB-1

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736673

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-2

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736674

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-30

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736675

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-4

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736676

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-5

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736677

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-6

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736678

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-7

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736679

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-8

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736680

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-9

NE

6-43N-75W

WY101736681

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-10

NE,SE

6-43N-75W

WY101736682

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-11

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101736683

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-12

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101737755

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-13

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101737756

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-14

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101737757

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-15

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101737758

Campbell

6/22/2005

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

MB-16

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101737759

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-17

SE,NE

6,7-43N-75W

WY101737760

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-18

SE,NE

6,7-43N-75W

WY101737761

Campbell

6/22/2006

9/1/2022

MB-19

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737762

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-20

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737763

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-21

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737764

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-22

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737765

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-23

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737766

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-24

NE

7,8-43N-75W

WY101737767

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-25

NW

7-43N-75W

WY101737768

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-26

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737769

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-28

NE

7-43N-75W

WY101737770

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

MB-30

SE

7-43N-75W

WY101737771

Campbell

8/1/2006

9/1/2022

JS-1

SE

6-43N-75W

WY101372157

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-2

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372158

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-3

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372159

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-4

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372160

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-5

SW,NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372859

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-6

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372860

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-7

NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372861

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-8

NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372862

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-9

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372863

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-10

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372864

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-11

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372865

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-12

SW,NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372866

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-13

SW

6-43N-75W

WY101372867

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-14

NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372868

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-15

NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372869

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-16

NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372870

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

JS-17

NW

6-43N-75W

WY101372871

Campbell

2/27/2007

9/1/2022

B-100

NW

31-44N-75W

WY101673158

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

B-101

SW

31-44N-75W

WY101674116

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

B-102

SW

31-44N-75W

WY101674117

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

B-103

SW

31-44N-75W

WY101674118

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

B-104

SW,NW

31-44N-75W

WY101674119

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

B-105

SW

31-44N-75W

WY101674120

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

B-106

NW

31-44N-75W

WY101674121

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

B-107

NW

31-44N-75W

WY101674122

Campbell

2/22/2008

9/1/2022

HB-1

NE,SE

31-44N-75W

WY101563325

Campbell

8/10/2009

9/1/2022

HB-2

SW,SE

31-44N-75W

WY101563326

Campbell

8/10/2009

9/1/2022

HB-3

SW,SE

31-44N-75W

WY101563327

Campbell

8/10/2009

9/1/2022

4.2.1.2 Satellite Properties

4.2.1.2.1 North Rolling Pin

The North Rolling Pin area has 54 unpatented lode-mining claims and one SUA.  There are no mineral fee leases associated with the NRP area. There is one SUA that will remain in force so long as the terms of the agreement are met.  All of the unpatented lode mining claims have annual filing requirements with the BLM, to be paid on or before September 1 of each year. The claims area encompasses approximately 1,180 acres.

Table 4-4 presents the NRP lode mining claims.  The NRP lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-4: North Rolling Pin Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DDYYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

PB #1

NE

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436313

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #2

NE,NW

11-43W-76N

WY101436314

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #3

NW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436315

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #4

NE.NW

11-43W-76N

WY101436316

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #5

NE,NW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436317

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #6

NE,NW

11-43W-76N

WY101436318

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #7

NE,NW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436319

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #8

NE,NW

11-43W-76N

WY101436320

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #9

NE,SE,NW,SW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436321

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #10

NE,NW,SE,SW

11-43W-76N

WY101436322

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DDYYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

PB #11

SE,SW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436323

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #12

SE,SW

11-43W-76N

WY101436324

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #13

SE,SW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101436325

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #14

SE,SW

11-43W-76N

WY101436326

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #15

SE,SW

10,11-43W-76N

WY101437051

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #16

SE,SW

11-43W-76N

WY101437052

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #17

SE,SW,NW,NE

10,11,14,15-43W-76N

WY101437053

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #18

SE,SW,NW,NE

11,14-43W-76N

WY101437054

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #19

NW,NE

14,15-43W-76N

WY101437055

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #20

NE,NW

14-43W-76N

WY101437056

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #21

NW,NE

14,15-43W-76N

WY101437057

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #22

NE,NW

14-43W-76N

WY101437058

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #23

NW,NE

14,15-43W-76N

WY101437059

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #24

NE,NW

14-43W-76N

WY101437060

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #25

NW,NE

14,15-43W-76N

WY101437061

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #26

NE,NW

14-43W-76N

WY101437062

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #27

SE

10-43W-76N

WY101437063

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #28

SE

10-43W-76N

WY101437064

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #29

SE,SW,NW,NE

10,15-43W-76N

WY101437065

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #30

SE,NE

10,15-43W-76N

WY101437066

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #31

NE,NW

15-43W-76N

WY101437067

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #32

NE

15-43W-76N

WY101437068

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #33

NE,NW

15-43W-76N

WY101437069

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #34

NE

15-43W-76N

WY101437070

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #35

NE,NW

15-43W-76N

WY101437822

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #36

NE

15-43W-76N

WY101437823

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #37

NE,NW,SE,SW

15-43W-76N

WY101437824

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #38

NE,SE

15-43W-76N

WY101437825

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #39

SE,SW

15-43W-76N

WY101437826

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB #40

SE,SW

15-43W-76N

WY101437827

Campbell

12/2/2006

9/1/2022

PB 53

NE

11-43W-76N

WY101437971

Campbell

6/16/2008

9/1/2022

PB 54

NE

11-43W-76N

WY101437972

Campbell

6/16/2008

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DDYYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

PB 55

NE

11-43W-76N

WY101437973

Campbell

6/16/2008

9/1/2022

PB 56

NE

11-43W-76N

WY101437974

Campbell

6/16/2008

9/1/2022

PB 57

SW

2-43W-76N

WY101437975

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 58

SW

2-43W-76N

WY101437976

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 59

NW,SW

2-43W-76N

WY101437977

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 60

NW

2-43W-76N

WY101437978

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 61

NW

2-43W-76N

WY101437979

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 62

NW

2-43W-76N

WY101437980

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 63

NW

2,[35]-43[44]N-76N

WY101437981

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 64

SW

35-44N-76N

WY101437982

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 65

SW

35-44N-76N

WY101437983

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

PB 66

SW

35-44N-76N

WY101437984

Campbell

6/9/2008

9/1/2022

4.2.1.2.2 West North Butte

The West North Butte area claims were acquired by Uranerz, which was acquired by EFR in 2015. There are no fee leases associated with West North Butte.  There is one SUA that will remain in force provided the terms of the agreement are met.

Table 4-5 presents the West North Butte lode mining claims.  The WNB lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-5: West North Butte Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

P 179

SE,NE

26-44W-76W

WY101426369

Campbell

2/15/1987

9/1/2022

P 180

NE

26-44W-76W

WY101497208

Campbell

2/15/1987

9/1/2022

P 181

SE,NE

26-44W-76W

WY101491777

Campbell

2/15/1987

9/1/2022

P 182

NE

26-44W-76W

WY101739809

Campbell

2/15/1987

9/1/2022

P 189

NE,SE

23-44W-76W

WY101426736

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

P 190

SE

23-44W-76W

WY101528512

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

P 191

NE,SE

23-44W-76W

WY101458339

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

P 192

SE

23-44W-76W

WY101739818

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

B1767

SE

14,23-44W-76W

WY101340343

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

B1768

NE

23-44W-76W

WY101502230

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

B1769

NE

14,23-44W-76W

WY101490716

Campbell

2/17/1987

9/1/2022

B1770

NE

23-44W-76W

WY101856854

Campbell

2/17/1987

9/1/2022

WSC #1

SE

14-44W-76W

WY101342071

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

WSC #2

SW,NE,SE

13,14-44W-76W

WY101502225

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

WC #114

NW,SW

10-44W-76W

WY101490711

Campbell

2/18/1987

9/1/2022

WC #116

NW,SW

10-44W-76W

WY101856849

Campbell

2/18/1987

9/1/2022

WC #118

NW,SW

10-44W-76W

WY101607538

Campbell

2/18/1987

9/1/2022

WC #120

NE,NW,SE,SW

10-44W-76W

WY101339579

Campbell

2/18/1987

9/1/2022

WC #122

NE,SE

10-44W-76W

WY101340187

Campbell

2/18/1987

9/1/2022

WC #124

NE,SE

10-44W-76W

WY101426152

Campbell

2/18/1987

9/1/2022

WC #175

NW,NE

14, 15-44W-76W

WY101422765

Campbell

2/19/1987

9/1/2022

WC #177

NW,NE,SE,SW

14, 15-44W-76W

WY101420778

Campbell

2/19/1987

9/1/2022

WC #177A

SE,SW

10, 11-44W-76W

WY101508383

Campbell

2/19/1987

9/1/2022

WC #178

SE

10-44W-76W

WY101604763

Campbell

2/19/1987

9/1/2022

WC #180

SE

10-44W-76W

WY101608014

Campbell

2/19/1987

9/1/2022

WC #182

SE

10-44W-76W

WY101502253

Campbell

2/19/1987

9/1/2022

JC #1

SWSE

13,14-44W-76W

WY101343371

Campbell

2/21/1987

9/1/2022

JC #2

SW,NE,SE

14-44W-76W

WY101858037

Campbell

2/22/1987

9/1/2022

JC #3

NE,SE

14-44W-76W

WY101855630

Campbell

2/22/1987

9/1/2022

JC #20

SE

14-44W-76W

WY101858017

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #22

SE,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101423115

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #24

NE,NW,SE,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101527278

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #25

SW

14-44W-76W

WY101507069

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #26

NENW,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101455493

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #27

NW,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101602473

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #28

NE,NW

14-44W-76W

WY101603105

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #29

NW,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101425162

Campbell

2/24/1987

9/1/2022

JC #30

NE,NW

14-44W-76W

WY101339791

Campbell

2/25/1987

9/1/2022

JC #31

NW

14-44W-76W

WY101455756

Campbell

2/26/1987

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

JC #33

NW<NE

14,15-44W-76W

WY101608050

Campbell

2/26/1987

9/1/2022

JC #35

NW,NE

14,15-44W-76W

WY101421197

Campbell

2/26/1987

9/1/2022

P 175

SE,NE

26-44W-76W

WY101525153

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P 176

NE

26-44W-76W

WY101525718

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P 177

SE,NE

26-44W-76W

WY101525719

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P 178

NE

26-44W-76W

WY101525720

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

WC 126

SE

10-44W-76W

WY101525721

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 128

SE

10-44W-76W

WY101525722

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 130

NW,SW

10,11-44W-76W

WY101525723

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 132

NW,SW

11-44W-76W

WY101525724

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 157

SE,SW

10-44W-76W

WY101525725

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 159

SE

10-44W-76W

WY101525726

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 172

NE

15-44W-76W

WY101525727

Campbell

7/7/2005

9/1/2022

WC 173

NW,NE

14-44W-76W

WY101525728

Campbell

7/7/2005

9/1/2022

WC 174

NE

15-44W-76W

WY101525729

Campbell

7/7/2005

9/1/2022

WC 176

NE

15-44W-76W

WY101525730

Campbell

7/7/2005

9/1/2022

WC 179

SE,SW

11-44W-76W

WY101525731

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

WC 181

SE,SW

11-44W-76W

WY101525732

Campbell

7/6/2005

9/1/2022

B 900

NW

25-44W-76W

WY101525733

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

B 901

NW

25-44W-76W

WY101525734

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

B 902

NW

25-44W-76W

WY101525735

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

JC 42

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101525736

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

JC 43

SW,NW

14-44W-76W

WY101525737

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

JC 44

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101525738

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

JC 45

SW,NW

14-44W-76W

WY101526363

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

JC 46

SW,NW

14-44W-76W

WY101526364

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

JC 47

SE,SW,NE,NW

14-44W-76W

WY101526365

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

B1765

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101526366

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

B1766

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101526367

Campbell

6/28/2005

9/1/2022

B1771

SE

14-44W-76W

WY101526368

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

B1772

NE

23-44W-76W

WY101526369

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

B1773

SE

14-44W-76W

WY101526370

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

B1774

NE

23-44W-76W

WY101526371

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

B1775

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526372

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P185

NE,SE

23-44W-76W

WY101526373

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P 186

SE

23-44W-76W

WY101526374

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P 187

NE,SE

23-44W-76W

WY101526375

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

P 188

SE

23-44W-76W

WY101526376

Campbell

6/20/2005

9/1/2022

JC 32

NW

14-44W-76W

WY101526377

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

JC 34

SW,NW

11,14-44W-76W

WY101526378

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

JC 36

SW,NW

11,14-44W-76W

WY101526379

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

JC 4

NE,SE

14-44W-76W

WY101526380

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

JC 5

NE

14-44W-76W

WY101526381

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

JC 6

NE

14-44W-76W

WY101526382

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

JC 7

SE,NE

11,14-44W-76W

WY101526383

Campbell

7/5/2005

9/1/2022

B1796

NW,SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526384

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1797AM

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526959

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1798

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526960

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1799AM

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526961

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1800

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526962

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1801AM

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526963

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1802A

SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526964

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

B1803A

SE,SW

13-44W-76W

WY101526965

Campbell

6/27/2005

9/1/2022

JC #1 AM

SW,SE

13,14-44W-76W

WY101312466

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #2 AM

SW,NE,SE

13,14-44W-76W

WY101312467

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #3 AM

NE,SE

14-44W-76W

WY101312468

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #20 AM

SE

14-44W-76W

WY101312469

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #22 AM

SE,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101312470

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #24 AM

NE,NW,SE,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101312471

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #25 AM

SW

14-44W-76W

WY101312472

Campbell

2/26/2006

9/1/2022

JC #26 AM

NE,NW,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101313683

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

JC #27 AM

NW,SW

14-44W-76W

WY101313684

Campbell

2/26/2006

9/1/2022

WSC #1 AM

SE

14-44W-76W

WY101313685

Campbell

2/25/2006

9/1/2022

P 200

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101511313

Campbell

6/28/2007

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

P 201

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101511314

Campbell

6/24/2007

9/1/2022

P 202

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101511315

Campbell

6/24/2007

9/1/2022

P 203

NW

23-44W-76W

WY101511316

Campbell

6/28/2007

9/1/2022

P 204

NW,SW

23-44W-76W

WY101511317

Campbell

6/28/2007

9/1/2022

P 205

SW

23-44W-76W

WY101511318

Campbell

6/28/2007

9/1/2022

4.2.1.2.3 East North Butte

The East North Butte area claims were acquired by Uranerz.  There are no fee leases associated with East North Butte.  There is one SUA which will remain in force so long as the terms of the agreement are met.

Table 4-6 presents the ENB lode mining claims.  The ENB lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-6: East North Butte Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

B-745

NE,NW,SE,SW

[19]24-44N-[75]76W

WY101491337

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-747

NW

[19]24-44N-[75]76W

WY101422726

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-748

NW,SW

19-44N-75W

WY101425036

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-749

NW,SW,NE,SE

[19]24-44N-[75]76W

WY101340291

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-750

NE

19-44N-75W

WY101855804

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-751

NE

[19]24-44N-[75]76

WY101856833

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-752

NE,SE

19-44N-75W

WY101425739

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-753

SE

[19]24-44N-[75]76W

WY101423911

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-754

SE

[19]24-44N-[75]76W

WY101422333

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-1767

SE

14,23-44N-76W

WY101527286

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-1768

SE,NE

23-44N-76W

WY101505868

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-1769

SW,SE

14,23-44N-76W

WY101853424

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

B-1770

SW,SE

23-44N-76W

WY101731356

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022




Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

GAP-4

SE,NE

19-44N-76W

WY101340343

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

P-19

NE

24-44N-76W

WY101502230

Campbell

2/16/1987

9/1/2022

P-21

SE,NE

24-44N-76W

WY101490716

Campbell

2/17/1987

9/1/2022

P-23

NE

24-44N-76W

WY101856854

Campbell

2/17/1987

9/1/2022

P-25

NW,NE

24-44N-76W

WY101345831

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

P-27

NW,NE

24-44N-76W

WY101603691

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

P-29

NW

24-44N-76W

WY101603094

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

P-30

NW,NE

24,25-44N-76W

WY101426188

Campbell

2/12/1987

9/1/2022

4.2.1.2.4 Willow Creek

The Willow Creek area claims were acquired by Uranerz.  There are no fee leases associated with Willow Creek.  There is one SUA will remain in force so long as the terms of the agreement are met.

Table 4-7 presents the WC lode mining claims.  The WC lode mining claims are held by Uranerz, which is 100% owned by EFR.

Table 4-7: Willow Creek Lode Mining Claims

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Claim Name

¼ Sec

Sec-Twp-Rng

BLM Serial No

County

Location Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Expiry Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

B 860

NE

35-44N-76W

WY101421379

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 862

NE

35-44N-76W

WY101731000

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 858

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101339516

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 857

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101345848

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 853

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101420734

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 852

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101527318

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 851

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101529741

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 855

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101606669

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 854

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101607982

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 850

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101608041

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022

B 856

SE

35-44N-76W

WY101731194

Campbell

2/17/1968

9/1/2022



4.3 Required Permits and Status

All of the unpatented lode mining claims have annual filing requirements with the BLM, to be paid on or before September 1 of each year.  Mining claims are subject to the Mining Law of 1872.  Changes in the mining law could affect the mineral tenure.  The unpatented lode mining claims will remain the property of EFR provided they adhere to required filing and annual payment requirements with Johnson and Campbell Counties and the BLM.  The SUAs will remain in force so long as the mining claims are maintained. 

4.3.1 Exploration

EFR has conducted exploration drilling at Nichols Ranch but has not conducted any exploration drilling at Jane Dough, Hank, or the Satellite Properties since acquiring the properties in 2015.  EFR has in place a Drilling Notification (DN), issued for exploration drilling, from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Land Quality Division (WDEQ/LQD). 

4.3.2 Production

The Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas are fully licensed and permitted for ISR mining and processing by major licenses and permits issued by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ).  Portions of the Hank area, totaling 280 acres, are on public lands managed by the BLM.  This area is permitted for operation by the BLM and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record was issued in July 2015.  The permitted Project boundary includes the Nichols Ranch and Hank areas, consisting of 3,370 acres, and was amended to include the Jane Dough area, approximately an additional 3,680 acres.

4.4 Encumbrances

To the SLR QP's knowledge there are no environmental liabilities which are not included in current bonds held by the jurisdictional regulatory agencies.  Financial assurance instruments are held by the State for drilling, ISR mining, and uranium processing. The bonds are required to insure reclamation and restoration of the affected lands and aquifers in accordance with federal and state regulations and permit requirements.  The WDEQ regulations require an annual review of the bonding, and bonds may be adjusted annually to reflect changes in conditions at the mine.  The current approved closure cost estimate for the Complex is provided in Table 4-8.

Table 4-8: Current Reclamation Bond Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Program/Permit

Amount
(US$)

Date Approved/Agency

WDEQ/LQD1 Permit to Mine and NRC2 Source Materials License

6,435,000

5/29/2019
LQD

WDEQ/LQD1 Drilling Notification DN336

50,000

1/8/2018
LQD

Note:

1. Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality - Land Quality Division

2. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission


4.5 Royalties

4.5.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

4.5.1.1 Nichols Ranch Area

In Section 21, the northern portion of Section 28, eastern portion of Section 20, and northeast quarter of Section 29, unpatented lode mining claims have an overriding royalty interest burden of 6% or 8% depending on the sale price of uranium.  In the southern portion of Section 32, 20 of the unpatented lode mining claims have an overriding royalty of 0.25% based on production.  In the southern portion of Section 28 where North Jane is located, 14 fee mineral leases have royalties ranging from 2% to 10% depending on the sale price of uranium.  In the western half of Section 29 two mineral leases have a royalty of 6% or 8% depending on the sale price of uranium.  Surface owners have a set rate for reimbursement of any land taken out of service for mining activities and two of the Surface Owners could receive an extraction fee on production with a burden of 1% or 2% percent depending on the sale price of uranium.

The unpatented lode mining claims will remain the property of EFR provided it adheres to the required filing and annual payment requirements with Campbell County and the BLM.  The SUA's will remain in force so long as the mining claims are maintained.  Legal surveys of unpatented lode mining claims are not required and are not known to have been completed.

All of the unpatented lode mining claims have annual filing requirements (US$165 per claim) with the BLM, to be paid on or before September 1 of each year.

4.5.1.2 Jane Dough Area

In the south portion of Section 32, twenty of the unpatented lode mining claims have an overriding royalty of 0.25% based on production.  In the southern half of Section 28 and northern half of section 32, five fee mineral leases have royalties ranging from 2% to 10% depending on the sale price of uranium.  In the west half of Section 29, two mineral leases have a royalty of 6% or 8% depending on the sale price of uranium. Surface owners have a set rate for reimbursement of any land taken out of service for mining activities and two of the Surface Owners could receive an extraction fee on production with a burden of 1% or 2%, depending on the sale price of uranium.

The unpatented lode mining claims will remain the property of EFR provided it adheres to required filing and annual payment requirements with Campbell County and the BLM. The SUAs will remain in force so long as the mining claims are maintained.  Legal surveys of unpatented lode mining claims are not required and are not known to have been completed.

All of the unpatented lode mining claims have annual filing requirements with the BLM, to be paid on or before September 1 of each year.

4.5.1.3 Hank Area

All claims were located or acquired by EFR and a portion of the claims were subject to a 6% to 8% royalty which has since been extinguished.  Four claims may be subject to a 5% overriding royalty vested in Brown Land Company and its successors. The claims will remain the property of EFR provided they adhere to required filing and annual payment requirements with Campbell County and the BLM.  All of the unpatented lode claims have annual filing requirements with the BLM, to be paid on or before September 1 of each year.


The SUA will remain in force so long as the terms of the agreements are met.  Legal surveys of unpatented claims are not required and are not known to have been completed.

4.5.2 Satellite Properties

4.5.2.1 North Rolling Pin Area

Lode mining claims in the North Rolling Pin area are not subject to royalties. There are no fee mineral leases.

4.5.2.2 West North Butte Area

The claims were acquired by Uranerz and none of the unpatented lode claims in the West North Butte area are subject to a royalty. There are no fee leases associated with West North Butte.  There is one SUA which will remain in force so long as the mining claims are maintained.

4.5.2.3 East North Butte Area

None of the unpatented lode claims in the ENB area are subject to a royalty.  There are no fee mineral leases.

4.5.2.4 Willow Creek Area

The claims were acquired by Uranerz and none of the unpatented lode claims in the WC area are subject to a royalty. There are no fee leases associated with Willow Creek. 

4.6 Other Significant Factors and Risks

The SLR QP is not aware of any environmental liabilities on the Project.  EFR has all required permits to conduct the proposed work on the Project.  The SLR QP is not aware of any other significant factors and risks that may affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform the proposed work program on the Project.

From the time of construction to the effective date of this Technical Report the Complex has experienced two minor compliance issues.  Both issues pertained to the Permit to Mine issued by WDEQ/LQD and were resolved quickly under normal regulatory procedures.

4.6.1 Mine Closure Plans and Bonds

A reclamation plan is in place for the Complex which includes groundwater restoration, site decontamination and decommissioning, and surface reclamation and decommissioning.  A general reclamation schedule and a reclamation cost estimate are provided in the reclamation plan.  WDEQ regulations require an annual review of the bonding, and bonds may be adjusted annually to reflect changes in conditions at the mine.

Detailed reclamation plans, including site decommissioning, will be provided to the WDEQ/LQD for approval prior to initiation.


5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

5.1 Accessibility

5.1.1 Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex

The site is 80 mi northeast of Casper, Wyoming and accessible via two-wheel drive on existing county and/or private gravel and dirt roads by proceeding north approximately 10 mi from Wyoming Highway 387 on the IDT Road and approximately 12 mi northwest of the junction of Wyoming Highway 387 and Wyoming Highway 50.

5.1.2 Satellite Properties

5.1.2.1 North Rolling Pin

The NRP property is accessible via two-wheel drive on existing private gravel and dirt roads, many of which have been improved by coal bed methane (CBM) development. The approximate center of the NRP property is approximately nine miles north of Wyoming Highway 387. Some road development and improvements may be required at a later time to facilitate future development of wellfields or satellite facilities.

5.1.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

WNB, ENB, and WC are accessible via two-wheel drive on existing county and/or private gravel and dirt roads. The approximate center of the Satellite Properties is roughly 8 mi to 11 mi west of Wyoming Highway 50, and the southern edge of the Satellite Properties is approximately 12 mi to 15 mi north of Wyoming Highway 387. Road development and improvements may be required at a later time to facilitate future development of wellfields and processing facilities. The north-northwest half of the WNB area is located in an area of significant topographical relief and would likely require significant excavation to construct roads to potential wellfields or require the use of directional drilling to develop the resource.

5.2 Vegetation

Vegetation and wildlife surveys of the Complex area were completed as part of the environmental baseline studies required for permitting and licensing.  Vegetation communities consist primarily of sagebrush shrub-land and mixed grasslands, with limited juniper, greasewood, and wetland communities.  The Complex area has the potential to provide habitat for mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, jackrabbit, cottontail rabbit, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, red fox, badger, raccoon, skunk, chipmunk, rodents, songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, hawks, owls, sage grouse, chukar, wild turkey, Hungarian partridge, mourning dove, magpie, and crow.  Most species are yearlong residents, however, some species such as elk, eagles, songbirds, and waterfowl are more abundant during migration periods.


5.3 Climate

In the vicinity of the Complex, the climate is semi-arid and receives an annual precipitation of approximately 13 in., the majority of which falls from February to April as snow.  Cold, wind, and snow/blizzards may occasionally present challenges for winter exploration and construction work in this area however operations can take place year round.  The summer months are typically hot, dry, and clear, except for infrequent high-intensity, short-duration storm events.

5.4 Local Resources

The Complex is located in Johnson and Campbell Counties.  These counties are generally rural; according to the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,569 people living in Johnson County and 46,133 people living in Campbell County.  Most of the workers at the Complex are from the local area and nearby communities such as Casper, Wyoming, approximately 80 mi southwest of the Complex.  Casper is the county seat of Natrona County and, as of the 2010 census, has a population of 55,316.  Casper has numerous industrial supply and service companies to support mining operations.  EFR maintains an office in Casper to support its Wyoming mining operations.

The SLR QP concludes that EFR either has in place or can obtain the necessary permits and/or agreements, and local resources are sufficient for current and future ISR operations within the Complex.

5.5 Infrastructure

EFR has secured sufficient surface access rights for exploration and development of the Complex.  The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit is a fully licensed, operable facility with sufficient sources of power, water, and waste disposal facilities for operations and aquifer restoration.

The basic infrastructure (power, water, and transportation) necessary to support an ISR mining operation has been established at the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and is located within reasonable proximity of all satellite properties within this Technical Report .  Existing infrastructure is associated with local oil, gas, and CBM development.

Non-potable water is and/or will be supplied by wells developed at or near the sites.  Water extracted as part of ISR operations will be recycled for reinjection.  Typical ISR mining operations also require a disposal well for limited quantities of fluids that cannot be returned to the production aquifers.  Two deep disposal wells have been permitted and are operational at the Nichols Ranch Plant

The proximity of the Complex to paved roads will facilitate transportation of equipment, supplies, personnel, and product to and from the properties.  Although the population within 50 mi of the subject properties consists mainly of rural ranch residences, personnel required for exploration, construction, and operation are available in the nearby towns of Wright, Midwest, Edgerton, Gillette, Buffalo, and Casper, Wyoming. 

Power transmission lines are located on or near parts of the Project.  EFR has secured power from the local electrical service provider to accommodate all operational needs.

Tailing storage areas, waste disposal areas, heap leach pad(s) are not part of the required infrastructure for the Complex, as ISR operations do not require these types of facilities. Waste disposal is accomplished via deep well injection. EFR has two such wells permitted and in operation at Nichols Ranch.


5.6 Physiography

The Complex is located within the Wyoming Basin physiographic province in the western portion of the Powder River Basin, within the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District.  The Pumpkin Buttes are a series of small buttes rising up to nearly 6,000 feet above sea level (ft ASL) in elevation and approximately 1,000 ft above the surrounding plains.  The rock capping the top of the buttes is the Oligocene age White River Formation erosional remnant, which is believed to have overlain the majority of the Powder River Basin.  The volcanic tuffs in the White River Formation have been cited as the source of uranium in the basin (Davis, 1969).  Historic and current land use in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District includes livestock grazing, mineral development, and oil and gas development. 

5.6.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit is situated in a low-lying plain with elevations ranging from roughly 4,600 ft ASL to 4,900 ft ASL. There are two main ephemeral drainages at the site. Both are tributaries of Cottonwood Creek, which drains to the Cheyenne River.

5.6.2 Satellite Properties

5.6.2.1 North Rolling Pin

The North Rolling Pin area consists of sagebrush and native grasses, covering rolling hills, steep walled gullies, and ephemeral streams.  Elevations range from approximately 4,800 ft ASL to 5,180 ft ASL.

5.6.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

The West North Butte and East North Butte areas are located on the west and southeast flanks of the North Pumpkin Butte, respectively.  The Willow Creek area is located approximately two miles south of the West North Butte deposit.

These areas consist of sagebrush and native grasses, covering rolling hills, steep walled gullies, and flat-topped North Butte.  Elevations range from approximately 4,900 ft ASL to 5,800 ft ASL, and generally slope from northeast to southwest.


6.0 HISTORY

The Complex was originally part of a large exploration area encompassing Townships 33 through 50 North of Ranges 69 through 79 West, on the Sixth Principal Meridian.  In 1966, Mountain West Mines Inc. (MWM - now Excalibur Industries) began a drilling exploration program in this area.  In 1967, MWM entered into an agreement with Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company (CCI) for further exploration and option if suitable resources were found.  CCI exercised its option in 1976 with plans to begin underground mining operations near North Butte, approximately six and a half miles northeast of Nichols Ranch.  As economic conditions changed, and with the development of ISR mining technology, CCI's interest in the area waned.  By the late 1980s, it began selling select properties or allowing them to revert back to MWM.

6.1 Prior Ownership

Uranerz acquired six uranium properties in the Powder River Basin from a third party in 2005, including the Complex.

In June 2015, EFR acquired all of the outstanding shares of Uranerz. Under that transaction, EFR acquired the Project, the Hank Project, the Reno Creek Property, the West North Butte Property, the North Rolling Pin Property, and the Arkose Mining Venture (a joint venture of ISR mining properties held 81% by Uranerz and 19% by United Nuclear Corp.), uranium sales contracts, and other assets, as well as the shares of Uranerz, which holds those assets.  In May 2018, EFR sold its non-core Reno Creek Property to Uranium Energy Corp.  In August 2018, EFR acquired royalties on the Project, along with royalties on several operating, standby, and advanced-stage ISR projects in Wyoming owned and operated by Power Resources, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cameco Corporation.

6.1.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit includes: (i) the Nichols Ranch Plant; (ii) the Nichols Ranch Wellfield; (iii) the Jane Dough area; and (iv) the Hank area, which includes the permitted but not constructed Hank satellite plant and the Hank deposit.  A portion of the Jane Dough area is held through the Arkose Mining Venture, in which the EFR has an 81% interest.

6.1.2 Satellite Properties

6.1.2.1 North Rolling Pin

The North Rolling Pin area is located within a large exploration area encompassing Townships 33 through 50 North of Ranges 69 through 79 West, on the Sixth Principal Meridian. In 1966, MWM (now Excalibur Industries) began a successful drilling exploration program in a portion of the larger area. In 1967, MWM entered into an agreement with CCI for further exploration and option if suitable resources were found.  CCI exercised its option in 1976 with plans to begin underground mining operations in the vicinity of North Butte.  Changing economic conditions and the development of ISR mining technology reportedly ended much of CCI's interest in the area.

In addition to CCI, other uranium exploration companies during the last forty years have controlled property either within or near the North Rolling Pin Property. These included Kerr McGee, Conoco, Texaco, American Nuclear, Tennessee Valley Authority, Rio Algom Mining Corporation (Rio Algom), and Uranerz. The mining claims and leases originally controlled by most of these companies were let go over the years due to market conditions. These property abandonments continued into 2004.


In February 2007, Uranerz purchased the North Rolling Pin claims group from Robert Shook as part of a larger 138 Federal mining claims acquisition. Uranerz subsequently expanded the properties by staking additional claims in the immediate area.

6.1.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

The West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek areas were originally part of a large exploration area encompassing Townships 33 through 50 North of Ranges 69 through 79 West, on the 6th principal meridian. In 1966, MWM (now Excalibur Industries) began a successful drilling exploration program in a portion of this area. In 1967, MWM entered into an agreement with CCI for further exploration and option if suitable resources were found. CCI exercised its option in 1976 with plans to begin underground mining operations in the vicinity of North Butte. Changing economic conditions and the development of ISR mining technology reportedly ended much of CCI's interest in the area.

In addition to CCI, other uranium exploration companies during the last forty years have controlled property either within or near the Satellite Properties. These included Kerr McGee, Conoco, Texaco, American Nuclear, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Uranerz U.S.A., Inc.  Areva NC, via subsidiary Cogema Resources Inc. (Cogema), and Power Resources Inc. (a subsidiary of Cameco Corporation) have retained portions of their original land positions in the area. The mining claims and leases originally controlled by most of these companies were let go over the years due to market conditions. These property abandonments continued into 2004.

WNB, ENB, and WC cover an area of land located on the west, east and south flank of North Butte in Campbell County, Wyoming.  Detailed disclosure pertaining to the chain of title of the properties comprising these areas is not known to the Authors or Uranerz representatives and is beyond the scope of this Technical Report.  The following is a brief description of what is known about ownership history of these areas.

The locators of the claims acquired rights to the properties comprising the West North Butte area in 1987. In January 2007, Uranerz completed an acquisition of an undivided one-hundred percent interest in the claims comprising the West North Butte area.

The locators of the claims acquired rights to the properties comprising the East North Butte Area in 1987. In January 2007, Uranerz completed an acquisition of an undivided 100% interest in the claims comprising the East North Butte area.

The locators of the claims acquired rights to the properties comprising the Willow Creek area in the 1960s. In December 2005, Uranerz entered into an option agreement to acquire an undivided one-hundred percent interest in the claims comprising the Willow Creek area.  The terms of the option agreement were satisfied in 2007 and the transfer of the claims to Uranerz was completed.

6.2 Exploration and Development History

On October 15, 1951, J. D. Love discovered uranium mineralization in the Pumpkin Buttes districts in the Wasatch Formation on the south side of North Pumpkin Butte in the west-central portion of the Powder River Basin.  The mineralization was one of eight areas recommended by the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) in April 1950 for investigation in the search for uranium bearing lignites and volcanic tuffs.  In response to this recommendation, an airborne radiometric reconnaissance of most of these areas was undertaken by the USGS in October 1950.  The uranium mineralization discovered by J. D. Love was near an aerial radiometric anomaly identified from this survey (Love, 1952).


6.2.1 Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex

Exploration drilling was conducted in the Jane Dough area, Section 21 and 28, T43N, R76W, between the late 1960s and late 1970s by CCI.  Little interest was generated by the completion of 46 holes from this drilling.  Between 1968 and 1980 CCI drilled 150 holes and installed 3 water wells on the Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough areas. Texas Eastern Nuclear Inc. completed limited drilling and exploration on Nichols Ranch in 1985.  In the early 1990s, Rio Algom also completed limited drilling in the area.  In December 2005, Uranerz purchased the Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank claims groups as part of a six-property agreement to option from Excalibur Industries.  Uranerz then expanded the properties by staking additional claims in the immediate and surrounding areas. 

Uranerz Energy Corporation began exploration drilling began on the Nichols Ranch area on July 11, 2006, and continued to June 6, 2015.  A total of 1,098 holes (253 exploration holes, 105 monitor wells, and 740 production wells) were drilled during that time.  A total of 51 exploration holes were drilled on the Hank area in 2008. 

Uranerz received the Source Material License SUA-1597 in July of 2011.  Nichols Ranch ISR operations began on April 15, 2014, after completion of a pre-operational inspection by the NRC Region IV office.  There were two planned Production Areas (PA1 and PA2) in the Nichols Ranch area.  Five header houses and their respective wellfields were installed and in operation in June 2015, when EFR acquired Uranerz, in Production Area #1.  Header house #6 was commissioned in November 2015.  In 2016, the EFR completed drilling 12 delineation holes and drilling and casing of 86 extraction wells in Header Houses #7 and #8 in Production Area #1.  Header House #7 was turned on in March 2016 and Header House #8 was turned on in June 2016.  In Production Area #2, 133 extraction and injection wells were drilled and cased. Header House #9 was completed and turned on in March 2017.  No drilling or other development activities have been performed since 2017.

In January 2008, Uranerz entered into a JV on the Arkose Project, resulting in an 81% undivided interest in the mineral rights controlled by the JV.  Uranerz commenced exploration on the Arkose Project in 2008. A total of 1,971 exploration holes were drilled on the Arkose Mining Venture from April 2008 to August 2012.  A portion of the Arkose Mining Venture holdings were subsequently incorporated into the Jane Dough portion of the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and remain subject to the 81% ownership, as discussed in Section 4.0 of this Technical Report.

6.2.2 Satellite Properties

6.2.2.1 North Rolling Pin

Mining claims were first staked in the North Rolling Pin area by MWM sometime before 1968. Exploration drilling was conducted in the North Rolling Pin area Sections 11, 14 and 15, T43N, R76W, between 1968 and 1982 by CCI. A total of 476 exploration holes were drilled including 10 core holes. CCI was reported to be investigating the NRP area for open pit mining potential but never carried those plans past the exploration phase.  In 2008 and 2009, Uranerz drilled 18 exploration holes in Sections 11 and 14.  This drilling was performed to evaluate the potential for mineralization below the zones explored by CCI and for confirmation of the previously identified mineralization in the F Sand.


6.2.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

Between 1968 and 1985, CCI drilled approximately 380 exploratory holes within the West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek areas.  From 1983 to 1985, Texas Eastern Nuclear drilled approximately 12 exploratory holes in these areas.  From approximately 1990 to 1992, Rio Algom drilled approximately 5 exploratory holes.  In 2006, Uranerz completed an acquisition of these areas, and in 2007 and 2008, drilled approximately 127 exploratory holes.

6.3 Historical Resource Estimates

Mineral resource estimates were reported using the Grade-Tonnage (GT) Contour method for the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit in 2015 (Beahm and Goranson, 2015), and Satellite Properties, North Rolling Pin in 2010 (Graves, 2010), and West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek in 2008 (Graves and Woody, 2008) The primary data used in all the evaluation is equivalent uranium values as quantified by downhole geophysical logging reported as % eU3O8.  Radiometric equilibrium was evaluated and a disequilibrium factor (DEF) of 1 was used.  The minimum uranium grade included in the estimate was 0.02% eU3O8. Mineral resources were reported at a cut-off of 0.20 GT, which is the cut-off applied at the Nichols Ranch operation during this time.

The SLR QP and EFR do not consider the historical resource estimates completed over West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek to be current Mineral Resources or Mineral Reserves as defined in S-K 1300 or NI 43-101, nor has EFR or the SLR QP completed sufficient work to confirm these estimates.  These estimates (Graves and Woody, 2008) are historical and obsolete and only included here as an indication of mineralization and should not be relied upon (Table 6-1).  This resource estimate has been excluded from the current Mineral Resource Estimate.

Resource estimates completed over Nichols Ranch in 2015 (Beahm and Goranson, 2015) and North Rolling Pin in 2010 (Graves, 2010) have been superseded by the Mineral Resource estimates in Section 14.0 of this Technical Report which includes additional new information and analysis.

Resource estimates for the Jane Dough and Hank properties were also completed in 2015 (Beahm and Goranson, 2015).  EFR and the SLR QP reviewed these estimates and found them acceptable for reporting Mineral Resources as described in Section 14.0 of this Technical Report.


Table 6-1: Historic Mineral Resource Estimates

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Project Area

Classification

Sand

Tonnage
(ton)

Grade
(% eU3O8)

Contained
Metal
(lb U3O8)

Attributable Metal
(lb U3O8)

Reference

West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek

Measured

A, B/LB, C, and F

-

-

-

-

Graves and Woody, 2008

Indicated

A, B/LB, C, and F

926,292

0.153

2,837,015

2,837,015

Measured + Indicated

A, B/LB, C, and F

926,292

0.153

2,837,015

2,837,015

Inferred

A, B/LB, C, and F

1,116,969

0.120

2,681,928

2,681,928

Notes:

1. 100% of West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek are attributed to Uranerz.

2. Mineral resources are reported at GT cut-off of 0.20.

6.4 Past Production

6.4.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

6.4.1.1 Nichols Ranch Area

The Nichols Ranch area includes a formerly operating ISR plant and wellfields, licensed to operate by the NRC and WDEQ. Construction of the Nichols Ranch Plant began in 2011.  Plant construction and initial wellfield installation were competed in 2014 and operations were initiated on April 15, 2014.  Production of 302,359 lb of uranium oxide was reported from initiation of production through June 2015, prior to EFR acquisition.  The Nichols Ranch area is licensed at an annual capacity of two million pounds uranium oxide. 

EFR completed construction of an elution and precipitation circuit at the Nichols Ranch Plant in early February 2016.  Yellowcake slurry was then transported from the Nichols Ranch Plant to the Mill for drying and packaging.  The Nichols Ranch Plant is currently licensed to allow for the construction and operation of a drying and packaging circuit should conditions warrant.

Operations at Nichols Ranch area ceased in 2019 and it is currently on care and maintenance.

6.4.1.2 Jane Dough and Hank

The Jane Dough and Hank areas are included in the Nichols Ranch permit, however, no production has occurred at either area.

6.4.2 Satellite Properties

In the early 1970s there was limited production on the North Rolling Pin property, however no production has occurred on the remaining Satellite Properties.


6.4.2.1 North Rolling Pin

In the early 1970s CCI and Wyoming Mineral Corporation (WMC) conducted research and development (R&D) activities at an ISR test site located in the North Rolling Pin area, including production of an unknown amount of granular yellowcake.  It should be noted that production of granular yellowcake at the North Rolling Pin pilot plant did not exceed 500 lb as dictated by the limitation set forth in the Source Material License granted to CCI by the NRC.

Records indicate that CCI applied for a Source Materials License on December 26, 1973, and approval was granted on May 23, 1974 (SUA-1199).  Research and development permitting was not required by the State of Wyoming at the time of the operation. The North Rolling Pin pilot plant was located in the northwest corner of Section 14, T43N, R76W.  The plant was portable, mounted on two 45-foot mobile trailers and had a rated capacity of 25 gpm.  The wellfield consisted of twelve wells: eight were used for the injection and recovery and four were utilized as monitor wells.  The lixiviant used in the tests was a low strength ammonium carbonate/bicarbonate solution with a hydrogen peroxide oxidant. The stripping of the uranium from the resin was affected with a chloride elution and the precipitation process utilized hydrochloric acid and ammonia (In-Situ Consulting, 1979).  On June 19, 1974, two 5-spot tests were conducted at the site by WMC. The tests ended November 1, 1974, and WMC concluded that the test work demonstrated that the confinement generated by injecting water into wells outside the system that provides leaching agent to the host is possible.

Poor weather in late fall of 1974 cut short the restoration efforts by WMC.  CCI hoped the reclamation work already conducted by WMC would satisfy the restoration liability, but post assaying data confirmed above background concentrations in most of the wells and did not show adequate restoration.  CCI contracted In-Situ Consulting for technical assistance and continued with groundwater restoration efforts.  CCI began field preparation for their restoration efforts in June 1978, which involved the installation of a piping system to all wells, setting pumps, locating generators, fuel tanks, an evaporation pond and bladder tanks (In-Situ Consulting, 1979).  In July 1980, CCI was authorized to begin the comprehensive site restoration scheme and on November 5, 1982, the Source Material License (SUA-1199) was terminated based on successful completion of final site restoration and an NRC closeout inspection.

6.4.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

No past production has occurred on these areas.


7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION

7.1 Regional Geology

The Complex is located in the Powder River Basin, which is a large structural and topographic depression sub-parallel to the trend of the Rocky Mountains.  The Basin is bounded on the south by the Hartville Uplift and the Laramie Range, on the east by the Black Hills, and on the west by the Big Horn Mountains and the Casper Arch.  The Miles City Arch in southeastern Montana forms the northern boundary of the Basin.

The Powder River Basin is an asymmetrical syncline with its axis closely paralleling the western basin margin.  During sedimentary deposition, the structural axis (the line of greatest material accumulation) shifted westward resulting in the Basin's asymmetrical shape (Figure 7-1).  On the eastern flank of the Powder River Basin, sedimentary rock strata dip gently to the west at approximately 0.5° to 3.0°.  On the western flank, the strata dip more steeply, 0.5° to 15° to the east with the dip increasing as distance increases westward from the axis.  The general surficial geology of this portion of the Powder River Basin is shown on Figure 7-2.

Figure 7-1: Cross Section of Local Geology

The Powder River Basin hosts a sedimentary rock sequence that has a maximum approximate thickness of 15,000 ft along the synclinal axis.  The sediments range in age from Recent (Holocene) to early Paleozoic (Cambrian - 500 million to 600 million years ago) and overlie a basement complex of Precambrian-age (more than a billion years old) igneous and metamorphic rocks. Geologically, the Powder River Basin is a closed depression in what was, for a long geologic time period, a large basin extending from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico.  During the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, the configuration of this expansive basin changed as the result of uplift on its margins.  By the late Tertiary Paleocene time, marked uplift of inland masses surrounding the Powder River Basin resulted in accelerated subsidence in the southern portion of the basin with thick sequences of arkosic (containing feldspar) sediments being deposited.  Arkosic sediments were derived from the granitic cores of the Laramie and Granite Mountains exposed to weathering and erosion by the Laramide uplift.  Near the end of Eocene time, northward tilting and deep weathering with minor erosion took place in the basin.  Subsidence resumed in the late Oligocene and continued through the Miocene and into the Pliocene.  A great thickness of tuffaceous sediments was deposited in the basin during at least a part of this period of subsidence.  By the late Pliocene, regional uplift was taking place, leading to a general rise in elevation of several thousand feet.  The massive erosional pattern that characterizes much of the Powder River Basin began with the Pliocene uplift and continues to the present.


The White River Formation is the youngest Tertiary unit that still exists in the Powder River Basin.  Locally, its only known remnants are found on top of the Pumpkin Buttes.  Elsewhere the unit consists of thick sequences of buff-colored tuffaceous sediments interspersed with lenses of fine sand and siltstone.  A basal conglomerate forms the resistant cap rock on top of the buttes.  This formation is not known to contain significant uranium mineralization in this area.

The Wasatch Formation is the next underlying unit and consists of interbedded mudstones, carbonaceous shales, silty sandstones, and relatively clean sandstones.  Near the Pumpkin Buttes, the Wasatch Formation is known to be 1,575 ft thick (Sharp and Gibbons, 1964).  The interbedded mudstones, siltstones, and relatively clean sandstones in the Wasatch vary in degree of lithification from uncemented to moderately well-cemented sandstones, and from weakly compacted and cemented mudstones to fissile shales.  The Wasatch Formation hosts significant uranium mineralization.

The next underlying unit is the Fort Union Formation.  In the Powder River Basin this unit is lithologically similar to the Wasatch Formation.  The Fort Union includes interbedded silty claystones, sandy siltstones, relatively clean sandstones, claystones, and coal.  The degree of lithification is quite variable, ranging from virtually uncemented sands to moderately well-cemented siltstones and sandstones.  The total thickness of the Fort Union in this area is approximately 3,000 ft.  The Fort Union hosts significant uranium mineralization at various locations in the basin. 


Figure 7-2: Regional Geologic Map


7.2 Local Geology

Uranium mineralization at the Complex deposits is hosted by the Eocene Wasatch Formation.  The Wasatch Formation was deposited in a multi-channel fluvial and flood plain environment.  The climate at the time of deposition was wet tropical to subtropical with medium stream and river sediment load depositing most medium grained materials.  The source of the sediments, as evidenced by abundant feldspar grains in the sandstones, was the nearby Laramie and Granite Mountains.

Within the Complex, there is a repetitive transgressive/regressive sequence of sandstones separated by fine-grained horizons composed of siltstone, mudstone, carbonaceous shale, and poorly developed thin coal seams.  The fine-grained materials were deposited in flood plain, shallow lake (lacustrine), and swamp environments.  Ultimately, deposition of the Wasatch Formation was a function of stream bed load entering the basin and subsidence from within the basin.  However, in the central part of the Powder River Basin, long periods of balanced stability occurred.  During these periods the stream gradients were relatively low and allowed for development of broad (0.5 mi to 6.0 mi wide) meander belt systems, associated over-bank deposits, and finer grained materials in flood plains, swamps, and shallow bodies of water.  Evidence for depositional stability exists as several coal bed markers with little or no channel scouring are in contact with the major sand horizons (Davis, 1969).  The base of the A Sand at Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough is underlain by basal lignite and carbonaceous shales.

7.2.1 Depositional Environment

In a fluvial meandering stream process, the flow channel is sinuous in plan view with the highest flow energy concentrated on the outside edge of the channel as it turns through a meander. This results in cutting into the outside channel wall and caving material into the channel especially during flooding. In cross section view, the outside edge of a meander is the steepest and the inside of the meander is sloped more gently. The inside edge of a meander is where deposition takes place. Finer materials are deposited in the shallower (upper) slow flow region of the inside slope and coarser materials are deposited in the lower region. The major fraction of sand in the Wasatch Formation in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District is medium grained with lesser fractions of coarse and fine grains (Figure 7-3). This is accompanied with mostly medium scale festoon cross bedding and current lamented cross bedding. These features can only be seen in cores.

The meandering stream environment is a process of cut and fill. Each time a cut occurs, the inside slope fills with sand and sediment. A single increment of this process results in a structure called a point bar.  In a typical point bar sedimentation process, grain size and sediment structure are fining upwards in the upstream portion of the single point bar accumulation (Visher, 1972).  An accumulation of point bars is sometimes referred to as a meander belt. As the meander process progresses, meander loops eventually migrate down gradient in the direction of flow and can laterally spread out in almost any direction. The size of the complete meander belt system is a function of the size of the valley or basin and stream flow rate, load, and gradient. If the subsidence rate and stream load are in the proper proportion, successive layers of meander belts, or meander belt systems, may form as the stream channel wanders back and forth during subsidence.

Meander belts in the Wasatch Formation are generally 5 ft to 30 ft thick.  The A Sand at Nichols Ranch area is made up of three to four stacked meander belts and the F Sand at Hank area has two to three stacked meander belts.  Individual meander belt layers will rarely terminate at the same location twice.  Meanders have been noted to frequently terminate in the interior of a belt system but are more likely to terminate somewhere closer to the edge of the meander stream valley.  The net effect for fluvial sands is to generally thin away from the main axis of the meander belt system. The A Sand meander belt system at Nichols Ranch area is approximately four miles wide.  At Hank, the F Sand meander belt system is smaller than Nichols Ranch at approximately one and one-half miles wide.


Figure 7-3: Schematic Fluvial Point Bar System

7.3 Property Geology

7.3.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

7.3.1.1 Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough

At Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough, the Eocene Wasatch Formation is exposed at the surface with limited areas of quaternary alluvial and colluvial deposits. Eight fluvial sandstone horizons or units have been identified at Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough. Beginning with the deepest unit, they are the 1, A, B, C, F, G and H Sand units shown on the regional stratigraphic column (Figure 7-4).  Separating the sand units are horizons composed of siltstones, mudstones, carbonaceous shales, and poorly developed thin coals. The primary mineralized sandstone unit (A Sand) is in the lower part of the Wasatch Formation, at an approximate average depth from surface of 550 ft.  At Nichols Ranch, additional mineralization occurs in the F sand of the Wasatch Formation at a depth of approximately 220 ft. The host sands are primarily arkosic in composition, friable, fine- to coarse-grained, and contain trace amounts of carbonaceous material and organic debris.

For the Mineral Resource estimate and ISR wellfield planning, development, and operations at Nichols Ranch, the A Sand has been divided into 10 sub-units with variable extents both laterally and vertically (Figure 7-5). On an electric log resistivity curve, the grading is apparent where the curve sharply deflects from low to higher resistance and then gradually returns to lower resistance in an upward direction. Other meander belt system sand features such as overbank and crevasse deposits are present as fingers of sand that taper out from a meander termination. These are thin sands without a lot of grain size sorting. Inter-meander channel sands occur between meanders that are migrating in different directions. These sands have more uniform grain size and show on the electric log as a semi-flat curve with only small variations. Tributary and meander cut-off channel sand features form where pre-existing sediments are scoured by a river or stream and subsequently fill with medium and coarse sediments. These channels may cut randomly into meander belts, flood plain or swamp sediments. On the electric resistivity log, channel fills have a massive semi-rounded signature


7.3.1.2 Hank

Hank is approximately six miles east-northeast of Nichols Ranch.  Eocene Wasatch Formation is exposed at the surface with limited areas of quaternary alluvial and colluvial deposits.  The mineralized sand horizon (F Sand) is in the lower part of the Wasatch Formation at an approximate average depth of 365 ft.  The host sands are primarily arkosic in composition, friable, fine- to very coarse-grained, and contain trace amounts of carbonaceous material and organic debris.


Figure 7-4: Regional Stratigraphic Column


Figure 7-5: Nichols Ranch Radiometric Log Cross Section Log


7.3.2 Satellite Properties

7.3.2.1 North Rolling Pin

At the North Rolling Pin area, the mineralized sand horizon (F Sand) occurs within the Wasatch Formation at an approximate depth from surface ranging from 51 ft to 403 ft and averaging 282 ft to the top of the mineralization (Figure 7-6 and Figure 7-7). Generally, the depth of mineralization decreases from the northeast to the southwest due mainly to topography along which the surface elevation decreases from approximately 5,180 ft to approximately 4,800 ft.  The F Sand ranges in thickness from approximately 30 ft to 60 ft, and generally increases in thickness in the southwest portion of Section 11 and thins toward the northeast and southwest in the area. The F Sand primarily consists of two stacked sand sets, termed the Upper and Lower F Sands that each average 20 ft to 25 ft thick.  The nature of these sand sets, as described above, is a major control on the mineralization occurring at North Rolling Pin. 

The host sand is primarily arkosic in composition, friable, and contains trace carbonaceous material and organic debris. There are local sandy mudstone/siltstone intervals with the sandstone, and the sand may thicken or pinch-out in some locations. The North Rolling Pin area lies east of the synclinal axis of the Powder River Basin, and the host Wasatch Formation dips approximately one degree to two degrees to the west.

Mineralization was also noted in 27 drillholes that occur in the shallower G Sand of the Wasatch Formation, however, there is limited exploration data in the G Sand. Based on the available data, mineralization in the G Sand is inconsistent and is not included in this Mineral Resource estimate.


Figure 7-6: North Rolling Pin Radiometric Log Cross Section A-A' Log


Figure 7-7: North Rolling Pin Radiometric Log Cross Section B-B' Log


7.3.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

The mineralized sand horizons occur within the lower part of the Wasatch Formation, at an approximate depth from surface ranging from 482 ft to 1,012 ft at West North Butte, 540 ft to 660 ft at East North Butte, and 172 ft to 567 ft at Willow Creek. The host sands are primarily arkosic in composition, friable, and contain trace carbonaceous material and organic debris. There are local sandy mudstone/siltstone intervals with the sandstones, and the sands may thicken or pinch-out in some locations. In the WNB and WC area, the dip of the host formation is approximately at one degree to two degrees as the claims are on the east side of the synclinal axis (Berglund, 2006, 2007).

The stratigraphy of the Wasatch consists of alternating layers of sand and shale with lignite marker beds. At the Satellite Properties, there are four primary Wasatch Formation sand members (F, C, B, and A Sands). The F Sand unit is the shallowest, and the A Sand member is the deepest.

Mineral resources are located in the Eocene age Wasatch Formation in what is identified as the A, B, C and F host sand units of the WNB area, the A and B host sands of the ENB area and in the A and F host sand units of the WC area.

7.3.2.2.1 West North Butte

Roll fronts were identified in the F, C, B, Lower B, and A sands in the WNB area (Berglund, 2007). Data from mineralization identified in the F, C, B, Lower B, and A sands were used to develop the resource estimate presented herein. The Lower B sand resource estimate was combined with the B sand for this estimate. The average depth to the mineralization for the F, C, B, lower B, and A sands are approximately 482 ft, 898 ft, 985 ft, 741 ft, and 1,012 ft, respectively. Mineralized thickness ranges from 1 ft to 29 ft, with average grades greater than 0.03% eU3O8 and GT>0.2 for the area.  Figure 7-8 provides a cross section that illustrates the relative position of the host sand in the WNB area.

7.3.2.2.2 East North Butte

Two roll fronts were identified in the ENB area: the B and A sands (Brown, 2005).  Data from mineralization identified in the B and A sands were used to develop the Mineral Resource estimate presented in this Technical Report. The average depth to mineralization for the B and A sands are approximately 540 ft and 660 ft, respectively.  Mineralized thickness ranges from one foot to three feet, with an average mineralization thickness greater than 0.03% eU3O8 and GT>0.2 of 5.7 ft (per log intercept) for the area.  Figure 7-9 provides a cross section that illustrates the relative position of the host sand in the ENB area.

7.3.2.2.3 Willow Creek

Four roll fronts were identified in this WC area (Berglund, 2006): the F sand, the B sand, the Upper A sand, and the Lower A sand. The roll fronts were interpreted using gamma characteristics, the sand boundaries determined from the resistivity logs, and the alteration noted on the lithology logs. Mineralization identified in the F and Lower A sands (referred to as the A sand herein) were used in developing the Mineral Resource estimate presented in this Technical Summary. The average mineralization depths to the F and A sands are approximately 172 ft and 567 ft, respectively. Mineralized thickness ranges from 1 ft to 21.5 ft, with an average mineralization thickness greater than 0.03% eU3O8 and GT>0.2 of 9.3 ft (per log intercept) for the area.  Figure 7-10 provides a cross section that illustrates the relative position of the host sands in the WC area.


Figure 7-8: West North Butte Radiometric Log Cross Section Log A-A'


Figure 7-9: East North Butte Radiometric Log Cross Section Log B-B'


Figure 7-10: Willow Creek Radiometric Log Cross Section Log C-C'


7.4 Mineralization

The uranium mineralization is composed of amorphous uranium oxide, sooty pitchblende, and coffinite, and is deposited in void spaces between detrital sand grains and within minor authigenic clays.  The host sandstone is composed of quartz, feldspar, accessory biotite and muscovite mica, and locally occurring carbon fragments.  Grain size ranges from very fine to very coarse sand but is medium-grained overall.  The sandstones are weakly to moderately cemented and friable.  Pyrite and calcite are associated with the sands in the reduced facies.  Hematite or limonite stain from pyrite are common oxidation products in the oxidized facies.  Montmorillonite and kaolinite clays from oxidized feldspars are also present in the oxidized facies (Uranerz, 2010a).  The uranium being extracted is hosted in a sandstone, roll front deposit at a depth ranging from 400 ft to 800 ft.

There are two theories (Uranerz, 2014) as to the origin of uranium in the Powder River Basin and Pumpkin Buttes Mining District. The first theory places the source of uranium from the weathering of the mountain cores which have also been cited as the source for the arkosic host sandstones. The basement rocks of the Granite Mountains, for example, have been determined to have high concentrations of uranium (20 ppm to 30 ppm). It has also been estimated that the granites have lost 70% of their original uranium content. Emplacement of the uranium under this theory would have taken place beginning 40 million to 45 million years ago, shortly after the host sands were deposited in the basins. The second theory places the source of uranium as overlaying Oligocene and Miocene rhyolite volcanic tuffs with uranium leaching into the groundwater system as the volcanic tuffs weathered. The rhyolite volcanic tuffs were the result of volcanic activity to the west.  Emplacement of the uranium has been cited as 20 million to 32 million years ago.  Since both theories are plausible, some geologists subscribe to a dual theory where each possible source contributed some percentage to the overall uranium occurrence.

Regardless of the source of the uranium, both theories would require a climate with active chemical weathering to breakdown the rock matrix and put the uranium into groundwater solution. One suggested environment for this to occur is the modern-day savanna climate.  Savanna climates are characterized by very wet, humid annual periods followed by hot and dry periods. This type of climate produces rapid chemical weathering and high oxidation potentials, which would have been needed to solubilize the uranium and keep it in solution until the groundwater system encountered a reducing, oxygen deficient environment such as the carbon trash rich sands in the Powder River Basin. When the uranium charged groundwater flowed into the reduced sandstone environment, the oxidized uranium precipitated out of solution along the interface between the two chemical environments. The uranium was deposited in 'C' shaped rolls, which are five feet to 30 ft thick, and in plan view may be a few feet to 500 ft wide and tens of miles in length. Along the length of the trace of the chemical roll, ore grade uranium may be found, however, ore is not likely along every mile of the front.  During the time that uranium was emplaced, as is true today, the groundwater in the Powder River Basin generally flowed to the north and northwest.  As the original uranium-charged groundwater flowed in the host sands, the chemical reductant was consumed and the roll fronts migrated down the hydrologic gradient, leaving in their wake a characteristic yellow to red to brown stain on the sandstone grains. As many as 11 separate roll front systems (Figure 7-11) have been identified in different horizons of the Wasatch Formation in the Powder River Basin area.


Figure 7-11: Cross Section Stacked Roll Fronts


8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES

Wyoming uranium deposits are typically sandstone roll front uranium deposits as defined in the "World Distribution of Uranium Deposits (UDEPO) with Uranium Deposit Classification", (IAEA, 2009).  The key components in the formation of roll front type mineralization include:

As depicted on Figure 8-1 and Figure 8-2, roll fronts are formed along an interface between oxidizing groundwater solutions which encounter reducing conditions within the host sandstone unit.  This boundary between oxidizing and reducing conditions is often referred to as the REDOX interface or front. 

Sandstone uranium deposits are typically of digenetic and/or epigenetic origin formed by low temperature oxygenated groundwater leaching uranium from the source rocks and transporting the uranium in low concentrations down gradient within the host formation where it is deposited along a REDOX interface.  Parameters controlling the deposition and consequent thickness and grade of mineralization include the host rock lithology and permeability, available reducing agents, groundwater geochemistry, and time in that the groundwater/geochemical system responsible for leaching; transportation and re-deposition of uranium must be stable long enough to concentrate the uranium to potentially economic grades and thicknesses.  Roll front mineralization is common to Wyoming uranium districts including the Powder River Basin, Gas Hills, Shirley Basin, Great Divide Basin, and others, as well as districts in South Texas and portions of the Grants, New Mexico District.


Figure 8-1: Typical Roll Front Cross Section

Figure 8-2: Typical Roll Front (REDOX) Boundary


9.0 EXPLORATION

On October 15, 1951, J.D.Love discovered uranium mineralization in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District in the Wasatch Formation on the south side of North Pumpkin Butte in the west central portion of the Powder River Basin. The mineralization was one of eight areas recommended in April 1950 for investigation in the search for uranium bearing lignites and volcanic tuffs. In response to this recommendation, an airborne radiometric reconnaissance of most of these areas was undertaken by the USGS in October 1950. The uranium mineralization discovered by J. D. Love was in the vicinity of an aerial radiometric anomaly identified from this survey (Love, 1952).

Early mining focused on shallow oxidized areas using small open pit mines.  Primary exploration methods included geologic mapping and ground radiometric surveys.  Modern exploration and mining in the district have focused on deeper reduced mineralization.

Rotary drilling on the Complex is the principal method of exploration and delineation of uranium mineralization.  Drilling can generally be conducted year-round on the Project.  Since acquiring the properties in 2015, EFR has conducted no additional exploration other than in-fill/delineation rotary drilling on the properties including wellfield installation at Nichols Ranch.

Hydrogeological and geotechnical information pertaining to the Project is described in Section 16.4 and Section 16.5 of this Technical Report.


10.0 DRILLING

As of the effective date of this Technical Report, EFR and its predecessor companies have completed a total of 3,942 drillholes (Table 10-1) across the Complex over the course of several drilling programs that began in 1960.  Of the 3,942 drillholes recorded, EFR's drilling database contains 3,504 drillholes totaling 2,363,890 ft drilled of which 449 totaling 281,126 ft have been completed by EFR since acquiring the Project in 2015 (Figure 10-1 and Figure 10-2).  The drill record includes both Rotary and Diamond Drill (DD) drilling, monitor wells, and injection and production wells.  No drilling has occurred across the properties since December 5, 2016. 

Drillhole collar locations are recorded on the original drill logs and radiometric logs created at the time of drilling, including easting and northing coordinates in local grid or modified NAD 1927 UTM Zone 13 and elevation of collar in feet above sea level.  Due to the horizontally stratified nature of mineralization, downhole deviation surveys are not typically conducted as all drillholes are vertical.

Table 10-1: Historical Drillhole Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Property

Historic Drillholes

EFR Drillholes

Total

Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

Nichols Ranch

1,328

449

1,777

Jane Dough

786

0

786

Hank

309

0

309

Satellite Properties

North Rolling Pin

494

0

494

West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

576

0

576

Total

3,493

449

3,942

In the opinion of the SLR QP, the drilling, logging, sampling, and conversion and recovery factors at the Project meet or exceed industry standards and are adequate for use in the estimation of Mineral Resources.


Figure 10-1: Historical Drillhole Location Map




Figure 10-2:
 EFR Drillhole Location Map


10.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

10.1.1 Historic Drilling 1960 to 2015

Drilling records indicated that between 1960 and 1985, CCI drilled approximately 143 exploratory holes within the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit area.  Between 2005 and 2015, Uranerz completed approximately 1,185 exploratory holes which includes 11 DD holes.  In total, EFR predecessors drilled 1,328 holes across the Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough and Hank areas.

10.1.2 EFR Drilling 2015 to 2016

EFR has conducted its own exploration of the properties with delineation drilling on the Nichols Ranch area. The drillhole data demonstrates that mineralization is present and is of sufficient quality and density to support mineral resource estimation.  Drillhole data is dominantly based on interpretation of downhole geophysical logs typically consisting of natural gamma, resistivity, and SP (Spontaneous Potential).  Resistivity and SP were utilized for defining lithology and correlating the logs.  Geophysical logging was historically completed by commercial geophysical logging companies.  Recent and current geophysical logging is being completed by EFR personnel using modern logging units owned by EFR.

Data in the possession of EFR includes nearly 100% of the total original geophysical and lithologic logs both historic and recent.

10.2 Satellite Properties

Available historical data were developed by previous owners of the Satellite Properties during several drilling programs conducted sporadically between 1968 to 2015.  EFR is in possession of most of the historical geophysical and lithologic logs and drillhole location maps but has not conducted its own exploration of the Satellite Properties.  Drilling data, comprised primarily of downhole geophysical logs (natural gamma, resistivity, and spontaneous potential), indicate that mineralization is present within the Satellite Properties and define its three-dimensional location. In addition, the historic information includes density and chemistry data from six core holes.

10.2.1 North Rolling Pin

Between 1968 to 2008, CCI and Uranerz completed 494 drillholes across the North Rolling Pin area. The geophysical and lithologic log data from 386 of the 494 drillholes were used in the evaluation of the North Rolling Pin area. It was noted that data from 108 CCI drillholes were missing, and it was concluded (Graves, 2010) that most of these drillholes were left out of the sequence and were not drilled.

The exploration drillholes were spaced approximately 25 ft to 50 ft apart in rows orientated perpendicular to the mineralization trend or in clusters of close spaced drilling. Additional fences were then drilled approximately every 400 to 600 feet along the length of the trend.

Of the data from 386 drillholes, 198 of the holes had mineralization with a GT of 0.2 or greater and were used for the mineral resource estimate completed in 2008 (Graves, 2010).


10.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

Between 1968 and 1985, CCI drilled approximately 256 exploratory holes in West North Butte, 45 in East North Butte, and 131 in Willow Creek). From 1983 to 1985, Texas Eastern Nuclear drilled approximately 12 exploratory holes in the Willow Creek area.  From approximately 1990 to 1992, Rio Algom drilled approximately five exploratory holes at Willow Creek. In 2006, Uranerz completed an acquisition of the WNB, ENB, and WC areas, and between 2007 to 2009, drilled 127 exploratory holes (29 in WNB, 82 in ENB, and 16 in WC).  Of the 576 drillholes completed, 52 holes (45 in ENB, 7- in WC) were missing geophysical logs and were excluded from the mineral resource estimate completed in 2010 (Graves and Woody, 2010).

The holes were typically spaced approximately 25 feet apart perpendicular to the trend and approximately 400 feet apart parallel to the trend.

10.3 Procedures

10.3.1 Collar Coordinates and Surveying

Drillhole collar locations are recorded on the original drill logs created at the time of drilling, including easting and northing coordinates in local grid (Wyoming State Plane, NAD 27 datum) and elevation of collar in feet above sea level National Geodetic Datum of 1929 (NGVD29).

EFR is using an Astech GPS system for surveying drillhole and well locations. This instrument can measure horizontal coordinates within 0.25 m (0.8 ft). EFR uses on-site control points for static post-processing corrections of the GPS data which slightly increases the accuracy.  The SLR QP is of the opinion that, for the deposit type, all survey methods used for the collar locations would be expected to provide adequate accuracy for the drillhole locations.

All drilling is vertical.  The dip of the formation is relatively flat, two degrees to three degrees to the northeast. EFR drilling contracts include cost penalties for downhole deviation in excess of 1%.  If the downhole deviation exceeds 2%, EFR can require the hole be re-drilled at the contractor's expense.  Downhole deviation is measured as part of the geophysical logging and is available for all recent drilling.  Given the flat formational dip and restrictions placed on downhole deviation, the variance in thickness measured by geophysical logging and true thickness (less than 1%) will not appreciably affect mineral resource estimation.

10.3.2 Drill Logging

EFR has established standard procedures for drillhole, lithologic, and geophysical logging of rotary drill and diamond drillholes.

10.3.2.1 Rotary Drilling (Rotary)


10.3.2.2 Diamond Drilling (DD)


11.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES, AND SECURITY

11.1 Sample Preparation and Analysis

11.1.1 Gamma Logging

The primary assay data used in calculating Mineral Resource estimates for the Complex are downhole geophysical logs. Additional data include limited core assays and Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) geophysical logging.

Exploration drilling for uranium is unique in that core does not need to be recovered from a hole to determine the metal content.  Due to the radioactive nature of uranium, probes that measure the decay products or "daughters" can be measured with a downhole gamma probe; this process is referred to as gamma logging.  While gamma probes do not measure the direct uranium content, the data collected (in counts per second (CPS) can be used along with probe calibration data to determine an equivalent U3O8 grade in percent (% eU3O8).  These grades are very reliable as long as there is not a disequilibrium problem in the area.  Disequilibrium will be discussed below.  Gamma logging is common in non-uranium drilling and is typically used to discern rock types.

The original downhole gamma logging of surface holes was done on the Bullfrog property by Century Geophysical Corp. (Century) and Professional Logging Services, Inc. (PLS) under contract to Exxon.  Atlas also contracted Century for this service. Standard logging suites included radiometric gamma, resistivity, and self-potential measurements, supplemented by neutron-neutron surveys for dry holes.  Deviation surveys were conducted for most of the holes.  Century used its Compulog system consisting of truck-mounted radiometric logging equipment, including a digital computer. The natural gamma (counts per second, or cps), self potential (millivolts), and resistance (ohms) were recorded at 1/10th foot increments on magnetic tape and then processed by computer to graphically reproducible form.  The data were transferred from the tape to computer for use in resource estimation.

Procedures followed by Exxon, Atlas, and Plateau, together with their contractors Century and PLS, were well documented and at the time followed best practices and standards of companies participating in uranium exploration and development.  Onsite collection of the downhole gamma data and onsite data conversion limit the possibility of sample contamination or tampering.

11.1.1.1 Calibration

For the gamma probes to report accurate %eU3O8 values the gamma probes must be calibrated regularly.  The probes are calibrated by running the probes in test pits maintained historically by the AEC and currently by the DOE.  There are test pits in Grand Junction, Colorado, Grants, New Mexico, and Casper, Wyoming.  The test pits have known %U3O8 values, which are measured by the probes.  A dead time (DT) and K-factor can be calculated based on running the probes in the test pits.  These values are necessary to convert CPS to %eU3O8.  The dead time accounts for the size of the hole and the decay that occurs in the space between the probe and the wall rock.  DT is measured in microseconds (μsec).  The K-factor is simply a calibration coefficient used to convert the DT-corrected CPS to %eU3O8

Quarterly or semi-annual calibration is usually sufficient.  Calibration should be done more frequently if variations in data are observed or the probe is damaged. 


11.1.1.2 Method

Following the completion of a rotary hole, a geophysical logging truck will be positioned over the open hole and a probe will be lowered to the hole's total depth.  Typically, these probes take multiple different readings.  In uranium deposits, the holes are usually logged for gamma, resistivity, standard potential, and hole deviation. Only gamma is used in the grade calculation.  Once the probe is at the bottom of the hole, the probe begins recording as the probe is raised. The quality of the data is impacted by the speed the probe is removed from the hole.  Experience shows a speed of 20 feet per minute is adequate to obtain data for resource modeling.  Data is recorded in CPS, which is a measurement of uranium decay of uranium daughter products, specifically Bismuth-24.  That data is then processed using the calibration factors to calculate a eU3O8 grade.  Historically, eU3O8 grades were calculated using the AEC half amplitude method, which gives a grade over a thickness.  Currently, the eU3O8 grades tend to be calculated on 0.5-foot intervals by software.  Depending on the manufacturer of the probe truck and instrumentation, different methods are used to calculate the eU3O8 grade, but all, including the AEC method, are based on the two equations given below. 

The first equation converts CPS to CPS corrected for the dead time (DT) determined as part of the calibration process

The second equation converts the Dead Time Corrected CPS (N) to %eU3O8 utilizing the K-factor (K)

Depending on the drilling and logging environment, additional multipliers can be added to correct for various environmental factors.  Typically, these include a water factor for drill hole mud, a pipe factor if the logging is done in the drill steel, and a disequilibrium factor if the deposit is known to be in disequilibrium.  Tables for water and pipe factors are readily available.

For all recent drilling Century's Compulog™ software is utilized to convert natural gamma measurement to equivalent % U3O8 grade (% eU3O8). The output data is provided both electronically and in hard copy by 0.5 ft intervals.  This grade data is then summed for thickness and GT for the appropriate mineralized intervals. This procedure is the current industry standard method.  Hard copies of all original drillhole data are maintained either at the Nichols Ranch facility or the Casper, Wyoming office. Both facilities are secure. 

11.1.2 Prompt Fission Neutron Logging

Natural gamma is the traditional tool used to measure eU3O8 grade and evaluate resources but in some sandstone-hosted deposits, uranium is not in equilibrium with its daughters as they are too young, and uranium is still actively mobile.  Typical gamma logging tools measure radioactive decay products which develop in the uranium decay chain rather than the uranium-238 (238U) of interest. After a long period of geologic time the decay products measured by gamma logging tools will be directly proportional to the uranium in the ore zone provided that geologic processes have not caused the uranium to be separated from the gamma emitters being measured, such as 214Bi, 226Ra, 222Rn and others (Campbell et al., 2008). The uranium and decay products naturally separate down gradient, with a higher percent of the latter remaining behind in the tails of the roll front and the uranium (in higher percent than the decay products) moving ahead in the nose of the ore body, albeit slower than the groundwater flow rate (Figure 11-1).  The gamma log does not indicate the correct grade (actual chemical content) neither up gradient nor down gradient of the ore zone. The grade calculation made from the gamma log can be either higher or lower than what is actually present in these areas (Figure 11-2).


Due to biogeochemical processes, uranium may have moved into an area of low gamma, thus increasing the grade, or out of an area of high gamma, thus decreasing the grade. When this occurs over a wide area, the ore body, or a part thereof, is said to be in disequilibrium.  In order to determine actual uranium grades, a representative number of core samples will need to be obtained for laboratory analysis and compared to the eU3O8 results for each core hole. This will determine the amount of disequilibrium in the ore zone of the deposit.

Figure 11-1: Uranium Roll Front Natural Gamma Log Configuration and Associated Geochemistry


Source:  After Penney, 2011

Figure 11-2: PFN versus Natural Gamma Trace Response

Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) was invented by Sandia Laboratories & Mobil R&D in Texas during the 1970s to directly measure in situ ore grade uranium.

The PFN logging tool overcomes the problem of disequilibrium by measuring the uranium-235 (235U) in the formation.  In the PFN tool, a pulsed neutron source electronically generates 108 14-MeV neutrons per second which ultimately cause fission of 235U in the formation. The thermal and epithermal neutrons returning to the tool from the formation are counted in separate detector channels to provide a measure of 235U free from variations in neutron output and borehole factors common with natural gamma measurements.

In this way PFN is essentially equivalent to other common uranium assay methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRF) completed in a laboratory or field environment and is thus considered to provide direct assay results.  The tool has no electric logs (resistivity and self-potential) and so must be run after these logs have been run.  The lowest practical grade measurement is approximately 0.02% eU3O8. Like the standard gamma tool, the PFN tool must be calibrated by taking measurements in test pits of known grade and porosity.


11.1.3 Core Sampling

There are two main purposes of collecting DD core:

1. Radiometric equilibrium (Section 0) - the condition in which a radioactive species and its successive radioactive products have attained such relative proportions that they all disintegrate at the same numerical rate and therefore maintain their proportions constant.

2. In situ leach amenability studies - intended to demonstrate that the uranium mineralization is capable of being leached using conventional ISR chemistry.

DD core is pulled from the hole by the drilling contractor and laid out in a core box.  Core sampling is the primary responsibility of the EFR field geologist.  The general process for core sampling is as follows:

Assays of samples from core drilling were collected by company geologists and submitted to various independent commercial laboratories for analysis prior to EFR ownership.  Records and files indicate CCI used Hazen Research, Inc. in Golden, Colorado, in the early 1980s and Uranerz used Energy Laboratories, Inc. (ELI), in Casper, Wyoming in 2007 through 2009 for at least some of this analytical work.  Results of these analyses were compared to eU3O8 values from gamma logs to evaluate logging tool performance, validity of gamma logging, radiometric equilibrium, and leach amenability studies.

Hazen Research holds certifications from various state regulatory agencies and from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). and ELI is NELAP accredited with certifications USEPA: WY00002; FL-DOH NELAC: E87641; Oregon: WY200001; Utah: WY00002; Washington: C1012.

No diamond drilling has been completed on the properties since 2009. 


EFR and the SLR QP recommend that a handheld XRF tool should be considered to replace the scintillometer reading to obtain more precise mineralogical information.

11.1.4 Radiometric Equilibrium

Disequilibrium in uranium deposits is the difference between equivalent (eU3O8) grades and assayed U3O8 grades.  Disequilibrium can be either positive, where the assayed grade is greater than the equivalent grades, or negative, where the assayed grade is less than the equivalent grade.  A uranium deposit is in equilibrium when the daughter products of uranium decay accurately represent the uranium present.  Equilibrium occurs after the uranium is deposited and has not been added to or removed by fluids after approximately one million years. Disequilibrium is determined during drilling when a piece of core is taken and measured by two different methods, a counting method (closed-can) and chemical assay.

By definition, radiometric equilibrium is radioactive isotopes decay until they reach a stable non-radioactive state. The radioactive decay chain isotopes are referred to as daughters.  When all the decay products are maintained in close association with the primary uranium isotope uranium 238 (238U) for the order of a million years or more, the daughter isotopes will be in equilibrium with the parent isotope (McKay et al., 2007).  Disequilibrium occurs when one or more decay products are dispersed as a result of differences in solubility between uranium and its daughters.

Disequilibrium is considered positive when there is a higher proportion of uranium present compared to daughters and negative where daughters are accumulated, and uranium is depleted.  The disequilibrium factor (DEF) is determined by comparing radiometric equivalent uranium grade eU3O8 to chemical uranium grade.  Radiometric equilibrium is represented by a DEF of 1, positive radiometric equilibrium by a factor greater than 1, and negative radiometric equilibrium by a factor of less than 1.

Except in cases where uranium mineralization is exposed to strongly oxidized conditions, most of the sandstone roll front deposits reasonably approximate radiometric equilibrium.  The nose of a roll front deposit tends to have the most positive DEF and the tails of a roll front would tend to have the lowest DEF (Davis, 1969).

It was concluded in the 2015 Preliminary Economic Assessment (Beahm, 2015) that while the core data collection and assay procedures did follow industry standard procedures, the core data reflected higher GT portions of the deposit and as such were not necessarily representative of the mineralization as a whole.  The available PFN data did provide a reasonable representation across the mineralized roll front from oxidized to reduced conditions and in the opinion of the author was more representative than core data for the evaluation of radiometric equilibrium. A comparison of chemical data vs probe data showed that no disequilibrium factor is needed for the Complex. 

In previous Nichols Ranch Technical Reports, (Beahm and Anderson (2007), Brown (2009), and Graves (2010) have recommended a DEF factor of 1 based on the nature of the mineral deposit and limited core data.  The Hank Technical Report (TREC, 2008) recommended a DEF factor of 1.18 based on limited core data.

In April 2012, Uranerz completed logging of 16 drillholes at Nichols Ranch utilizing PFN.  PFN provides direct analysis of the in situ chemical uranium content and is considered by the SLR QP as reliable for the purposes of assessing radiometric equilibrium.  Of the 16 PFN holes, 12 had sufficient mineralization for evaluation of radiometric equilibrium.  These data are summarized in Table 11-1.


Table 11-1: Radiometric Equilibrium Data

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Hole ID

Depth
(top)

PFN Tool

Radiometric (Gamma Log)

DEF

T.D.
(ft)

Deviation
(ft)

Thick
(ft)

Grade
(%U3O8)

GT

Thick
(ft)

Grade
(%U3O8)

GT

1A-2

547

16

0.068

1.09

15

0.069

1.04

1.05

567

2.73

1A-3

556

10.5

0.099

1.04

12.5

0.116

1.45

0.72

575

4.69

1A-28

551.5

20.5

0.347

7.12

21

0.396

8.31

0.86

575

5.56

1A-31

541

11.5

0.419

4.82

12

0.251

3.01

1.60

555

5.4

A-39

559

6

0.057

0.34

6.5

0.044

0.29

1.20

569

1.47

1A-44

562.5

6

0.201

1.21

8

0.152

1.22

0.99

569

6.74

1B-1

626.5

7.5

0.066

0.50

8

0.072

0.58

0.85

637

5.34

1B-3

605

8

0.109

0.88

7

0.090

0.63

1.39

620

11.85

1B-4

624.5

7.5

0.060

0.45

7

0.085

0.59

0.76

634

5.77

1B-9

633.5

3.5

0.319

1.40

3.5

0.162

0.57

2.47

640

1.85

1B-16

625.5

16

0.082

1.12

16

0.119

1.90

0.59

644

13.25

1B-17

558.5

8

0.037

0.30

8.5

0.055

0.47

0.64

592

7.53

Total GT

 

 

 

20.27

 

 

20.05

1.01

 

 

Since acquiring the Project, EFR has not conducted any PFN logging as past production and assaying have confirmed that radiometric equilibrium is nearly equal to one and not material to the resource estimate.

11.2 Sample Security

EFR has conducted no core sampling since acquiring the Project.  All reported core sampling was performed by previous operators.  The reported sample preparation, handling of the historic coring, and sample security cannot be confirmed.

11.3 In Situ Leach Amenability

Uranium leach amenability studies were conducted on Uranerz uranium core samples between April 22 to April 27, 2007, and January 9 to February 13, 2009.  The tests were conducted at ELI's facility in Casper, Wyoming.  Leach amenability studies are intended to demonstrate that the uranium mineralization is capable of being leached using conventional ISR chemistry. The tests are designed to present an indication of an ore's reaction rate and the potential uranium recovery.

Analysis of the resulting leach solution indicated leach efficiencies of 65% to 74%. Tails analysis indicated efficiencies of 76% to 79% (Garling, 2013).

The following excepts on the leach amenability procedures were extracted from documents from ELI (ELI, 2007, 2009a, 2009b)


The leach solution was prepared using sodium bicarbonate (2 g/L NaHCO3) as the source of the carbonate complexing agent (formation of uranyldicarbonate (UDC) or uranyltricarbonate ion (UTC)). Hydrogen peroxide is added as the uranium oxidizing agent as the tests are conducted at ambient pressure. A sequential leach "bottle roll" test was conducted on the core interval selected by Uranerz personnel. The tests are not designed to approximate in situ conditions (permeability, porosity, pressure) but are merely an indication of an ore's reaction rate and the potential uranium recovery

The core sample (designation U36-2l-l24C from depth of 467 ft to 473 ft) was dried at approximately 60°C for more than 16 hours in a convection oven and pulverized to less than 10 mesh.  The processed core was then analyzed for uranium. Chemical analysis was conducted on a strong mineral acid digest of the dried and pulverized core samples. This digest consists of a 1-gram sub sample digested with 50% nitric acid heated in a water bath at 95°C for more than 16 hours. Following the heating period, the volume is adjusted to a known level, typically 50 mL. Uranium analysis is performed on the solution by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy against certified commercial standards.

The Leach Amenability Procedure was then performed. A 200-g sub sample of the dried and pulverized core was placed into a two-litre wide mouth plastic container and a lixiviate comprised of 2.0 g/L HCO3 (NaHCO3) and 0.5 g/L H2O2 was added at an approximate five pore volume liquid to solid ratio. Uranerz dictated the five pore volume charge of 1,000 mL of the lixiviate was added to the 200-gram sub sample. The reaction vessel was then rotated on a TCLP extractor for approximately 16 hours at 30 revolutions per minute (RPM). Then, the entire liquid portion of the leach was separated by filtration (centrifuged only if necessary). The solid portion was reintroduced to the reaction vessel, and a fresh charge of lixiviate was added. This was repeated six times to produce pore volumes 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25, and 26-30. All these pore volumes were analyzed on an ongoing basis for Dissolved Uranium.

Since 2009, no additional leach amenability studies have been conducted on the Project.  The SLR QP is of the opinion that this is not material to the Mineral Resource estimate or future operations as actual recovery factors have been established from the previous ISR operations at the Complex.  No additional work is required.

11.4 Bulk Density

Limited site-specific data was available for review of bulk density.  Previous Technical Reports for the Complex have used bulk density factors ranging from 15.5 cubic feet per ton (ft3/ton) to 18.3 ft3/ton.  A third-party consultant, BRS, recommended a density of 16 ft3/ton be used for Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough and Hank areas and another third-party consultant, TREC, recommended a density of 15.5 ft³/ton be used for North Rolling Pin and West North Butte areas.  BRS has direct conventional mining experience within the same and/or very similar geologic settings in Wyoming and has direct knowledge of appropriate bulk density for this level of estimate. 

EFR recommended a density of 15.5 ft³/ton or 16.0 ft³/ton be used for all Mineral Resource estimations, based on available data and its direct mining experience within the host formation. The difference in densities between 15.5 ft³/ton and 16 ft³/ton results in a calculation difference of 3% in the Mineral Resource estimate and is considered by the SLR QP as an acceptable variance.


11.5 Quality Assurance and Quality Control

The primary assay data used to calculate the Mineral Resource estimate for the Complex is downhole radiometric log data.  Calibration data for both natural gamma and PFN geophysical logging units are available for both historical and recent drilling.

The SLR QP was not able to review QA/QC of field sampling performed by EFR personnel as the Project is currently under care and maintenance and no drilling activities are currently being conducted.  However, examination of previous reports and files shows that EFR and its predecessors utilized training programs, and indicated that field personnel demonstrated basic geological abilities and management oversight operations met or exceeded industry best practices and standards at that time.  Exploratory drillhole cutting samples are recovered in a wet or damp condition and soon after they are described by a field geologist.  Down hole radiometric logging was checked against the driller's logs. The data are considered accurate and reliable for the purpose of completing a mineral resource estimate of the Project.

When drilling is active, both the natural gamma and PFN logging trucks are calibrated at least every three months.  Natural gamma calibration is performed at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) standard calibration facilities located in Casper, Wyoming.  Commercial logging services for both natural gamma and PFN logging are calibrated at the DOE standard facilities located in Casper, Wyoming, and/or Grand Junction, Colorado.

Calibration data for historical drill data was included in the geophysical log header information.

11.6 Conclusions

EFR has conducted no core sampling since acquiring the properties.  All reported core sampling was performed by a previous operators CCI and Uranerz. The reported sample preparation and handling of the historic coring cannot be confirmed. The test results from the historical coring programs were not available for review, thus were not included in the calculation of resource quantities.

In the SLR QP's opinion, the historical radiometric logging, analysis, and security procedures at the Complex were adequate for use in the estimation of the Mineral Resources.  The SLR QP also opines that, based on the information available, the original gamma log data and subsequent conversion to % eU3O8 values are reliable.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that the sample security, analytical procedures, and QA/QC procedures used by EFR meet industry best practices and are adequate to estimate Mineral Resources.

Furthermore, there is no evidence that radiometric disequilibrium would be expected to negatively affect the uranium resource estimates of the deposits however the SLR QP recommends that EFR resume using PFN as a QA/QC tool to confirm the disequilibrium factor within the Satellite Properties not yet exposed to ISR mining.


12.0 DATA VERIFICATION

Data verification is the process of confirming that data has been generated with proper procedures, is transcribed accurately from its original source into the project database and is suitable for use as described in this Technical Report.

As part of the resource estimation procedure drill data is spot checked by EFR personnel and audited by the SLR QP for completeness and validity. Specifically, any data which appears higher or lower than the surrounding data is confirmed by reviewing the original geophysical log. This data review includes confirming that the drill depth was adequate to reflect the mineralized horizon, that the geologic interpretation of host sand is correct, and that the thickness and grade of mineralization is correct.

The primary assay data used to calculate the Mineral Resource estimate for the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and Satellite Properties is downhole geophysical log data. Calibration data for both natural gamma and PFN geophysical logging units are available for both historical and recent drilling.

The historical geophysical logs were interpreted by EFR using standard procedures for the interpretation of natural gamma logging employing the half amplitude method for the interpretation of historic analog data.  The SLR QP reviewed and confirmed drill data contained in various electronic databases and constrained mineral resource estimates above a 0.2 GT.

12.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

12.1.1 Nichols Ranch

The SLR QP visited the Complex on October 28 to 29, 2021.  During the visit, the SLR QP reviewed historical plans and sections, geological reports, historical and recent drillhole logs, the digital drillhole database, historical drillhole summary radiometric logs and survey records, and property boundary surveys, and toured site facilities, locations of current installed wellfields, and associated header house complexes.  Discussions were held with the EFR technical team who demonstrated a strong understanding of the mineralization types and their processing characteristics, and how the analytical results are tied to the results.  The SLR QP did not visit EFR offices in Casper, Wyoming.

EFR maintains a complete set of drillhole data, as well as other exploration data, for the entire project in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and hard copy logs at the Nichols Ranch facility.  Files at the EFR Nichols Ranch office and warehouses were contained in file cabinets, and map files covering the Nichols Ranch area as well as other areas were available for review.  The files were generally complete and contained original data consisting of gamma-ray logs, mini logs, drillhole summaries, resource estimation sheets, copies of drillhole maps, "mine estimation" maps, reports of mine plans, survey documents, logging truck calibration records, and a few representative cross sections.

Certification of database integrity is accomplished by both visual and statistical inspections comparing geology, assay values, and survey locations cross-referenced to historical paper logs. Any discrepancies identified are corrected by the EFR resource geologist referring to hard copy assay information.

Records from the Microsoft Excel database including collar GT intercepts are then extracted for each target and imported into ArcGIS software for geologic modeling and resource estimation.  Currently only data from the Nichols Ranch deposit has been imported into the ArcGIS software.  All data for the remaining properties remain in Microsoft Excel format or hard copy format. 


As part of the data verification process the SLR QP conducted a series of independent verification tests on the drillhole database provided by EFR for the properties acquired from Uranerz in 2015.  Verification tests were run to check drill collar coordinates and elevation, radiometric log intercept data, U3O8 conversion and calibrations factor, total GT calculations, and redox trend boundaries.  The SLR QP did not encounter any significant discrepancies with the Nichols Ranch data in the vicinity of modeled mineralized zones but did identify drillholes with missing coordinates and/or elevations, improper total depth drilled compared to radiometric logs, and radiometric log data with no drill collar information. 

The SLR QP did not identify any significant problems with the interpretations and U3O8 conversion and calculations and is of the opinion that the calibration factors are acceptable.  The SLR QP conducted a review of grade continuity for each mineralized sandstone unit. The SLR QP reviewed 0.5 ft natural gamma radiometric (probe) data and related information to validate the reported grade and grade thickness (GT) values shown on the drillhole intercept maps. Results indicate continuity of mineralization within each sandstone unit in both plan and section in elongate tabular or irregular shapes. The SLR QP is of the opinion that, although continuity of mineralization is variable, drilling confirms that local continuity exists within individual sandstone units.

Of the total 1,777 drillholes reported drilled across the Nichols Ranch deposit, the EFR database is missing data from 96 records or roughly 5.7% (Table 12-1).  The discrepancies and uncertainty identified by the SLR QP do not affect the Mineral Resource estimate.  The SLR QP recommends that the missing data be corrected prior to the next in-fill drilling programs or resource updates.

Table 12-1: EFR Drilling Database

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Property

Historic #
Drillholes
(1960-2015)

EFR
Drillholes
(2015-2019)

Total #
Drillholes

EFR Database

# of Records

Missing #

Missing %

Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

Nichols Ranch

1,328

449

1,777

1,681

-96

-5.4%

Jane Dough

786

0

786

771

-15

-1.9%

Hank

289

0

289

299

10

3.5%

Satellite Properties

North Rolling Pin

494

0

494

379

-115

-23.3%

West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek

576

0

576

374

-202

-35.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

3,473

449

3,922

3,504

-418

-10.7%

The remaining property data used to support this current Mineral Resource estimate has been reviewed and disclosed previously in Canadian NI 43-101 Technical Reports for the Jane Dough, Hank, and Satellite Properties.  Those data verification efforts carried out by the TREC and Uranerz in 2008, 2010, and 2015 and reviewed and audited by the SLR QP are summarized in the following subsections.


12.1.2 Jane Dough and Hank (Beahm and Goranson, 2015)

During a site visit on February 19, 2015, Douglas Beaham, an independent qualified person, examined the original hard copy drillhole files for the Jane Dough and Hank deposits at the Uranerz office in Casper, Wyoming.  Uranerz provided electronic scans of all geophysical and lithological logs for the drillholes used in the 2015 Technical Report along with electronic data summaries.  The 2015 mineral resource estimate presented herein was developed based on geophysical data, grade calculations, lithological logs, and cross sections from 213 CCI and 857 Uranerz drillholes.  The data was considered accurate and reliable for the purpose of completing a mineral resource estimate.  A total of 1,075 drillholes (786 from the Jane Dough deposit and 289 from the Hank deposit) were spot checked. Specifically, any data which appeared higher or lower than the surrounding data was confirmed by reviewing the original geophysical log. This data review included confirming that the drill depth was adequate to reflect the mineralized horizon, that the geologic interpretation of host sand was correct, and that the thickness and grade of mineralization was correct. It was reported (Beahm and Goranson, 2015) that although some discrepancies were found in the data and were corrected prior to the mineral resource estimate, the data was generally found to be accurate and representative of the mineralization in the areas.

The SLR QP did not identify any significant problems with the interpretations and U3O8 conversion and calculations and is of the opinion that the calibration factors are acceptable.  The SLR QP conducted a review of grade continuity for each mineralized sandstone unit. The SLR QP reviewed 0.5 ft natural gamma radiometric (probe) data and related information to validate the reported grade and grade times thickness (GT) values shown on the drillhole intercept maps. Results indicate continuity of mineralization within each sandstone unit in both plan and section in elongate tabular or irregular shapes. The SLR QP is of the opinion that although continuity of mineralization is variable, drilling confirms that local continuity exists within individual sandstone units.

Of the total 1,075 drillholes reported drilled across the Jane Dough and Hank deposits, the EFR database is missing data from 15 records from Jane Dough and has additional 10 holes at Hank, or less than 0.5% (Table 12-1).  The discrepancies and uncertainty identified by the SLR QP with the EFR database do not affect the Mineral Resource estimate completed in 2015.

12.2 Satellite Properties

12.2.1 North Rolling Pin Data Verification (Graves, 2010)

The 2010 NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report of the North Rolling Pin deposit was authored by Douglas Graves, an independent qualified person.  Graves, P.E., visited the site on November 19, 2008.  Historic drilling records indicate that a total of approximately 494 rotary drillholes were completed across the NRP property.  Geophysical and lithologic log data from 386 of the 494 drillholes were reviewed and audited by Graves. These data were used to identify the sand host, mineralization depth, and grade and thickness of mineralization. The grade calculation data were checked for accuracy of depth, thickness, grade, and host sandstone identification and were compared with the geophysical logs. Each geophysical log header was checked against the data summary sheet to confirm the drillhole number and location, and the material grade summaries presented on the geophysical logs were compared with the data summary sheets, and the data were confirmed. The drillhole locations were plotted and checked for accuracy by comparison with the original drillhole map, corrections were applied to some drillholes, and then confirmed.


Data was assumed to have been collected in a manner consistent with standard industry practices at the time. Logging of each drillhole utilized the same basic methodology that has been used for over 50 years in the uranium industry. The radiometric logs were generally run with analog equipment prior to 1980 and more recent logging utilizes digital equipment. It is assumed that the appropriate logging tool "k" factor was developed for the historic geophysical logging equipment.  The radiometric logging information was considered accurate and reliable by the Douglas Graves (Graves, 2010) for the purpose of developing the resource estimate.

Of the 368 geophysical logs from CCI drilling and 18 logs from Uranerz drilling in North Rolling Pin, 198 had mineralization using a minimum 0.2 GT cutoff. The 2010 mineral resource estimate presented herein was developed based on geophysical data, grade calculations, lithological logs, and cross sections from 188 CCI and 10 Uranerz drillholes.  The data was considered accurate and reliable for the purpose of completing a mineral resource estimate.

As part of the data verification process, the SLR QP conducted a series of independent verification tests on the drillhole database provided by EFR for the properties acquired from Uranerz in 2015.  Verification tests were run to check drill collar coordinates and elevation, radiometric log intercept data, U3O8 conversion and calibrations factor, total GT calculations, and REDOX trend boundaries.

The SLR QP did not encounter any significant discrepancies with the North Rolling Pin database, agrees with previous verification work, and considers the data accurate and reliable for the purpose of reporting a mineral resource estimate

12.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek (Graves and Woody, 2008)

The 2008 NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report of the West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek deposits was authored by Douglas Graves and Donald Woody, both independent qualified persons. The Authors visited the site on November 19, 2008, to observe the on-going uranium exploration activities being conducted by Uranerz on the properties.

It is reported that both Graves and Woody conducted a detailed review of 573 (285 WNB, 127 ENB, and 164 WC) exploratory holes drilled within the area. These data were used to identify the sand host, mineralization depth, and grade and thickness of mineralization.  Historically, six core samples were collected for density determination and chemical analyses (Hazen, 1980). Density testing indicated an average in-place density of 15.5 ft3/ton.  U3O8 testing indicated grades ranging from .050% to 0.235%, however, these test results could not be correlated to gamma logs.

Historical data were assumed to have been collected in a manner consistent with standard industry practices at the time, and the Authors considered the historical information accurate and reliable for the purposes of completing a mineral resource estimate.  It is assumed that appropriate k factor calibration was performed for the geophysical logging equipment. Most historical electric and lithologic logs are available for review, but historical core and original drill cutting samples are no longer available.

The 2008 mineral resource estimate was developed based on all geophysical and lithological data from 573 exploratory holes drilled within the WNB, ENB, and WC areas.

As part of the data verification process, the SLR QP conducted a series of independent verification tests on the drillhole database provided by EFR for the properties acquired from Uranerz in 2015.  Verification tests were run to check drill collar coordinates and elevation, radiometric log intercept data, U3O8 conversion and calibrations factor, total GT calculations, and REDOX trend boundaries.  The SLR QP encountered significant discrepancies with the EFR West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek database that included:


The SLR QP consider the EFR database for the West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek deposits incomplete and unreliable for the purpose of auditing or validating the 2008 mineral resource estimate.  The SLR QP is of the opinion that the although the resource estimate completed in 2008 adhered to industry best practices and standards at the time, the inability to validate the model excludes it from the current resource estimate discussed in Section  14.0 of this Technical Report .  Until EFR validates and certifies the drilling database, the resource estimate should be regarded as historical and should not be relied upon.

12.3 Limitations

There were no limitations in place restricting the ability to perform an independent verification of the Project drillhole database.

12.3.1 Conclusions

Nichols Ranch had near-continuous production for over five years beginning in 2014. There has been adequate drilling to develop the Mineral Resource models that have been used in the GT contour models and for successful mine planning. The SLR QP is of the opinion that database verification procedures for the Project comply with industry standards and are adequate for the purposes of Mineral Resource estimation.

EFR has not completed a thorough verification of drilling data reported on the West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek areas.  The SLR QP opines that, although the resource estimate completed in 2008 (Graves and Woody, 2008) adhered to industry best practices and standards at the time, the inability for EFR or the SLR QP to validate the model excludes it from the current resource estimate discussed in Section 14.0 of this Technical Report .  The resource estimate should be regarded as historic and should not be relied upon until EFR completes validation of the historic drilling.


13.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING

13.1 Metallurgical Testing

The ISR method used at the Complex is a standard method for uranium recovery in the Western United States.  Pilot testing and actual production from other uranium deposits in the Powder River Basin indicated that the uranium located at the Complex would be amenable to ISR production.  No site-specific metallurgical testing is available for the Complex, however, initial production began at the Nichols Ranch portion of the Complex in 2014, and uranium was successfully produced until the Complex was put on standby at the end of 2019.

After five years of commercial production (2014 to 2019) via ISR utilizing an alkaline lixiviant, the ISR factor based on actual production was 68%.  This factor was derived from the estimated pounds under a production well pattern and how many pounds were produced from that pattern.  For example, if 100,000 lb of U3O8 were estimated to be under pattern and 70,000 lb of U3O8 were produced, ISR factor would be 71%.  Figure 13-1 shows the production history of uranium by ISR at Nichols Ranch since 2014.

Based on this historical production (Table 13-1 and Figure 13-1) a recovery factor on similar uranium deposits in the Wasatch Formation should use a recovery factor of 71%.  This would include both the Jane Dough and Hank deposits as well as the Satellite Deposits described in this Technical Report.

Table 13-1: Past Production 2014 to 2021

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Year

Production
(lb U3O8)

Cumulative
(lb U3O8)

Recovery Total
(%)

2014

199,509

199,509

11.7

2015

272,844

472,353

27.8

2016

334,700

807,053

47.5

2017

258,554

1,065,607

62.7

2018

140,191

1,205,798

70.9

2019

69,626

1,275,424

75.0

2020

630

1,276,054

75.0

2021

535

1,276,589

75.1



Figure 13-1: Nichols Ranch Production (2014 to 2021)

13.2 Opinion of Adequacy

It is the SLR's QP opinion that the successful historical operation of the ISR supersedes any metallurgical testing program and the available operating data is more than adequate to support the stated recovery.


14.0 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES

14.1 Summary

Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Resources in S-K 1300, which are consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM, 2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI43-101. The SLR QP also follows the CIM issued Best Practice Guidelines for Uranium Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimation (CIM, 2003).

The SLR QP has reviewed and accepted the Mineral Resource estimate prepared by EFR for the Complex.  Resource estimates were completed with the following effective dates using the GT contour method and audited by the SLR QP for accuracy and completeness:

The effective date of this Mineral Resource estimate is December 31, 2021.  The U3O8 Mineral Resource for the Complex is presented in Table 14-1 at a GT cut-off grade of 0.20 %-ft and have been depleted as of December 31, 2021.  The total production from Nichols Ranch is 1,276,589 lb eU3O8 as of December 31, 2021.

Total Measured and Indicated Resources for the Complex are 3.294 million tons (Mst) at an average grade of 0.106% eU3O8 containing 6.988 Mlb eU3O8, of which 6.182 Mlb is attributable to EFR.  Additional Inferred Resources total 0.65 Mst at an average grade of 0.097% eU3O8 containing 1.256 Mlb eU3O8, of which 1.176 Mlb is attributable to EFR.

The SLR QP is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.


Table 14-1: Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex - Effective Date December 31, 2021

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Project Area

Classification

Tonnage
(ton)

Grade
(% eU3O8)

Contained Metal
(lb U3O8)

EFR Attrib. Basis
(%)

EFR Attributable
(lb U3O8)

Recovery
(%)

Nichols Ranch Mining Unit + Satellite Properties

Total Measured

11,000

0.187

41,140

100.0

41,140

71.0

Total Indicated

3,283,000

0.106

6,946,693

88.4

6,141,663

60.4

Total Measured + Indicated

3,294,000

0.106

6,987,833

88.5

6,182,803

60.4

Total Inferred

650,000

0.097

1,256,000

93.6

1,176,200

60.4

Notes:

1. SEC S-K 1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Measured Mineral Resource includes reduction for production through December 31, 2021.

3. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR for Nichols Ranch, Hank, and North Rolling Pin, and are in situ.

4. Mineral Resources are 81% attributable to EFR and 19% attributable to United Nuclear Corp in parts of Jane Dough, and are in situ.

5. Mineral Resource estimates are based on a GT cut-off of 0.20 %-ft

6. The cut-off grade is calculated using a metal price of $65/lb U3O8, operating costs of $19.28/lb U3O8, and 60.4% recovery (based on 71% process recovery and 85% under wellfield).

7. Mineral Resources are based on a tonnage factory of 15.0 ft3/ton (Bulk density 0.0667 ton/ft3 or 2.13 t/m3).

8. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.


14.2 Resource Database

The basis of the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and Satellite Properties Mineral Resource estimates was gamma logs collected by EFR and its predecessors. The resource databases as of the effective date of this Technical Report includes data from 3,504 drillholes totaling over 2.36 million ft of drilling completed through 2016 of the 3,942 historical drillholes reported drilled across the properties (Table 14-2).

Table 14-2: Summary of Available Drillhole Data

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Property

Operator

Number of Drillholes

Total Depth Drilled
(ft)

Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

Nichols Ranch

Cleveland Cliffs

82

50,552

 

Uranerz

1,150

735,403

 

EFR

449

281,126

Nichols Ranch Total

 

1,681

1,067,081

 

 

 

 

Jane Dough

Cleveland Cliffs

45

46,714

 

Uranerz

726

468,074

Jane Dough Total

 

771

514,788

 

 

 

 

Hank

Cleveland Cliffs

168

252,000

 

Uranerz

131

123,526

Hank Total

 

299

375,526

Nichols Ranch Mining Unit Total

 

2,751

1,957,395

Satellite Properties

North Rolling Pin

Cleveland Cliffs

379

114,495

North Rolling Pin Total

 

379

114,495

 

 

 

 

West North Butte

Cleveland Cliffs

263

263,000

 

Uranerz

111

29,000

West North Butte Total

 

374

292,000

Satellite Total

 

753

406,495

 

 

 

 

Total

 

3,504

2,363,890

The SLR QP's audit of the missing historic drillholes records and files supplied for review by EFR concluded that most of these drillholes were either not actually drilled, intercepted no mineralization, and/or are missing radiometric downhole data and excluded from the EFR database.  The actual number of records used in previous resource estimation technical reports for the Satellite Properties (Graves and Woody, 2008; Graves, 2010) are in agreement.  The SLR QP is of the opinion that the EFR drillhole database for the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and Satellite Properties excluding West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek deposits is valid and suitable to estimate Mineral Resources. West North Butte, East North Butte and Willow Creek deposits are excluded from the Mineral Resource statement.


14.3 Geological Interpretation

Mineral Resource calculations are based on chemically equivalent uranium grades.  A minimum grade cut-off of 0.02% U3O8 and minimum GT of 0.20 was used in the calculations along with a bulk dry density of 15.5 ft3/ton or 16 ft3/ton, as subsequently discussed in Section 14.8.

GT contouring is a method used to project similar GT values within the same geologic zone or unit across a reasonable distance of control.  GT contours are built off the REDOX boundary within the sand host.  The REDOX boundary is interpreted by the geologist and defines the shape of the ore body/roll front by distinguishing altered and unaltered sands within the zone of interest. Detail is controlled by the density of the drilling.  Contours are more generalized with wider spaced drilling and become more detailed as drill spacing becomes more densely populated along the REDOX boundary.  GT contouring is an accepted practice in roll front uranium geology.

14.4 Drill Data Statistics

14.4.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

14.4.1.1 Mineralization Thickness

Mineralization is a typical Powder River Basin type roll front deposit, as described in Section 7.4.  Specifically, at the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit, an upper and lower unit of the A Sand hosts mineralization within the Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough areas and the F Sand hosts mineralization within portions of Nichols Ranch.  Individual sand units are approximately 25 ft to 50 ft thick; however, the mineralization in any sand rarely exceeds 15 ft.  No F sand mineralization is reported in the current Mineral Resource estimate at Nichols Ranch.

The range and averages for thickness and GT of mineralization for Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank are provided in Table 14-3.


Table 14-3: GT Summaries

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Deposit

Cut-off GT

Avg. GT

Avg. Thick
(ft)

Min GT

Max GT

Min Thick
(ft)

Max Thick
(ft)

Nichols Ranch

0.2

0.94

6.4

0.2

12.1

1

28

0.5

1.46

8.2

0.5

12.1

1

28

Jane Dough

0.2

0.78

7

0.2

6.33

1

42

0.5

1.16

9

0.5

6.33

1

42

Hank

0.2

0.72

7.6

0.2

3.22

1

27.5

0.5

1.13

10.3

0.2

3.22

2

27.5

14.4.1.2 Grade

Table 14-4 shows the number of drillhole assays per range of GT values for Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank.

Table 14-4: Drillhole Results

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Deposit

Barren or Trace
Mineralization

>0.02 e%U3O8,
<0.2 GT

0.2-0.5 GT

>0.5 GT

Nichols Ranch

367

302

274

690

Jane Dough

433

160

87

106

Hank

168

21

37

63

Figure 14-1 and Figure 14-2 present the Nicholas Ranch PA1 and PA2 GT maps, respectively.

Figure 14-3 and Figure 14-4 present the Jane Dough and Hank mineralized trend and GT contour maps, respectively.



Figure 14-1: Nichols Ranch - PA1 HH-1 through HH-9 A Sand 30 -100 GT Map

Figure 14-2: Nichols Ranch - PA2 HH-10 through HH-13 A Sand 30 -100 GT Map


Figure 14-3: Jane Dough Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map


Figure 14-4: Hank Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map


14.4.2 Satellite Properties

14.4.2.1 North Rolling Pin

14.4.2.1.1 Mineralization Thickness

Mineralized F Sand intercept thickness ranges from 1 ft to 30 ft, with an average mineralization thickness of 12.5 ft, for grades greater than 0.03% eU3O8 and GT greater than 0.2. The average mineralized thickness for the Upper F Sand is 7.6 ft and for the Lower F Sand is 10.1 ft.

14.4.2.1.2 Grade

The average grade of the North Rolling Pin Upper and Lower F Sand Measured Resource, based on eU3O8 (radiometric equivalent weight percent) for GT greater than 0.20 is 0.062% eU3O8; the average grade of the Indicated Resource is 0.052% eU3O8. The combined Measured and Indicated Resources average grade is 0.058% eU3O8. The Inferred average grade at GT cut-off of 0.20 was 0.042% eU3O8.  Figure 14-5 and Figure 14-6 present the North Rolling Pin mineralized trend and GT contour maps for the northern and southern portions, respectively.

14.4.2.1.3 Trend Length

Exploration drillhole "fences" are spaced approximately 400 ft to 600 ft along trend and approximately 25 ft to 50 ft between holes is common in clusters of drilling or along fences perpendicular to the trend. The mineralization trend within the Upper F and Lower F Sands appears to be discontinuous with several mineral resource bodies being separated by regions of minimal mineralization, or barren of mineralization, as defined by drilling along the reduction/oxidation boundary in the F Sand. The exploratory drilling defines discontinuous mineralized trends for the Upper F Sand of approximately 7,200 ft, and approximately 10,800 ft in length for the Lower F Sand mineralization trend.

14.4.2.1.4 Trend Width

Using a minimum GT value of 0.20, the trend width of the Upper F Sand, measured across the strike of the trend ranges from 20 ft to 140 ft, averaging approximately 60 ft. The Lower F Sand trend varies in width from 20 ft to 160 ft, and averages approximately 70 ft.


Figure 14-5: North Rolling Pin Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map - North Half 


Figure 14-6: North Rolling Pin Mineralized Trend and GT Contour Map - South Half


14.5 Treatment of High-Grade Assays

14.5.1 Capping Levels

Unlike conventional uranium mining, applying capping levels are not applicable to ISR mining techniques.

14.5.2 High Grade Restriction

Unlike conventional uranium mining, applying high-grade restriction searches are not applicable to ISR mining techniques.

14.6 Compositing

Unlike conventional uranium mining, compositing is not applicable to ISR mining techniques.

14.7 Search Strategy and Grade Interpolation Parameters

Mineral Resources have been estimated using the GT (Grade x Thickness) contour method for each of the mineral sandstone horizons or units identified across the deposits (1, A, B, C, F, G and H).  The uranium resource can generally be defined by existing drilling information which is of sufficient density and continuity to identify a meandering discontinuous mineralized trend.  The grade and mineralized zone thickness were obtained from historical and recent drilling.

The GT contour method is well suited for estimating tonnage and average grades of relatively planar mineralized bodies. It is a smoothing technique that allows the geologist to apply judgment regarding the variability of the mineralization within the plane of the mineralized body. This technique is particularly effective in generating a realistic landscape of metal values along the plane of the mineralized body and limiting the effect of local high values. The technique is best applied to estimate tonnage and average grade of relatively planar bodies, i.e., where the two dimensions of the mineralized body are much greater than the third dimension (Agnerian and Roscoe, 2001).  For these types of deposits, the contour method can provide a clear view of the "mineralization landscape" with "peaks and valleys" along the plane of the mineralization.  Due to the two-dimensional nature of the contour method, data from drillhole intersections means the reported averaged assay grade is across the entire thickness of the mineralized body being considered. If necessary, the average intersection value is diluted to a specified minimum thickness.

The rationale for all Mineral Resource estimation methods is that there is continuity of mineralization from one sample point to another, whether they are drillhole pierce points, underground workings, surface trenches, or wellfields. When a mineral deposit has been tested by many drillholes, the estimate of tonnage and average grade by all of the conventional methods will likely be similar. When a deposit has been tested by a relatively few widely spaced or irregularly spaced drillholes, however, the estimates by various methods may vary greatly and a few high-grade or wide intercepts may have a large influence on the average grade or tonnage of the deposit. The contour method can be effective in reducing the influence of high-grade or wide intersections as well as the effects of widely spaced, irregularly spaced, or clustered drillholes. This is particularly the case for roll front uranium deposits.  It can also be applied to estimate Mineral Reserves by deleting certain portions of the Mineral Resources estimated by the same method, such as clipping the edges of the contoured area, deleting certain parts of the tonnage estimate as pillars and sills and/or applying economic factors to the Mineral Resources.


The Mineral Resource estimates were calculated using GT contours with a minimum grade cut-off of 0.03% eU3O8 and a minimum mineralization thickness of 1.0 feet. The GT values of the subject sand intervals for each hole were plotted on a drillhole map and contour lines were drawn along the mineralization trend using ArcGIS software. The contour map was developed from the calculated GTs for various GT ranges.  The areas within the GT contour boundaries, up to certain distances from the drillhole and to certain maximum areas of influence, were used for calculating estimates for resources. All resources were limited to the extent of the 0.2 GT boundaries. The contained pounds of uranium were calculated using the following formula:

Mineral Resource, pounds = (Area, ft2) X (GT, %-ft) X (20 lb) X (DEF) / (RD, ft3/ton)

Tonnage was calculated based on grade, pounds and a tonnage conversion factor for a given GT contour area.

14.8 Bulk Density

The SLR QP reviewed 11 records of bulk density determinations from 11 holes (four Nichols Ranch, four Jane Dough, and three Hank) collected in 2006 and 2008.  Of the 11 records, coordinates (location) of seven (one Nichols Ranch, four Jane Dough, and two Hank) are contained within the EFR drillhole database, of which only six have recorded density measurements (Table 14-5).

Table 14-5: Bulk Density Measurements

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Area

Drillhole ID

Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Comment

Sample Depth
(ft)

Density
(ft3/ton)

Nichols Ranch

U06-099

8/23/2006

Coordinates Unknown:  No density analysis record.

-

-

U06-100

12/8/2006

Core from 465-530.  Lost core from 495-508

524

17.6

U06-101

12/8/2006

Coordinates Unknown:  Core from 630-658

633

17.2

URZN1-2

12/8/2006

Coordinates Unknown:  Core from 502-534. missing from 512-518, 517-520

510

12.5




Area

Drillhole ID

Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Comment

Sample Depth
(ft)

Density
(ft3/ton)

Jane Dough

U36-21-124C

11/19/2008

Core 465-477 recovered 12'. No density analysis record.

-

-

U36-21-125C

11/19/2008

Core 580-582 recovered 12', No density analysis record.

-

-

A36-29-125C

11/26/2008

Core 530-545 recovered 14.3', No density analysis record.

-

-

A36-29-132C

12/2/2008

Core 603-618 recovered 15', No density analysis record.

-

-

Hank

U06-104

12/8/2006

Core 455-478

461

17.9

U06-105

12/8/2006

Core 370-392.5

379

18.2

URZHF-1

12/8/2006

Coordinates Unknown:  Core 360-380

369

18.9

 

 

 

Average Density (ft3/ton):

 

17.1

Bulk density records range for 12.5 ft3/ton to 18.9 ft3/ton with an average of 17.1 ft3/ton, which agrees with values used in previous estimates.  Previous Technical Reports for the Complex have used density factors ranging from 15.5 ft3/ton to 18.3 ft3/ton.  A third-party consultant, BRS, recommended a density of 16 ft3/ton be used for the Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas. Another third-party consultant, TREC, recommended a density of 15.5 ft³/ton be used for North Rolling Pin and West North Butte areas. The difference in densities between 15.5 ft³/ton and 16 ft³/ton calculates a difference of 3% in the resource estimate and is considered by the SLR QP to be an acceptable variance.

The Mineral Resources estimated in this PEA use a tonnage factor of 15.5 ft3/ton.  This is the typical tonnage factor used by most operators in the Powder River Basin for mineralized intervals in the Wasatch Formation sandstone unit.  This tonnage factor was derived by the major operators from years of actual mining.

Although the SLR QP is of the opinion that there is a relatively low risk in assuming that density of mineralized zones is similar to that reported in adjacent mining operations, the SLR QP recommends conducting additional density determinations, particularly in the mineralized zones, to confirm and support future resource estimates.

14.9 Radiometric Equilibrium Factor

Based on the available data and the geologic setting of the mineral deposits at Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, Hank, North Rolling Pin, West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek, EFR concluded that the use of a DEF factor of 1.0 was appropriate for resource estimation.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that, based on the information available, the original gamma log data and subsequent conversion to eU3O8% values are reliable but slightly conservative estimates of the uranium U3O8 grade.  This is supported by past production uranium recoveries and historical reported DEF for uranium deposits in the Powder River Basin.  Furthermore, there is no evidence that radiometric disequilibrium would be expected to negatively affect the uranium resource estimates of the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and Satellite Properties.  Disequilibrium however can be expected to vary slightly across the deposits, as is common in low-grade roll front uranium deposits, and the SLR QP recommends that EFR consider running additional PFN probes in the future, particularly in the Satellite Properties.

14.10 Cut-Off Grade and GT Parameters

14.10.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

EFR and its predecessor Uranerz established minimum grade, thickness, and GT parameters based on conventional Powder River Basin uranium mining practices and recent operating costs at Nichols Ranch.  Various economic and mining parameters including metal price, metallurgical recoveries, operating costs, and other operational constraints (Table 14-6) enter into the final cut-off grade and/or GT to calculate the in-ground mineral resources during the economic evaluation stage of the individual projects.

Table 14-6: Nichols Ranch Project Cut-off Grade
Energy Fuels Inc. – Nichols Ranch Project

Item Unit Quantity
Metal Price US$/lb U3O8 65.00
Process Plant Recovery % 71
Total OPEX (includes G&A) US$/lb U3O8 19.28

ISR (also referred to as In-situ Leach (ISL)) deposits differ from  “conventional” deposits in that no physical rock is mined and processed, but rather solution is pumped through a geologic formation, the mineral of interest is dissolved, and a “loaded” solution is pumped through a process facility and the mineral of interest is recovered.  There are a number of additional factors including porosity and permeability of the rock formation that influence the production area of the deposit.  In ISR mining, tons of rock are not moved and therefore a grade associated with that ton of material cannot be applied as a traditional cut-off grade.  ISR operations typically use two values, a minimum geologic grade associated with the deposit to define the extent of mineralization.  Then, an economic GT cut-off is applied, and the project is evaluated for those pounds contained from an economic standpoint.  Traditionally, this GT is selected based on other similar operations or by extended pilot testing.  The cut-off criteria used by EFR at their ISR facility at Nichols Ranch is a minimum geologic grade cut-off of 0.02% eU3O8 and minimum economic GT cut-off of 0.20.  The SLR QP is familiar with cut-off criteria as applied for similar operations and concurs that a minimum GT cut-off of 0.20 meets criteria for reasonable economic extraction via ISR given the depths and general operating conditions at the Complex.

The average depth below the surface to the base of the mineralization ranges from approximately 560 ft in the Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough areas and 390 ft in the Hank area.  Table 14-7 shows average thickness values of the A-Sand at Nichols Ranch.

 

Energy Fuels Inc. | Nichols Ranch Project, SLR Project No:  138.02544.00001

 
Technical Report - February 22, 2022, Amended February 8, 2023 14-15  

Table 14-7: Average Intercept Thickness Nichols Ranch A-Sand Zone

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Sand Unit

Zone

#
Intercepts

Total Zone Thickness
(ft)

Avg. Zone Thickness
(ft)

Total #
Intercepts

Total Thickness
(ft)

Avg. Thickness
(ft)

A-10

PA1 HH9

-

-

-

2

4.5

2.25

PA2

2

4.5

2.25

A-20

PA1 HH9

15

49.0

3.27

19

63.5

3.34

PA2

4

14.5

3.63

A-30

PA1 HH9

74

345.0

4.66

96

425.5

4.43

PA2

22

80.5

3.66

A-40

PA1 HH9

61

273.0

4.48

85

360.5

4.24

PA2

24

87.5

3.65

A-50

PA1 HH9

53

295.0

5.57

89

441.5

4.96

PA2

36

146.5

4.07

A-60

PA1 HH9

45

240.5

5.34

99

449.5

4.54

PA2

54

209.0

3.87

A-70

PA1 HH9

69

390.0

5.65

103

533.5

5.18

PA2

34

143.5

4.22

A-80

PA1 HH9

37

188.0

5.08

67

320.5

4.78

PA2

30

132.5

4.42

A-90

PA1 HH9

72

419.5

5.83

99

531.5

5.37

PA2

27

112.0

4.15

A-100

PA1 HH9

56

253.5

4.53

77

307.0

3.99

PA2

21

53.5

2.55



14.10.2 Satellite Properties:

Two GT cut-off grades were used previously to evaluate the reported resources in this Technical Report, both using a minimum grade cut-off of 0.03% eU3O8.  The 0.20 GT was used to present an appropriate value relative to current ISR operations and is recommended for reporting purposes. The 0.50 GT has been used to highlight the areas of highest mineralization and value if economics dictate the need for lower operating costs.

14.11 Mineral Resource Classification

Classification of Mineral Resources as defined in S-K 1300 were followed for classification of Mineral Resources.  The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (CIM 2014) are consistent with these definitions.

A Mineral Resource is defined as a concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. A mineral resource is a reasonable estimate of mineralization, considering relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location, or continuity, that with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in whole or in part, become economically extractable. It is not merely an inventory of all mineralization drilled or sampled. 

Based on this definition of Mineral Resources, the Mineral Resources estimated in this PEA have been classified according to the definitions below based on geology, grade continuity, and drillhole spacing.

Measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with a measured mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors, as defined in this section, in sufficient detail to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because a measured mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than the level of confidence of either an indicated mineral resource or an inferred mineral resource, a measured mineral resource may be converted to a proven mineral reserve or to a probable mineral reserve.

Indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with an indicated mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because an indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource, an indicated mineral resource may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve.

Inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological uncertainty associated with an inferred mineral resource is too high to apply relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. Because an inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability, an inferred mineral resource may not be considered when assessing the economic viability of a mining project and may not be converted to a mineral reserve.


The SLR QP has considered the following factors that can affect the uncertainty associated with the class of Mineral Resources:

Mineral Resources for the Project were classified as either Measured, Indicated, or Inferred Mineral Resources as detailed in the following subsections.

14.11.1 Measured Mineral Resources

The Nichols Ranch area was an active ISR mine.  Within the defined wellfields, which correspond to the areas for which Measured Mineral Resources have been estimated, detailed delineation drilling or well installation require a drillhole spacing of less than 100 ft.

14.11.2 Indicated Mineral Resources

Indicated Mineral resources are defined to be those areas where the location of the REDOX front can be reasonably defined by drill data and where along a continuously mapped REDOX front there are drillholes that intersect the mineralized front and reasonably confirm the presence on mineralization which has reasonable prospect for economic extraction. For the Complex, drillhole spacing in areas for which EFR estimated indicated mineral resources ranges from less than 100 ft spacing to as much as 800 ft along the REDOX front.

14.11.3 Inferred Mineral Resources

Inferred Mineral Resources for the Complex are those areas for which EFR calculated have a drillhole spacing exceeding 800 ft along trend provided that there is geologic evidence that the REDOX front is present and its location can reasonably be assumed.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that the Mineral Resource classification criteria used is reasonable and appropriate for disclosure.


14.12 GT Model Validation

The SLR QP received the project data from EFR for independent review as a series of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, ArcGIS software, and associated digital files.  The SLR QP used the information provided to validate the Mineral Resource interpolation, tons, grade, and classification.


Drillhole collar locations and GT values were confirmed by plotting drill collar coordinates, GT intercepts, oxidation-reduction boundary, and well pattern grid layout within the Header House 1 and Header House 3 zones within the Production Area #1 portion of the Nichols Ranch deposit (Figure 14-7).

Figure 14-7: Nichols Ranch PA1 and PA2 Drilling


14.13 Mineral Resource Reporting

The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit and Satellite Properties Mineral Resource estimate is summarized by area at a GT cut-off grade of 0.20 %-ft in Table 14-8.  In the SLR QP's opinion, the assumptions, parameters, and methodology used for the Nichols Ranch Mineral Resource estimates are appropriate for the style of mineralization and mining methods.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that with consideration of the recommendations summarized in Section 1.0 and Section 26.0 of this Technical Report, any issues relating to all relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction can be resolved with further work.

The SLR QP is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.


Table 14-8: Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex - Effective Date December 31, 2021

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Classification

Project Area

Sand

Tonnage
(tons)

Grade
(% eU3O8)

Contained Metal
(lb U3O8)

EFR Attrib. Basis
(%)

EFR Attributable
(lb U3O8)

Recovery
(%)

Measured

Nichols Ranch

A

11,000

0.187

41,140

100.0

41,140

71.0

 

Jane Dough

 

0

0.000

0

0.0

0

0.0

 

Hank

 

0

0.000

0

0.0

0

0.0

Total Measured

 

 

11,000

0.187

41,140

100.0

41,140

71.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indicated

Nichols Ranch

A

359,000

0.166

1,189,693

100.0

1,189,693

60.4

 

Jane Dough

A

1,892,000

0.112

4,237,000

81.0

3,431,970

60.4

 

Hank

F

450,000

0.095

855,000

100.0

855,000

60.4

 

North Rolling Pin

F

582,000

0.057

665,000

100.0

665,000

60.4

Total Indicated

 

 

3,283,000

0.106

6,946,693

88.4

6,141,663

60.4

Total Measured + Indicated

 

 

3,294,000

0.106

6,987,833

88.5

6,182,803

60.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inferred

Jane Dough

A

188,000

0.112

420,000

81.0

340,200

60.4

 

Hank

F

423,000

0.095

803,000

100.0

803,000

60.4

 

North Rolling Pin

F

39,000

0.042

33,000

100.0

33,000

60.4

Total Inferred

 

 

650,000

0.097

1,256,000

93.6

1,176,200

60.4

Notes:

1. SEC S-K 1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Measured Mineral Resource includes reduction for production through December 31, 2021.

3. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR for Nichols Ranch, Hank, and North Rolling Pin, and are in situ.

4. Mineral Resources are 81% attributable to EFR and 19% attributable to United Nuclear Corp in parts of Jane Dough, and are in situ.

5. Mineral Resource estimates are based on a GT cut-off of 0.20 %-ft

6. The cut-off grade is calculated using a metal price of $65/lb U3O8, operating costs of $19.28/lb U3O8, and 60.4% recovery (based on 71% process recovery and 85% under wellfield).

7. Mineral Resources are based on a tonnage factory of 15.0 ft3/ton (Bulk density 0.0667 ton/ft3 or 2.13 t/m3).

8. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.


15.0 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES

There are no current Mineral Reserves at the Project.


16.0 MINING METHODS

16.1 Introduction

This PEA is based on ISR mining of the uranium mineralization at the Complex using alkaline lixiviant.  EFR conducted ISR mining at the Complex, specifically the Nichols Ranch area, from 2014 through 2019.  Figure 16-1 below is a general schematic of the ISR process.

Source: NRC, 2016

Figure 16-1: Schematic of the ISR Process


ISR is an injected-solution mining process that reverses the natural processes that originally deposited the uranium in the sandstones.  On-site groundwater is fortified with gaseous oxygen and introduced to the zones of uranium mineralization through a pattern of injection wells.  The solution dissolves the uranium from the sandstone host.

The uranium-bearing solution is brought back to surface through production wells where the uranium is concentrated at a central processing plant and dried into yellowcake for market.

ISR mining and milling utilizes the five steps described below.  The first three steps describe the mining process while steps 4 and 5 describe the milling (i.e., processing and refinement).

3. A solution called lixiviant (typically containing water mixed with oxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide, as well as sodium bicarbonate or carbon dioxide) is injected through a series of wells into the mineralized zones to dissolve and to complex the uranium.

4. The lixiviant with uranium in solution is then collected in a series of recovery wells, from which it is pumped to a processing plant, where the uranium is extracted from the solution through an ion-exchange process.

5. Once the uranium has been extracted, the lixiviant is fortified and reused in the wellfield.  Typically, 99% of the solution is reused. The remaining percentage is waste which is disposed of in deep injection wells within EPA exempted aquifers.

6. The uranium extract is then further purified, concentrated, and dried to produce a material, which is called "yellowcake" because of its yellowish color.

7. Finally, the yellowcake is packed in 55-gallon drums to be transported to a uranium conversion facility, where it is processed through the stages of the nuclear fuel cycle to produce fuel for use in nuclear power reactors.

At the Nichols Ranch Plant, the concentrated uranium, in a slurry form, is loaded into a slurry trailer and shipped to the Mill in Blanding, Utah, for drying and packaging.

16.2 Mining Method

For the production schedule described in this Technical Report, the mineralized zones at the Nichols Ranch area, Jane Dough area, and Hank area will be divided into individual production areas where injection and recovery wells will be installed.  As is typical with the other IRS mining commercial operations, the wells will be arranged in variations of 5-spot patterns.  In some situations, a line-drive pattern or staggered line-drive pattern may be employed.  Horizontal and vertical excursion monitor wells are and will be installed at each wellfield as dictated by geologic and hydro-geologic parameters, and as approved by the WDEQ/LQD.  The facilities have been and will be constructed according to acceptable engineering practices.

16.3 Mining Operations

16.3.1 Uranium Recovery

The proposed uranium ISR process involves the dissolution of the water-soluble uranium compound from the mineralized host rock at neutral pH ranges.  It consists of two steps:


16.3.2 Lixiviant Composition

The lixiviant for an alkaline ISR uranium process is a dilute carbonate/bicarbonate aqueous solution that is fortified with an oxidizing agent.  During the injection of lixiviant, oxygen will be added to oxidize the uranium underground.  Carbon dioxide is provided to adjust the pH to avoid calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate precipitation.  Additionally, carbon dioxide dissolved in water provides another source of the carbonate/bicarbonate ions.  Finally, sodium carbonate/bicarbonate may be used to adjust the carbonate/bicarbonate concentration.

The barren solution that leaves the uranium ion exchange system will be refortified with chemicals prior to the re-injection into the mineralized zone of the aquifer.  The process continues until the economics become unfavorable.

16.3.3 Chemical Reactions

Oxidation of tetravalent uranium is achieved by using oxygen or hydrogen peroxide.  For economic reasons, oxygen is widely used in commercial applications.  EFR will utilize oxygen as the primary oxidant; however, hydrogen peroxide may be used if needed to increase the oxidation potential in the lixiviant if there are chemical or physical conditions that will reduce the effectiveness of the addition of gaseous oxygen.

The end product of the carbonate/bicarbonate complexing process can be identified as uranyldicarbonate, [UO2(CO3)2]2- (UDC), at neutral pH ranges and as uranyltricarbonate, [UO2(CO3)3]4- (UTC), at more alkaline pH ranges.

The chemical reactions for the alkaline recovery process are listed as follows:

Oxidation: UO2 + ½ O2 = UO3

 UO2 + H2O2 = UO3 + H2O

Complexing: UO3 + 2HCO3- = [UO2(CO3)2]2- + H2O

 UO3 + 2HCO3- + CO3- = [UO2(CO3)3]4- + H2O

The ion exchange process utilizes polystyrene resin that is designed to provide exchange sites that are highly selective for the capture of uranium from the pregnant lixiviant.  A strong base resin will be used for the ion exchange of either the uranyldicarbonate complex, [UO2(CO3)2]2- (UDC), or the uranyltricarbonate complex, [UO2(CO3)3]4- (UTC), in the process plant.

The chemical reactions are listed as follows:

 [UO2(CO3)2]2- + R2+ = R[UO2(CO3)2]

 [UO2(CO3)3]4- + 2R2+ = R2[UO2(CO3)3]

R denotes the active site on the ion exchange resin.


16.4 Hydrogeology Data

16.4.1 Summary of Previous Work

Before the injection of leaching solutions was first initiated, the following information was submitted to the appropriate local and federal agencies as part of previous permitting efforts (Uranerz, Addendum MP-G, 2010; Addendum MPI, 2015):

16.4.2 Overview

Multiple rounds of hydrogeologic characterizations have been performed in the Complex and surrounding areas in connection with recoverable uranium deposits, ISR mining methods, and groundwater resources. These studies have generated data, including water quality data, aquifer properties, historical pumping rates, numerical and analytical modeling, etc. (Hodson et al., 1973; Whitehead, 1996; Uranerz, 2010; 2019; EFR, 2020).


The Nichols Ranch Mining Unit consists of three mining areas: the Nichols Ranch area, Jane Dough area, and the Hank area.  These mining areas are located in the Cottonwood and Willow Creek drainages. On a regional scale, groundwater occurs in the Quaternary alluvial aquifer underlying major drainages as well as deeper bedrock aquifers. The Wasatch Formation, the uppermost geologic unit, comprises regional aquifers. Groundwater in the Wasatch aquifers generally flows to the north and northwest in the mining areas. The aquifers and confining units of interest in the mining areas from top and bottom are within the Wasatch Formation (Figure 7-1).

Analytical (WELFLO, Walton (1989) and numerical modeling (MODFLOW, Harbaugh and McDonald, 1996) simulations were conducted to understand the extent of interaction between the "ore"-hosting sands and adjacent aquifers and aquitards. Modeling also was used to evaluate operational drawdown, gradient changes, recovery, horizontal wellfield flare, and vertical flare in the aquifers of interest and adjacent aquitards. 

16.4.2.1 Site Hydrogeology

The SLR QP visited the Complex from October 27 to 29, 2021.  Subsequently, the SLR QP requested from EFR basic hydrogeologic information such as water level surveys, pumping tests, flow rates, and any secondary documentation, such as numerical modeling and reports.  EFR provided relevant reports and documents prepared to support permit applications.  The SLR QP used these documents, information gathered during the site visit, and other publicly available to highlight the following main findings.

The potentially economic mineralization primarily occurs in two sandstone members of the Wasatch Formation, designated as the A Sand in the Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough areas, and the F Sand in the Hank Unit (Figure 7-4).  These two "ore"-hosting members are generally separated by the B and C sandstones and adjacent aquitards.  The aquitards are labeled by combining the two adjoining sandstone units (i.e., BC Aquitard).  The "ore" zones for the Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and the Hank areas are approximately 300 ft below ground surface (bgs) to 700 ft bgs, 400 ft bgs to 600 ft bgs, and 200 ft bgs to 600 ft bgs, respectively.  The local aquifer Sand Units are described sequentially in geochronological order, 1, A, B, C, F, G, and H Sandstones (Figure 16-2).

Permeability properties and water quality of the groundwater hosted in these aquifer units are also known.  The transmissivity, which is defined as hydraulic conductivity multiplied by aquifer thickness, and yield from the Wasatch Formation are also highly variable, with a yield of up to a few hundred gallons per minute when a large thickness of saturated sands is completed in a well.  The water quality in these aquifers would also generally be good, with a total dissolved solid (TDS) concentration typically from <1,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L) to <2,000 mg/L.

16.4.2.1.1 Hydrogeological Characteristics of the Major Units of Interest

The depth at which groundwater is first encountered across the Project area varies and depends on surface topography.  The hydraulic properties of the recovery aquifers and associated underlying and overlying aquifers have been evaluated in the Project area using both multiwell pumping tests and single-well tests (BLM, 2015).  Summary of the detailed aquifer properties estimated through numerous single well and multiwell pump tests are provided in Uranerz (2010).  Aquifers suitable for ISR mining of uranium are by their nature confined, minimizing the possibility of cross-aquifer contamination.



Source: Uranerz, 2012.

Figure 16-2: Relevant Geologic/Hydrogeologic Units in the Vicinity of the Project Area


16.5 Geotechnical Data

No geotechnical work has been completed at either the Complex or Satellite Properties.  All Mineral Resources will be extracted using ISR wellfields and therefore do not require the completion of geotechnical work typically done for conventional mining.

No geotechnical work has been completed at either the Complex or Satellite Properties.  All Mineral Resources will be extracted using ISR wellfields and therefore do not require the completion of geotechnical work typically done for conventional mining.

16.6 Life of Mine Plan

EFR has divided the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit into three separate project areas, Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank. These areas are descriptive of distinct areas within the areas held by EFR and the Arkose Mining Venture.  The Nichols Ranch area consists of the Nichols Ranch Plant and two production areas, PA1 and PA2.  PA1 began production in March 2014 with eight active production header houses; one header house has been constructed at PA2. Two of the four permitted deep disposal wells have been constructed and were in operation at the Nichols Ranch area until mining operations ceased in 2019.

The permitted and licensed Jane Dough area is adjacent to the south of the Nichols Ranch area and contains properties held by the Arkose Mining Venture and 100% by EFR.  It will be developed as an adjacent property through a pipeline to the Nichols Ranch Area.  Two production areas (PA1 and PA2) are planned for the Jane Dough area. 

The Hank area is 100% EFR owned and is located approximately six miles east of the Nichols Ranch area.  It is fully licensed and permitted to operate as a satellite to the Nichols Ranch area.

The life of mine (LOM) schedule, shown in Table 16-1, summarizes the primary production followed by wellfield restoration and reclamation. Final decommissioning is planned to occur with the completion of restoration with the final production area.

Within a production wellfield, the basic component of mine development and production is the production pattern.  A pattern consists of one recovery well and one or more injection wells that feed it.  Injection wells can be and often are shared by multiple recovery wells and function as distribution points for injection flow.  In a similar manner, the recovery wells act as collection points for production solutions that are gathered at the header houses prior to transfer by pipeline to the recovery or the processing facilities.  The Hank area will be developed in a similar manner.  The Hank Unit is licensed as a satellite recovery facility and its design throughput of 2,500 gpm would be additive to the throughput generated from the Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough areas. 

It is proposed that the remainder of PA2 on the Nichols Ranch area, as well as PA1 and PA2 on the Jane Dough area would be developed in such a way as to reach and maintain the plant permitted throughput capacity of 3,500 gpm.  In other words, as the production (as related to head grade) from the initial header houses decreases below economic limits, replacement production patterns from additional header houses will be placed into operation to maintain the desired flow rate and head grade.

The Nichols Ranch Plant, and the allocation of resources to the production areas within Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough and Hank areas, is designed to produce between 300,000 and 500,000 lb U3O8 per year for several years.  It is estimated that approximately 4.0 million lb U3O8 will be recovered from all three areas of the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit.


Table 16-1: Nichols Ranch Area Life of Mine Plan (Attributable to EFR)

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Years

Units

LOM

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Nichols Ranch

klb

718

648

70

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jane Dough

klb

2,277

-

428

251

526

456

311

305

-

-

-

-

-

Hank

klb

1,028

-

-

-

-

-

-

10

307

415

158

138

-

Total Produced

klb

4,023

648

498

251

526

456

311

315

307

415

158

138

-

Flow Rate

gpm

2,912

2,640

3,281

3,333

3,137

3,055

3,333

3,291

3,308

3,030

1,952

1,670

-

Head Grade

mg/L

33

56

35

17

38

34

21

22

21

31

18

13

-

Working Days

days

365

365

365

365

365

365

365

365

365

365

365

365

-

Total Sold

 

4,023

648

498

251

526

456

311

315

307

415

158

138

-

16.7 Mine Equipment

Due to the nature of the ISR process, the principal mine equipment is focused on the production wellfields.  As stated earlier, the most basic components of the wellfield are the recovery and injection wells that comprise the basic production patterns.  Each well is constructed using a drillhole to the mineralized portion of the aquifer using a conventional mud rotary drill rig.  Each well will be cased with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe that is sized and sufficiently pressure rated, and the annulus between the drillhole and the casing will be grouted from the bottom to top using a beneficiated cement slurry as a seal.  Each well will be under-reamed and will be completed with or without a screen and filter pack, depending on geologic conditions. Following a mechanical integrity test, the wells will be configured for use.  Each recovery well will be fitted with a downhole submersible pump and each injection well will be configured with downhole tubing to facilitate oxygen addition.  Each well, whether injection or recovery, will be connected to the appropriate surface facilities within a header house.

Header houses are used to distribute barren solutions or barren lixiviant to injection wells and collect pregnant solutions from recovery wells.  Each header house is connected to two trunk lines, with one receiving barren lixiviant from the Nichols Ranch Plant and one delivering pregnant lixiviant to the Nichols Ranch Plant.  A typical header house will include manifolds, valves, flow meters, pressure gauges, filters, instrumentation, and oxygen supply for incorporation into the barren lixiviant for injection, as required.  Each header house may service between 60 and 120 wells, injection, and recovery, depending on the characterization of the mineralization and the production pattern geometry.

Pipelines between the header houses and the Nichols Ranch Plant will be used to transport wellfield solutions. Flows and pressures will be controlled at the header houses and monitored at both the recovery plant and the header houses.  High density polyethylene (HDPE), PVC, stainless steel, or equivalent piping is used in the wellfield and has been selected to meet design operating conditions.  The lines from the plant, header houses, and individual wells (injection and recovery) will be buried for freeze protection and to minimize pipe movement.

16.8 Mine Workforce

It is planned that nine staff will be employed at the wellfield during operations for wellfield development, construction projects, and operations.


17.0 RECOVERY METHODS

17.1 Introduction

The Nichols Ranch Plant is licensed and designed to have four major solution circuits: 1) the recovery circuit, 2) the elution circuit, 3) the precipitation and filtration circuit, 4) the drying and packaging circuit.  The first three solution circuits are constructed and operated from 2014 to 2019.  Due to the absence of the on-site drying and packaging circuit, the Project proposes to truck the U3O8 produced on-site to the Mill near Blanding, Utah, for drying and drumming for final delivery to end users.  The Mill is approximately 643 road miles from the Complex.

The recovery circuit includes the flow of lixiviant from the wellfield to the sand filters, or directly to the ion exchange (IX) columns, and back to the wellfield.  The uranium that is liberated underground is extracted in the ion exchange system of the process plant.  The bleed from the circuit is permanently removed from the lixiviant flow to create a "cone of depression" in the wellfield's static water level and ensure that the lixiviant is contained by the inward movement of groundwater within the designated recovery area.  The bleed is disposed of by means of injection into two deep, approved, Class I - Non Hazardous disposal wells.  The volume of the concentrated bleed is approximately 0.5% to 1.5% of the circulating lixiviant flow for the Nichols Ranch and Jane Dough areas and projected to be 2.5% to 3.5% for the Hank area.

The elution circuit consists of transferring the uranium loaded resin bed contained in an IX column into an elution column and to circulate a briny-carbonated solution through the resin bed to remove the uranium from the ion exchange resin until it is completely stripped.  The barren or eluted ion exchange resin is then transferred back from the elution column to the IX column. 

The uranium concentration in the eluate will be built up at a controlled concentration range of between 20 g/L to 40 g/L.  This uranium rich eluate is ready for the de-carbonation process that occurs in the uranium precipitation circuit.

The precipitation and filtration circuit starts when the eluate is treated with acid to destroy the carbonate portion of the dissolved uranium complex.  In addition to adding the acid slowly, a common defoamer may be used to reduce the foaming activity.  The precipitation reagents, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide, are added to the eluate to start precipitating uranium yellowcake.  The yellowcake slurry is then filtered, washed, and loaded into a slurry trailer. When full, the yellowcake slurry trailer is transported by road to the Mill in Blanding, Utah, where it will be unloaded, dried, and drummed for final delivery to end users.

17.2 Chemical Reactions

17.2.1 Elution Process and Resin Handling

The ion exchange resin is ready for elution when it is fully loaded with uranium.  The elution process reverses the loading reactions for the ion exchange resin and strips the uranium from the resin.  The eluant will be an aqueous solution containing salt and sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate.


The chemical reactions are listed as follows:

R [UO2(CO3)2] = [UO2(CO3)2]2- + R2+

R2[UO2(CO3)3] =  [UO2(CO3)3]4- + 2R2+

The elution circuit at the Nichols Ranch Plant is designed to also accept and elute uranium loaded resin from other satellite operations.  Two Department of Transportation approved trailers are used to transport the resin to other processing facilities or EFR's own satellite facilities.  The resin is hydraulically removed from the trailer and screened to remove formation sand and other debris. 

17.2.2 Yellowcake Production

Yellowcake is produced from the rich eluates that are recovered from the loaded ion exchange resin.  The eluate from the elution circuit is de-carbonated by lowering the pH below 2 with hydrochloric acid.  The yellowcake product will be precipitated with hydrogen peroxide and a base such as sodium hydroxide or ammonia.

De-carbonation: [UO2(CO3)2]2- + 4H+ = UO22+ + 2CO2 + 2H2O

 [UO2(CO3)3]4- + 6H+ = UO22+ + 3CO2 + 3H2O

Precipitation: UO22+ + H2O2 + 4H2O = UO4·4H2O + 2H+

The precipitated yellowcake slurry is transferred to a filter press where excess liquid will be removed.  Following a freshwater wash step that will flush the dissolved chlorides, the resulting product cake is pumped to the yellowcake slurry trailer.  Once full, the slurry trailer will be transported to the Mill to be dried.

17.3 Flow and Material Balance

The ion exchange system for the Nichols Ranch Plant is licensed to accommodate flow rates up to 3,500 gpm.  To contain the lixiviant within the designated wellfield recovery area, a small portion of the barren solution is withdrawn from the ion exchange circuit.  The amount of bleed is estimated to be in the average range of 1% of the overall flow rate or equivalent to approximately 35 gpm.

The bleed solution is mainly disposed of directly through the two deep disposal wells but can be used to rinse and clean-up freshly eluted resin, make-up fresh eluant in the elution circuit, back wash sand filters, and wash yellowcake if necessary.  A nominal flow and material balance for the Nichols Ranch Plant is presented in Figure 17-1.  The flow shown is an example capacity for the facilities and does not represent any design or regulatory limits.

The processing facilities are typical for this service and industry standard, as such It is SLR QP's opinion that processing facilities are suitable for purpose.


Figure 17-1: Nichols Ranch Plant Flow Sheet


17.4 Sources of Plant Liquid Effluents and Disposal Methods

Liquid effluents are expected to be generated from pumping test water, process bleed, process solutions, wash-down water, and restoration water.  The water generated during pumping tests is expected to satisfy Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD) Class IV groundwater standards at a minimum and has minimal potential radiological impact on soils or surface water. 

The process bleed and wash-down water are transferred to waste tanks and then to a deep disposal well.  This deep disposal well has been constructed and operated in a manner similar to other operating deep disposal wells at similar ISR uranium sites.  EFR has permitted four and constructed two deep disposal wells at the Nichols Ranch area and has permitted four disposal wells and constructed none at the Hank area. These deep disposal wells were permitted through the WDEQ.  As required, the disposal wells have been completed in approved formations and operated according to permit requirements.  All the deep disposal wells have also received an aquifer exemption from the EPA that is included with the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class I - Non-Hazardous permit issued by the WDEQ. 

The Jane Dough area will not require additional disposal wells since it will be operated directly through the Nichols Ranch Plant and will be able to use the existing disposal well capacity.

The restoration water will be treated by reverse osmosis or other purification technology.  The treated restoration water will be re-injected into the process with the restoration water bleed transferred to the deep disposal well.

It is SLR QP's opinion  that the current installed equipment will not exceed or require modifications to the existing infrastructure for future operations.

17.5 Plant Workforce

It is planned that ten staff, consisting of one manager and nine operators, will be employed at the Nichols Ranch Plant during operations.

17.6 White Mesa Mill Drying/Packaging Operation

As outlined in Section 17.2, slurried yellowcake product will be trucked 643 road miles to the Mill in Blanding, Utah, where it will be dried and packaged for final delivery to end users.  The Mill has been in operation since 1981 with the required equipment using a proven process to produce yellowcake.  In addition, although it is not part of the production schedule in this Technical Report, the Mill also has the capacity to produce vanadium pentoxide (V2O5).

The Mill is currently on a reduced operating schedule processing materials as they become available.  The Mill is currently processing Rare Earth Element (REE) materials in part of the circuit, functioning essentially as a pilot plant, therefore the facility is sufficiently staffed to initiate U3O8 production relatively quickly.


18.0 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE

18.1 Introduction 

The Complex previously operated from 2014 to 2019.  The basic infrastructure (power, water, and transportation) necessary to support an ISR mining operation has been established at the Nichols Ranch area.  This basic infrastructure can also support Jane Dough and Hank areas. Jane Dough is immediately proximate to Nichols Ranch.  Hank is approximately six miles northeast of Nichols Ranch and would require additional infrastructure. 

18.2 Access Roads

The proximity of the Complex to paved roads will facilitate transportation of equipment, supplies, personnel, and product to and from the Complex.  Although the population within 50 mi of the subject property consists mainly of rural ranch residences, personnel required for exploration, construction, and operation are available in the nearby towns of Wright, Midwest, Edgerton, Gillette, Buffalo, and Casper, Wyoming.

18.3 Power

Power transmission lines are located on or near parts of the Project.  EFR has secured power from the local electrical service provider to accommodate all operational needs.

18.4 Water Supply

Non-potable water will be supplied by wells.  Water extracted as part of ISR operations will be recycled for reinjection.  Typical ISR mining operations also require a disposal well for limited quantities of fluids that cannot be returned to the production aquifers.  Deep disposal wells are permitted and installed for the Nichols Ranch Plant.

18.5 Tailings

Tailings storage areas, waste disposal areas, and heap leach pads will not be a part of the infrastructure for the Complex, as ISR operations do not require these types of facilities.  Solutions from the wellfields are recirculated within the wellfield.  The waste stream bleed from the system is injected into the deep disposal wells.

18.6 Mine Support Facilities

The permitted option for Hank includes construction and operation of a satellite plant facility similar to that at Nichols Ranch.  If constructed, the Hank plant would consist of an ion exchange circuit and lixiviant make-up circuit, bleed treatment, and disposal well.  Most of the process equipment would be housed in an approximate 80 ft by 160 ft metal building with eave heights less than 40 ft, with some of the bulk chemical storage tanks located outside of the process building.  Carbon dioxide would be added to the lixiviant as the fluid exits the Hank  satellite facility and returns to the header houses, where oxygen and/or sodium bicarbonate could be added prior to injection into the wellfield.  If operated as a satellite facility, Hank would ship resin to a central processing plant for final processing and packaging of yellowcake.


The other major option for the development of Hank would be to convey fluids from Hank to the Nichols Ranch Plant.  This option would have additional permitting requirements for the pipeline and capital and operating expenditures related to the transfer of solutions between Nichols Ranch and Hank.  These costs would be offset by reduced capital and operating expenditures related to the construction and operation of the satellite plant and disposal well(s).

The preferred alternative for the purposes of this PEA is operation of Hank as an adjacent property through pipelines to the Nichols Ranch Plant.

Figure 18-1 provides an aerial view of the infrastructure immediate to the Nichols Ranch Plant.  Figure 18-2 provides the infrastructure layout of PA1 and PA2.

Figure 18-1: Aerial View of Infrastructure Around the Nichols Ranch Processing Plant


Figure 18-2: Site Layout


19.0 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS

19.1 Markets

The majority of uranium is traded via long-term supply contracts, negotiated privately without disclosing prices and terms.  Spot prices are generally driven by current inventories and speculative short-term buying.  Monthly long-term industry average uranium prices based on the month-end prices are published by Ux Consulting, LLC, and Trade Tech, LLC.  An accepted mining industry practice is to use "Consensus Forecast Prices" obtained by collating commodity price forecasts from credible sources.

19.1.1 Supply

According to the World Nuclear Association (World Nuclear, 2021), world uranium requirements totaled more than 47,700 t U in 2020, with the global pandemic accelerating a trend of slowly-decreasing production:

The top five producing countries (Kazakhstan, Australia, Namibia, Canada, and Uzbekistan) accounted for over 80% of world production in 2020.

The share of uranium produced by ISR mining has steadily increased mainly due to the addition of ISR operations in Kazakhstan, and now accounts for over 50% of production.

Over half of uranium mine production is from state-owned mining companies, some of which prioritize secure supply over market considerations.

19.1.2 Demand

Demand is primarily as a source for nuclear power plants. The use of nuclear power generation plants has become increasingly acceptable politically. Both China and India have indicated an intention to increase the percentage of power generated by nuclear plants. The largest increase in demand will come from those two countries.

Demand for uranium fuel is more predictable than for most other mineral commodities, due to the cost structure of nuclear power generation, with high capital and low fuel costs. Once reactors are built, it is very cost-effective to keep them running at high capacity and for utilities to make any adjustments to load trends by cutting back on fossil fuel use. Demand forecasts for uranium thus depend largely on installed and operable capacity, regardless of economic fluctuations.

The World Nuclear Association website notes that mineral price fluctuations are related to demand and perceptions of scarcity. The price cannot indefinitely stay below the cost of production, nor can it remain at a very high price for longer than it takes for new producers to enter the market and for supply anxiety to subside.


19.1.3 Price

The key to understanding any mineral market is knowing how the mineral price is determined. There are generally considered to be two prices in the uranium market: 1) long term contract prices, and 2) spot prices. These are published by companies that provide marketing support to the industry with UxC being the most commonly followed price report. Over the long term price follows the classic market force of supply demand balance with a "speculative" investment market that creates price volatility.

Figure 19-1 provides a Long Term Uranium Price Forecast through 2035 from TradeTech LLC (TradeTech) from the third quarter of 2021. The Forward Availability Model (FAM 1 and 2) forecast differ in assumptions as to how future uranium supply enters the market. "FAM 1 represents a good progression of planned uranium projects incorporating some delays to schedules, while FAM 2 assumes restricted project development because of an unsupportive economic environment." (TradeTech, 2021).  Currently most US producers are in a mode of care and maintenance and numerous facilities globally are also slowing or shutting in production at least on a temporary basis. At this time in the US, no new projects are being constructed, and very few are moving forward with permitting and/or licensing. This condition aligns more with the FAM 2 projections.

Figure 19-1: Long Term Uranium Price Forecast


Consensus forecasts collected by the SLR QP are in line with the FAM2 - Spot prices in Figure 19-1.  General industry practice is to use a consensus long-term forecast price for estimating Mineral Reserves, and 10% to 20% higher prices for estimating Mineral Resources.

For Mineral Resource estimation and cash flow projections, EFR selected a U3O8 price of $65.00/lb, on a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) basis to customer facility, based on independent forecasts.  The SLR QP considers this price to be reasonable and consistent with industry practice.

The SLR QP has reviewed the market studies and analysis reports and is of the opinion they support the findings of this Technical Report and disclosure of the Mineral Resource estimates.

19.2 Contracts

At this time, EFR has not entered into any long term agreements for the provision of materials, supplies or labor for the Project. The construction and operations will require negotiation and execution of a number of contracts for the supply of materials, services, and supplies.


20.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND SOCIAL OR COMMUNITY IMPACT

20.1 Summary

The Complex is located within the Powder River Basin of Wyoming approximately 80 mi northeast of Casper, Wyoming.  The Powder River Basin is one of the largest uranium mining districts in Wyoming and currently accounts for most of the Wyoming's uranium production.  Current uranium production in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and at Nichols Ranch is completed via ISR mining methods.  ISR mining began at the Nichols Ranch area in 2014.  The Complex is currently on care and maintenance.

Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and the Hank areas are fully licensed and permitted for ISR mining and processing by major licenses and permits issued by the NRC, the WDEQ/LQD, the WDEQ/WQD, and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division (WDEQ/AQD).  Portions of the Hank area, totaling 280 acres, are on public lands managed by the BLM.  This area is permitted for operation by the BLM and a FONSI and Decision Record were issued in July 2015.  Nichols Ranch and the Hank areas consist of 3,370 acres and Jane Dough has approximately an additional 3,680 acres which have been approved and amended to the permitted Project boundary.

20.2 Environmental Studies

Extensive environmental studies including air quality, soil and geology, hydrogeology and hydrology, ecology (wildlife and vegetation), and archaeology have been completed for Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas. These studies have been conducted to support the permitting of the ISR mining and processing plant.  There are no ongoing environmental studies, beyond compliance-based data collection and reporting. 

20.2.1 Baseline Studies

EFR conducted monitoring including groundwater, surface water, air quality, and waste to detail baseline environmental conditions at the mine site to support permitting efforts.  Background water quality within the mineralized zone, overlying and underlying aquifers, and surficial aquifer was characterized to establish the Upper Control Limits (UCLs) for excursion monitoring during operations and the Restoration Target Values (RTVs).

Baseline studies are performed on an as needed basis for the installation of new facilities including wellfields, roads, Hank satellite plant, and new monitoring locations.

20.2.1.1 Hank and Jane Dough Area Groundwater Characterization

Background water quality within the mineralized zones, overlying and underlying aquifers, and surficial aquifer will be characterized prior to operation of the Hank and Jane Dough areas.  This baseline study will result in the establishment of the UCLs to allow for excursion monitoring during operations and the RTV.


20.3 Project Permitting

Nichols Ranch operates within applicable State of Wyoming permitting requirements and will operate in accordance with the BLM approved Plan of Operations for the Hank Unit.

The Complex operates under the following primary permits:

Table 20-1presents a list of active permits including the approving authority, validity period and expiry dates, status (current, canceled or superseded), and indicating if renewal is required or not.  The list of approved legal permits for the Complex provided to the SLR QP by EFR addresses the following aspects:


Table 20-1: Environmental Permits for Operation

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Authority

Obligation/Licence

Date of Issue
MM/(DD/YYYY)

Expiration Date
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Status

Environmental Certifications

NRC WDEQ/LQD

Radioactive Source Material License, Amendment No. 5

3/22/2017

Renewal Application submitted May 2021

Active
(Timely Renewal)

WDEQ/LQD

Hank and Nichols Permit to Mine

12/29/2010

N/A

Active

WDEQ/LQD

Jane Dough Amendment Permit to Mine

3/17/2017

N/A

Active

WDEQ/LQD

Wellfield Authorization(s)

Various

N/A

Active

WDEQ/WQD

Nichols and Hank Deep Disposal Well Class I UIC Permit (10-392)

10/22/2012

10/22/2022

Active

WDEQ/WQD

Stormwater Discharge Permit for Industrial Activities WYPDES/(WYR001394)

3/1/2018

8/31/2022

Active

WDEQ/WQD

Stormwater Discharge Permit for Large Construction Activities WYPDES (WYR104331)

9/11/2020

8/1/2025

Active

WDEQ/WQD

Public Water Supply (WY5601665)

6/27/2013

NA

Active

WDEQ/AQD

Air Quality Permit (CT-8644)

10/2/2009

NA

Active

Johnson County

Permit to Construct Septic Leach Field

11/17/2016

NA

Active

BLM

Decision Record

7/17/2015

NA

Active

EPA

Nichols Ranch and Hank Aquifer Exemption

11/8/2012

NA

Active

EPA

Jane Dough Aquifer Exemption

1/10/2017

NA

Active

Johnson County

On-site Waste Disposal Permit

1/17/2012

NA

Active

Wyoming State Engineer

Permit to Appropriate Ground Water for ISR

Various

PA1-A through PA1-H expire 12/31/2022

Active

Wyoming State Engineer

Permit to Appropriate Ground Water for Processing, Dust Suppression, etc. (204846, 199792, 201105)

Various

199792 and 201105 expire 12/31/2031

Active

Wyoming State Engineer

Permit to Appropriate Ground Water for Potable Water System (201694, 203597)

Various

201694 expires 12/31/2026 and 203597 expires 12/31/2024

Active

Notes:

1. Effective September 30, 2018, the State of Wyoming became an Agreement State under the Atomic Energy Act (as amended) for the regulation of uranium mills and uranium ISR facilities, and regulation of the Source Material License was transferred from the NRC to WDED/LQD


20.4 Environmental Requirements

EFR is committed to the operation of its facilities in a manner that prioritizes the safety of its workers, contractors and community, the protection of the environment and the principles of sustainable development. 

20.4.1 Monitoring and Reporting

20.4.1.1 Air Quality

Air quality monitoring and reporting is conducted in accordance with the Radioactive Source Material License No. SUA-1597 and the Permit to Mine.  Monitoring has been conducted from the beginning of operations to present; monitoring is conducted at various frequencies, from continuously to annually, based on operational status.  Monitoring includes air particulates, gamma, and radon. 

20.4.1.2 Hydrogeology

Groundwater monitoring and reporting is conducted in accordance with multiple permits including the Permit to Mine and the UIC Permit.  Monitoring is conducted at various frequencies and has been conducted from the beginning of operations to present.  Groundwater monitoring locations include injection and production wells, perimeter and vertical monitoring wells, and domestic and livestock wells. Monitoring includes injection rates, injection pressures, injection volumes, annular and operating pressures, groundwater elevation and water quality.  Reporting to WDEQ/WQD is conducted quarterly and annually. 

20.4.1.3 Surface Hydrology

Surface water sampling and reporting is conducted in accordance with multiple permits.  Monitoring is conducted at various frequencies and has been conducted from the beginning of operations to present.  Reporting to WDEQ/LQD is conducted quarterly and annually.

Stormwater monitoring is conducted in accordance with Stormwater Discharger Permit for Industrial Activities WYPDES permit.  Monitoring is conducted on a semi-annual basis and during storm events. 

20.4.1.4 Soil and Sediment

Soil and sediment sampling and reporting is conducted in accordance with multiple permits at various locations in the vicinity of the air particulate sampling stations and pre-operational baseline sampling locations on an annual basis. The samples are analyzed for various radionuclides.  Monitoring has been conducted from the beginning of operations to present.  Reporting to WDEQ/LQD is conducted quarterly and annually.

20.4.2 Compliance

From the time of construction to the effective date of this Technical Report, the Complex has experienced two minor compliance issues.  Both issues pertained to the Permit to Mine issued by WDEQ/LQD and were resolved quickly under normal regulatory procedures.


20.4.3 Mine Closure Plan

The reclamation plan that presents EFR's plans and estimated costs for the restoration of groundwater, decontamination and decommissioning of the Nichols Ranch Plant site and wellfields, surface reclamation and decommissioning, and post-reclamation monitoring was revised in September 2019.  The objective of the reclamation plan is to return the subsurface and surface of the Nichols Ranch, Hank, and Jane Dough areas to conditions compatible with the pre-mining uses.  All affected groundwater will be restored to a condition of use equal to or exceeding that which existed prior to Project construction. All lands disturbed by the Nichols Ranch Plant and mining will also be restored to their pre-mining use of livestock grazing and wildlife habitat.

Groundwater restoration includes groundwater sweeping, groundwater treatment, and monitoring.  Following groundwater restoration, well abandonment will occur in accordance with WDEQ/LQD regulations.  The Nichols Ranch Plant site and wellfield decommissioning consists of decontamination of elements of the Nichols Ranch Plant site, as needed, and the dismantling and selling, where possible, of equipment for future use.  Surface reclamation including roads and wellfields consists of surface preparation (regrading, ripping, etc.), the placement of salvaged topsoil, and revegetation. 

20.4.4 Reclamation Cost Estimate and Bonds

Financial assurance instruments are held by the State for drilling, ISR mining, and uranium processing. The bonds are required to insure reclamation and restoration of the affected lands and aquifers in accordance with federal and state regulations and permit requirements.  The current approved surety estimate is $6,668,575 and detailed in Table 20-2.  The Company has continuously maintained a bond amount of $6,800,000 since the Project was permitted and licensed.

Table 20-2: Reclamation Bonds

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Program/Permit

Amount
(US$)

Date Approved
(MM/DD/YYYY)

WDEQ/LQD Permit to Mine and NRC Source Materials License

6,668,575

3/4/2021

WDEQ/LQD Drilling Notification DN336

50,000

8/29/2017

20.5 Social and Community

EFR is committed to the operation of its facilities in a manner that prioritizes the safety of its workers, contractors and community, the protection of the environment, and the principles of sustainable development.  The surrounding communities have a long history of working with and for the region's mining and mineral resource industry, and their support for the Project has been strong. 

The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, 2020, ranks Wyoming as 2nd out of 77 jurisdictions using a Policy Perception Index, which indicates a very favorable perception by the mining industry towards Wyoming mining policies.  The SLR QP not aware of environmental, permitting, or social/community, factors which would materially affect the Mineral Resource estimates.


21.0 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

The capital and operating cost estimates for ISR mining and yellowcake production at the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit are based on factored costs from other operations, judgment, and analogy.  Although there was some commercial production experience at Nichols Ranch area from 2014 to 2019, the change in the cost basis for this Technical Report, due to the proposed reduction in overall U3O8 production rates and the requirement for cost escalation, makes the accuracy, in the SLR QP's opinion, an American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE) International Class 4 cost estimate with an accuracy range of 15% to -30% to +20% to +50%.

21.1 Capital Costs

Capital costs estimated for the Project will include the development of wellfields in the Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas, additional trunk lines, and pipeline network to the Hank area, and the completion of the central processing plant at the Nichols Ranch area.  Capital costs do not include those capital costs associated with milling, as the Mill will only be used for drying and packing yellowcake from the Complex. 

For this Technical Report, the SLR QP adjusted the original 2015 capital cost estimate by the following methodologies:

Table 21-1 summarizes the capital costs adjusted for the smaller 4.0 Mlb production schedule and cost escalation in Q1 2021 US dollar basis.  The two methodologies are described in further detail below.

Table 21-1: Base Case Capital Cost Estimate Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Capital Cost Area

Cost
(US$ 000)

Wellfield Development

61,327

Trunkline

227

Soft Costs

12,721

Plant - CPP Buildout

4,990

Plant - Hank Pipeline

2,177

Total Sustaining Capital

81,442

Restoration/Decommissioning

20,664

Grand Total

102,105

 


21.1.1 SLR Capital Cost Adjustments

The 2015 capital cost estimate of $114.3 million supported a production schedule that included 100% of Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank Mineral Resources, which totalled 6.3 Mlb U3O8. The new base case production schedule in this Technical Report totals 4.0 Mlb (37% lower than the 2015 schedule) and accounts for the mined depletion through 2019 at Nichols Ranch and only the 81% of EFR attributable pounds of U3O8 at Jane Dough. 

To scale the 2015 capital cost estimate of $114.3 million to reflect the currently envisioned smaller scale operation, the SLR QP used the 0.6 capital cost rule as follows:

Thus, the scaled 2015 capital cost estimate of $87.1 million for the smaller 4.0 Mlb operation is $27.2 million or 23.8% lower as shown in Table 21-2.

Table 21-2: SLR Capital Cost Scale Adjustment Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Capital Cost Area

Units

2015 Estimate

Scaled 2015
Estimate

Variance

Production Target

Mlb

6.3

4.0

(2.3)

 

 

 

 

 

Wellfield Development

US$ (000)

67,596

51,488

(16,108)

Trunkline

US$ (000)

250

190

(60)

Soft Costs

US$ (000)

14,021

10,680

(3,341)

Plant - CPP Buildout

US$ (000)

5,500

4,189

(1,311)

Plant - Hank Pipeline

US$ (000)

2,400

1,828

(572)

Total Sustaining Capital

US$ (000)

89,767

68,376

(21,391)

Restoration/Decommissioning

US$ (000)

24,561

18,708

(5,854)

Grand Total

US$ (000)

114,327

87,084

(27,243)

% Variance

 

 

 

(23.8%)

21.1.3 SLR Capital Cost Escalation Methodology

The SLR QP subsequently escalated the adjusted 2015 capital cost estimate cost of $87.1 million to Q1 2021 US dollar basis using subscription-based MCS cost indices dated July 2021.  The March 2021 index value was selected as it was the last finalized data point in the July 2021 MCS guide at the time of this Technical Report. 

The Mill capital cost indices were chosen as, in the SLR QP's view, ISR mining and processing is composed mainly of pumping and reagent activities found in mill operations compared to classic mining scenarios.  The only exceptions were for minor payroll costs during decommissioning, which use a mine labor factor, and for bonding costs, which were assumed to remain unchanged.  The capital cost escalation factors are presented in Table 21-3 with the 2021 escalated capital cost presented in Table 21-4.


Table 21-3: SLR Capital Cost Escalation Factors

Energy Fuels Inc. Nichols Ranch Project

Capital Cost Area

MCS Source

2015 Index

March 2021 Index

% Change

Wellfield Development

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

Trunkline

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

Soft Costs

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

CPP Buildout

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

Hank Pipeline

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

Bonding

None

1.0

1.0

None

Groundwater Restoration

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

Decommissioning

Table 5 Mill

101.0

120.3

19.1

Payroll

Table 2 - "A"

26.7

28.6

7.3

Table 21-4: SLR 2021 Escalated Base Case Capital Cost Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Capital Cost Area

Units

Scaled 2015
Estimate

Escalated Q1
2021 Estimate

Variance
(US$ 000)

U3O8 Production Target

Mlb

4.0

4.0

-

 

 

 

 

 

Wellfield Development

US$ (000)

51,488

61,327

9,839

Trunkline

US$ (000)

190

227

37

Soft Costs

US$ (000)

10,680

12,721

2,041

Plant - CPP Buildout

US$ (000)

4,189

4,990

801

Plant - Hank Pipeline

US$ (000)

1,828

2,177

349

Total Sustaining Capital

US$ (000)

68,376

81,442

13,066

Restoration/Decommissioning

US$ (000)

18,708

20,664

1,956

Grand Total

US$ (000)

87,084

102,105

15,021

% Variance

 

 

 

17.2%

The escalation effect on capital costs from 2015 to Q1 2021 is estimated to be 17.2%, or $15.0 million for the Complex over the scaled 2015 capital costs at 4.0 Mlb production schedule.  The SLR QP notes that the current capital cost estimate of $102.1 million is still 10% lower than the original 2015 capital cost estimate of $114.3 million, wholly due to reduction in scale of the operation.


21.2 Operating Costs

The LOM average operating cost includes mining, on-site yellowcake production with hauling cost to the Mill located near Blanding, Utah, general and administration, and freight of the product from the Mill to a point of sale, along with various royalties and taxes which are described in more detail in Section 22.0.  Table 21-5 summarizes the operating cost estimates used for the base case in this PEA in Q1 2021 US dollar basis.

Table 21-5: Operating Cost Estimate

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

US$ (000) (including Yr -1)

$/lb Produced

Wellfield

11,575

2.88

Processing

39,494

9.81

Deep Well Disposal

656

0.16

G & A

25,865

6.43

Total Site Operating Costs

77,590

19.28

Product Transport to Market

1,533

0.38

Total Production Costs

79,123

19.66

Ad Valorem Tax

10,583

2.63

WY Severance Tax

6,408

1.59

Royalties

4,717

1.17

Total Operating Costs

100,832

25.06

To arrive at the current operating cost estimate in Table 21-5, and similar to the capital cost adjustment, the SLR QP adjusted the original 2015 operating cost estimate by the following methodologies describe in more detail below:

21.2.1 SLR Operating Cost Adjustments

To better reflect the smaller scale 4.0 Mlb operation, the SLR QP first developed a fixed and variable operating cost structure using the 2015 production schedule and US dollar cost basis.  The SLR QP then adjusted the costs based on experience and judgment by lowering the fixed operating dollar cost component by 15% but keeping the variable cost inputs the same.  Table 21-6 shows the overall impact of approximately 37.4% increase in operating costs from $11.71/lb U3O8 to $16.02/lb U3O8 on a 2015 US dollar cost basis from these adjustments.


Table 21-6: 2015 Site Operating Cost Scale Adjustment

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

2015 (6.3 Mlb) Costs (Est)

Scaled 2015 (4 Mlb) Costs

$/lb % Change

US$ (000)

$/lb produced

US$ (000)

$/lb produced

Total Fixed Costs

46,368

7.32

39,422

9.80

33.9

Total Variable Costs

28,010

4.42

25,890

6.43

45.5

Total Site Operating Costs

74,182

11.71

65,311

16.23

38.6

21.2.2 SLR Operating Cost Escalation Methodology

After adjusting the operating costs for the smaller production schedule, the SLR QP escalated those adjusted operating costs from 2015 US dollar basis to Q1 2021 US dollar basis using MCS cost indices dated July 2021.  The March 2021 index value was selected as it was the last finalized data point in the July 2021 MCS guide at the time of this Technical Report.  The operating cost escalation factors are presented in Table 21-7.

Table 21-7: 2021 SLR Operating Cost Escalation Factors

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Operating Cost Area

MCS Source

2015 Index

March 2021 Index

% Change

Wellfield

Table 5 Mill

95.7

116.2

21.4

Processing

Table 5 Mill

95.7

116.2

21.4

Deep Well Disposal

Table 5 Mill

95.7

116.2

21.4

G&A

Table 2 - "A"

26.65

28.59

7.3

Product Transport to Market

Table 2 - "S"

143.5

170.4

18.7

The operating cost escalation by area is presented in Table 21-8.

Table 21-8: SLR 2021 Escalated Base Case Operating Cost Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Operating Cost Summary

Scaled 2015 Cost
(US$ 000)

Escalated Q1 2021
Cost1

(US$ 000)

Variance
(US$ 000)

Wellfield

9,533

11,575

2,150

Processing

32,527

39,494

7,413

Deep Well Disposal

540

656

116

G & A

22,711

25,865

3,154

Total Site Operating Costs

65,311

77,590

12,833

Product Transport to Market

1,291

1,533

241

Total Production Costs

66,602

79,123

12,521

% Variance

 

 

18.8%

Note:

1. Escalated Q1 2021 G&A expenses include an extra allowance of $1.5 million for preproduction activity in Year -1 as this cost was not in the original 2015 cost estimate.


The escalation effect on direct operating costs during this five year period from 2015 through Q1 2021 is estimated to be approximately 18.8% for the Complex over the adjusted 2015 capital costs at 4.0 Mlb production schedule. 

21.2.3 Workforce Summary

The operation will employ a total of 25 employees at the site, as presented in Table 21-9.  It is assumed that corporate-related functions such as administration, finance, human resources, and procurement will be done from EFR's Lakewood, Colorado, head office.

Table 21-9: Workforce Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Category

Total

Drilling, Wellfield Development and Surface Reclamation

Manager

1

Wellfield Development

1

Geologist

1

Subtotal

3

Projects, Construction & Maintenance

Manager

1

Construction Supervisor

1

Wellfield Construction Technician

1

Maintenance

1

Subtotal

4

Plant Operations

Manager

1

Operators

9

Subtotal

10

Wellfield Operations

Manager

1

Utility Technician

1

Subtotal

2

General and Administrative

Mine Manager

1

Environmental, Safety, and Health (ESH) Manager

1

Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)

1

Radiation Safety Technician (RST)

1

Environmental Technician

1

Lab Technician

1

Subtotal

6

Grand Total

25



22.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

An economic analysis was performed using the assumptions  presented in this Technical Report.  The SLR QP notes that, unlike Mineral Reserves, Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.  This PEA is preliminary in nature, and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too geologically speculative to have modifying factors applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that this economic assessment will be realized. 

The Nichols Ranch base case cash flow is based on Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources (the latter being 17% of the total).  An alternative case with only Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources is also presented in this Technical Report.

22.1 Base Case (Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources)

22.1.1 Economic Criteria

An after-tax cash flow projection for the base case has been generated from the LOM schedule and capital and operating cost estimates in this Technical Report for the Nichols Ranch Mining Unit (Nichols Ranch, Jane Dough, and Hank areas), and is summarized in the Section 22.1.2.  A summary of the key criteria is provided below.

22.1.1.1 Revenue 

22.1.1.2 Capital and Operating Costs


22.1.1.3 Royalties and Production Taxes

22.1.1.4 Income Taxes

The economic analysis includes the following assumptions for corporate income taxes (CIT):

22.1.2 Cash Flow Analysis

The SLR QP notes that, unlike Mineral Reserves, Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.  The economic analysis for the base case contained in this Technical Report is based, in part, on Inferred Resources, and is preliminary in nature.  Inferred Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have modifying factors applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that this economic assessment will be realized.  The SLR QP notes that with the future exploration drilling planned at the Complex, it would be reasonable to expect a significant amount of Inferred Mineral Resources to become converted into the Indicated category through a subsequent resource model.

The Project production schedule, with one year of preproduction, and as currently envisioned with 17% Inferred Mineral Resources and 83% combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources is shown in Figure 22-1 and the resulting after-tax free cash flow profile is shown in Figure 22-2.


Note:

1. PLS = Pregnant Leach Solution

Figure 22-1: Base Case Annual U3O8 Production by Area

Figure 22-2: Base Case Project After-Tax Metrics Summary


Table 22-1  presents a summary of the Nichols Ranch base case economics at an U3O8 price of $65.00/lb.  The full annual cash flow model is presented in Appendix 1 of this Technical Report.  On a pre-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $58.6 million over the mine life.  The pre-tax NPV at a 5% discount rate is $46.1 million.  On an after-tax basis for the base case, the undiscounted cash flow totals $41.1 million over the mine life.  The after-tax NPV at 5% discount rate is $31.5 million.  The SLR QP notes that after-tax IRR is not applicable as the Nichols Ranch Plant at the Complex is already constructed and already operated for a number of years.  Capital identified in the economics is for sustaining operations and plant rebuilds as necessary. 

Table 22-1:  Base Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Unit

Value

U3O8 Price

$/lb

65

U3O8 Sales

Mlb

4.02

Total Gross Revenue

US$ M

262

Wellfield Costs

US$ M

(12)

Processing Costs

US$ M

(39)

Deep Well Disposal Costs

US$ M

(1)

G&A Costs

US$ M

(26)

Product Transport to Market Cost

US$ M

(2)

Production Taxes/Royalties

US$ M

(22)

Total Operating Costs

US$ M

(101)

Operating Margin

US$ M

161

Operating Margin

US$ M

62%

Corporate Income Tax

US$ M

(17)

Operating Cash Flow

US$ M

143

Sustaining Capital

US$ M

(81)

Restoration/Decommissioning

US$ M

(21)

Total Capital

US$ M

(102)

 

 

 

Pre-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

58.6

Pre-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

46.1

 

 

 

After-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

41.1

After-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

31.5



Table 22-2 shows the average annual U3 O8 sales for the base case during the 11 years of operation (and one year of preproduction expense) is 393 klb U3O8per year at an average All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $50.43/lb U3O8 (or $45.30/lb U3O8 excluding Restoration/ Decommissioning costs).

Table 22-2: Base Case All-In Sustaining Costs Composition

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Cost
(US$ M)

Unit Cost
(US$/lb U3O8)

Mining

12 

2.88

Process

39

9.81

Deep Well Disposal

1

0.16

G & A

26

6.43

Subtotal Site Costs

78

19.28

Product Transport to Market

2

0.38

Total Direct Cash Costs

79

19.66

Production Taxes/Royalties

22

5.39

Total Cash Costs

101

25.06

Sustaining Capital

81

20.24

Restoration/Decommissioning

21

5.14

Subtotal Sustaining Costs

102

25.37

Total All-in Sustaining Costs

203

50.43

U3O8 Sales (Mlb)

 

4.02

Average U3O8 Sales per Year (klb)

 

393

Figure 22-3 shows the annual AISC trend during the base case mine operations against an overall average AISC of $50.43/lb U3O8 over the 11-year LOM.  The AISC variations are mainly due to changes in grades and mine schedule.  The AISC metric can range from $24/lb U3O8 to $75/lb U3O8 through the Project life.


Figure 22-3: Base Case Annual AISC Curve Profile

22.1.3 Sensitivity Analysis

Project risks can be identified in both economic and non-economic terms.  Key economic risks were examined by running cash flow sensitivities calculated over a range of variations based on realistic fluctuations within the listed factors:

The after-tax cash flow sensitivities for the base case are shown in Table 22-3 and Figure 22-4.  The Project is most sensitive to uranium price and recovery, and only slightly less sensitive to operating cost and capital cost at an AACE International Class 4 accuracy level.  The sensitivities to pounds of U3O8 and metal price are nearly identicalThe SLR QP notes that head grade variations in ISR mining are difficult to measure at this PEA stage and thus were not included in this sensitivity analysis.


Table 22-3: Base Case After-Tax Sensitivity Analysis

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Factor Change

U3O8 Price
(US$/lb)

NPV at 5%
(US$ M)

0.69

45.00

(18)

0.85

55.00

7

1.00

65.00

31

1.15

75.00

55

1.31

85.00

78

Factor Change

Net Recovery
(%)

NPV at 5%
(US$ M)

0.80

48.3

0

0.90

54.4

16

1.00

60.4

31

1.10

66.5

47

1.20

72.5

62

Factor Change

Operating Costs
(US$/ton milled)

NPV at 5%
(US$ M)

0.70

13.69

48

0.85

16.49

40

1.00

19.28

31

1.25

23.94

18

1.50

28.60

4

Factor Change

Capital Costs
(US$ M)

NPV at 5%
(US$ M)

0.70

71

54

0.85

87

43

1.00

102

31

1.25

128

13

1.50

153

(6)



Figure 22-4: Base Case After-tax NPV 5% Sensitivity Analysis

22.2 Alternate Case (Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources Only)

The SLR QP also undertook an analysis of an alternative case, considering only combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (83% of the base case production schedule).  The SLR QP notes that while the alternate case does not contain Inferred Mineral Resources, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability.  There is no certainty that economic forecasts on which this PEA is based will be realized.

Using the same cost parameters and ISR mining and processing assumptions as the base case, the alternate case production schedule generates 3.36 Mlb U3O8 over a nine year mine life as shown in Figure 22-5. 


Figure 22-5: Alternate Case Annual U3O8 Production by Area

Table 22-4 presents a summary of the Nichols Ranch alternate case economics at an U3O8 price of $65.00/lb.  The full annual cash flow model is presented in Appendix 1 of this Technical Report.  On a pre-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $43.7 million over the mine life.  The pre-tax NPV at a 5% discount rate is $37.4 million.  On an after-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $27.4 million over the mine life.  The after-tax NPV at 5% discount rate is $23.7 million. 


Table 22-4:  Alternate Case After-Tax Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Unit

Value

U3O8 Price

$/lb

65

U3O8 Sales

Mlb

3.36

Total Gross Revenue

US$ M

219

Wellfield Costs

US$ M

(10)

Processing Costs

US$ M

(33)

Deep Well Disposal Costs

US$ M

(1)

G&A Costs

US$ M

(21)

Product Transport to Market Cost

US$ M

(1)

Production Taxes/Royalties

US$ M

(19)

Total Operating Costs

US$ M

(85)

Operating Margin

US$ M

133

Operating Margin

US$ M

61%

Corporate Income Tax

US$ M

(16)

Operating Cash Flow

US$ M

117

Sustaining Capital

US$ M

(73)

Restoration/Decommissioning

US$ M

(17)

Total Capital

US$ M

(90)

 

 

 

Pre-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

43.7

Pre-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

37.4

 

 

 

After-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ M

27.4

After-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ M

23.7

Table 22-5 shows the average annual U3O8 sales for the alternate case during the nine years of operation are 418 klb U3O8 per year at an average AISC of $52.00/lb U3O8 (or $47.05/lb U3O8 excluding Restoration/Decommissioning costs). 


Table 22-5: Alternate Case All-in Sustaining Costs Composition

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

US$ M

US$/lb U3O8

Mining

10

2.9

Process

33

10.0

Deep Well Disposal

1

0.2

G & A

21

6.4

Subtotal Site Costs

65

19.4

Product Transport to Market

1

0.4

Total Direct Cash Costs

66

19.8

Production Taxes/Royalties

19

5.5

Total Cash Costs

85

25.3

Sustaining Capital

73

21.7

Restoration/Decommissioning

17

5.0

Subtotal Sustaining Costs

90

26.7

Total All-in Sustaining Costs

175

52.00

U3O8 Sales (Mlb)

 

3.36

Average U3O8 Sales per Year (klb)

 

418

The after-tax cash flow sensitivities for the alternate case are shown in Figure 22-6 and are similar in magnitude to the base case with the Project being most sensitive to uranium price and recovery, and only slightly less sensitive to operating cost and capital cost at a AACE International Class 4 level of accuracy.


Figure 22-6: Alternate Case After-tax NPV 5% Sensitivity Analysis


23.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES

The Complex is located within the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District, which was the first commercial uranium production district in Wyoming.  Uranium was first discovered in the Pumpkin Buttes in 1951.  Through 1967, intermittent production from approximately 55 small mines produced 36,737 tons of mined product containing 208,143 lb of uranium (Breckenridge et al., 1974).  This early mining focused on shallow oxidized areas by small open pit mines.  Primary exploration methods included geologic mapping and ground radiometric surveys.  Modern exploration and mining in the district have focused on deeper reduced mineralization. 

Significant mine developments located near the Nichols Ranch property and within and or near the Pumpkin Butte Mining District in which EFR has no material interest include:

More recent ISR tests and operating uranium production near the Complex include:

The SLR QP has been unable to verify this information on adjacent properties.  This information on adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization at the Nichols Ranch property.


24.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION

No additional information or explanation is necessary to make this Technical Report understandable and not misleading.


25.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

The SLR QPs offer the following conclusions by area.

25.1 Geology and Mineral Resources


25.2 Mining Methods

25.3 Mineral Processing

25.4 Infrastructure


25.5 Environment


26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

The SLR QPs offer the following recommendations by area:

26.1 Geology and Mineral Resources

The SLR QP offers the following recommendations regarding the data supporting the drillhole database at the Project:

1. Transition from a Microsoft Excel database to acQuire or a similar database.

2. Verify all drilling data collar coordinates as Wyoming NAD27 UTM zone 13 coordinates.  EFR should also consider moving to an updated coordinate system, such as WGS 84, for use in online graphic programs.

3. Create 3D geologic models of the Wasatch Formation and individual Sand Units for use in verifying and auditing uranium mineralization.

4. Use a handheld XRF tool to replace the scintillometer reading in order to obtain more precise mineralogical information.

5. Resume using PFN as a QA/QC tool to confirm disequilibrium within the Satellite Properties not yet exposed to ISR mining.

In addition, the SLR QP provides the following deposit specific recommendations:

26.1.1 Nichols Ranch Mining Unit

26.1.1.1 Nichols Ranch

The SLR QP makes the following recommendations regarding advancing the Project with Production Planning and Development for PA2:

1. Conduct drilling of 55 delineation to better define the mineralized trends in PA2 to meet a minimum 100 ft grid spacing.

2. Based on the results of the 55 delineation holes, drill and install 120 development wells, associated header houses and manifold to main production pipeline for the remaining four wellfields.

Additional plant upgrades are not required to put PA2 into production.  The proposed budget for bringing PA2 into production is shown in Table 26-1.

Table 26-1: PA2 Wellfield Development

Energy Fuels Inc. - Nichols Ranch Project

Item

Cost
(US$)

Drilling (Delineation - 55 holes)

$110,000

Drill and Install Wellfield (120 wells)

$1,800,000

Header House and Manifold Construction

$390,000

Total

$2,300,000

 


26.1.1.2 Jane Dough

1. Complete exploration and delineation drilling at Jane Dough, in concurrence with ongoing delineation and production well drilling at Nichols Ranch, starting in the areas most proximate to Nichols Ranch and proceeding southward.

2. Complete an Engineering study to define the most efficient infrastructure for production.

3. Install monitor wells and conduct pump tests for state and federal permit/license requirements in a phased approach as drilling will define multiple Pas.

26.1.1.3 Hank

1. Complete additional drilling at Hank to access, define, and upgrade classification of the Mineral Resource.

2. After drilling, complete the economic evaluation of the Hank area project.

26.1.2 Satellite Properties

26.1.2.1 North Rolling Pin

1. Install additional monitor wells for future EFR hydrologic studies.  Determine groundwater levels and conduct pump tests to evaluate groundwater quality and impact on possible ISR mining.

2. Complete additional delineation drilling to meet a minimum 100 ft grid spacing. 

3. Conduct additional radiological disequilibrium studies using PFN, DFN logging, and/or core assays to develop a site-specific model.  Also, conduct a bench scale leach tests to determine amenability to ISR.

4. Complete environmental baseline studies for preparation of state and federal permit/license applications.

5. After drilling, complete an economic evaluation of the North Rolling Pin project.

6. Update the current drilling database with all possible historical holes.

26.1.2.2 West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek

1. Update, verify, and certify the drilling database and ensure that all drilling, both historical and recent, is included.

2. Prepare an updated resource estimation upon completion of updating and verifying the database to make 2008 resource estimations current.

3. Install additional monitor wells for future EFR hydrologic studies.  Determine groundwater levels and conduct pump tests to evaluate groundwater quality and impact on possible ISR mining.

4. Complete additional drilling to access the mineral resource. 

5. Conduct additional radiological disequilibrium studies using PFN, DFN logging, and/or core assays to develop a site-specific model.  Also, conduct bench scale leach tests to determine amenability to ISR.

6. Complete environmental baseline studies for preparation of state and federal permit/license applications.

7. After drilling, complete an economic evaluation of the West North Butte, East North Butte, and Willow Creek project.


26.2 Mining Methods

1. Consistent with the state and federal regulations requirements, environmental monitoring and analysis programs should be implemented to continually collect water level and water quality data when the mine site becomes fully operational. 

26.3 Mineral Processing

1. Continue the intermittent Mill operations with maintenance program.

2. Evaluate the Nichols Ranch Plant's historical operating data to determine possible flow sheet improvements or modifications to improve production rate/economics and make these changes before commencing production.


27.0 REFERENCES

AACE International, 2012, Cost Estimate Classification System - As applied in the Mining and Mineral Processing Industries, AACE International Recommended Practice No. 47R-11, 17 p.

Agnerian, H., and W. E. Roscoe, 2003, The Contour Method of Estimating Mineral Resources, Roscoe Pestle Associates, Inc. paper, 9 pp

Andrew Johns, Raymond James Uranium Price Outlook, http://www.andrewjohns.ca/sites/default/files/iMin111814c_061826.pdf

Beahm, D. and A. Anderson, 2007, Nichols Ranch uranium project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, WY. Mineral Resource Report 43-101, prepared for Uranerz Energy Corp. BRS Inc. , April 3, 2007, update Sept. 13, 2007, 44 p

Beahm, D.L., and P. Goranson, 2015, Nichols Ranch Uranium Project Preliminary Economic Assessment, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA, prepared for Uranerz Energy Corp. BRS Engineering, February 28, 2015, 112 p

Berglund, A., 2006, Willow Creek Project, Uranium Resource Estimation, prepared in March 2006.

Berglund, A., 2007a: North Rolling Pin Project, Uranium Resource Estimation, prepared in March 2007.

Berglund, A., 2007b: Northwest North Butte Project, Uranium Resource Estimation, prepared in November 2007.

Breckenridge, R.M., G.B. Glass, F.K. Root, and W.G. Wendell, 1974: Campbell County, Wyoming: Geologic Map Atlas and Summary of Land, Water, and Mineral Resources. County Resource Series (CRS-3), Wyoming State Geological Survey.

Brown, Drew, Massey & Durham, LLP, 2022, Ownership Summary, Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, letter report to Uranerz Energy Corporation and Energy Fuels Resources, February 7, 2022, 4 pp.

Brown, K., 2005, Uranerz Internal Report North Butte Uranium Ore Reserve Estimate on the Shook, Don and UEC Claims, August 2005.

Brown, K., 2006, Uranerz Internal Report Geology and Uranium Reserves, Nichols Ranch Claims, Wyoming, February 2006.

Brown, K., 2006a, Uranerz Internal Report, Geology and Uranium Reserves, Hank Claims, Wyoming, April 2006.

Brown, K., 2006b, Uranerz Internal Report, Geology and Uranium Reserves of the Collins Draw Claims, Pumpkin Buttes, Wyoming, September 2006.


Brown, K., 2007, Uranerz Internal Report, Geology and Uranium Reserves of the Doughstick Claims, Pumpkin Buttes, Wyoming, January 2007.

Brown, K., 2009, Technical Report, Nichols Ranch Property Johnson and Campbell Counties, Wyoming, June 2009.

Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming (BLM and WY). 2015. Environmental Assessment for Uranerz Energy Corporation's Proposed Hank Unit Uranium In-Situ Recovery Project, Campbell County, Wyoming,WYW-169904.

Cameco, Uranium Price, https://www.cameco.com/invest/markets/uranium-price (accessed Month, Day, Year).

Campbell County, Wyoming Memorandum of Understanding [No. WY 19] Between the Governor of Wyoming and the United States By and Through the State Director, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Campbell, M. D., and K. T. Biddle, 1977, Frontier areas and exploration techniques - Frontier uranium exploration in the South-Central United States, in Geology [and environmental considerations] of alternate energy resources, uranium, lignite, and geothermal energy in the South-Central States, pp. 3-40 (Figure 17 - p. 34): Published by the Houston Geological Society, 364 p.

Campbell, M.D., et al., 2008, The Nature and Extent of Uranium Reserves and Resources and their Environmental Development in the U.S. and Overseas, AAPG Energy Mineral Div., Uranium Committee Annual Report of 2008, AAPG EMD Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, April 23, 2008, 21p.

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), 2014, CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on May 10, 2014.

CIM, 2003, Best Practices in Uranium Estimation Guidelines, published by CIM Estimation Best Practice Committee, November 23, 2003.

Dahlkamp, F. J., 2010, Uranium Deposits of the World, USA and Latin America, Springer, 2010th Edition, August 20, 2010, 536 pp.

Davis, J.F., 1969: Uranium Deposits of the Powder River Basin, Contributions to Geology, Wyoming Uranium Issue, University of Wyoming.

Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. Technical Report Summary for the Nichols Ranch Uranium Complex, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming. US SEC Subpart 1300 Regulation S-K Compliant Report Initial Assessment, December 31, 2020.

Energy Laboratories, Inc, 2007, Report on Leach Amenability to George Hartman/Uranerz Energy Corporation, June 4, 2007, unpublished, p. 9

Energy Laboratories, Inc, 2009a, Report on Leach Amenability Doughstick to Glenda Thomas/Uranerz Energy Corporation, February 6, 2009, unpublished, p. 9


Energy Laboratories, Inc, 2009b, Report on Leach Amenability South Doughstick to Glenda Thomas/Uranerz Energy Corporation, February 6, 2009, unpublished, p. 6

Garling, R. A., 2013, Uranium Leach Amenability Test Summary, R and D Enterprises, Inc., Memorandum to Glenda Thomas/Uranerz Energy Corporation, February 5, 2013

Granger, H.C. and C.G. Warren, 1979: Zoning in the altered tongue with roll-type uranium deposits, IAEA-SM-183/6.

Graves, D.H. and D.R. Woody, 2008, Technical Report West North Butte Satellite Properties Campbell County, Wyoming, U.S.A., TREC, Inc., NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared for Uranerz Energy Corporation, December 9, 2008, p. 47

Graves, D.H., 2010, Technical Report North Rolling Pin Property, Campbell County, Wyoming, U.S.A., TREC, Inc., NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared for Uranerz Energy Corporation, June 4, 2010, p. 47

Harbaugh, A.W., McDonald, M.G. (1996) Open-File Report Vol. 1996 (96-486), Programmer's documentation for MODFLOW-96, an update to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Hodson, W.G., Pearl, R.H., and Druse, S.A., 1973, Water resources of the Powder River basin and adjacent areas, northeastern Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atlas HA-465.

In-Situ Consulting, 1979: North Rolling Pin In-Situ Solution Mine Test and Restoration Summary. Prepared by Dick Watkins for the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) January 1979.

McKay, A.D., P. Stoker, K.F. Bampton, I.B. Lambert, I.B., 2007. Resource estimates for in situ leach uranium projects and reporting under the JORC code, November 2007, pp. 58-67.

NRC, 2011. In Situ Uranium Recovery Process.  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. https://www.nrc.gov/materials/uranium-recovery/extraction-methods/isl-recovery-facilities.html.  Accessed February, 2022.

NRC, 2016. In Situ Uranium Recovery Process.  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, July 2016.  https://www.nrc.gov/materials/uranium-recovery/extraction-methods/isl-recovery-facilities.html.  Accessed January 21, 2022.

Penney, R., 2011, From kicking rocks to PFN, the exploration and the technology, UXA's approach to finding uranium, UXA Resources Limited, ABN 65 112 714 397, The AusIMM, Sydney Branch, February 16, 2011, p. 40

Rackley, R.I., 1972: Environment of Wyoming Tertiary Uranium Deposits, AAPG Bulletin Vol. 56, No. 4.

Scott, J.H., 1962: GAMLOG A Computer Program for Interpreting Gamma-Ray Logs; United States Atomic Energy Commission, Grand Junction Office, Production Evaluation Division, Ore Reserves Branch, TM-179, September 1962.


Sharp, W.N. and A.B. Gibbons, 1964: Geology and Uranium Deposits of the Southern Part of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1147-D, 164 pp.

TREC, Inc., 2008, Technical Report, Hank Property, Campbell County, Wyoming, USA. Prepared for Uranerz Energy Corporation, May 1, 2008.

Uranerz Energy Corporation, 2010: Nichols Ranch ISR Project Uranium Solution Mine Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming. U.S.N.R.C. Source Material License Application, Appendix D5 Geology.

Uranerz Energy Corporation, 2010a, Nichols Ranch ISR Project Uranium Solution Mine Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming. U.S.N.R.C. Source Material License Application, Appendix D5 Geology.

Uranerz Energy Corporation, 2012, Nichols Ranch ISR Project WDEQ Permit to Mine N. 778 NRC SUA-1597. Nichols Ranch Unit PA#1, Wellfield Package Hydrologic Test.

Uranerz Energy Corporation, 2014, Nichols Ranch ISR Project U.S.N.R.C Source Material SUA-1597 Jane Dough Amendment, April 2014, 28pp.

Uranerz Energy Corporation, 2019, Nichols Ranch ISR Project Mine Plan.

US Securities and Exchange Commission, 2018, Regulation S-K, Subpart 229.1300, Item 1300 Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations and Item 601 (b)(96) Technical Report Summary.

Visher, G.S., 1972, Physical characteristics of fluvial deposits, in Rigby, J. K., and Hamblin, W. K., eds., Recognition of ancient sedimentary environments: Soc. Econ. Paleontologists and Mineralogists Spec. Pub. 16, pp. 84-97.

Walton, W.C. 1989. Analytical Groundwater Modeling: Flow and Contaminant Migration. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI.

Whitehead, R.L., 1996, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, chap. I of Ground water atlas of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Atlas 730, 24 p. [Also available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/ha/ha730/ch_i/index.html.]

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Permit to Mine No. 778, 206_01_Appendix D6_Hydrology_Nichols Hank_Text

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Permit to Mine No. 778, 206_05_Appendix JD-D6_Hydrology Text_JaneDough_Text

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Permit to Mine No. 778, 206_01_Appendix D6_Hydrology_Nichols Hank_Text


28.0 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE

This report titled, "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project , Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA", with an effective date of December 31, 2021, was prepared and signed by: 

  (Signed & Sealed) Grant A. Malensek
   
Dated at Lakewood, CO Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.
February 22, 2022 Senior Principal Mining Engineer, SLR
Amended: February 8, 2023  
   
  (Signed & Sealed) Mark B. Mathisen
   
Dated at Lakewood, CO Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.
February 22, 2022 Principal Geologist, SLR
Amended: February 8, 2023  
   
  (Signed & Sealed) Jeremy Scott Collyard
   
Dated at Lakewood, CO Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP
February 22, 2022 Mining & Minerals Sector Lead, SLR
Amended: February 8, 2023  
   
  (Signed & Sealed) Jeffrey L. Woods
   
Dated at Sparks, NV Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP
February 22, 2022

Principal Consulting Metallurgist,

Amended: February 8, 2023 Woods Process Services
   
  (Signed & Sealed) Phillip E. Brown
   
Dated at Evergreen, CO Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G.
February 22, 2022

Principal Consulting Hydrogeologist,

Amended: February 8, 2023 Consultants in Hydrogeology




29.0 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON

29.1 Grant A. Malensek

I, Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng., as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021, prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am a Senior Principal Mining Engineer with SLR International Corporation, of Suite 100, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA  80401.

2. I am a graduate of the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 1987 with a B.Sc. degree in Geological Sciences and Colorado School of Mines, USA in 1997 with a M.Eng. degree in Geological Engineering.

3. I am registered as a Professional Engineer/Geoscientist in the Province of British Columbia (Reg.# 23905).  I have worked as a mining engineer for a total of 25 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Feasibility, Prefeasibility, and scoping studies

 Fatal flaw, due diligence, and Independent Engineer reviews for equity and project financings

 Financial and technical-economic modelling, analysis, budgeting, and forecasting

 Property and project valuations

 Capital cost estimates and reviews

 Mine strategy reviews

 Options analysis and project evaluations in connection with mergers and acquisitions

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Nichols Ranch Project on October 28, 2021.

6. I am responsible for Sections 1.2, 1.3.11, 1.3.13, 19, 21, 22, and 30, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections 1.2, 1.3.11, 1.3.13, 19, 21, 22, and 30 of the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 22nd day of February, 2022, and amended this 8th day of February, 2023,

(Signed & Sealed) Grant A. Malensek

Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.


29.2 Mark B. Mathisen

I, Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021 prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am a Principal Geologist with SLR International Corporation, of Suite 100, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA  80401.

2. I am a graduate of Colorado School of Mines in 1984 with a B.Sc. degree in Geophysical Engineering.

3. I am a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Wyoming (No. PG-2821), a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists (No. CPG-11648), and a Registered Member of SME (RM #04156896).  I have worked as a geologist for a total of 23 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Mineral Resource estimation and preparation of NI 43-101 Technical Reports.

 Director, Project Resources, with Denison Mines Corp., responsible for resource evaluation and reporting for uranium projects in the USA, Canada, Africa, and Mongolia.

 Project Geologist with Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., responsible for planning and direction of field activities and project development for an in situ leach uranium project in the USA.  Cost analysis software development.

 Design and direction of geophysical programs for US and international base metal and gold exploration joint venture programs.

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Nichols Ranch Project on October 28, 2021.

6. I am responsible for Sections 1.1.1.1, 1.1.2.1, 1.3.1 to 1.3.7, 2, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1 to 5.4, 5.6, 6 to 12, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25.1, and 26.1, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, Sections 1.1.1.1, 1.1.2.1, 1.3.1 to 1.3.7, 2, 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1 to 5.4, 5.6, 6 to 12, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25.1, and 26.1 of the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 22nd day of February 2022, and amended this 8th day of February, 2023,

(Signed & Sealed) Mark B. Mathisen

Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.


29.3 Jeremy Scott Collyard

I, Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP, as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021 prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am the United States Mining and Minerals Sector Lead and a Director Environmental Scientist with SLR International Corporation, of Suite 100, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA  80401.

2. I am a graduate of the University of Montana in 2022 with a B.S. degree in Forestry.

3. I am a registered Qualified Person with the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (MMSA) (QP No. 1544QP).  I have worked as an environmental scientist in the mining sector for a total of 18 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Previous involvement in the preparation of NI 43-101 reports.

 My past experience as an Associate - Senior Environmental Scientist, MWH Americas, Inc./Stantec responsible for environmental permitting and compliance in the mining and industrial sector.  Responsible for mine closure planning, cost estimating, and implementation.

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Nichols Ranch Project on October 28, 2021.

6. I am responsible for Sections 1.1.1.5, 1.3.12, 4.3, 4.6, 20, and 25.5, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, Sections 1.1.1.5, 1.3.12, 4.3, 4.6, 20, and 25.5 of the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 22nd day of February, 2022, and amended this 8th day of February, 2023,

(Signed & Sealed) Jeremy Scott Collyard

Jeremy Scott Collyard, PMP, MMSA QP


29.4 Jeffery L. Woods

I, Jeffery L. Woods, MMSA QP, as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021 prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am Principal Consulting Metallurgist with Woods Process Services, of 1112 Fuggles Drive, Sparks, NV 89441.

2. I am a graduate of Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., in 1988 with a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

3. I am a member in good standing of Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, membership #4018591.I have practiced my profession continuously for 34 years since graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Review and report as a consultant on numerous exploration, development, and production mining projects around the world for due diligence and regulatory requirements

 Metallurgical engineering, test work review and development, process operations and metallurgical process analyses, involving copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, uranium, and base metals located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile, Turkey, Cameroon, Peru, Argentina, and Colombia

 Senior Process Engineer for a number of mining-related companies

 Manager and Business Development for a small, privately owned metallurgical testing laboratory in Plano, Texas, USA

 Vice President Process Engineering for at a large copper mining company in Sonora, Mexico

 Global Director Metallurgy and Processing Engineering for a mid-tier international mining company

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Nichols Ranch Project on October 28, 2021, and the White Mesa Mill on November 11, 2011.

6. I am responsible for Section 1.1.1.3, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.2.4, 1.3.9, 1.3.10, 5.5, 13, 17, 18, 25.3, 25.4, 26.3, and 26.4, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.


10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections 1.1.1.3, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.3, 1.1.2.4, 1.3.9, 1.3.10, 5.5, 13, 17, 18, 25.3, 25.4, 26.3, and 26.4, in the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated 22nd day of February, 2022, and amended this 8th day of February, 2023,

(Signed & Sealed) Jeffrey L. Woods

Jeffery L. Woods, MMSA QP


29.5 Phillip E. Brown

I, Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G.., as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Nichols Ranch Project, Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021 prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am Principal Consulting Hydrogeologist with Consultants in Hydrogeology, of  26241 Wolverine Trail, Evergreen, Colorado 80439.

2. I am a graduate of Virginia Tech in 1972 with a B.S. Geology and M.S. in Civil Engineering.

3. I am registered as a Certified Professional Geologist Reg# CPG-6209 and as Professional Engineer/Geologist in the State of Alaska Reg#560.  I have worked as a mining hydrogeologist for a total of 45 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Review Consultant on the Jackpile Uranium Mine.

 Performed a hydrogeologic investigation for Power Tech's Centennial In-situ Uranium Project in Weld County, Colorado.

 Former Senior Hydrogeologist for Peabody Coal Company.

 Performed numerous hydrogeologic evaluations dewatering studies on mines throughout the Western United States and the World. Mines have included Nevada Copper's, Pumpkin Hollow Mine in Nevada, B2 Gold, Santa Pancha Mine, Nicaragua, New Market Gold's Cosmo Howley Gold Mine in the Northern Territory, Australia, Entrée Gold's Ann Mason Copper Project in Nevada, improved underground dewatering system at the Palmarejo Gold Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico, and numerous others.

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I am responsible for Section 1.1.1.2, 1.1.2.2, 1.3.8, 16, 25.2, and 26.2, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

6. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

7. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

8. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

9. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections 1.1.1.2, 1.1.2.2, 1.3.8, 16, 25.2, and 26.2 in the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated 22nd day of February, 2022, and amended this 8th day of February, 2023,

(Signed & Sealed) Phillip E. Brown

Phillip E. Brown, C.P.G., R.P.G.


30.0 APPENDIX 1


Table 30-1: Base Case Annual Cash Flow Model

Energy Fuels Inc. -Nichols Ranch Project



Table 30-2: Alternate Case Annual Cash Flow Model

Energy Fuels Inc. -Nichols Ranch Project






Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep
Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming,
USA


US SEC Subpart 1300 Regulation S-K Compliant Report

National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects

 

Prepared by the following Qualified Persons:

Dan Kapostasy, P.G, SME R.M

Douglas Beahm, PE, PG SME R.M.

Terence P. McNulty, PE, PHD

Effective Date:  December 31, 2021

Signature Date:  January 30, 2023 


SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

Date and Signature Page

Energy Fuels Personnel:

Dan Kapostasy, P.G, SME R.M

The Technical Report titled "Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA" has an amended signature date of January 30,2023. I am a co-author  of the report.

Dated this January 30, 2023

"Original signed and sealed"

/s/ Dan Kapostasy

Dan Kapostasy, P.G, SME R.M

Third Party Consultants:

Douglas L. Beahm:

The Technical Report titled "Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA" has an amended signature date of January 30,2023. I am a co-author  of the report.

Dated this January 30, 2023

"Original signed and sealed"

/s/ Douglas L. Beahm

Douglas L. Beahm, PE, PG, SME Registered Member

Dr. Terence P. McNulty:

The Technical Report titled "Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA" has an amended signature date of January 30,2023. I am a co-author of the report.

Dated this January 30, 2023

"Original signed and sealed"

/s/ Terence P. McNulty

Terence P. McNulty, D. Sc., P. E., SME Registered Member

 
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Contents

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
1.1 Project Overview 1
1.2 Project Description and Ownership 2
1.3 Development Status 4
1.4 Regulatory Status 4
1.5 Geology and Mineralization 4
1.6 Exploration and Drilling Status 5
1.7 Mineral Resources and Reserves 5
1.8 Capital and Operating Costs 6
1.9 Economic Analysis 8
1.10 Interpretations and Conclusions 8
1.11 Recommendations 9
1.12 Risks 9
   
2.0 INTRODUCTION 11
2.1 Introduction 11
2.2 Registrant of Filing 12
2.3 Terms of Reference 12
2.4 Sources of Information 12
2.5 Site Visit 13
2.6 Purpose of Report 13
2.7 Update of a Previously Filed Technical Report 13
2.8 Effective Date 13
2.9 List of Abbreviations 13
   
3.0 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS 15
   
4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION 16
4.1 Introduction 16
4.2 Land Tenure 16
4.3 Royalties 17
4.4 Permits 20
4.5 Surface Rights 21
4.6 Taxes 21
4.7 Encumbrances and Risks 21
   
5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY 22
5.1 Introduction 22
5.2 Physiography 22
5.2.1 Topography and Elevation 22
5.2.2 Vegetation 22
5.2.3 Climate 22
5.3 Access 23
5.4 Infrastructure 23
5.5 Personnel 23
   
6.0 HISTORY 24
6.1 Introduction 24
6.2 Ownership History 24

 

 
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6.3 Historical Resource Estimates 24
6.4 Historical Production 25
   
7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION 26
7.1 Regional Geology 26
7.2 Local and Property Geology 26
7.2.1 Quaternary Alluvium and Colluvium 26
7.2.2 Crooks Gap Conglomerate 26
7.2.3 Tertiary Battle Spring Formation 29
7.2.4 Tertiary Fort Union Formation 29
7.2.5 Cretaceous Cody Shale 29
7.2.6 Structural Geology 29
7.3 Hydrogeology 29
7.4 Geotechnical 30
   
8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES 31
8.1 Mineralization and Deposit Types 31
   
9.0 EXPLORATION 33
   
10.0 DRILLING 34
10.1 Drilling 34
10.1.1 Pre-1988 Drilling 34
10.1.2 Titan Drill Program 34
   
11.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSIS, AND SECURITY 37
11.1 Introduction 37
11.2 Gamma Logging 37
11.2.1 Disequilibrium 38
11.3 Core Sampling 38
11.3.1 Sample Preparation 38
11.3.2 Assaying and Analytical Procedure 38
11.3.3 Density Analyses 39
11.4 Opinion of Author 39
   
12.0 DATA VERIFICATION 40
12.1 Congo 40
12.2 Sheep Underground 40
12.3 Radiometric Equilibrium 41
12.4 Opinions of Author 43
   
13.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING 44
13.1 Historic Mineral Processing 44
13.2 Pre-Feasibility Metallurgical Studies 44
13.3 Column Leach Studies 45
13.4 Supplemental Laboratory Experiments 46
13.5 Current Metallurgical Background and Industry Practice: 47
13.6 Opinion of Author 48
   
14.0 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES 49
14.1 General Statement 49
14.2 Drill Hole Database 50
14.2.1 Congo Open Pit 50
14.2.2 Sheep Underground 52

 

 
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14.3 Statistical Analysis 54
14.3.1 Grade Capping 54
14.4 Resource Estimation Methods 56
14.4.1 Geologic Model 56
14.4.2 GT Contour Method 56
14.5 Past Production 93
14.5.1 Congo Open Pit Mine 93
14.5.2 Sheep Underground Mine 93
14.6 Classification 93
   
15.0 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE 95
15.1 General Statement 95
15.2 Congo Pit Conversion of Resources to Reserves 95
15.3 Sheep Underground Conversion of Resources to Reserves 95
15.4 Cut-off Grade 96
15.4.1 Mining and Mineral Processing Recovery Parameters and Sensitivity 96
   
16.0 MINING METHODS 98
16.1 Introduction 98
16.2 Mine Productivity and Scheduling 98
16.3 Congo Open Pit 98
16.4 Sheep Underground 115
   
17.0 RECOVERY METHODS 130
17.1 Introduction 130
17.2 Site Layout and Construction 132
   
18.0 INFRASTRUCTURE 138
18.1 Introduction 138
18.2 Rights of Way 138
18.3 Power and Utilities 138
18.4 Process Water 138
18.5 Site Access 138
18.6 Mine Support Facilities 138
18.7 Public Safety and Facility Maintenance 138
   
19.0 MARKET STUDIES 141
19.1 Uranium Market and Price 141
   
20.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND PLANS, NEGOTIATIONS, OR AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS 143
20.1 Introduction 143
20.1 Environmental Studies 143
20.2 Land Use 144
20.3 Cultural Resource Surveys 144
20.4 Meteorology and Air Monitoring 144
20.5 Geology 144
20.6 Hydrology 144
20.7 Soils and Vegetation 146
20.8 Wildlife 146
20.9 Radiology 146
20.10 Operating Plans 146
20.11 Permitting Requirements 146

 

 
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20.11.1 Fremont County 146
20.11.2 Wyoming Land Quality Division 146
20.11.3 Wyoming Air Quality Division 146
20.11.4 Wyoming Water Quality Division 146
20.11.5 Wyoming State Engineers Office 146
20.11.6 U.S. Bureau of Land Management 146
20.11.7 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Wyoming Agreement State) 146
20.11.8 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 147
20.12 Social and Community Relations 147
20.13 Closure and Reclamation Plans 147
20.13.1 Congo Pit and Sheep Underground 147
20.13.2 Heap Leach and Processing Plant 148
20.14 Opinion of Author 148
   
21.0 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS 149
21.1 Introduction 149
21.2 Cost Assumptions 149
21.3 Production Profile 150
21.4 Capital Costs 152
21.5 Operating Costs 152
21.6 Reclamation and Closure Costs 153
21.7 Additional Costs 153
21.8 Personnel 155
   
22.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 156
22.1 Sensitivity to Price 156
22.2 Sensitivity to Other Factors 157
22.3 Payback Period 157
22.4 Breakeven Price 157
22.5 Cash Flow 157
   
23.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES 160
   
24.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION 161
24.1 Ground Water Conditions 161
   
25.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS 162
   
26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 163
   
27.0 REFERENCES 164
   
28.0 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORS 166

 
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Tables

Table 1-1  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Inclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019 5
Table 1-2  Sheep Mountain Mineral Reserves - April 13, 2012 6
Table 1-3  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Exclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019 6
Table 1-4  Sheep Mountain Capital Costs 6
Table 1-5  Sheep Mountain Operating Costs 7
Table 1-6 Sheep Mountain Recommended Work Program 9
Table 2-1  List of Abbreviations 14
Table 4-1. List of Claims held by EFR 16
Table 5-1  Jeffrey City, Wyoming, Monthly Climate Summary1 22
Table 12-1 Comparison of 2009 Drilling to Historic Drilling 40
Table 12-2 Comparison of Radiometric Equilibrium based on Gamma and USAT Logging 42
Table 13-1  Summary of Column Leach Results 46
Table 14-1  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Inclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019 50
Table 14-2  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Exclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019 50
Table 14-3. Congo Pit Area General Statistics (Raw Data) 52
Table 14-4. Congo Pit Area General Statistics (Composited Data) 53
Table 14-5 Congo Pit Area Statistics by Mineralized Zone 53
Table 14-6  Sheep Underground Area General Statistics (1 of 2) 54
Table 14-7  Sheep Underground Area General Statistics (2 of 2) 54
Table 14-8  Sheep Underground Area Statistics by Mineralized Zone 54
Table 15-1  Sheep Mountain Mineral Reserves- April 13, 2012 95
Table 15-2  Breakeven Cut-off Grade 96
Table 16-1  Open Pit Mining Equipment List 115
Table 16-2  Underground Mining Equipment List 128
Table 21-1  Underground and Open pit Production Profile 151
Table 21-2  Sheep Mountain Capital Cost Summary 152
Table 21-3  Sheep Mountain Operating Costs** 154
Table 22-1  Sheep Mountain Internal Rate of Return and Net Present Value 156
Table 22-2  Pre-tax Sensitivity Summary 156
Table 22-3  Pre-tax Sensitivity Summary 157
Table 22-4  Cash Flow 158
Table 22-5  Cash Flow (Continued) 159
Table 26-1  Recommended Work Program 163

 

 
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Figures

Figure 1-1  Sheep Mountain Existing Conditions 3
Figure 4-1. Sheep Mountain Location Map 18
Figure 4-2. Sheep Mountain Land Tenure Map 19
Figure 7-1. Stratigraphy of the Crooks Gap Area (modified from Stephens, 1964) 27
Figure 7-2. Geologic Map of the Sheep Mountain Area 28
Figure 7-3. Geologic Cross-Section (See Figure 7-2 for Location) 29
Figure 8-1  Uranium Roll Front in Golden Goose Mine 31
Figure 8-2  Little Sheep Decline 32
Figure 10-1. Drill Hole Location Map 36
Figure 14-1. GT Histogram for Congo Pit (12,070 Samples) 52
Figure 14-2. GT Histogram for Sheep Underground (3,222 Samples) 55
Figure 14-3. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 94 58
Figure 14-4. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 89 59
Figure 14-5. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 86 60
Figure 14-6. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 83 61
Figure 14-7. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 79 62
Figure 14-8. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 75 63
Figure 14-9. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 72 64
Figure 14-10. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 67 65
Figure 14-11. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 66 66
Figure 14-12. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 63 67
Figure 14-13. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 59 68
Figure 14-14. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 54-56 69
Figure 14-15. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 52 70
Figure 14-16. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 48 71
Figure 14-17. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 4 72
Figure 14-18. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 41 73
Figure 14-19. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 41A 74
Figure 14-20. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 01 76
Figure 14-21. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 02U 77
Figure 14-22. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 02L 78
Figure 14-23. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 03 79
Figure 14-24. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 04 80
Figure 14-25. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 05 81
Figure 14-26. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 06 82
Figure 14-27. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 07 83
Figure 14-28. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 08 84
Figure 14-29. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 09 85
Figure 14-30. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 10 86
Figure 14-31. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 11 87
Figure 14-32. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 12 88
Figure 14-33. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 13 89
Figure 14-34.  Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 14 90

 

 
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Figure 14-35. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 15 91
Figure 14-36. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 16 92
Figure 16-2. McIntosh Pit Circa 2010 100
Figure 16-4. Congo Pit - Year 01 102
Figure 16-5. Congo Pit - Year 02 103
Figure 16-6. Congo Pit - Year 03 104
Figure 16-7.  Congo Pit - Year 04 105
Figure 16-8. Congo Pit - Year 05 106
Figure 16-9. Congo Pit - Year 06 107
Figure 16-10. Congo Pit - Year 07 108
Figure 16-11. Congo Pit - Year 08 109
Figure 16-12. Congo Pit - Year 09 110
Figure 16-13. Congo Pit - Year 10 111
Figure 16-14. Congo Pit - Year 11 112
Figure 16-15. Congo Pit - Year 12 113
Figure 16-16. Sheep Underground Overview Map 117
Figure 16-17. Sheep Underground - Year 01 118
Figure 16-18. Sheep Underground - Year 02 119
Figure 16-19. Sheep Underground - Year 03 120
Figure 16-20. Sheep Underground - Year 04 121
Figure 16-21. Sheep Underground - Year 05 122
Figure 16-22. Sheep Underground - Year 06 123
Figure 16-23. Sheep Underground - Year 07 124
Figure 16-24. Sheep Underground - Year 08 125
Figure 16-25. Sheep Underground - Year 09 126
Figure 16-26. Sheep Underground - Year 10 127
Figure 16-27. Sheep Underground - Year 11 128
Figure 17-1. Typical Heap Leach Schematic 131
Figure 17-2. Heap Leach Process Block Flow Diagram 132
Figure 17-3. Heap Leach Initial Site Layout 134
Figure 17-4. Heap Leach Year 08 Expansion 135
Figure 17-5. Heap Leach Reclamation Cover 136
Figure 17-6. Heap Leach Reclamation Cover Cross-Section (A-A') 137
Figure 18-1  Existing Infrastructure Map 140
Figure 19-1  TradeTech Uranium Market Price Projections- FAM1 (Nominal US$) 142
Figure 19-2  TradeTech Uranium Market Price Projections- FAM1 (Nominal US$) 142
Figure 21-1. Project Organizational Chart 155

 
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NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Technical Report has been prepared for Energy Fuels Inc. (Energy Fuels), the parent company of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR) by Dan Kapostasy, Douglas Beahm and Dr. Terry McNulty (collectively, the authors), on the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project), located in Fremont County, Wyoming, USA. and is based on a 2020 Canadian NI 43-101 compliant preliminary feasibility report by independent mining consultant Douglas Beahm, PE, Principal Engineer for BRS Engineering (BRS).

Mr. Kapostasy is the Director of Technical Services of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. ("EFR"), while Mr. Beahm is an independent consultant and Principal Engineer of BRS and Dr. McNulty is President of T.P. McNulty and Associates Inc. This report is a technical report summary and preliminary feasibility study that conforms to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-K subpart 1300 disclosure requirements and policies for mining properties (S-K 1300) and a technical report and preliminary feasibility study that meets the requirements of the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) Best Practice Guidelines for the Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves ("CIM Standards").

EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels, is incorporated in Ontario, Canada and is a wholly US-based uranium and vanadium mining company with projects located in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas and New Mexico. EFR acts as the operator to this project, including the White Mesa Mill in Blanding Utah, the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today with a licensed capacity of over eight million pounds of U3O8 per year. Energy Fuels is listed on the NYSE American Stock Exchange (symbol UUUU), and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol EFR).

In February 2012, EFR and Titan Uranium Inc. ("TUI") announced that a Certificate of Arrangement giving effect to the Plan of Arrangement between the two companies was entered into on February 29, 2012, whereby EFR acquired TUI, thereby making its subsidiary, Titan Uranium USA Inc. ("Titan) a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Fuels which is now named Energy Fuels Wyoming Inc.

1.1 Project Overview

The Sheep Mountain Project includes the Congo Pit, a proposed open pit development, and the re-opening of the existing Sheep Underground mine.  While several processing alternatives have been considered, the recommended uranium recovery utilizes the processing of mined materials via an on-site heap leach facility.  Figure 1.1 shows the overall project layout.

Permitting and licensing of the project is well advanced. A Plan of Operations ("POO") was approved by the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") on January 6, 2017, through issuance of a Record of Decision ("RoD") and supporting Final Environmental Impact Statement ("FEIS"). In addition, a Major Revision to Mine Permit 381C was approved by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Land Quality Division ("WDEQ/LQD") on July 8, 2015 and remains in good standing. Other major permits that have been approved include an Air Quality Permit that was approved by the WDEQ, Air Quality Division ("AQD") on July 6, 2015, and a Water Discharge Permit that was approved by WDEQ, Water Quality Division ("WQD") on October 5, 2015.

Mining methods include a combination of underground and open pit methods. Mined product from the underground and open pit mine operations will be commingled at the stockpile site located near the underground portal in close proximity to the pit.  At the stockpile the mine product will be sized, if needed, blended, and then conveyed via a covered overland conveyor system to the heap leach pad where it will be stacked on a double lined pad for leaching.  The primary lixiviant will be sulfuric acid. Concentrated leach solution will be collected by gravity in a triple-lined collection pond and then transferred to the mineral processing facility for extraction and drying.  The final product produced will be a uranium oxide, commonly referred to as "yellowcake."

The current open pit life of mine plan is 12 years, with an additional four years allotted for mine closure and reclamation.  Similarly, the underground life of mine is planned for 12 years including one year for development of the primary decline.  The heap leach facility is designed to accommodate the mined material from both open pit and underground mine operations over an operating life compatible with the open pit operations.  


SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

Estimated production rates vary from a low of 270,000 tons processed with approximately 640,000 pounds of uranium produced per year during the start of operations of the open pit and heap leach, to a high of 780,000 tons per year processed with approximately 2,000,000 pounds of uranium produced per year at peak production with both the open pit and underground mines in operation. On average the open pit is expected to produce 330,000 tons per year containing 760,000 pounds of uranium.  Similarly, the underground is expected to produce an average of 290,000 tons per year containing 770,000 pounds of uranium.  Average production from the heap leach and processing facility is estimated to be 1.4 million pounds of uranium recovered per year.

An economic analysis is presented in Section 22.0.

1.2 Project Description and Ownership

The Sheep Mountain Project is located in portions of Sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, and 33, Township 28 North, Range 92 West at approximate Latitude 42º 24' North and Longitude 107º 49' West, within the Wyoming Basin physiographic province in the Great Divide Basin at the northern edge of the Great Divide Basin.  The project is approximately eight miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming (see Figure 4-1. Sheep Mountain Location Map).

The mineral properties at the Sheep Mountain Project are comprised of 218 unpatented mining claims on land administered by the BLM, and approximately 640 acres within a State of Wyoming lease. The combination of the mineral holdings comprises approximately 5,055 acres.

In February 2012, EFR purchased 320 acres of private surface overlaying some of the federal minerals covered by 18 of the claims. The purchased parcel includes the SW¼ Section 28 and SE¼, E½ SW¼, and NW¼ SW¼ Section 29, T28N, R92W. A final payment of $5,000 was made in January 2016 for the purchased parcel. The combination of land holdings gives EFR mineral rights to resources as defined in the Congo Pit and the Sheep Underground areas. After the 2012 Technical Report, EFR increased the Sheep Mountain property size by 26 unpatented mining claims (approximately 520 acres) through the acquisition of Strathmore Resources (US) Ltd. ("Strathmore"). These contiguous claims form a larger buffer, with potential for additional uranium resources, along the west side of the Project.

To maintain these mineral rights, EFR must comply with the lease provisions, including annual payments with respect to the State of Wyoming leases; BLM and Fremont County, as well as Wyoming filing and/or annual payment requirements to maintain the validity of the unpatented mining lode claims as follows. Mining claims are subject to annual filing requirements and payment of a fee of $155 per claim. Unpatented mining claims expire annually but are subject to indefinite annual renewal by filing appropriate documents and paying the fees described above. ML 0-15536 will expire on January 1, 2024. Annual payments to maintain ML 0-15536 are $2,560 per year.

The original claims owned by Western Nuclear in the Sheep Mountain Project are subject to an overall sliding scale royalty of 1% to 4% due to Western Nuclear, based on the Nuclear Exchange Corporation Exchange ("NUEXCO") Value. Claims which were not included in the agreement are not subject to this royalty.  Under Wyoming State Lease ML 0-15536, there is a royalty of 5% of the quantity or gross realization value of the U3O8, based on the total arms-length consideration received for uranium products sold.

Uranium mining in Wyoming is subject to both a gross products (County) and mineral severance tax (State). At the Federal level, aggregate corporate profit from mining ventures is taxable at corporate income tax rates, i.e., individual mining projects are not assessed Federal income tax but rather the corporate entity is assessed as a whole. For mineral properties, depletion tax credits are available on a cost or percentage basis, whichever is greater. The percentage depletion tax credit for uranium is 22%, among the highest for mineral commodities (IRS Pub. 535).


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Figure 1-1  Sheep Mountain Existing Conditions


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1.3 Development Status

This preliminary feasibility study for the project includes the preliminary design and sequencing of the open pit and underground mine operations in addition to the heap leach mineral processing facility.  Designs and sequencing include pre-production, production, and decommissioning and reclamation phases. Capital and operating costs estimates ("CAPEX" and "OPEX") have been completed and are in 2021 U.S. dollars. 

Telephone, electric and natural gas service has been established to the proposed plant site.  In addition, electric service and a waterline have been extended via a Right of Way ("ROW") issued by the BLM in 2011 to the Sheep I and II shafts.  Water rights held are adequate for planned operations. Publicly maintained access roads exist to within one mile of the project and private access roads from past operations are established throughout the project area.

1.4 Regulatory Status

The Sheep Mountain Project includes the proposed Congo Open Pit, the re-opening of the existing Sheep Underground Mine and the proposed Heap Leach processing of the mined product to produce yellowcake. 

Permitting and licensing of the project is well advanced including:

1.5 Geology and Mineralization

Within the Sheep Mountain Project area, uranium mineralization is contained in the lower to middle Eocene Battle Spring Formation.  The Battle Spring Formation, consisting of upper and lower members (designated the "A" for the lower and "B" for the upper), is a fluvial deposit. Mineralization is hosted by the Battle Spring Formation and has been described extensively since the 1960s and has been termed a "Wyoming Roll Front System."  These deposits are often organic-rich, fine-grained lenses in tabular, or "roll front," configurations. The uranium mineralization occurs primarily in the lower member of the Battle Spring Formation (Stephens, 1964).


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1.6 Exploration and Drilling Status

While mineralization was originally discovered by aerial and ground radiometric surveys completed in the early 1950s, exploration since that time has been dominantly by drilling.  Drill data from approximately 4,000 drill holes were utilized in this study.  EFR has the original geophysical and lithologic logs for the majority of the drill holes.  This data was reviewed, reinterpreted and verified.  In addition, 159 new drill holes have been completed on the project since 2005 to confirm and extend known mineralization and to delineate areas for mine planning. 

Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates for the Sheep Mountain Project are based on radiometric data.  Disequilibrium conditions were evaluated during drilling programs in 2006 and 2009 including the testing of 223 discrete samples taken in 2006 and the testing of 45 mineralized intervals in 2009. As discussed in this report, available data indicates that variations in radiometric equilibrium are local in their effect, which impacts the mining grade control program but does not appreciably affect the overall Mineral Resources or Reserves.  Overall, a slight enrichment in uranium values with respect to radiometric equivalent values was noted.

1.7 Mineral Resources and Reserves

Based on the drill density, the apparent continuity of the mineralization along trends, geologic correlation and modeling of the deposit, a review of historic mining with respect to current resource projections, and verification drilling, the Mineral Resource estimate herein meets NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 criteria as an Indicated Mineral Resource. Detailed information relative to Mineral Resources is provided in Section 14.0 of this report.

A summary of total Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral reserves is provided in Table 1-1. A summary of the total Mineral Reserve estimate, fully exclusive and are not additive to the total Mineral Resources, is provided in Table 1.2. A summary of total Mineral Resources exclusive of Mineral reserves is provided in Table 1-3.

Table 1-1  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Inclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019

Classification Zone G.T.
Cut-off
Tons
(000s)
Grade %
eU
3O8
Pounds
eU
3O8 (000s)
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Indicated Sheep Underground 0.30 5,546 0.118% 13,034 91.9
Indicated Congo Pit Area 0.10 6,116 0.122% 14,903 91.9
Total Indicated   11,663 0.120% 27,935 91.9

Notes:

1: NI 43-101 and S-K 1300  definitions were followed for Mineral Resources

2: Mineral Resource are estimated at GT cut-off of 0.10 (2 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for open pit and 0.30 (6 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for underground

3: Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term Uranium price of US$65 per pound

4: Bulk density is 0.0625 tons/ft3 (16 ft3/ton)

5: Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability

6: Numbers may not add due to rounding

Mineral resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The following Mineral Reserves are fully exclusive and are not additive to the total Mineral Resources, Table 1-1. The Probable Mineral Reserves for the Sheep Mountain Project, including both open pit and underground projected mining areas, is that portion of the indicated mineral resource that is included in current mine designs and is considered economic under current costs and a forward-looking commodity price of $65 per pound of uranium oxide. The Mineral Reserve estimates presented herein have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 standards. A summary of the total Mineral Reserve estimate is provided in Table 1.2.

Detailed information relative to Probable Mineral Reserves is provided in Section 15.0 of this report.


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Table 1-2  Sheep Mountain Mineral Reserves - December 31, 2021

Classification Zone G.T.
Cut-off
Tons
(000s)
Grade %
eU
3O8
Pounds
eU
3O8 (000s)
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Probable Sheep Underground 0.45 3,498 0.132 9,248 91.9
Probable Congo Pit Area 0.10 3,955 0.115 9,117 91.9
Total Probable   7,453 0.123% 18,365 91.9

Notes:

1: NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 definitions were followed for Mineral Reserve

2: Mineral Reserves are estimated at GT cut-off of 0.10 (2 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for open pit and 0.45 (6 ft. of 0.075% eU3O8) for underground

3: Mineral Reserves are estimated using a long-term Uranium price of US$65 per pound

4: Bulk density is 0.0625 tons/ft3 (16 ft3/ton)

5: Numbers may not add due to rounding

A summary of total Mineral Resources exclusive of Mineral reserves is provided in Table 1-3.

Table 1-3  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Exclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019

Classification Zone G.T.
Cut-off
Tons
(000s)
Grade %
eU
3O8
Pounds
eU
3O8 (000s)
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Indicated Sheep Underground 0.30 2,048 0.09% 3,786 91.9
Indicated Congo Pit Area 0.10 2,161 0.13% 5,786 91.9
Total Indicated   4,210 0.11% 9,570 91.9

Notes:

1: NI 43-101 and S-K 1300  definitions were followed for Mineral Resources

2: Mineral Resource are estimated at GT cut-off of 0.10 (2 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for open pit and 0.30 (6 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for underground

3: Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term Uranium price of US$65 per pound

4: Bulk density is 0.0625 tons/ft3 (16 ft3/ton)

5: Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability

6: Numbers may not add due to rounding

1.8 Capital and Operating Costs

The plan for development of the Sheep Mountain Project is an open pit and underground conventional mine operation with on-site mineral processing featuring an acid heap leach and solvent extraction recovery facility. 

Estimated operating and capital costs are summarized in Tables 1-3 and 1-4 that follow.

Table 1-4  Sheep Mountain Capital Costs

Capital Expenditures: *

Contingency

Initial Capital*

Years 4-12

Life of Mine

Permitting (WDEQ)

-----

$3,000

$1,000

$4,000

Pre-Development Mine Design

-----

$1,200

---------

$1,200

OP Mine Equipment

15%

$21,141

$3,200

$24,341

UG Mine Equipment

15-30%

$51,504

$13,000

$64,504

Office, Shop, Dry, and support

15%

$3,234

-----

$3,234

Mineral Processing

25%

$32,086

$6,461

$38,546

TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

 

$112,165

$23,661

$135,826

COST PER POUND RECOVERED

 

 

 

$8.05

All costs in 2021 US dollars x 1,000

*Initial Capital includes year 0 to year 3. Does not include working capital and initial warehouse inventory.


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Table 1-5  Sheep Mountain Operating Costs

Operating Costs - OPEN PIT AND
UNDERGROUND MINING
  Open Pit and
UG (US$000s)
    Cost Per
Ton Mined
(US$)
    Cost Per lb
Mined (US$)
    Cost Per lb
Recovered
(US$)
 
Open Pit                        
Strip $ 80,331   $ 20.31   $ 8.81        
Mining $ 18,625   $ 4.71   $ 2.04        
Support $ 15,834   $ 4.00   $ 1.74        
Staff $ 23,485   $ 5.94   $ 2.58        
Contingency $ 11,062   $ 2.80   $ 1.21        
Total Surface Mine (3,955,000 tons, 9,117,000 lbs) $ 149,336   $ 37.76   $ 16.38        
Underground Mine                        
Production $ 169,217   $ 48.38   $ 18.30        
Development $ 53,166   $ 15.20   $ 5.75        
Support $ 44,913   $ 12.84   $ 4.86        
Staff $ 18,825   $ 5.38   $ 2.04        
Contingency $ 22,890   $ 6.54   $ 2.48        
Total Underground Mine
(3,498,000 tons, 9,248,000 lbs)
$ 309,011   $ 88.35   $ 33.42        
Blended Mining Costs*
(7,435,000 tons, 18,365,000 lbs)
$ 458,347   $ 61.50   $ 24.96   $ 27.16  
Reclamation and Closure                        
Wyoming Agreement State Annual Inspection Fees $ 1,800   $ 0.24   $ 0.10        
Final Grading and Revegetation $ 2,180   $ 0.29   $ 0.12        
Plant Decommissioning and Reclamation $ 11,166   $ 1.50   $ 0.61        
Total Reclamation and Closure $ 15,146   $ 2.03   $ 0.83   $ 0.91  
Heap Leach                        
Cost per ton $ 143,585   $ 19.27   $ 7.82        
Total Heap Leach $ 143,585   $ 19.27   $ 7.82   $ 8.51  
Reclamation Bond Mine and Heap $ 6,120   $ 0.82   $ 0.33   $ 0.36  
Taxes & Royalties                        
  Gross Products tax per/lb $ 39,702   $ 5.33   $ 2.16        
  Severance Tax per/lb $ 21,965   $ 2.95   $ 1.20        
  State lease (pit) $ 26,966   $ 3.62   $ 1.47        
  Claim royalties (UG) $ 21,640   $ 2.90   $ 1.18        
Total Taxes and Royalties $ 110,273   $ 14.80   $ 6.00   $ 6.53  
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS $ 733,471   $ 98.42   $ 39.94   $ 43.47  
                         

*Blended mine cost represents the weighted average of open pit and underground mines and include open pit backfill.

Open pit and underground mine costs, itemized separately above, are not additive but are included in the blended mine costs.

**All costs 2021 US dollars x 1,000


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1.9 Economic Analysis

The financial evaluation assumes constant U.S. dollars (2021) and an average sales price of US$65.00 per pound of uranium oxide.  All costs are forward looking and do not include any previous project expenditures or sunk costs.  Table 1-5 provides the Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") for the and the calculated Net Present Value ("NPV") at a range of discount rates before and after federal income tax (US$ x 1,000).

Table 1-6  Sheep Mountain Internal Rate of Return and Net Present Value ($000)

 

Before Federal
Income Tax

After Federal
Income Tax

IRR

28%

26%

NPV 5%

$141,749

$120,725

NPV 7%

$116,412

$98,492

NPV 10%

$85,627

$71,381

1.10 Interpretations and Conclusions

The planned development of the Sheep Mountain Project is as an open pit and underground mine operation with an acid heap leach and solvent extraction recovery facility. The open pit and underground mine operations would be concurrent with a mine life of approximately 12 years. 

The Sheep Mountain Project is profitable under the base case scenario and US$65 per pound selling price; the project is estimated to generate an IRR of 28% before taxes and has an NPV of approximately US$141.7 million at a 7% discount rate. The breakeven price of $51.00 per pound of uranium oxide for the project is based on the foregoing assumptions and preliminary mine limits. The technical risks related to the project are low as the mining and recovery methods are proven. The mining methods recommended have been employed successfully at the Project in the past.  Successful uranium recovery from the mineralized material at Sheep Mountain and similar project such as the Gas Hills has been demonstrated via both conventional milling and heap leach recovery.

Risks are discussed below in Section 1.12.


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1.11 Recommendations

As the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is sensitive to mining factors including resource recovery, dilution, and grade, and mineral processing factors related to the performance of the heap leach, it is recommended that a bulk sampling program and pilot scale heap leach testing be completed. Mineralization is shallow (less than 40 feet) in the northern portions of the Congo pit. A small test mine could be developed under the existing WDEQ Mine Permit and BLM Plan of Operations. This would allow access to examine and test the mineralization with respect to mining parameters and to collect a bulk sample for pilot scale heap leach testing. It is recommended that a bulk sample of approximately 2,000 tons be collected and transported to Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. White Mesa Mill. At the Mill and under the Mill's Source Materials License, the mineralized material could be stacked at various heights in the range of 15 to 30 feet. The test plots would be lined and could be cribbed on two sides with an open face stacked at the angle of repose. Using 20 x 20-foot pads, four pilot tests could be completed. The testing would determine the geotechnical behavior of the material with respect to consolidation, slope stability, and the leaching characteristics with respect to acid consumption and mineral recovery.  Flow and/or percolation rates retained moisture and other characteristics at various stacking heights could also be determined.

Table 1-6 summarizes the recommended work program to further develop the Project.

Table 1-6 Sheep Mountain Recommended Work Program

Scope of Work

Est. Cost US$

Test mine approximately ½ acre, 40,000 cy excavation at $150/cy

$60,000

Testing the mineralization and collection of a bulk sample

$40,000

Transportation of 2,000 tons, 500 miles at $0.17/ton mile

$170,000

Heap pilot testing

$200,000

Reclamation of test pit

$60,000

Revise Preliminary Feasibility Study

$100,000

Total

$630,000

1.12 Risks

The technical risks related to the project are low as the mining and recovery methods are proven. The mining methods recommended have been employed successfully at the project in the past.  Successful uranium recovery from the mineralized material at Sheep Mountain and similar project such as the Gas Hills has been demonstrated via both conventional milling and heap leach recovery.

Risks related to permitting and licensing the project are also low as the WDEQ Mine Permit and BLM Plan of Operations have been approved. The only major remaining permit needed for operations is the Source Materials License which would be issued through the WDEQ as Wyoming is an agreement state with the NRC.

The authors are not aware of any other specific risks or uncertainties that might significantly affect the Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates or the consequent economic analysis.  Estimation of costs and uranium price for the purposes of the economic analysis over the life of mine is by its nature forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.

Readers are cautioned that it would be unreasonable to rely on any such forward-looking statements and information as creating any legal rights, and that the statements and information are not guarantees and may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and that actual results are likely to differ (and may differ materially) and objectives and strategies may differ or change from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements or information as a result of various factors. Such risks and uncertainties include risks generally encountered in the exploration, development, operation, and closure of mineral properties and processing facilities. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:


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  • risks associated with mineral reserve and resource estimates, including the risk of errors in assumptions or methodologies;

  • risks associated with estimating mineral extraction and recovery, forecasting future price levels necessary to support mineral extraction and recovery, and EFR's ability to increase mineral extraction and recovery in response to any increases in commodity prices or other market conditions;

  • uncertainties and liabilities inherent to conventional mineral extraction and recovery;

  • geological, technical and processing problems, including unanticipated metallurgical difficulties, less than expected recoveries, ground control problems, process upsets, and equipment malfunctions;

  • risks associated with labor costs, labor disturbances, and unavailability of skilled labor;

  • risks associated with the availability and/or fluctuations in the costs of raw materials and consumables used in the production processes;

  • risks associated with environmental compliance and permitting, including those created by changes in environmental legislation and regulation, and delays in obtaining permits and licenses that could impact expected mineral extraction and recovery levels and costs;

  • actions taken by regulatory authorities with respect to mineral extraction and recovery activities;

  • mineral tenure consists primarily of unpatented mining lode claims based on US laws dating to the Mining Act of 1872 and a change in the Act could affect the mineral tenure; and

  • risks associated with the EFR's dependence on third parties in the provision of transportation and other critical services.


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2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 Introduction

This Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS has been prepared by the authors for Energy Fuels on the Sheep Mountain underground and open pit project (the Project), located in Fremont County, Wyoming, USA to satisfy the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure requirements under S-K 1300 and policies for mining properties and the requirements of NI 43-101.  This report supersedes the previous NI 43-101 report, "Updated Preliminary Feasibility Study, National Instrument 43-101, Technical Report, Amended and Restated" by Douglas L. Beahm of BRS  and dated February 28, 2020.

The Sheep Mountain Project is located eight miles south of the Jeffrey City, Wyoming in portions of Sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, and 33, Township 28 North, Range 92 West at approximate Latitude 42º 24' North and Longitude 107º 49' West, within the Wyoming Basin physiographic province in the Great Divide Basin at the northern edge of the Great Divide Basin.  The mineral properties at the Sheep Mountain Project are comprised of 218 unpatented mining claims on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and approximately 640 acres within a State of Wyoming lease. The combination of the mineral holdings comprises approximately 5,055 acres.

Uranium was first discovered in the Crooks Gap district, which includes the Sheep Mountain area, in 1953 (Bendix, 1982). While the original discoveries were aided by aerial and ground radiometric surveys, exploration activities were primarily related to drilling and exploratory trenching. Three companies dominated the district by the mid-1950s: Western Nuclear Corporation (WNC), Phelps Dodge (PD) and Continental Uranium Corporation (CUC).  WNC built the Split Rock Mill at Jeffrey City in 1957 and initiated production from the Paydirt pit in 1961, Golden Goose 1 in 1966 and Golden Goose 2 in 1970.  PD was the principal shareholder and operator of the Green Mountain Uranium Corporation's Ravine Mine which began production in 1956.  CUC developed the Seismic Pit in 1956, the Seismic Mine in 1957, the Reserve Mine in 1961 and the Congo Decline in 1968.  In 1967 CUC acquired the PD properties and in 1972 WNC acquired all of CUC's Crooks Gap holdings. During the mid-1970s PD acquired an interest in WNC which began work on Sheep Mountain I in 1974, the McIntosh Pit in 1975, and Sheep Mountain II in 1976. WNC ceased production from the area in 1982.

Subsequent to closure of the Sheep Mountain I by WNC, during April to September 1987, Pathfinder Mines Corp. ("PMC") mined a reported 12,959 tons, containing 39,898 pounds of uranium at an average grade of 0.154% U3O8 from Sheep Mountain I, (PMC, 1987).  U.S. Energy-Crested Corp. ("USECC") acquired the properties from WNC in 1988 and during May to October 1988 USECC mined 23,000 tons from Sheep Mountain I, recovering 100,000 lbs. of uranium for a mill head grade of 0.216% U3O8 (WGM, 1999). The material was treated at PMC's Shirley Basin mill, 130 miles east of the mine. 

In December 2004, Uranium Power Corp. ("UPC") (then known as Bell Coast Capital) entered into a Purchase and Sales Agreement with USECC to acquire a 50% interest in the Sheep Mountain property.  The acquisition was completed in late 2007 with aggregate payments to USECC of $7.05 million and the issuance of four million common shares to USECC.  USECC sold all of its uranium assets, including its 50% interest in Sheep Mountain, to Uranium 1 (U1) in April 2007. Titan Uranium Inc. (Titan) acquired a 50% interest in the property when it acquired Uranium Power Corp (UPC) by a Plan of Arrangement in July 2009. The ownership was subsequently transferred to Titan wholly-owned subsidiary, Titan. The remaining 50% interest was purchased from U1 on October 1, 2009. Subsequently Energy Fuels Inc. and Titan announced that a Certificate of Arrangement giving effect to the Plan of Arrangement between Energy Fuels was issued on February 29, 2012, making, Titan a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Fuels which is now named Energy Fuels Wyoming Inc.

Historic reports by Pathfinder Mines, Western Nuclear, and others show that properties within the current Sheep Mountain project boundary were operated as underground and open pit mines at various times in the 1970s and 1980s.  There were 5,063,813 tons of material mined and milled, yielding 17,385,116 pounds of uranium at an average grade of 0.17% U3O8. Mining was suspended in 1988.


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2.2 Registrant of Filing

This PFS report was prepared for Energy Fuels which is incorporated in Ontario, Canada. Energy Fuel's subsidiary, Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., is a US-based uranium and vanadium exploration and mine development company with projects located in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico. Energy Fuels is listed on the NYSE American Stock Exchange (symbol: UUUU) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: EFR).

2.3 Terms of Reference

This work is based on an updated preliminary feasibility study conforming to Canadian NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects completed by BRS  on the Sheep Mountain Project in February, 2020 and is available on the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) filing system ("SEDAR", https://www.sedar.com/homepage_en.htm).

As the project continues on care and maintenance since the effective date of BRS's 2020 updated preliminary feasibility study, there has been no material change in the project.

The purpose of this report is to declare Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, and to constitute the inaugural S-K 1300 compliant technical report summary for the Project.

2.4 Sources of Information

This Technical Report is based on an original independent Technical Report conforming to Canadian NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects completed by BRS  on the project in 2020.

EFR QP's and the sections they are responsible for are:

Dan Kapostasy (P.G), Director of Technical Services:  Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19 20 and relevant portions of Sections 1 and 2.  Mr. Kapostasy is a registered Professional Geologist in the States of Wyoming and Utah and is a Registered Member of SME with 16 years of experience in the Uranium mining industry with Strathmore Resources and EFR.  Mr. Kapostasy last visited the project on April 8, 2014.  Since that time, no material changes have taken place at the Sheep Mountain Property.

Third Party QP's are:

Douglas L. Beahm, PE, PG and SME Registered Member. Mr. Beahm is independent of EFR and has no financial interest in the project. Mr. Beahm is experienced with uranium exploration, development, and mining including past employment with Homestake Mining Company, Union Carbide Mining and Metals Division, AGIP Mining USA and as a consultant.  Mr. Beahm's professional experience dates to 1974.  Mr. Beahm has worked previously on the project and was at the site 9 days in 2009, 23 days in 2010, and 19 days in 2011 assisting in the planning and execution of the drilling programs in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Mr. Beahm has been on site periodically since 2011. Mr. Beahm is responsible for Sections 3, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27and relevant portions of Sections 1, 2, and 21, specifically the mining capital and operating costs.

Terrence P. McNulty, P.E., D.Sc.: Dr. McNulty is a Professional Engineer and Registered Member of the US Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Inc. (SME Inc.). Dr. McNulty's experience in uranium dates to the 1960s when Dr. McNulty was involved in laboratory testing and process development for uranium resources being evaluated at Anaconda's exploration department, as well as providing technical services to the uranium operations. Dr. McNulty assisted in the planning and execution of the column leach testing and other metallurgical program for the project circa 2010 through 2012. Dr. McNulty is familiar with the extractive metallurgy of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits and is professionally qualified to address the requirements related to Section 17 of this report.  Mr. McNulty is responsible for Sections 13, 17, and relevant portions of Section 21, specifically the mineral processing and heap leach facility capital and operating costs..


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The documentation reviewed and other sources of information utilized in this report are listed in Section 27.0 (References).

Sources of information and data contained in this technical report or used in its preparation are from publicly available sources in addition to private information owned by EFR, including that of past property owners.

2.5 Site Visit

Mr. Kapostasy last visited the project site on April 8, 2014 while Mr. Beahm visited it on the 16th of September of 2021 and Dr. McNulty last visited the site in August of 2010.

2.6 Purpose of Report

The authors have prepared this study on the Sheep Mountain project in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 requirements for preliminary feasibility studies. 

2.7 Update of a Previously Filed Technical Report

This SEC compliant report is not an update of a previous technical report summary on the property, as it is the first S-K 1300 compliant technical report summary with respect to the Project.

2.8 Effective Date

The amended signature  date of this report is January 30, 2023. The effective date of the mineral resource estimate is April 9, 2019. The effective date of the mineral reserve and cost estimate is December 31, 2021.

2.9 List of Abbreviations

Units of measurement used in this report conform to the metric system. All currency in this report is US dollars (US$) unless otherwise noted.

Table 2-1 shows the abbreviations used in this report.


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Table 2-1  List of Abbreviations


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3.0 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS

3.1 Reliance Upon Information Provided by the Registrant

The Authors have relied upon Energy Fuels through Mr. Curtis Moore, Energy Fuel's V.P. Marketing and Corporate Development for uranium pricing in Section 19.0 (Market Studies and Contracts) to the extent such information constitutes macroeconomic trends, data and assumptions. In this role Mr. Moore is in regular contact with uranium trade associations and utilities and has a detailed understanding of uranium markets in general. Mr. Kapostasy has reviewed Mr. Moore's recommendations for commodity pricing and is of the opinion that it is reasonable for the purposes of this report.


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4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

4.1 Introduction

The Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is located in portions of Sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, and 33, Township 28 North, Range 92 West at approximate Latitude 42º 24' North and Longitude 107º 49' West, approximately, eight miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming. (Figure 4-1).  The Project is located the Wyoming Basin physiographic province in the Great Divide Basin at the northern edge of the Great Divide Basin.

4.2 Land Tenure

Figure 4-2 represents the approximate location of unpatented mining lode claims and the state lease held by EFR.  The mineral properties at the Sheep Mountain Project comprise approximately 5,195 acres consisting of:

  • 218 unpatented mining claims on land administered by the BLM comprising, including:
    • 179 unpatented mining claims acquired through the acquisition of Titan.
    • 13 unpatented mining claims located by EFR.
    • 26 unpatented mining claims acquired through the acquisition of Strathmore Resources: and
  • An approximately 640 acre of State of Wyoming lease ML 0-15536.

Table 4-1. List of Claims held by EFR

Claim Block

Claim Numbers

No. of
Claims

PLSS Location

Royalty (Y/N)

Christie

4E

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 27

Y

Cindy

1D

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 29

Y

Golden Goose

1D, 2, 3C, 4D

4

T28N R92W; Sec. 21

Y

Highland

4D, 5D, 6D, 7D

4

T28N R92W; Sec. 21, 22

Y

Key

1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5C, 6D, 7D, 8D

8

T28N R92W; Sec. 21, 22, 27,28

Y

Louise

1D

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 21

Y

Mike

A

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 21

Y

NH

1D ,2D, 3D, 4D

4

T28N R92W; Sec. 21, 22

Y

Paydirt

6, 7, 12D, 13C

4

T28N R92W; Sec. 21

Y

Poorboy

1D (amended)

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 21, 22

Y

Snoball

1D-4D, 5C, 6C (amended), 7D, 8C (amended)

8

T28N R92W; Sec. 28, 29

Y

Sun

3C, 4C, 5D

3

T28N R92W; Sec. 28

Y

Sundog

2D, 17C-22C

7

T28N R92W; Sec. 21, 28

Y

Susan James

4D

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 28

Y

Trey

1D, 2D

2

T28N R92W; Sec. 28, 29

Y

Trey Jr.

1D

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 29

Y

Zeb

1C, 2C-4C, 5D, 6D

6

T28N R92W; Sec.28

Y

Carrie

1-6

6

T28N R92W; Sec. 29, 32

N

Jamie

1-46

46

T28N R92W; Sec. 21, 22, 27, 28,

N

New Sheep

1, 2

2

T28N R92W; Sec. 28

N

Last Chance

1D

1

T28N R92W; Sec. 22

N

JK

3, 9, 15, 18

4

T28N R92W; Sec. 8, 9

N

Frankie

1, 2, 3

3

T28N R92W; Sec. 8, 29

N

SM

1-8, 8A, 9-28

29

T28N R92W; Sec. 20, 21, 29

N

Bev

1-33, 33A, 34, 34A, 35-42

44

T28N R92W; Sec. 8, 9

N

SMN

1-20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32

26

T28N R92W; Sec. 17, 20

N

Total w/ Royalty

 

57

   

Total w/o Royalty

 

161

   

Grand Total

 

218

   


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In February 2012, EFR purchased 320 acres of private surface overlaying some of the federal minerals covered by 18 of the claims. The purchased parcel includes the SW¼ Section 28 and SE¼, E½ SW¼, and NW¼ SW¼ Section 29, T28N, R92W. A final payment of $5,000 was made in January 2016 for the purchased parcel.

A mineral title opinion was completed for the project on behalf of Titan prior to the acquisition by EFR and is the basis of the information summarized herein up to that time (Harris & Thompson, 2011). No material changes have occurred since that time.

To maintain these mineral rights, EFR must comply with the lease provisions, including annual payments with respect to the State of Wyoming leases; private leases; BLM and Fremont County, as well as Wyoming filing and/or annual payment requirements to maintain the validity of the unpatented mining lode claims as follows. Mining claims are subject to annual filing requirements and payment of a fee of $165 per claim. Unpatented mining claims expire annually but are subject to indefinite annual renewal by filing appropriate documents and paying the fees described above. ML 0-15536 will expire on 1/1/2024. Annual Payments to maintain ML 0-15536 are $2,560 per year.

4.3 Royalties

The Sheep Mountain Project is subject to an overall sliding scale royalty of 1% to 4% due to Western Nuclear, based on the NUEXCO value.  The Western Nuclear claims included additional royalties to private parties.  These royalties vary from $0.50 per pound to 5% Gross Royalty depending on the claim.  The total burden could reach 9%.  These additional royalties are summarized in Appendix F of RPA, 2006.  Claims which were not included in the agreement are not subject to this royalty.  Federal mineral claims subject to the Western Nuclear royalty are located in sections 21, 22, 26, 28, and 29, T28N R92W.

Under Wyoming State Lease ML 0-15536 (Sec. 16, T28N R92W), there is a royalty of 4% of the quantity or gross realization value of the U3O8, based on the total arms-length consideration received for uranium products sold.

Approximately 90% of the Congo pit mineable resource is located under the Wyoming State lease and 10% is located under the federal claims.  The remainder of the mineral resource, Sheep Underground, is located under the federal claims.

Land purchased from Ellen Fox on February 12, 2012, carries a 4% production royalty for any uranium from the property, based on the price for which the products are sold. However, no Mineral Resources are known to exist on this property.


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Figure 4-1. Sheep Mountain Location Map


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Figure 4-2. Sheep Mountain Land Tenure Map


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4.4 Permits

In June 2010, baseline environmental studies commenced to support an application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a Source Material and By-product Material License (the "License") for operation of a heap leach facility. Work was also initiated on a revision to the existing Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) Mine Permit, as well as a Plan of Operation (PO) for the BLM. Baseline studies included wildlife and vegetation surveys, air quality and meteorological monitoring, ground and surface water monitoring, radiological monitoring, and cultural resource surveys.

Submission of the PO to the BLM was made in June 2011. The PO was accepted as complete by the BLM, and an environmental impact statement (EIS) was initiated in August 2011. EFR revised the PO in July 2012, consistent with the modified plan presented in the Sheep Mountain Technical Report. In July 2013, the PO was again revised to reflect a new waste rock disposal layout for the open pit mine and an improved and more economical heap leach and processing facility. The revised PO also included the option of transporting mineralized material off-site for processing. The Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) was completed in August of 2016. On January 6, 2017, the BLM issued its Record of Decision (RoD) and approved the PO.

In October 2011, a draft revision was submitted to the existing Mine Permit 381C to WDEQ. WDEQ then provided review comments as part of its "courtesy review." The proposed permit amendment was revised and resubmitted in January 2014. In July 2015, the revision was approved by WDEQ. The revision includes expansion of surface and underground mining operations and an updated reclamation plan consistent with current reclamation practices.

Development of an application to the NRC for a license to construct and operate the uranium recovery facility was taken to an advanced stage of preparation. This license would allow EFR to process the mineralized material into yellowcake at the Sheep Mountain Project site. The draft application to NRC for a Source Material License was reviewed in detail by the NRC in October 2011. The NRC audit report identified areas where additional information should be provided. During September 2018, the State of Wyoming became an NRC Agreement State for licensing of uranium milling activities, including heap leach facilities. Previous data, designs, and related applications prepared for NRC will now be referred to and reviewed by the State of Wyoming WDEQ as an Agreement State with the NRC with respect to Source Materials licensing. The review and approval process for the license by the State of Wyoming is anticipated to take approximately three to four years from the date submitted. Submittal of the license application to the State of Wyoming is on hold pending the Company's evaluation of off-site processing options for this project, and whether or not to proceed with an on-site uranium recovery facility, pending improvements in uranium market conditions.

The heap leach facility has been permitted through the BLM, yet still requires Source Material and Byproduct Material licensing through the State of Wyoming. The permitted capacity is 4 million tons of mineralized material which is 53% of the estimated Mineral Reserves. An expansion to the heap leach facility (including permitting) will be required in the future to process the remaining 47% of the estimated Mineral Reserves. Costs for the permitting, construction, and closure of the heap expansion are accounted for in the PFS. Mining could commence at this time under the existing PO and Mine Permit, but the mined material would need to be processed at a licensed off-site processing facility under a toll-milling or other arrangement.  Costs to permit the expansion of the heap leach facility are accounted for in the first two years of the project's cash flow.

EFR is subject to liabilities for existing mine disturbances at the Sheep Mountain Project. The Company maintains a reclamation bond with the State of Wyoming in the total amount of US$950,000 as security for these liabilities. The company files annual reports with the State of Wyoming, and the amount of the bonds may be adjusted annually to endure sufficient surety is in place to cover the full cost of reclamation.


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4.5 Surface Rights

EFR has federal surface rights to approximately 127 unpatented mining claims (2,624 acres). The remainder surface rights are split estate with state and private surface ownership.

EFR owns the surface of following described lands acquired under a transaction with Ellen Fox on February 22, 2012 (ref. examination of the described documents):

Township 28 North, Range 92 West, 6th P.M.:

Section 28: SW¼SW¼

Section 29: SE¼, E½SW¼, NW¼SW¼

This parcel was originally purchased by Titan for a processing facility and shop. 

Under the terms of the State Lease, ML 0-15536, the lessee is given the exclusive right and privilege to prospect, mine, extract, and remove any deposits, together with the right to construct and maintain all works, buildings, plants, waterways, roads, communication lines, power lines, tipples, hoists, or other structures and appurtenances necessary for the full enjoyment thereof.  A detailed description of the allowable workings is included in the state Lease, including both underground and surface extraction (see examination of the State Lease).

No other surface rights are needed for the planned operations.  EFR is not aware of any other specific risks affecting the mineral title for the property.

4.6 Taxes

Uranium mining in Wyoming is subject to both a gross products (county) and mineral severance tax (state). At the federal level: aggregate corporate profit from mining ventures is taxable at corporate income tax rates, i.e., individual mining projects are not assessed federal income tax but rather the corporate entity is assessed as a whole.  For mineral properties: depletion tax credits are available on a cost or percentage basis whichever is greater. The percentage depletion tax credit for uranium is 22%, among the highest for mineral commodities (IRS Pub. 535).

4.7 Encumbrances and Risks

To the authors knowledge there are no other significant factors or risks that may affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform work on the property, if the aforementioned requirements, payments, and notifications are met.


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5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

5.1 Introduction

The Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is located at approximate Latitude 42º 24' North and Longitude 107º 49' West, within the Wyoming Basin physiographic province at the northern edge of the Great Divide Basin.  The Project is approximately 8 miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming the nearest population center.  The nearest commercial airport is located in Riverton, Wyoming approximately 56 miles from Jeffrey City on a paved, two-lane, state highway.  The Project is accessible via 2-wheel drive on existing county and two-track roads, as follows: Proceed south from Jeffrey City on the Crooks Gap/Wamsutter Road, County Road 23, towards Crooks Gap, approximately 7.2 miles; then proceed easterly on EFR's private road approximately 1 mile to the site.

5.2 Physiography

5.2.1 Topography and Elevation

The topography consists of rounded hills with moderate to steep slopes. Elevations range from 6,600 feet to 8,000 feet above sea level. The ground is sparsely vegetated with sage and grasses and occasional small to medium sized pine trees at higher elevations. Year-round operations are contemplated for the Project.

5.2.2 Vegetation

The ground at the Project is sparsely vegetated with sage and grasses and occasional small to medium sized pine trees at higher elevations.

5.2.3 Climate

The Project falls within the inter-mountain semi-desert weather province, with average maximum temperatures ranging from 31.1 °F (January and December) to 84.9 °F (July), average minimum temperatures ranging from 9.1 °F (January) to 49.2 °F (July), and average total monthly precipitation ranging from 0.36 inches (January) to 2.04 inches (May).

Historic climate records were available through a National Weather Service cooperative station until 2005. The Project falls within the intermountain semi-desert weather province.  Table 5-1 is a summary of the climatic conditions.

Table 5-1  Jeffrey City, Wyoming, Monthly Climate Summary1

 

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Annual

Avg. Max Temp. (F)

31.1

34.0

43.5

54.7

64.5

75.1

84.9

82.8

71.8

59.4

40.1

31.1

56.1

Avg. Min Temp. (F)

9.1

10.3

18.5

26.4

34.8

42.5

49.2

48.1

38.2

28.7

16.6

9.5

27.7

Avg. Total Precip. (in)

0.36

0.42

0.79

1.28

2.04

1.07

0.89

0.64

0.78

0.83

0.62

0.40

10.12

Avg. Total Snowfall (in)

5.1

6.6

8.3

9.7

4.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

1.1

5.4

9.7

6.2

56.5

Avg. Snow Depth (in)

2

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

1

Notes: 1Period of Record: April 10, 1964, to December 31, 2005

Past mining and mineral processing operations at the site and within the general area were conducted on a year-round basis.  Current planning includes year-round operations.


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5.3 Access

The project is located approximately 8 miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming the nearest population center.  The nearest commercial airport is located in Riverton, Wyoming approximately 56 miles from Jeffrey City on a paved, two-lane, state highway.  The project is accessible via 2-wheel drive on existing county and two-track roads, as follows: Proceed south from Jeffrey City on the Crooks Gap/Wamsutter Road, County Road 23, towards Crooks Gap, approximately 7.2 miles; then proceed easterly on EFR's private road approximately 1 mile to the site.

5.4 Infrastructure

Telephone, electric and natural gas service adequate for planned mine and mineral processing operations has been established to the proposed plant site.  In addition, electric service and a waterline have been extended via a ROW issued by the BLM in 2011 to both the Sheep I and II shafts.  Adequate water rights are held by EFR for planned mining and mineral processing operations but need to be updated with the Wyoming State Engineer with respect to type of industrial use, points of diversion, and points of use. 

All planned mining, mineral processing, and related activities are located within the existing Mine Permit 381C. These lands are adequate for all planned mining operations including the disposal of mine wastes, but not heap leaching.  The heap leach facility, including a triple lined pad, has adequate capacity to process 53% of the Mineral Resource with the remaining capacity planned to be permitted in the first two years of project development.  The mineral processing waste or tailings will be decommissioned and reclaimed in place.  EFR owns the land surface where the heap leach and ultimate disposal tailings will occur. As for the operational phases of the project, the mineral processing facility has been designed to accommodate the volume of waste and/or tailings generated by the operation over the planned mine life.

Personnel requirements for the planned operation are addressed in Section 21 of this report.  The majority of the personnel can be recruited locally with some skilled and staff positions recruited regionally.

5.5 Personnel

At full production, the Project will require approximately 176 employees.  Roughly, 56 employees will be required for operation of the open pit, heap leach, and mineral processing plant with the remainder required for the underground mine.  Personnel for the open pit mine operation can be readily recruited locally as can the majority of the personnel needed for the heap leach and mineral processing plant.  Some skilled positions and staff positions will need to be recruited regionally.  Recruitment of underground mine personnel may pose a greater challenge.  As a result, cost allowances for recruiting and training of underground miners were included in the cost estimate.


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6.0 HISTORY

6.1 Introduction

Uranium was first discovered in the Crooks Gap district, which includes the Sheep Mountain area, in 1953 (Bendix, 1982). While the original discoveries were aided by aerial and ground radiometric surveys exploration activities were primarily related to drilling and exploratory trenching.

6.2 Ownership History

Three companies dominated the district by the mid-1950s: Western Nuclear Corporation (WNC), Phelps Dodge (PD) and Continental Uranium Corporation (CUC).  WNC built the Split Rock Mill at Jeffrey City in 1957 and initiated production from the Paydirt pit in 1961, Golden Goose 1 in 1966 and Golden Goose 2 in 1970.  PD was the principal shareholder and operator of the Green Mountain Uranium Corporation's Ravine Mine, which began production in 1956.  CUC developed the Seismic Pit in 1956, the Seismic Mine in 1957, the Reserve Mine in 1961 and the Congo Decline in 1968.  In 1967, CUC acquired the PD properties and in 1972, WNC acquired all of CUC's Crooks Gap holdings. During the mid-1970s, PD acquired an interest in WNC, which began work on Sheep Mountain I in 1974, the McIntosh Pit in 1975, and Sheep Mountain II in 1976. WNC ceased production from the area in 1982.

Subsequent to closure of the Sheep Mountain I by WNC, during April to September 1987, Pathfinder Mines Corp. (PMC) mined a reported 12,959 tons, containing 39,898 pounds of uranium at an average grade of 0.154% U3O8 from Sheep Mountain I, (PMC, 1987).  U.S. Energy-Crested Corp. (USECC) acquired the properties from WNC in 1988 and during May to October 1988 USECC mined 23,000 tons from Sheep Mountain I, recovering 100,000 lbs. of uranium for a mill head grade of 0.216% U3O8 (WGM, 1999). The material was treated at PMC's Shirley Basin mill, 130 miles east of the mine. 

In December 2004, Uranium Power Corp. (UPC), then known as Bell Coast Capital, entered into a Purchase and Sales Agreement with USECC to acquire a 50% interest in the Sheep Mountain property.  The acquisition was completed in late 2007 with aggregate payments to USECC of $7.05 million and the issuance of four million common shares to USECC.  USECC sold all of its uranium assets, including its 50% interest in Sheep Mountain, to Uranium One Inc. (U1) in April 2007. Titan Uranium Inc. acquired a 50% interest in the property when it acquired Uranium Power Corp (UPC) by a Plan of Arrangement in July 2009. The ownership was subsequently transferred to Titan Uranium Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Titan Uranium USA (referred herein to as Titan). The remaining 50% interest was purchased from U1 on October 1, 2009. Subsequently Energy Fuels Inc. and Titan Uranium Inc. announced that a Certificate of Arrangement giving effect to the Plan of Arrangement between Energy Fuels was issued on February 29, 2012, making, Titan a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Fuels which is now named Energy Fuels Wyoming Inc.

6.3 Historical Resource Estimates

Historical Mineral Resource and Reserves can be found publicly in previous technical reports completed to Canadian NI 43-101 standards, including:

  • "Technical Report on the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Wyoming, Prepared for the Uranium Power Corp., NI 43-101 Report", Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates, Inc., October 10, 2006.

  • "Sheep Mountain Mines, Fremont County WY, USA, Pre-Feasibility Study, Prepared for Titan Uranium USA", BRS Engineering, April 8, 2010

  • "Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, Wyoming USA, 43-101 Mineral Reserve and Resource Report, Prepared for Titan Uranium USA", BRS Engineering, March 20, 2012


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Historical mineral Resource/Reserve estimates were prepared in accordance with Canada's NI 43-101 standards which were in effect at the time the report was issued and do not necessarily meet current standards. The reader should not rely on the historical Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve estimates as they are superseded by the Mineral Resource estimate presented in Section 14.0 (Mineral Resource Estimates) and Section 15.0 (Mineral Reserve Estimate) of this report.

6.4 Historical Production

Historic reports by Pathfinder Mines, Western Nuclear, and others show that properties within the current Sheep Mountain project boundary were operated as underground and open pit mines at various times in the 1970s and 1980s.  There were 5,063,813 tons of material mined and milled, yielding 17,385,116 pounds of uranium at an average grade of 0.17% U3O8. Mining was suspended in 1988.


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7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION

7.1 Regional Geology

The host of uranium mineralization for the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is the Eocene Battle Spring Formation. Prior to deposition of the Battle Spring Formation and subsequent younger Tertiary formations, including the White River and Split Rock Formations, underlying Paleocene, Cretaceous, and older formations were deformed during the Laramide Orogeny.  During the Laramide Orogeny, faults, including the Emigrant Thrust Fault at the northern end of the project area, were active and displaced sediments by over 20,000 feet (Rackely, 1975).  Coincident with this mountain building event Paleocene and older formations were folded in a series of en echelon anticlines and synclines, generally trending from southeast to northwest. 

The Battle Spring Formation was deposited unconformably on an erosional landscape influenced by these pre-depositional features. Initial stream channels transporting clastic sediments from the Granite Mountains formed in the synclinal valleys. With continued erosion of the Granite Mountains and deposition of sediments into the surrounding basins, the pre-tertiary surface was buried successively by the Battle Spring, White River, and Split Rock formations.  The formations once blanketed the entire area. Subsequently, the Granite Mountains collapsed forming a series of normal faults including the Kirk Normal Fault at the northern end of the project. 

The nature of the folding and faulting in the Battle Spring suggests that it was either contemporaneous with deposition of the sediments or occurred shortly after deposition. Post-Miocene erosion has exhumed portions of the Granite Mountains regionally and has exposed the Battle Spring Formation at the project.

The geologic setting of the project is important in that it controlled uranium mineralization by focusing the movement of the groundwater, which emplaced the uranium into the stream channels, which had developed on the pre-tertiary landscape.  In a similar manner, the geologic setting influences the present groundwater system. Groundwater flow is from the north-northeast to the south-southwest. Groundwater flow in the Battle Spring at the site is isolated in the subsurface from the local surface drainages, Crooks Creek to the west, and Sheep Creek to the east.  In addition, the recharge area for the groundwater system is limited, which will in turn limit dewatering requirements.

7.2 Local and Property Geology

Surface geology within the Project area includes Quaternary alluvium and colluvium, the Tertiary Crooks Gap Conglomerate, Battle Spring Formation, and Fort Union Formations and the Cretaceous Cody Shale. Descriptions of each of the units are below and are taken from the Geologic Map of the Bairoil 30'x60' Quadrangle, Carbon, Sweetwater, Fremont, and Natrona Counties, Wyoming (Jones, et al, 2001). Figure 7.1 shows local stratigraphy. Local geology is shown in plan on Figure 7.2 and in cross-section of Figure 7.3.

7.2.1 Quaternary Alluvium and Colluvium

Gravel, sand, silt, clay, weathered bedrock, and soil, deposited along recent and older flood plains; includes slop wash, weathered bedrock, and smaller alluvial fan deposits that coalesce with alluvium

7.2.2 Crooks Gap Conglomerate

Very large, subrounded granitic boulders, up to 40 feet across in a pink and gray siltstone and arkosic sandstone matric; abundant iron oxide-stained rinds on most boulders; occurs largely as remnants of fan deposits shed by the Granite Mountains.  Thickness up to 1,500 feet.  Historically the Crooks Gap Conglomerate is referred to as Member B of the Battle Spring Formation


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Figure 7-1. Stratigraphy of the Crooks Gap Area (modified from Stephens, 1964)


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Figure 7-2. Geologic Map of the Sheep Mountain Area


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Figure 7-3. Geologic Cross-Section (See Figure 7-2 for Location)

7.2.3 Tertiary Battle Spring Formation

Light-gray, brown, yellowish-tan, medium-grained to very coarse grained, pebbly arkosic sandstone and conglomerate, with local greenish-gray, sandy mudstone; brownish, carbonaceous mudstone and claystone; yellowish-gray conglomerate interbedded with very coarse conglomerate' poorly indurated, with local well-indurated lenses and paleo-channels, cemented with calcite cement' scattered cobbles and boulders over one foot in diameter with some boulders up to several feet across which may be remnants of Crooks Gap Conglomerate; numerous iron-rich irregular and spheroidal concretions. Thickness varies considerably but generally increases basinward from approximately 1,000 to 3,500 feet. At the Project, the Battle Spring Formation is subdivided into an upper (Member B - Crooks Gap Conglomerate) and lower (Member A) unit.

7.2.4 Tertiary Fort Union Formation

Complexly interbedded, commonly lenticular or discontinuous sequence of beds; sandstone, light-brown to gray, argillaceous, very fine to medium-grained, commonly contains ferruginous concretions; siltstone, light-brown to orange, commonly ferruginous and argillaceous; shale, light- to dark-gray, locally maroon, locally contains numerous vertebrate and common invertebrate fossils, and plant fossils; coal beds are generally thin and discontinuous with lenticular thickenings to as much as 9 feet. Thickness approximately 1,500 feet. 

7.2.5 Cretaceous Cody Shale

Marine shale, soft, gray to olive-gray, numerous bentonitic shales and siltstones, partly sandy, with limestone concretions; sandstone, very fine to fine-grained, gray to orangish-gray, glauconitic, thin-bedded, with trace fossils; lower part of Cody Formation is equivalent to the Niobara Formation (not present); shale gray to dark-gray, laminated, and calcareous; fossil-rich chalk beds near top, light-tan to buff, and laminated. Formation thickness ranges from 4,000-6,000 feet.

7.2.6 Structural Geology

Within the Project area, only limited faulting has been observed within the Battle Spring Formation, and where present, displacement is minor.  The largest reported displacement from the historic mining is four feet.  The Battle Spring is folded with a series of southeast plunging anticline/syncline features. Folding is reported to be more extensive in the lower Battle Spring or A Member than in the upper or B Member. 

7.3 Hydrogeology

Groundwater within the Mine Permit boundary exists within the synclinal fold of the Battle Spring Formation and Fort Union Formation and is bounded by the Cody Shale, which acts as a local aquiclude to vertical groundwater migration.  Groundwater in the uppermost aquifer, hosted predominantly by the Battle Spring Formation, has been well characterized over more than 20 years spanning active mining, a long post-mining period and current annual monitoring. 


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The Crooks Gap area regional hydrology, as determined by the Platte River Basin Water Plan, includes two separate formations or groups of formations that qualify as potentially productive for groundwater.  The Quaternary aquifer system has both an alluvial and non-alluvial division.  This is considered to be a discontinuous but major aquifer in the State of Wyoming.  It is undetermined at this time whether this surface aquifer exists in the project area.

The second aquifer in the Crooks Gap area is the Tertiary Aquifer System. The System in the Crooks Gap region is comprised of the Fort Union and Battle Spring Formations.  The Platte River Basin Water Plan describes the aquifer as comprised of complex inter-tonguing fluvial and lacustrine sediments. This is also classified as a major aquifer for the State of Wyoming.

Mining will occur in the Battle Spring Formation.  Historic data indicates that sustained dewatering of the Sheep Underground mines required approximately 200 gpm, but that the cone of depression is limited in area and will not impact surface water sources in the area.  In addition, dewatering of the Congo Open pit requires an estimated 150 gpm beginning in year seven and extending to the end of mining.  Thus, approximately 350 gpm of water will be produced by the mines.

Despite a history of both open pit and underground mining on the project, no formal hydrologic study nor model was completed and utilized for the underground or surface mine design in this report.  Mine design work is based on past water inflows, which were handled with pumping systems during past mining operations.

Future work is recommended to complete a detailed geotechnical study of both underground and surface mining.

7.4 Geotechnical

Despite a history of both open pit and underground mining on the project, no formal geotechnical on open pit slope stability nor underground drift and stope ground support was completed.  Mine design work is based on past slope angles and stope dimensions which proved feasible during mine operations.

Future work is recommended to complete a detailed geotechnical study of both underground and surface mining.


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8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES

8.1 Mineralization and Deposit Types

The host of uranium mineralization for the Project is the Battle Spring Formation. Most of the mineralization in the Crooks Gap district occurs in roll-front deposits (Bendix, 1982). Roll fronts have an erratic linear distribution but are usually concordant with the bedding. Deposits have been discovered from the surface down to a depth of 1,500 feet (Stephens, 1964). The two major uranium minerals are uranophane and autunite. Exploration drilling indicates that the deeper roll-type deposits are concentrated in synclinal troughs in the lower Battle Spring Formation. Three possible sources for uranium have been suggested: post-Eocene tuffaceous sediments, leached Battle Spring arkoses, and Precambrian granites (Granite Mountains).

Structural controls of uranium occurrences along roll fronts include carbonaceous siltstone beds that provide a local reducing environment for precipitation of uranium-bearing minerals, and abrupt changes in permeability along faults, where impermeable gouge is in contact with permeable sandstones (Stephens, 1964). Uranium has also been localized along the edges of stream channels and at contacts with carbonaceous shales (Bendix, 1982).

Further documentation of the type of mineralization can be found in the literature as with this historic photo (Figure 8.1) of a uranium roll front in the Golden Goose Mine (Bailey, 1969).

Figure 8-1  Uranium Roll Front in Golden Goose Mine

The following photo (Figure 8-2) shows alteration in the rib of the Little Sheep decline with remnant uranium mineralization concentrated around a clast of carbonaceous clay near the center of the photo.  This exposure is typical of the geochemical alteration that occurs within the altered zone in advance of roll fronts.


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Figure 8-2  Little Sheep Decline


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9.0 EXPLORATION

To the author's knowledge, no relevant exploration work, other than drilling, as described in Section 10: Drilling, of this report has been conducted on the property in recent years.  The Project is located within a brownfield site which has experienced past mine production and extensive exploration and development drilling.  The initial discovery was based on aerial and ground radiometric surveys in the 1953 (Stephens, 1964), but since that time exploratory work on the site has been primarily drilling.

During the National Uranium Resource Evaluation ("NURE") program conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the project area and vicinity were evaluated.  This evaluation included aerial gamma, magnetic, and gravimetric surveys; soil and surface water geochemical surveys and sampling; and geologic studies and classification of environments favorable for uranium mineralization (Bendix, 1982).  No specific data analysis of the aerial surveys was completed and the report, however, it is stated in the report that anomalous radioactivity was observed related to the Battle Spring Formation at the Crooks Gap mining district (Bendix, 1982), herein referred to as Sheep Mountain.

Since Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. acquired the Sheep Mountain Project in 2012, no exploration work has been conducted.  All drilling is considered historical in nature and is summarized in Section 10.0 of this report


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10.0 DRILLING

10.1 Drilling

All drilling and drill data associated with the Project is considered historical in nature, as it was completed prior to EFR acquiring the Project in February 2012.  The extent of drilling is shown for both the Congo Pit and Sheep underground areas in Figure 10.1.

10.1.1  Pre-1988 Drilling

Drilling in the mineral resource areas investigated as part of this report includes approximately 4,000 drill holes, most of which were open-hole rotary drilling, reliant upon down-hole geophysical logging to determine uranium grade.  Some core drilling for chemical analyses was also completed; however, no physical samples are available for inspection or sampling.  Pre-1988 drill maps show drill hole locations at the surface and downhole drift, the thickness and radiometric grade of uranium measured in weight percent eU3O8, elevation to the bottom of mineralized intercept, collar elevation, and elevation of the bottom of the hole.  Also available are half foot and composite intercept data in paper printouts from Western Nuclear's 1979 and 1980 preliminary feasibility study and geostatistical resource modeling. 

10.1.2 Titan Drill Program

In 2005, a drilling program consisting of 19 drill holes totaling 12,072 feet was completed.  Coring was attempted in one hole, but recoveries were poor.  Two of the 19 holes were located in Section 28 with the purpose of confirming mineralization within the Sheep Underground mine area.  The remaining seventeen drill holes were completed in the planned Congo Pit area to test both shallow mineralization within the Congo Pit and to explore a deeper mineralized horizon, the 58 sand, which was shown in two historic drill holes. (RPA, 2006).  Consultants Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA) were present during the 2005 drilling program and concluded in their report of October 10, 2005, that drilling has confirmed the presence of mineralization with the shallow horizons in the Congo Pit area and has identified and extended roll front mineralization in the 58 sands along strike.  Further, RPA concluded that drilling in the Sheep Mountain area (referred to herein as the Sheep underground) has validated the presence of mineralization at depth. 

In consideration of both the recommendations included in RPA's 2006 report and identified data needs for the continued development of the project, five holes were drilled in the Congo Pit in 2009 for a total of 1,700 feet.  The five drill holes were planned and completed to serve multiple purposes including:

  • Additional verification of mineralization in the Congo Pit area.
  • Determination of radiometric equilibrium conditions utilizing a direct comparison of the Uranium Spectrum Analysis Tool (USAT) and conventional gamma logging.
  • Collection of bulk samples of mineralized material for metallurgical testing; and
  • Collection of bulk samples for characterization of overburden materials as required by WDEQ regulations.

The goals of the 2009 drilling program were met.  The drill holes were completed by rotary air drilling to depths exceeding 300 feet using a top drive rotary drilling rig.  Drill cuttings were collected continuously during the drilling process, in two-foot increments near anticipated mineralized horizons and in five-foot increments for overburden sampling.  Over 500 pounds of mineralized material for metallurgical testing was collected in addition to the collection of representative samples for overburden analysis and characterization in accordance with WDEQ guidelines.  In situ mineral grades for 2009 drilling were determined by geophysical logging including both conventional radiometric logging and the state-of-the-art USAT (BRS, 2010).  Each drill hole was first logged using a conventional logging tool that provided a suite of gamma ray, Spontaneous Potential (SP), resistivity, and deviation.  The best-mineralized zones were chosen for USAT logging.  Both geophysical logging tools were provided commercially by Century Wireline Services (Century).


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The 2010 and 2011 drilling programs were primarily designed to delineate the Congo Pit.  The drilling was exclusively vertical rotary in 2010, while in 2011 the drilling included vertical rotary and reverse circulation.  The drill holes generally ranged from 200 to slightly over 400 feet in depth, although some were designed to test deeper horizons at slightly greater than 600 feet.  Geophysical logging was completed for all drill holes and was provided commercially by Century who delivered both hard copy geophysical logs and electronic files including LAS files.  Estimations of equivalent uranium grades in weight percent were reported in half-foot intervals.

In 2010, an additional 62 exploratory drill holes and five monitor wells were completed in the Congo Pit Area with the intention of defining the pit limits. All of these drill holes encountered mineralization extending the pit limits, however, drilling extended mineralization and did not completely define the pit limits. Of the 62 drill holes completed in 2010 within the Congo Pit Area:

  • 1 hole was lost
  • 7 holes were barren
  • 54 holes exceeded a 0.1 GT at a minimum grade of 0.03% eU3O8 including:
    • 51 exceeding a 0.25 GT
    • 37 exceeding a 0.50 GT
    • 25 exceeding a 1.0 GT

In 2011, an additional 73 exploratory drill holes and five monitor wells were completed in the Congo Pit Area to define the pit limits and confirm mineralization and the absence of underground mining in select areas.  These objectives were met, and the pit limits and Mineral Reserves were expanded as detailed in this report.  No additional holes have been drilled on the property since August 11, 2011.

Of the 73 drill holes completed in 2011 within the Congo Pit Area:

  • 17 holes were barren
  • 56 holes exceeded a 0.1 GT at a minimum grade of 0.03% eU3O8 including:
    • 35 exceeding a 0.25 GT
    • 20 exceeding a 0.50 GT9
    • 1 exceeding a 1.0 GT

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Figure 10-1. Drill Hole Location Map


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11.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSIS, AND SECURITY

11.1 Introduction

Most of the sample data available for the evaluation of resources for the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is radiometric geophysical log data.  Radiometric geophysical logs are completed following the drilling of a hole and provide a reading of equivalent U3O8 in percent (%eU3O8) at depth down hole.  The practice of collecting geophysical logs as opposed to drill cuttings or core is common for uranium deposits in the United States.

11.2 Gamma Logging

The radiometric or gamma probe measures gamma radiation which is emitted during the natural radioactive decay of uranium (U) and variations in the natural radioactivity originating from changes in concentrations of the trace element thorium (Th) as well as changes in concentration of the major rock forming element potassium (K).

Potassium decays into two stable isotopes (argon and calcium) which are no longer radioactive and emits gamma rays with energies of 1.46 mega electron-volts (MeV). Uranium and thorium, however, decay into daughter products which are unstable (i.e., radioactive). The decay of uranium forms a series of about a dozen radioactive elements in nature that finally decay to a stable isotope of lead. The decay of thorium forms a similar series of radioelements. As each radioelement in the series decays, it is accompanied by emissions of alpha or beta particles, or gamma rays. The gamma rays have specific energies associated with the decaying radionuclide. The most prominent of the gamma rays in the uranium series originate from decay of 214Bi (bismuth 214), and in the thorium series from decay of 208Tl (thallium 208).

The natural gamma measurement is made when a detector emits a pulse of light when struck by a gamma ray. This pulse of light is amplified by a photomultiplier tube, which outputs a current pulse that is accumulated and reported as counts per second (cps). The gamma probe is lowered to the bottom of a drillhole, and data are recorded as the tool travels to the bottom and then is pulled back up to the surface. The current pulse is carried up a conductive cable and processed by a logging system computer that stores the raw gamma cps data.

The basis of the indirect uranium grade calculation (referred to as "eU3O8" for "equivalent U3O8") is the sensitivity of the detector used in the probe, which is the ratio of cps to known uranium grade and is referred to as the probe calibration factor. Each detector's sensitivity is measured when it is first manufactured and is also periodically checked throughout the operating life of each probe against a known set of standard "test pits," with various known grades of uranium mineralization or through empirical calculations. Application of the calibration factor, along with other probe correction factors, allows for immediate grade estimation in the field as each drillhole is logged.

Downhole total gamma data are subjected to a complex set of mathematical equations, taking into account the specific parameters of the probe used, speed of logging, size of bore hole, drilling fluids, and presence or absence of any type of drillhole casing. The result is an indirect measurement of uranium content within the sphere of measurement of the gamma detector.

The conversion coefficients for conversion of probe counts per second to %eU3O8 equivalent uranium grades are based on the calibration results obtained at the United States Department of Energy Uranium Calibration Pits.

Most of the sample data available for the evaluation of resources for the Sheep Mountain Project is radiometric geophysical log data.  EFR possesses the complete hard copy data set which was passed through the chain of property title from WNC; through USECC; through the joint venture between UPC and U1; to Titan through its acquisition of UPC and acquisition of U1's share of the property; and ultimately to EFR, though its acquisition of Titan.

For the Congo Pit and Sheep Underground, the majority of the hard copy logs were reviewed both for data verification and for geologic interpretation.  The majority of the Sheep Underground logs were also available as scanned images and were reviewed for both data verification and for geologic interpretation.  In addition, the data includes an extensive collection of detailed mine and drill maps, both surface and underground.  The underground maps show the extent of mining by date and include rib and longhole data.  All pertinent maps with respect to mine design, extent of mining, drill maps, and mapping related to the mine permit have been scanned and rectified digitally.


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Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates for the Sheep Mountain Project are based on radiometric data. 

11.2.1 Disequilibrium

Disequilibrium in uranium deposits is the difference between equivalent (eU3O8) grades and assayed U3O8 grades. Disequilibrium can be either positive, where the assayed grade is greater than the equivalent grades, or negative, where the assayed grade is less than the equivalent grade. A uranium deposit is in equilibrium when the daughter products of uranium decay accurately represent the uranium present. Equilibrium occurs after the uranium is deposited and has not been added to or removed by fluids after approximately one million years. Disequilibrium is determined during drilling when a piece of core is taken and measured by two different methods, a counting method (closed-can) and chemical assay. If a positive or negative disequilibrium is determined, a disequilibrium factor can be applied to eU3O8 grades to account for this issue.

Chemical assays for verification of radiometric equilibrium are discussed in Section 12, Radiometric Equilibrium. As discussed in this report, available data indicates that variations in radiometric equilibrium are local in their effect which impacts the mining grade control program but does not appreciably affect the overall Mineral Resources or Reserves.

11.3 Core Sampling

Confirmatory drilling in accordance with Canadian NI 43-101 standards began in 2005. As part of this drilling program, drill core was collected for assay confirmation and overburden and metallurgical testing.  A review by an EFR Consultant of the geologic and geophysical log data concluded that the data was collected in accordance with current industry practice and to be reliable. This data confirms historical drilling results and is current and applicable to this Preliminary Feasibility Study.

11.3.1 Sample Preparation

With respect to the 2009 drilling program, drill samples were collected for overburden testing per WDEQ regulations and for metallurgical testing. Drill samples for overburden testing were split with a standard rifling splitter with half of the sample sent to Energy Laboratories Inc. of Casper, Wyoming, an independent certified commercial analytical laboratory, for testing in accordance with WDEQ guidelines and the remainder was sealed in plastic bags and is currently stored in an on-site warehouse facility.  Drill samples for metallurgical testing were stored and sealed in new 5-gallon plastic buckets.  Samples within the mineralized zones as determined by radiometric and USAT logging were delivered to Lyntek's facility in Denver, Colorado for further assay and testing by BRS personnel.  A chain of custody was established.  Representative sample splits were prepared for chemical assay and were delivered to Energy Laboratories Inc. of Casper, Wyoming, an independent certified commercial analytical laboratory, for assay utilizing standard protocol and adhering to a chain of custody.

11.3.2 Assaying and Analytical Procedure

Assays from the 2009 drilling program were used in the selection of samples for metallurgical testing. In addition to the samples from the Congo Pit drilling, mineralized stockpiles from mine material at the Sheep I shaft was sampled, assayed, and utilized for metallurgical testing. Seven samples of the Sheep I stockpile were collected ranging in grade from 0.022% to 0.067% U3O8 and averaging 0.045% U3O8.  Bottle roll leach tests have been completed for composite samples selected to represent mineralization at both the Congo Pit and Sheep Underground.  The remaining samples, with the exception of reserves sample splits, were utilized in the column leach testing for heap leach amenability. Assays of blind duplicates of select samples and check assays, at Hazen Research, a separate and independent commercial laboratory were completed. The results of the assays compared favorably. The assay data was generally not used to verify the radiometric data as this had already been done using the USAT data.  A general comparison of assay data to USAT data was completed and the results were comparable.  Radiometric equilibrium determinations and verification of assay data is discussed in Section 12.


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No samples were collected during the 2010 drilling program. Drill cuttings were logged in the field.  All holes were logged by a commercial geophysical logging company. Geophysical log data was provided in both hard copy and electronic format with the down-hole count data converted to ½ foot equivalent % U3O8 grades. The author was present during the 2010 drilling program.

In 2011 both rotary and reverse circulation drilling was completed.  Bulk samples from the reverse circulation drilling have been retained in sealed containers stored at the site for further metallurgical testing but no chemical assays have been completed as of the effective date of this report.

The reader should note that it is common industry practice for the exploration and evaluation of uranium mineralization in the United States to rely upon downhole radiometric geophysical log data for the determination of the thickness and grade of mineralization.  The sampling and assay methods described herein were for the purposes of developing bulk composite samples for metallurgical testing and environmental testing. 

Downhole radiometric geophysical log data was converted to equivalent uranium assays in half-foot increments for geophysical logs with digital data.  Geophysical logs with only analog data were interpreted using standard methods set out originally by the Atomic Energy Commission ("AEC").  The primary method employed for this project is referred to as the half amplitude method.  In the case of the half amplitude method the sample thickness is determined by the log signature and while interpreted to the nearest half foot the thickness of the sample varies.

11.3.3 Density Analyses

A unit weight of 16 cubic feet per ton or 2.439 tonnes/m3 was assumed for all Mineral Resource and Reserve calculations. This assumption was based on data from feasibility studies prepared by previous operators on the mining and production history of the mines within the Sheep Mountain Project but was not independently confirmed.  Some previous estimates used a density of 15 cubic feet per ton.  The use of 16 cubic feet per ton is recommended the Authors as a conservative value. 

In summary, the data utilized in this report is considered accurate and reliable for the purposes of this report.

11.4 Opinion of Author

In the opinion the Authors, the sample preparation, security and analytical procedures are reliable and adequate for the purposes of this report


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12.0 DATA VERIFICATION

12.1 Congo

Historic drill data for each drillhole consisting of radiometric data was posted on drill maps including collar elevation, elevation to the bottom of the mineralized intercept, thickness of mineralization, grade of mineralization, and elevation of the bottom of the hole.  Half foot and composite intercept data in paper printouts were available from Western Nuclear's 1979 and 1980 Preliminary Feasibility Study geostatistical model. Data entry was checked and confirmed including a review of the original drill geophysical and lithologic logs.  Drillhole locations were digitized from the drill maps to create a coordinate listing and then plotted.  The resultant drill maps were then checked and confirmed by overlaying with the original maps.

Titan drilled 5 exploration holes for a total of 1,700 feet in 2009.  The purpose of this program was to take samples for overburden classification and also to take bulk mineralized samples for heap leach testing.  Overburden samples were gathered every five feet down hole until water was added for lifting cuttings.  The depth where the holes either started making water or water was added was approximately 330 to 360 feet. Sampling stopped at that point in each hole if it was drilled deep enough to encounter that zone.  Bulk samples were gathered every two feet through known mineralized zones.  The drill locations were picked by "twinning" historic drill holes. 

The following table provides a comparison of the 2009 drilling to adjacent or twinned historic drill holes.

Table 12-1 Comparison of 2009 Drilling to Historic Drilling

Drill hole

Twinned
hole

Offset
Distance

Results

       

Congo 1

S16-96

3'

Good correlation, marginally higher radiometric grades encountered

       

Congo 2

S16-291

3'

Good correlation, slightly lower radiometric grades in some zones with higher in others

       

Congo 3

GG1-36

24'

Radiometric zones correlated

       

Congo 3

GG1-37

35'

Radiometric zones correlated

       

Congo 4

S16-253

24'

Acceptable correlation, slightly lower radiometric grades in some zones with higher in others

       

Congo 5

S16-146

21'

Good correlation, marginally higher radiometric grades encountered

Drilling completed within the Congo Pit area in 2010 and 2011 helped to confirm and extend the mineralization as projected in the Congo Pit Area.  The 2010 and 2011 drill data were compared to historic drilling by collating the geophysical logs and comparing the GT of the 2010 and 2011 drilling to historic drilling by individual sands.

12.2 Sheep Underground

Historic drill data for each drill hole consisting of radiometric data was posted on drill maps including collar elevation, elevation to the bottom of the mineralized intercept, thickness of mineralization, grade of mineralization, and elevation of the bottom of the hole.  Data entry was checked and confirmed including a review of the original drill geophysical and lithologic logs. Drill hole locations were digitized from the drill maps to create a coordinate listing and then plotted.  The resultant drill maps were then checked and confirmed by overlaying the original maps.


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Once the database had been developed and data entry confirmed, each mineralized intercept within an individual drill hole was evaluated on a hole by hole basis and combined into the corresponding zone to represent a probable mining thickness appropriate for underground mining methods (minimum of six feet).  This process eliminated some thin and/or isolated mineralized intercepts.  The resultant data was then utilized to develop the Grade Thickness ("GT") map, GT and Thickness (T) Contours.  The GT map was then compared to mine plans available from previous studies to verify the data and geologic interpretation. 

A confirmatory drilling program in 2005 was completed consisting of 19 drill holes totaling 12,072 feet.  Two of the 19 holes completed by UPC were located in Section 28 with the purpose of confirming mineralization within the Sheep underground mine area.  Previous report concluded that the confirmatory drilling did verify historic drilling.  The author reviewed the drilling and found that the data did reasonably correlate with respect to the geologic sand units and the general thickness and tenor of mineralization.

12.3 Radiometric Equilibrium

Radiometric equilibrium studies completed in 2006 evaluated data including some 223 samples for which there was gamma equivalent closed can analyses and chemical assays and concluded "Although the data exhibit high variability, there does not appear to be a significant bias and Scott Wilson RPA is of the opinion that the eU3O8 values are appropriate for use in the resource estimate," (RPA, 2006).

This data was reviewed by the Authors; however, the samples had not been preserved so no confirmatory analysis could be completed.  At the consultant's recommendation, during the 2009 drilling program, USAT was employed to further examine radiometric equilibrium conditions (BRS, 2010).  This technique was used since past drill programs had reported difficulty in sample recovery from coring and this method would ensure a direct comparison of gamma equivalent values and direct uranium measurements via the USAT from downhole logging. 

Table 12-2 provides a direct comparison of the equivalent gamma and direct USAT measurement of in situ uranium values for the five drillholes completed in the Congo Pit in 2009.  For the 2009 drilling program downhole logging of the drillholes was completed using standard gamma technology as well as a USAT, operated by Century Wireline Services of Tulsa OK.  The USAT method measures the gamma intensity of Pa234, the short lived (t½ = 6.7 hr.) second daughter product of U238.  U238 reaches secular equilibrium with Pa234 within approximately 4 months thus USAT gives a nearly direct measurement of uranium content and therefore allows determination of the equilibrium state of the uranium mineralization intersected in the hole.  Note that the measurements reflected various mineralized zones vary in depth from 24.5 to 464 feet from the surface.  The table displays the depth in feet of the top and bottom of the mineralized zone (from and to), the thickness of the mineralized zone ("THK") in feet, the grade of equivalent uranium in weight percent and GT determined by downhole gamma, and the grade of uranium in weight percent and GT determined by downhole USAT logging. 

The disequilibrium factor (DEF) was calculated for each mineralized intercept and summarized for each drillhole.  A DEF factor of 1 indicates that radiometric equilibrium exists.  DEF factors less than 1 indicate a depletion of uranium with respect to gamma equivalent measurements and a DEF factor greater than 1 indicates an enrichment of uranium values with respect to gamma equivalent values.  The DEF from 45 mineralized intercepts from the 2009 drilling ranged from a low factor of 0.73 to a high factor of 2.07 with an average value of 1.05.  Although this data indicates the potential for radiometric enrichment, a conservative DEF of 1was used in the resource calculations.


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Table 12-2 Comparison of Radiometric Equilibrium based on Gamma and USAT Logging

Drill Hole

From

To

Thick

% eU3O8 (gamma)

GT Gamma

% U3O8 (USAT)

GT USAT

DEF

Congo 1

24.5

26.5

2

0.063

0.126

0.054

0.108

0.857

 

58

60

2

0.05

0.1

0.061

0.122

1.220

 

68

71

3

0.087

0.261

0.078

0.234

0.897

 

71

77

6

0.031

0.186

4ft @ .096

0.384

2.065

 

79.5

81

1.5

0.046

0.069

0.059

0.0885

1.283

 

115

119

4

0.049

0.196

Not run

N/A

N/A

sum/average

 

 

 

 

0.742

 

0.9365

1.262

Congo 2

56.5

58.5

2

0.271

0.542

0.264

0.528

0.974

 

74.5

76.5

2

0.183

0.366

4' @ .137

0.548

1.497

 

95

98

3

0.06

0.18

0.048

0.144

0.800

 

118.5

120.5

2

0.103

0.206

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

213

216

3

0.09

0.27

0.066

0.198

0.733

 

219.5

222.5

3

0.183

0.549

0.169

0.507

0.923

 

236

239

3

0.114

0.342

0.111

0.333

0.974

 

464

466.5

2.5

0.035

0.0875

0.035

0.0875

1.000

sum/average

 

 

 

 

2.3365

 

2.3455

1.004

Congo 3

52

65

13

0.073

0.949

0.071

0.923

0.973

 

79

81

2

0.028

0.056

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

90

94.5

4.5

0.097

0.4365

3' @ .115

0.345

0.790

 

96

101

5

0.107

0.535

0.117

0.585

1.093

 

117.5

121.5

4

0.08

0.32

6' @ .05

0.3

0.938

 

124

126.5

2.5

0.027

0.0675

0.031

0.0775

1.148

 

154

156.5

2.5

0.134

0.335

0.131

0.3275

0.978

 

172.5

178

5.5

0.044

0.242

0.04

0.22

0.909

sum/average

 

 

 

 

2.885

 

2.778

0.963

Congo 4

49

52.5

3.5

0.028

0.098

0.023

0.0805

0.821

 

88

89.5

1.5

0.023

0.035

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

91

94

3

0.05

0.150

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

100

101.5

1.5

0.029

0.044

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

104.5

109

4.5

0.134

0.603

0.149

0.6705

1.112

 

113

114.5

1.5

0.028

0.042

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

132.5

136

3.5

0.072

0.252

0.073

0.2555

1.014

 

166.5

169.5

3

0.088

0.264

0.099

0.297

1.125

 

207.5

214

6.5

0.061

0.3965

0.054

0.351

0.885

sum/average

 

 

 

 

1.6135

 

1.6545

1.025

Congo 5

131.5

133.5

2

0.054

0.108

0.041

0.082

0.759

 

143

146

3

0.025

0.075

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

153

158.5

5

0.076

0.38

0.07

0.35

0.921

 

160

167

7

0.151

1.057

0.162

1.134

1.073

 

172.5

179

6.5

0.07

0.455

0.066

0.429

0.943

 

199.5

206.5

7

0.047

0.329

0.041

0.287

0.872

 

219

222.5

3.5

0.027

0.095

Not run

N/A

N/A

 

267.5

272

4.5

0.051

0.2295

0.043

0.1935

0.843

 

293.5

297

3.5

0.062

0.217

0.071

0.2485

1.145

 

303.5

305.5

2

0.075

0.15

.5'@ .062

0.31

2.067

 

311

316.5

5.5

0.056

0.308

0.076

0.418

1.357

 

325

335

10

0.126

1.26

7.5'@.143

1.0725

0.851

sum/average

 

 

 

 

4.4935

 

4.5245

1.007



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12.4 Opinions of Author

In the opinion the Authors, the data verification are reliable and adequate for the purposes of this report


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13.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING

13.1 Historic Mineral Processing

Western Nuclear Corporation (WNC) processed feed from Sheep Mountain over a 30-year period from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s at their Split Rock Mill, which was located north of Jeffrey City, WY, along the haul road to the Gas Hills. WNC also processed Gas Hills ores at its mill and operated a commercial heap leach, as did Union Carbide Corp. (UCC). Historical and published data indicate an acid consumption of 50 pounds per ton H2SO4 and a loss during heap leaching of 0.008% U3O8 (Woolery, 1978). Recent metallurgical laboratory test results, are consistent with or better than historic heap leach experience, indicating potentially higher uranium recovery and lower acid consumption.

Early Heap Leaching by Western Nuclear Inc.

In 1961, Western Nuclear began heap leaching of low-grade uranium bearing material from the Gas Hills region in central Wyoming1 .  Mineralized material was crushed to 90 percent minus 1-inch and hauled with 15-ton dump trucks. The mineralized material averaged 0.05-0.06% U3O8 and the overall consumption of sulfuric acid averaged 50.6 pounds per ton of ore.  Uranium extraction into the pregnant leach solution averaged 75 percent, corresponding to a leached residue assay of approximately 0.013% U3O8.  It is possible that the heap preparation and leaching practices that were employed by Western Nuclear impaired leaching performance, since large column tests (4-feet diameter x 17-foot depth) using the same parameters obtained 88.3 percent uranium extraction, leaving a residue assaying 0.006% U3O8 from mineralized material assaying 0.051% U3O8.

Early Heap Leaching by Union Carbide Corp.

Following a comprehensive laboratory and pilot-scale program, Union Carbide began construction in 1973 of a 225,000-ton heap2 .  Low-grade stockpiled material that was mostly unconsolidated (and therefore not crushed) was added to the heap to a depth of 20 feet over a compacted clay liner.  With a sulfuric acid addition of approximately 40 pounds per ton of ore, leach residues assayed 0.008% U3O8.  Union Carbide elected to avoid winter operation and only operated the heap from May 1 until October 1.

It is important to point out that the leaching heaps operated by Western Nuclear and Union Carbide did not benefit from the vast amount of design and operating experience that has been accumulated since the early-1980s from hundreds of heaps treated globally for extraction of gold and copper from low-grade oxidized ores.  Given this collection of evolutionary improvements, is quite likely that heap leaching of the same uranium ores now would result in significantly higher extractions.

13.2 Pre-Feasibility Metallurgical Studies

In late-2009, drill cuttings and stockpile grab samples were obtained from the Congo Pit, the same resource that provided the feed for the Union Carbide heap leaching program. The drill cuttings were collected during mineral resource validation drilling and consisted of several wide-spaced holes The stockpiles had been left by UECC near the Sheep 1 Shaft. Bottle roll leach tests were conducted using both acid and alkaline lixiviants. Acid leaching was preferred on the basis of higher uranium extraction and lower reagent costs. Also, alkaline leaching caused swelling of clay minerals, which could reduce solution percolation in a heap leaching configuration. (This effect is commonly encountered with alkaline leaching and is usually the result of sodium ion.) These tests resulted in acid consumptions below 20 lb H2SO4 per ton of feed with residues assaying 0.009% U3O8 or less.

For the PFS, a constant residue of 0.010% U3O8, including soluble uranium losses in subsequent solution processing, was assumed. This assumption was conservative with respect to test results, but representative of historic heap leaching experience with similar mineralized material. The soluble uranium loss in the rinsed heap residue and the impurity bleed to the evaporation pond will likely be on the order of two percent, suggesting a heap extraction of about 91.8 percent. This initial laboratory work was followed by large-scale column leaching tests, as described in Section 13.3.

________________________________
1
Mashbir, D. S., "Heap Leaching of Low-Grade Uranium Ore", Mining Congress Journal, December 1964, pages 50-54.
2 Woolery, R. G., et al., "Heap Leaching of Uranium: A Case History", Mining Engineering, March 1978, pages 285-290.


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In late 2009, drill cuttings were obtained from the Congo Pit during mineral resource validation drilling consisting of several wide spaced holes and from existing mineralized stockpiles left by USECC near the Sheep I Shaft.  Bottle roll leach tests were conducted using both acid and alkaline lixiviants.  Acid leaching was preferred based on recovery and cost of lixiviant. In addition, the alkaline leach tests showed some swelling of clay minerals, which could impede flow in the heap.  Acid consumption was less than 20lbs./ton with losses of 0.009% U3O8 or less.

13.3 Column Leach Studies

Three laboratory-scale column leaching studies designed to mimic commercial heap performance were completed in mid-2010 to support the Sheep Mountain Project PFS. Mineralized material tested in the studies was obtained from existing stockpiles left in the 1980s and fresher mineralized rock collected during the 2010 exploration drilling program. The leaching chemistry that was selected was based on a combination of industry experience and results of the previous bottle roll tests. The lixiviant contained sulfuric acid, supplemented by sodium chlorate, NaClO3, which is traditionally used to oxidize insoluble tetravalent uranium to the soluble hexavalent state. Typically, bottle rolls will establish maximum estimates of both uranium extraction and acid consumption. The tests were conducted in Sheridan, WY, at Intermountain Laboratories, Inc., and were supervised by R. A. Garling of R&D Enterprises, Inc. Technical advice and support were provided by Lyntek, Inc., Dr. Terry McNulty, and Doug Beahm (author of the NI43-101 reports for Sheep Mountain).

The first two columns, Tests 1 and 2, were loaded with stockpile material which, due to 20-plus years of exposure to weathering, were believed to be fully oxidized. Two nearly identical columns were loaded with 70 kg (dry basis) of mineralized material assaying 0.075% U3O8. The columns were constructed of clear plastic with 6 inches inside diameter and a total height of 14 feet. The bottoms consisted of a supporting grid covered by canvas to minimize loss of fines into the pregnant leach solution (PLS). The initial charge height was 12 feet. The columns were operated in a downward flow mode to simulate heap leaching practice and the solution flowrate was 0.005 gallons per minute per square foot of charge surface, the industry standard for solution application rate. Following recommendations of the consultants, the lixiviant contained approximately 10 grams of sulfuric acid per liter (gpl H2SO4) and the equivalent of 3 lb/ton of sodium chlorate. After 22 days of leaching and a rinse and drain period of over one month, residue assays of 0.0001% U3O8 equated to about 99.9 percent extraction of the uranium.

Subsequently, a third column, Test 3, was conducted from November 12 through December 20, 2010. A single column was loaded with 80.5 kg of drill cuttings from the recent drilling program that assayed 0.104% U3O8. This test was designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the leaching conditions on unoxidized material with a uranium grade approximately equivalent to the anticipated life-of-mine grade. The same lixiviant chemistry used in the first two columns extracted 97.5 percent of the uranium, leaving a residue assaying 0.0029% U3O8. Unlike the first test, in which over 95 percent of the uranium in the column was extracted by the first pore volume (PV) of lixiviant, the fresh mineralized material exhibited more traditional leaching behavior and required approximately 2 PV to achieve similar uranium extraction. The overall acid consumption in Test 3 was approximately 4 lb/ton, compared with about 1.7 lb/ton in Tests 1 and 2. Very little oxidation was required in any of the three tests, as the initial sodium chlorate addition was sufficient to maintain an Oxidation/Reduction Potential (ORP) of +450 mv.

In addition to demonstrating uranium leaching efficiency, the three tests provided information relevant to heap and process plant design criteria, as well as supporting a Source Materials license application. Information regarding slump of the column charge, pooling of solution on the column surface, and maximum allowable solution application rates was obtained from the tests. Data related to future health physics (radiological and chemical) issues likely to be encountered during licensing activities were also collected. Table 13-1 summarizes results from the three column tests.


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Table 13-1  Summary of Column Leach Results

Column #

1

2

3

Density (g/cm3)

1.50

1.36

1.46

Uranium Moisture (%)

8.5

8.5

4.3

Sulfuric Acid Consumed (lb/st)

1.68

1.62

3.90

Lixiviate [H2SO4] (g/L)

10

10

10

Sodium Chlorate Addition Rate (lb/st)

3

3

3

Uranium Grade Assayed (%U3O8)

0.077

0.077

0.1039

Tails Grade Assayed (%U3O8)

0.0001

0.0001

0.0029

Tails Moisture (%)

13.7

14.7

17.0

Uranium Grade (%U3O8)

0.0763

0.0729

0.1128

Uranium Recovery (%)

99.87

99.86

97.47

(RDE, 2011)

13.4 Supplemental Laboratory Experiments

Supplemental duplicates of samples prepared by Lyntek were analyzed by Energy Labs and Hazen Research, Inc., and then delivered to J. E. Litz and Associates in Golden, CO, for additional agitation leach tests, also with dilute aqueous sulfuric acid, but using flasks with internal agitator, rather than bottle rolls3 . The tests were conducted with minus 28-mesh material in a 33 percent solids slurry with samples taken at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours; tests were terminated at 48 hours. These sampling intervals provided kinetic data. Acidity was maintained at pH 1.1-1.6 with acid additions as needed, and the oxidation potential was kept above +450 mv (standard platinum vs. calomel electrodes) with sodium chlorate additions that varied between 0 and 5 lb/ton for different samples. Final free acid concentrations were not titrated, so true acid consumptions could not be calculated, but total acid additions were only in the range of 5.6 to 20.7 pounds per ton.

The samples tested by Litz were somewhat acidic in the range pH 2.90 to 6.55 prior to the addition of sulfuric acid, so there was evidence of moderate oxidation prior to sample collection. This was probably due to natural weathering, possibly accelerated by the action of bacteria. Doug Beahm commented4  that "fresh" mineralized material was actually highly oxidized during Union Carbide's 1980s mining period, frequently resulting in the presence of dissolved uranium in surface and underground water. Mining of the Sheep Mountain deposit will eliminate this potential source of groundwater contamination by uranium.

The 48-hour uranium extractions obtained by Litz ranged from 86.6 to 93.6 percent, but residue assays were proportional to head assays, rather than being constant. Three samples with head assays averaging 0.067% U3O8 yielded residues averaging 0.0087% U3O8, whereas two samples with heads averaging 0.123% U3O8 produced residues averaging 0.019% U3O8. Examination of the laboratory worksheets did not reveal a satisfactory resolution, but it is possible that the residues were not adequately rinsed to remove soluble uranium. The important lesson from the Litz test series was that a different leaching technique confirmed high extractability of the uranium with reasonable acid consumptions and low oxidant demand.

Key points with respect to project economics and operational efficiencies:

  • The low acid consumptions observed in all of the column tests, if experienced on a production scale would significantly reduce operating costs per pound of U3O8, compared with most uranium milling operations. The 2010 PFS, completed prior to the column leach test program, made a conservative assumption, as discussed previously, of 50 pounds of acid per ton of material. Since all of the tests required much lower acid consumptions, as summarized in Table 13-1, the assumption of 30 lb/ton used in the 2010 PFS was very conservative and probably more than will be experienced in practice.

________________________________
3
Litz, J. E., "Preliminary Tests of Titan Drill Cuttings", February 26, 2010.
4 Personal communication on February 10, 2010.


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  • The very high uranium extractions observed in the column leach studies, if experienced on a production scale, would also significantly reduce operating costs per pound of uranium. Although the column tests yielded very high uranium extractions, as summarized in Table 13-1, the PFS conservatively used an overall uranium recovery of 91.7 percent, based on the average sample grade and a constant residue assay of 0.010 % U3O8, assuming soluble uranium losses of 2 percent (McNulty 2012).

  • The relatively short leach cycles (2-3 pore volumes of lixiviant) and realistic application rates, if experienced on a production scale, will reflect favorably on operating costs and efficiencies.

  • The behavior of the column charges during leaching and the observed geotechnical properties indicate that the material could be placed directly on the leach pads without a gravel drain layer, thereby reducing capital costs. However, the PFS conservatively included the cost of a gravel drain.

The samples for column testing were collected spatially from within the mineral deposit in order to produce a composite representative of production during the mine life, however, only a relatively small amount of material was actually tested. Analysis of solutions produced during testing did not reveal any deleterious elements that could have a significant effect on process performance or yellowcake marketability (RDE 2011). Additional tests on future samples of the resource could yield results that vary either positively or negatively from those obtained for the PFS. Conservative assumptions based on available test results, as summarized in Table 13-1, were incorporated in the cost estimates and financial evaluations. Heap leaching and solution processing are discussed in Section 17.

13.5 Current Metallurgical Background and Industry Practice:

Sulfuric acid consumption has two components: (1) The uranium minerals themselves require acid for dissolution and complexing of the uranium as uranyl sulfate. At Sheep Mountain, the dominant uranium minerals are uranophane, Ca(UO2)2(SiO2)2(OH)2•5H2O, and autunite, Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2•10-12H2O. Dissolving these minerals will form hydrated calcium sulfate (gypsum), silicic acid, and phosphoric acid, but the total acid consumption with a low-grade mineralized material is minor; (2) Other minerals in the mineralized material are host rock constituents and will consume acid as they are dissolved. At Sheep Mountain, the principal acid consumer in this category is probably calcite, calcium carbonate, which reacts to form gypsum. The known geology does not suggest that other common acid consuming minerals such as orthoclase, a potassium aluminum silicate, are present. Therefore, it is not surprising that the laboratory tests and column tests on samples from Sheep Mountain have revealed low acid consumptions.

When the PEA was submitted in 2010, there was no recent industry experience in heap leaching of uranium mineralization. Few examples existed, but they were confined to the 1960s and 1970s; however, since then, there have been 40 years of accumulated experience in heap leaching of low-grade oxidized gold ores. This experience has vastly improved our understanding of variables such as crushing, agglomeration, and heap construction of copper ores, as well as gold ores. Now, over half of domestic copper production derives from heap leaching. Also, about 30 percent of domestic gold production is extracted from heaps.

Furthermore, commercial production of uranium from heap leaching operations began in Brazil in 2010 (Gomeiro and Morais, 2010) and is now being practiced in Africa at Somair and Imouraren in Niger and Trekkopje in Namibia (Dunne, et. al., 2019). Most uranium heap leaching employs sulfuric acid as the dissolving and complexing agent. However, Trekkopje was unique when it began operations in 2019 because it employs alkaline heap leaching to accommodate the calcareous host rock which would require excessive sulfuric acid consumption. These heap leaching operations all employ heap heights in the range 20-30 feet with low mineralized material grades in the range 0.02-0.05% U3O8.


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Although heap leaching is simple in principle, it is fairly complex in practice and judgment is required in designing and operating a heap to maximize contact of the rock fragments with leaching solution and to avoid solution loss. The uranium-bearing rock must be crushed to a small size to ensure adequate and rapid contact of the uranium minerals with the leaching solution. However, excessive crushing wastes energy and produces fines that can impede solution movement in the heap. The optimum top-size typically is in the range 0.75-2.0 inch but crushing to this product size will inevitably create fine particles that will migrate, collect, and create relatively impervious lenses which will block the downward percolation of leaching solution, thereby reducing uranium extraction.

The harmful effect of fines can be very effectively minimized by agglomeration, which binds the fine particles to coarser rock fragments. Whereas agglomeration ahead of the leaching of gold with alkaline cyanide solution is usually done with Portland cement, agglomeration of copper mineralized material is accomplished simply by addition of dilute aqueous sulfuric acid. The agglomeration mechanism is complex, but its effectiveness is partially due to the formation of gypsum, which acts as a cementing agent. The same technique can be applied to agglomeration of uranium-bearing material, and the method of acid addition as discussed in Section 17 of this report.

Another threat to heap permeability can occur during loading of mineralized material onto a pad while forming the heap. For a number of years, heaps that were leached for recovery of gold or copper were constructed by driving haul trucks onto the heap and dumping in piles that could be levelled with a tracked dozer. Eventually, the industry learned that this practice was also leading to impaired heap permeability resulting from compaction caused by ground pressure exerted by the trucks. Initial attempts to remedy compaction consisted of ripping the upper surface of the heap with a dozer tooth, but this generally proved to be ineffective.

Ultimately, the preferred solution was to construct the heap with a traversing conveyor that built the heap in a series of overlapping windrows. Various combinations of equipment were tried until the stacker was developed. This is a moveable conveyor with very high-speed belt that slings the mineralized material stream a distance of 50 to 100 feet, allowing construction of semi-circular rows of mineralized material that are uncompacted and uniformly permeable. The stacker is supplied with mineralized material by one or more conventional conveyors that can be moved to remain near the feed hopper for the mobile stacker. As discussed in Section 17, this is the heap construction method that is envisioned for the Sheep Mountain Project.

13.6 Opinion of Author

In the opinion of the Authors, the data are reliable and adequate for the purposes of this report.


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14.0 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES

14.1 General Statement

The mineral resource estimation and geological interpretation methods methodology described herein have been employed by similar operating uranium mines in the Gas Hills. The mining methods and factors recommended have been employed successfully at the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) in the past.  Successful uranium recovery from the mineralized material at Sheep Mountain and similar areas such as the Gas Hills has been demonstrated via both conventional milling and heap leach recovery. The Project is a brown-field development located in the State of Wyoming, which tends to favor mining and industrial development.  The Project has been well received locally and will also provide substantial revenues to both Fremont County and the State of Wyoming in addition to providing long-term employment for the region.  Wyoming ranks 16th among 83 mining jurisdictions surveyed by the Fraser Institute in with respect to favourability for mining ventures.  The Authors are not aware of any factors including environmental, permitting, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other factors, which would materially affect the mineral resource estimate, herein.

The estimates of Mineral Resources were completed for the Sheep Underground and Congo Pit areas. Within these areas preliminary mine designs were completed. Preliminary mine designs focused on the areas with the strongest and most continuous mineralization and were not optimized for maximum mineral resource extraction. Mineral Resources were estimated adjacent to both the Congo pit and Sheep underground, which have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. These areas would be accessible for mining from the pit highwalls by conventional drift mining or using modern highwall mining systems and through the underground with additional stopping and/or raises.

Those portions of the Mineral Resources not readily accessible from either the Congo pit or Sheep underground mine were excluded from the mineral resource estimation as they do not currently meet the criteria for reasonable prospects of economic extraction. Additional areas of mineralization are known within the project area, which have not been fully evaluated and/or do not meet reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction based on currently available data.  These areas have also been excluded in the mineral resource estimate.

Minimum cut-off grades, based on direct operating costs, are 0.05% eU3O8 for open pit mining and 0.075% eU3O8 for underground mining (Table 14-1).  Mineral resource estimates were estimated using GT cut-offs of 0.1 for open pit mine areas and 0.3 for underground mine areas.  Cut-off grades are discussed in Section 15.4.

The mineral resource estimates presented herein have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 standards and represent the estimated in situ Mineral Resources. Based on the drill density, the apparent continuity of the mineralization along trends, geologic correlation and modeling of the deposit, a review of historic mining with respect to current resource projections, and verification drilling, the Mineral Resource estimate herein meets NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 criteria as an Indicated Mineral Resource.  A summary of total mineral resource is provided in Table 14-1. 

A summary of total Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral reserves is provided in Table 14-1. Mineral Reserve estimate is discussed in Section 15. A summary of the Mineral Resource estimate, fully exclusive and are not additive to the total Mineral Resources, is provided in Table 15-1. A summary of total Mineral Resources exclusive of Mineral reserves is provided in Table 14-2.

A discussion of individual resource areas follows.


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Table 14-1  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Inclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019

Classification Zone G.T.
Cut-off
Tons
(000s)
Grade %
eU
3O8
Pounds
eU
3O8 (000s)
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Indicated Sheep Underground 0.30 5,546 0.118% 13,034 91.9
Indicated Congo Pit Area 0.10 6,116 0.122% 14,903 91.9
Total Indicated   11,663 0.120% 27,935 91.9

Notes:

1: NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 definitions were followed for Mineral Resources

2: In Situ Mineral Resource are estimated at GT cut-off of 0.10 (2 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for open pit and 0.30 (6 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for underground

3: Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term Uranium price of US$65 per pound

4: Bulk density is 0.0625 tons/ft3 (16 ft3/ton)

5: Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability

6: Numbers may not add due to rounding

A summary of total Mineral Resources exclusive of Mineral reserves is provided in Table 1-3.

Table 14-2  Sheep Mountain Mineral Resources Exclusive of Mineral Reserves - April 9, 2019

Classification Zone G.T.
Cut-off
Tons
(000s)
Grade %
eU
3O8
Pounds
eU
3O8 (000s)
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Indicated Sheep Underground 0.30 2,048 0.09% 3,786 91.9
Indicated Congo Pit Area 0.10 2,161 0.13% 5,786 91.9
Total Indicated   4,210 0.11% 9,570 91.9

Notes:

1: NI 43-101 and S-K 1300  definitions were followed for Mineral Resources

2: Mineral Resource are estimated at GT cut-off of 0.10 (2 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for open pit and 0.30 (6 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for underground

3: Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term Uranium price of US$65 per pound

4: Bulk density is 0.0625 tons/ft3 (16 ft3/ton)

5: Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability

6: Numbers may not add due to rounding

14.2 Drill Hole Database

The current drill hole database consists of:

Congo Open Pit Area

  • 2,780 drill holes in total: 2,673 mineralized, 107 barren
  • Includes recent drilling: 90
    • 2009 - 5 drill holes
    • 2010 - 62 drill holes
    • 2011 - 73 drill holes

Sheep Underground Area

  • 485 drill holes
    • Includes 2 holes completed in 2005

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The uranium quantities and grades are reported as %eU3O8, as measured by downhole gamma logging.  The industry standard protocol for reporting uranium in sandstone-hosted deposits in the U.S. has been validated for the Sheep Mountain Project by test drilling at the deposit, as well as by correlation with previous mining activities.

14.2.1 Congo Open Pit

The Congo data set is composed of 2,780 drill holes of which 107 are barren and the remaining 2,673 drill holes contain mineralization. Within the 2,673 mineralized drill holes, 12,070 individual intercepts were present. A portion of the historic data consisted of ½-foot data from the Century Geophysical Compulog™ system.  For this data, a minimum cut-off thickness and grade of 2 feet of 0.03% eU3O8 was applied resulting in 2,667 composite intercepts. The remaining 2,462 intercepts did not have ½ foot data but consisted of composite intercepts interpreted using the half amplitude convention for geophysical log interpretation.  Log interpretation and intercepts from the historic database were spot checked especially with regards to higher-grade mineralized intercepts.  Correlation of the mineralized sand units was available from historic reports.  This historic naming convention for the sand units was maintained.  The following table summarizes the mineralized intercepts in the Congo database by sand unit. A summary of mineralization reflected in the drill holes follows.


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Table 14-3. Congo Pit Area General Statistics (Raw Data)

 

No Cut-Off (12,070 samples)

0.1 GT Cut-Off (9,454 samples)

 

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Min.

0.01

0.09

0.02

0.01

0.10

0.10

Lower. Quart.

0.05

2.00

0.11

0.07

2.00

0.18

Median

0.08

2.50

0.24

0.10

3.00

0.32

Upper Quart.

0.15

4.50

0.51

0.18

5.00

0.63

Max.

5.43

35.00

46.17

5.43

35.00

46.17

Avg.

0.13

3.71

0.49

0.15

4.13

0.61

Std. Deviation

0.18

3.09

0.98

0.19

3.33

1.07

Figure 14-1. GT Histogram for Congo Pit (12,070 Samples)



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Table 14-4. Congo Pit Area General Statistics (Composited Data)

  No Cut-Off (5,129 samples) 0.1 GT Cut-Off (4,533 samples)

 

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Min.

0.030

2.0

0.06

0.030

2.0

0.10

Lower. Quart.

0.054

2.0

0.16

0.066

2.5

0.21

Median

0.090

3.0

0.32

0.100

3.5

0.37

Upper Quart.

0.150

5.0

0.62

0.160

5.1

0.69

Max.

5.432

5.4

46.17

5.432

5.4

46.17

Avg.

0.146

4.1

0.60

0.152

4.4

0.67

Std. Deviation

0.163

2.9

1.18

0.170

3.0

1.24

Table 14-5 Congo Pit Area Statistics by Mineralized Zone

Zone

# Of Composite
Intercepts

Avg.
Thickness (ft.)

Avg. Grade
(%U
3O8)

Avg. GT (Grade
x Thickness)

Avg. Depth to Bottom
of Mineralization

41A

213

4.4

0.176

0.77

266

41

228

3.7

0.168

0.62

298

45

404

4.4

0.167

0.73

279

48

435

4.2

0.152

0.63

255

52

556

4.1

0.139

0.57

268

54/56

407

4.2

0.149

0.63

243

59

375

3.9

0.106

0.41

196

63

436

4.1

0.117

0.48

170

66

456

4.3

0.134

0.57

202

67

242

3.8

0.149

0.57

209

72

271

4.1

0.130

0.53

232

75

233

4.0

0.129

0.52

195

79

133

3.7

0.178

0.67

204

83

122

4.8

0.169

0.81

204

86

50

3.5

0.131

0.46

253

89

27

4.1

0.099

0.41

176

94

28

3.1

0.176

0.30

207

Total

4,616

4.0

0.143

0.57

189

14.2.2 Sheep Underground

The Sheep Underground data set is composed of 485 drill holes based on data from 483 historic drill holes and 2 confirmatory drill holes completed in 2005. Of those 485 drill holes only 33 were barren and 452 of the drill holes contained mineralization of at least 0.5 feet of 0.05% eU3O8. Within the 452 mineralized drill holes, 3,222 individual intercepts were present. Using the cut-off thickness and grade of 6 feet of 0.05% eU3O8, 549 composites diluted to a minimum thickness of 6 feet were created from the 3,222 individual intercepts. These 549 composited intercepts were then correlated into one of the 17 different mineralized zones based on geologic interpretations. If the composite could not be correlated within a zone it was designated as isolated and its influence in subsequent mineral resource estimation limited. Data summaries follow in Tables 14.5 through Table 14.7. 



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Table 14-6  Sheep Underground Area General Statistics (1 of 2)

 

0.02 GT Cut-off (3,222 Samples)

0.3 GT Cut-Off (704 samples)

 

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Min.

0.03

0.50

0.02

0.05

1.00

0.30

Lower. Quart.

0.06

1.00

0.08

0.11

2.50

0.39

Median

0.08

1.50

0.13

0.16

4.00

0.53

Upper Quart.

0.13

2.50

0.27

0.25

6.00

0.86

Max.

2.19

19.0

9.86

2.19

19.0

9.86

Avg.

0.13

2.15

0.27

0.18

4.44

0.81

Std. Deviation

0.11

1.89

0.50

0.18

2.70

0.87

Table 14-7  Sheep Underground Area General Statistics (2 of 2)

 

0.6 GT Cut-off (314 Samples)

0.9 GT Cut-Off (165 samples)

 

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Grade
(%eU
3O8)

Thickness
(ft.)

Grade x
Thickness (GT)

Min.

0.07

1.00

0.60

0.10

1.00

0.91

Lower. Quart.

0.15

4.00

0.72

0.17

5.50

1.12

Median

0.19

6.00

0.93

0.23

6.50

1.45

Upper Quart.

0.29

7.50

1.49

0.31

8.50

2.01

Max.

2.19

19.0

9.86

2.19

19.0

9.86

Avg.

0.22

5.94

1.31

0.26

7.07

1.84

Std. Deviation

0.23

2.91

1.12

0.28

3.06

1.34

Table 14-8  Sheep Underground Area Statistics by Mineralized Zone

Zone

# Of Composite
Intercepts

Avg.
Thickness (ft)

Avg. Grade
(%U
3O8)

Avg. GT (Grade
x Thickness)

Avg. Depth to Bottom
of Mineralization

1

8

6.6

0.07

0.46

758

2U

6

6.0

0.07

0.39

1,040

2L

11

6.4

0.10

0.66

878

3

24

6.6

0.11

0.73

838

4

50

6.8

0.12

0.82

1,010

5

37

7.8

0.14

1.09

1,039

6

35

7.3

0.15

1.12

1,016

7

40

8.2

0.20

1.62

997

8

51

7.0

0.11

0.79

1,038

9

47

7.4

0.16

1.19

957

10

38

8.2

0.14

1.19

1,151

11

36

7.7

0.14

1.09

1,173

12

28

8.5

0.13

1.07

1,214

13

30

6.6

0.13

0.85

1,313

14

31

7.4

0.11

0.83

1,349

15

12

7.3

0.15

1.08

1,354

16

11

6.3

0.13

0.79

1,252

Isolated

54

6.5

0.11

0.69

1,123

Total

549

7.1

0.13

0.91

1,089



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Figure 14-2. GT Histogram for Sheep Underground (3,222 Samples)

Sheep Underground mineralized thickness ranges from 0.5 feet to 19.0 feet. Grade varies from the minimum grade cut-off of 0.03% eU3O8 to a maximum reported grade of 2.19% eU3O8

Estimated trend width and length were based on the geologic model and actual mine workings as follows. The Sheep typical trend width is approximately 100 feet. The mine maps available for the Sheep area show development drifts, ready for extraction, with widths greater than 100 feet. In the limited areas where full extraction occurred, mined out rooms were 50 feet to 100 feet or in some cases wider. The Sheep trend length varies from a few hundred feet to a maximum length of about 5,500 feet based on correlation of geophysical logs.

14.3 Statistical Analysis

14.3.1 Grade Capping

The GT contour method naturally limits the extent of high-grade samples by containing its area of influence within a contour.  In addition, high-grade samples tend to be thin, and the GT method again limits the extent by a thin high-grade zone having a similar GT to a thick lower-grade zone. No grade capping was done for either the Congo Open Pit Mineral Resource or the Sheep Underground Mineral Resource


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14.4 Resource Estimation Methods

14.4.1 Geologic Model

Geologic interpretation of the mineralized host sands was used, along with the intercepts that met the cut-off grade and thickness, to develop a geologic model, which was used in estimating the mineral resources at the Project.  The three-dimensional locations along the drill hole of all mineralized intercepts were plotted in AutoCAD™.  Each intercept was evaluated based on its geophysical log expression and location relative to adjacent intercepts.  Whenever possible, geophysical logs were used to correlate and project intercepts between drill holes.  Intercepts that met the minimum grade cut-off but were isolated above or below the host sand horizons; where data sets were incomplete and/or did not fully penetrate the host sand, were excluded from the mineralized envelope.  The mineralized envelope was created by using the top and bottom of each intercept that was within the geologic host sands.  The intercepts that were used to make this envelope were then used in the resource estimate GT method. 

Drill spacing within the Project is not uniform due in part to the steep and irregular surface terrain and in part to random drill hole deviation.  Drill spacing in the Congo (open pit areas) range from roughly 50-foot centers to greater than 100-foot centers.  Drill spacing at Sheep Underground area varies from roughly 200-foot centers to over 400-foot centers.  Drilling depths at Congo are typically less than 400 feet in the northern portions of the area to generally over 600 feet to the south.  Drilling depths at Sheep exceed 1,000 feet but are typically less than 1,500 feet.

In developing the initial geologic envelope, both surface drill data and data from underground mine maps was reviewed.  In the case of the Sheep Underground and other underground mines nearby (the Seismic and Reserve mines) and partially within the limits of the planned Congo Pit, the underground development and crosscut drifts were typically on 100-foot centers.  Mining within the development drifts and crosscuts was completed by random room and pillar methods, extracting the mineralized material meeting the mine cut-off applicable at the time and leaving the lower grade material as pillars.  In most cases entire 100x100 foot or larger blocks were mined and/or, in the case of the Sheep Underground, delineated by face sampling and longhole drilling but not mined. 

The current geologic and resource model is in three dimensions based on geologic interpretation of 18 mineralized zones in the Congo area and 17 mineralized zones in the Sheep area. 

Once the data were separated by zone an initial area of influence of 50 feet (maximum 25-foot radius or 50-foot diameter) was applied to each drill hole by zone at its drifted location to establish an initial geologic limit to the projection of mineralization.  Refinement of the geologic limit and projection of mineralization along trend was then based on specific correlation and interpretation of geophysical logs on a hole-by-hole basis.   

14.4.2 GT Contour Method

The mineral resource estimate was completed using the Grade x Thickness Contour Method (also known as the GT Method) on individual mineralized zones as defined in a full 3D geological model of the deposit.  The GT Method is a well-established approach for estimating uranium resources and has been in use since the 1950s in the U.S.  The technique is most useful in estimating tonnage and average grade of relatively planar bodies where lateral extent of the mineralized body is much greater than its thickness, as was observed in drilling of the Congo and Sheep deposits.

For tabular and roll front style deposits the GT Method provides a clear illustration of the distribution of the thickness and average grade of uranium mineralization.  The GT Method is particularly applicable to the Congo and Sheep deposits as it can be effective in reducing the undue influence of high-grade or thick intersections as well as the effects of widely spaced, irregularly spaced, or clustered drill holes, all of which occur to some degree in the Congo and Sheep deposits.  This method also makes it possible for the geologist to fit the contour pattern to the geologic interpretation of the deposit.


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The GT Method is used as common practice for Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates for similar sandstone-hosted uranium projects ("Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves," adopted by CIM November 23, 2003, p. 51).  It is the Authors' opinion that the GT Method, when properly constrained by geologic interpretation, provides an accurate estimation of contained pounds of uranium. 

Congo Pit

Figures 14-3 thru 14-19 - Congo Open Pit, for GT contour maps which show the mineral resource areas and the areas of historic mining for each individual sand.

The 2011 mineral resource estimate grouped sands for the North Gap and South Congo areas in to the five major sand units and calculated the amount of resource removed by historic mining based on a deduction from past production records, BRS, 2011. For this report the North Gap, South Congo, and Congo mineralized zones were combined into a single unified mineral resource model and deletions of resources related to past mining were determined from underground mine maps. 

The current mineral resource model includes 18 separate sand units for all areas and includes deletion of the portions of the mineral resource model that falls within the historic mine limits determined from mine maps, which equated to approximately 25% of the initial resource estimate.  Historic mining limits were imported into the resource model by individual sand horizons in three dimensions.  The extent of mining was taken to be the actual mapped underground mine limit or the GT boundary representing the historical mining cut-off (8 feet at 0.095 or a GT of 0.76), whichever was greatest.  Although in many cases the mine maps showed remnant pillars, none of these areas were included in the Mineral Reserve estimate. Thus, the estimate of current Mineral Resources is conservative with respect to the exclusion of areas affected by historic mining. 

The Congo sum GT, diluted to a minimum 2-foot mining thickness from the mineralized envelope for each drill hole, was plotted in AutoCAD.  If the thickness exceeded 2 feet, no dilution was added.  The diluted thickness of mineralization for each drill hole was also plotted.  Resource estimates include deletion of the portions of the mineral resource model that fall within the historic mine limits as previously discussed.


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Figure 14-3. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 94


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Figure 14-4. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 89


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Figure 14-5. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 86


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Figure 14-6. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 83


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Figure 14-7. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 79


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Figure 14-8. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 75


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Figure 14-9. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 72


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Figure 14-10. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 67


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Figure 14-11. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 66


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Figure 14-12. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 63


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Figure 14-13. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 59


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Figure 14-14. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 54-56


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Figure 14-15. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 52


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Figure 14-16. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 48


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Figure 14-17. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 4


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Figure 14-18. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 41


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Figure 14-19. Congo Pit GT Contours - Sand 41A


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Sheep Underground

Figures 14-20 through Figure 14-36 show the GT contour maps for the Sheep Underground.  They are separated into individual sand maps that show mineral resource areas and the areas of historic mining.

The GT, diluted to a minimum 6-foot mining thickness from the mineralized envelope for each drill hole and each horizon, was plotted in AutoCAD™.  If the thickness exceeded 6 feet no dilution was added.  The diluted thickness of mineralization for each drill hole was also plotted.  Mineral resource estimates account for the deletion of mined areas within the resource model estimated from surface drilling.  The total reported mined tonnage from the Sheep I underground mine was 275,000 tons containing 522,500 pounds of U3O8 and an average grade of 0.095% U3O8. However, the portions of the current mineral resource estimates which were within the defined previously mined area was only an estimated 62,618 tons of material containing 160,666 pounds of eU3O8 and an average grade of 0.128% eU3O8.  From review of the Sheep, I and II as-built mine plans, it was apparent that little or no material was mined at Sheep II and that only development work was completed.  Further, it was apparent at the Sheep I mine that many of the mined areas were located by underground delineation drilling rather than by surface drilling.  The mine history clearly shows that underground development drilling and sampling expanded the resource as compared to that which could be projected from the surface drilling alone.

For mine planning purposes, a three-dimensional block model was created from the Sheep GT, geologic and mineralized envelope models. The modeling utilized an automated routine that assigned the thickness of mineralization, GT, and mineralized elevation reflected by their respective contours, to the centroids of a uniform 25 x 25-foot (25'x25') grid. From the thickness and GT contours, average grade, mineralized and waste tonnages, and contained pounds was calculated and assigned to each block.  Each 25'x25' block was then evaluated based on its grade and thickness for mine planning and scheduling.


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Figure 14-20. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 01


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Figure 14-21. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 02U


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Figure 14-22. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 02L


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Figure 14-23. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 03


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Figure 14-24. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 04


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Figure 14-25. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 05


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Figure 14-26. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 06


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Figure 14-27. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 07


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Figure 14-28. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 08


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Figure 14-29. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 09


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Figure 14-30. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 10


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Figure 14-31. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 11


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Figure 14-32. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 12


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Figure 14-33. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 13


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Figure 14-34.  Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 14


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Figure 14-35. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 15


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Figure 14-36. Sheep Underground GT Contours - Zone 16


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14.5 Past Production

As the Project area was mined by both open pit and underground methods prior to 1988, removal of the resources from those past mining campaigns is necessary.  Descriptions of how those resources were removed is detailed in the following sections.

14.5.1 Congo Open Pit Mine

This estimate includes deletion of the portions of the mineral resource model that falls within the historic mine limits that equated to approximately 25% of the initial resource estimate.  Historic mining limits were imported into the resource model by individual sand horizons in three dimensions.  The extent of mining was taken to be the actual mapped underground mine limit or the GT boundary representing the historical mining cut-off (8 feet at 0.095 or a GT of 0.76), whichever was greatest.  Although in many cases the mine maps showed remnant pillars, none of these areas were included in the mineral resource estimate. Thus, the estimate of current Mineral Resources is conservative with respect to the exclusion of areas affected by historic mining.  Estimated Mineral Resources for potential open pit areas were diluted to a minimum mining thickness of two feet.

EFR independently verified the removal of 25% of the resource by digitizing and triangulating the existing underground workings in 3D using Maptek's Vulcan mining software.  Then, mineralized intercepts were flagged as being mined or not mined based on whether or not that intercept intersected the mine workings.  Two polygonal resources were then calculated, one using all the drill holes and one that subtracted out the resource associated with the intercepts flagged as being mined.  The result was as 26% reduction in resource, or essentially the same as the 25% reduction used in this report.

14.5.2 Sheep Underground Mine

This mineral resource accounts for the deletion of mined areas within our resource model estimated from surface drilling.  The total reported mined tonnage from the Sheep I underground mine was 275,000 tons containing 522,500 pounds of U3O8 and an average grade of 0.095% U3O8.  However, the portions of the current mineral resource estimates which were within the defined previously mined area was only an estimated 62,618 tons of material containing 160,666 pounds of U3O8 and an average grade of 0.128% U3O8

From review of the Sheep I and II as-built mine plans, it was apparent that little or no material was mined at Sheep II and that only development work was completed.  Further, it was apparent at the Sheep I mine that many of the mined areas were located by underground delineation drilling rather than by surface drilling.

14.6 Classification

Measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with a measured mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors, as defined in this section, in sufficient detail to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because a measured mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than the level of confidence of either an indicated mineral resource or an inferred mineral resource, a measured mineral resource may be converted to a proven mineral reserve or to a probable mineral reserve.

Indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty associated with an indicated mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because an indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource, an indicated mineral resource may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve.


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Inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological uncertainty associated with an inferred mineral resource is too high to apply relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. Because an inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability, an inferred mineral resource may not be considered when assessing the economic viability of a mining project and may not be converted to a mineral reserve.

As is common with uranium deposits, the primary method of assay is by radiometric probe.  The probe provides a continuous log of the gamma decay of the daughter products of uranium, which is used along with various calibration constants to calculate the equivalent uranium grade (%eU3O8).  The majority of the data used in the estimation of mineral resources at Sheep Mountain is historical radiometric probe data.  As the data was not collected by EFR, there may be a level of uncertainty regarding the quality of the radiometric probe data.  It is expected that this level of uncertainty is very low.  Determining equivalent uranium content by radiometric probe is an industry standard method and has been used by a number of companies over a number of years.  Probes are regularly calibrated and operated properly, they are a very reliable method of assay.  This is supported by the fact historical resources were based on radiometric probe grades during past mining operations at the project. 

The estimation method of GT contours is an industry standard method for flat lying or slightly dipping uranium deposits and has been employed on a number of different uranium deposits across the U.S.  The Author has direct knowledge of the Sheep Mountain deposit, having worked there in the past along with a number of other similar uranium mines/deposits in Wyoming. The inputs into the GT contour method are based on a working knowledge of these types of deposits.  It is believed that the uncertainty associated with the estimation method is low. 

The method of accounting for the previously mined resource beneath the proposed Congo Open Pit Mine poses a level of uncertainty.  That level of uncertainty is low as the method used by the Author to calculate the mined out portion of the Mineral Resource are considered conservative.  This method was also independently verified by EFR using a different method. 

Based on the drill density, the apparent continuity of the mineralization along trends, geologic correlation and modeling of the deposit, a review of historic mining with respect to current resource projections, and verification drilling, the Mineral Resource estimate herein meets NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 criteria as an Indicated Mineral Resource.


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15.0 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE

15.1 General Statement

With respect to the open pit mineral reserves, open pit mine designs and sequencing was completed for all areas, and the resultant mineral reserve estimate reflects the current open pit mine designs and economic evaluations.

The following Mineral Reserves are fully excluded in the total and are  additive to the Indicated Mineral Resources reported in Section 14.0, Table 14.1.  The total Probable Mineral Reserve for the Sheep Mountain Project including both open pit and underground projected mining areas is tabulated below. The Mineral Reserve estimates presented herein have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 standards.

The metal price used in calculating mineral reserves is $65 per pound, which is lower than the price used for mineral resources ($65), since mineral reserves have a higher prospect of economic extraction and can be exploited in the short term.

Table 15-1  Sheep Mountain Mineral Reserves- April 13, 2012

Classification Zone G.T.
Cut-off
Tons
(000s)
Grade %
eU
3O8
Pounds
eU
3O8 (000s)
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Probable Sheep Underground 0.45 3,498 0.132 9,248 91.9
Probable Congo Pit Area 0.10 3,955 0.115 9,117 91.9
Total Indicated   7,453 0.123% 18,365 91.9

Notes:

1: NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 definitions were followed for Mineral Reserve

2: In situ Mineral Reserves are estimated at GT cut-off of 0.10 (2 ft. of 0.05% eU3O8) for open pit and 0.45 (6 ft. of 0.075% eU3O8) for underground

3: Mineral Reserves are estimated using a Uranium price of US$60 per pound

4: Bulk density is 0.0625 tons/ft3 (16 ft3/ton)

5: Numbers may not add due to rounding

15.2 Congo Pit Conversion of Resources to Reserves

The following Probable Mineral Reserves for the Congo Pit are fully included in the total Indicated Mineral Resources and are not additive to that total.  The Probable Mineral Reserve is that portion of the Indicated Mineral Resource that is economic under reasonably foreseeable cost and pricing conditions ("modifying factors").

This estimate includes deletion of the portions of the mineral resource model that fall within the historic mine limits.  Historic mining limits were imported into the resource model by individual sand horizons in three dimensions.  The extent of mining was taken to be the actual mapped underground mine limit or the GT boundary representing the historical mining cut-off (8 feet at 0.095 or a GT of 0.76), whichever was greatest. Although in many cases the mine maps showed remnant pillars, none of these areas were included in the mineral reserve estimate, though the potential exists for these to be mined.  Both the estimated mineral resources and mineral reserves were diluted to a minimum mining thickness of two feet.  The reported Probable Mineral Reserve is that portion of the reported Indicated Mineral Resource that is within the current open pit design.

The cut-off grade of 0.05% eU3O8 at a minimum mining height of 2 feet equates to a 0.10 GT cut-off.  Table 15.1 summarizes the portion of the Congo Pit that is economically mineable and meets the open pit cut-off criteria.

15.3 Sheep Underground Conversion of Resources to Reserves

The following Probable Mineral Reserves are fully included in the total Indicated Mineral Resources for the Sheep Underground.  The Probable Mineral Reserve is that portion of the Indicated Mineral Resource that is economic under reasonably foreseeable cost and pricing conditions.


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This estimate includes deletion of the portions of the mineral resource model which falls within the historic mine limits.  Both the estimated Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves were diluted to a minimum mining thickness of six feet.  The reported Probable Mineral Reserve is that portion of the reported Indicated Mineral Resource that is within the current underground mine design.

The cut-off grade of 0.075% eU3O8 at a minimum mining height of 6 feet equals a 0.45 GT cut-off. Table 15.1 summarizes the portion of the Sheep I and II Underground Mine that is economically mineable and meets the cut-off criteria.

15.4 Cut-off Grade

As the operating cost per ton varies substantially between the open pit and underground it is appropriate to have separate cut-off grade for the two operations.  Table 15-2 provides a calculation of breakeven cut-off grades for both the open pit and underground mines based on current cost forecasts and a forward-looking commodity price of $65 per pound of U3O8.  Costs per ton reflect operating costs only and do not include capital write off.  Note that staff and support costs are included in both open pit and underground mining costs.  Incremental underground mining costs are solely related to underground mining and mineral processing costs.

Table 15-2  Breakeven Cut-off Grade

  Operating
Cost $/Ton
1
Breakeven Grade
%U
3O8 at $65/lb. Price
Approximate
Value per Ton
Metallurgical
Recovery (%)
Open Pit Mine and Mineral Processing OPEX $61.00 0.05% U3O8  $65.00 91.9
Underground Mine and Mineral Processing OPEX $102.37 0.075% U3O8  $97.50 91.9

Notes:

1. Operating Costs include mining costs, support, staff, mineral processing, reclamation, taxes and royalties for open pit mining and underground mining, mineral processing, taxes and reclamation for underground mining.

From this evaluation, and other factors such as minimum mining thickness, the mine design cut-offs were set at or above the minimum breakeven cut-off grades at.

  • Open Pit
    • Minimum 2-foot thickness
    • Minimum grade .05% U3O8
    • Minimum GT 0.10
  • Underground
    • Minimum 6-foot thickness
    • Minimum grade 0.075% U3O8
    • Minimum GT 0.45

Based on these parameters, the average grade mined from a combined open pit and underground operation is estimated at 0.123% eU3O8.  As mining proceeds, mineralized material encountered below the mine GT cut-off, which has to be excavated as part of the mine plan and would otherwise be disposed of as mine waste, could be salvaged at grades below calculated breakeven cut-off grades provided the grade would support haulage and mineral processing costs.  The mineral reserve as stated herein does not include the potential mineralized material, which may be salvaged, which meets the breakeven grade cut-off but is less than the mine design GT cut-offs.

15.4.1 Mining and Mineral Processing Recovery Parameters and Sensitivity

Mineral reserves are that portion of the Indicated Mineral Resource, Section 14.0, which are economically recoverable under reasonably foreseeable cost and pricing conditions. The mineral resource model, the GT contour estimation methodology, and the geologic interpretations, as described in Section 14.0, also apply to the mineral reserve estimate. The key parameters in the conversion of mineral resource to mineral reserves include mine dilution and recovery. 


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As previously discussed in Sections  14.0 and 15.0, mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates account for mine dilution.  Mine dilution is a function of the mineralized thickness and the mining method and selectivity. With respect to both the Congo Pit and Sheep Underground, selective mining methods and appropriate mining equipment were selected to minimize mine dilution.  Mine dilution was assessed by diluting mineralized thicknesses to minimum mining thicknesses, 2 feet for open pit mining and 6 feet for underground mining.  Thus, the dilution factor varies with the thickness of mineralization.  The sensitivity of estimated costs with respect to mine dilution is further addressed in Section 22.0.  A change of 10% in mine grade due to dilution is estimated to affect the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) by 6%.  Mine recovery was assessed by the inclusion of only those mineralized zones with adequate thickness, grade, and continuity to be mined.  Thin and/or low-grade mineralized zones were excluded from the mineral reserve through the application of dilution to minimum thickness and the subsequent application of GT cut-off.  Isolated and/or discontinuous mineralization was excluded from the mineral reserve estimate through the mine planning process.  For the Congo Pit an estimated 60% of the mineral resource was converted to a mineral reserve.  For the Sheep Underground an estimated 70% of the mineral resource was converted to a mineral reserve. Preliminary mine designs focused on the areas with the strongest and most continuous mineralization and were not optimized for maximum mineral resource extraction. Mineral Resources were included in the mineral resource estimate in areas adjacent to both the Congo pit and Sheep underground, which have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. These areas would be accessible for mining from the open pit highwalls by conventional drift mining or using modern highwall mining systems and through the underground through additional stopping and/or raises. Those portions of the Mineral Resources not readily accessible from either the Congo pit or Sheep underground mine were excluded from the mineral resource estimation as they do not currently meet the criteria for reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction.

Mineral processing recovery is discussed in Section 13.0.  Due to the nature of the mineralization whereby the uranium minerals occur as interstitial material between the sand grains, mineral processing commonly results in a rather uniform residual uranium value that remains in the solid material.  This loss or "tail" is consistent irrespective of the initial grade.  This has been confirmed by column leach testing which showed a constant tail of less than 0.002% U3O8 (RDE, 2011).  In addition, there are uranium losses related to the recovery of the uranium values from the leach solutions.  These "liquid' losses are typically 0.002% U3O8 (Woolery, 1978).  Thus, based on testing to date an overall loss of 0.004% U3O8 is indicated.  However, to provide conservatism in the estimate and to account for potential variations in the mineralized material with respect to the materials tested and overall loss of 0.010% U3O8 was applied.  Based on the estimated mine life grade of 0.123% eU3O8 this results in an overall mineral processing recovery factor of approximately 92%.

The mining and mineral processing methods and factors recommended in this report have previously been successfully employed at similar projects in the Sheep Mountain area.  Successful uranium recovery from the mineralized material at Sheep Mountain and similar areas such as the Gas Hills has been demonstrated via both conventional milling and heap leach recovery. The project is a brown-field development located in a State, which tends to favor mining and industrial development.  The project has been well received locally and will provide substantial revenues to both Fremont County and the State of Wyoming in addition to providing long-term employment for the region. 

For these reasons, the Author believes that the Sheep Mountain reserves have a low probability of being affected by risk associated with the modifying factors, which include but are not limited to, mining; processing; metallurgical; infrastructure; economic; marketing; legal; environmental compliance; plans, negotiations or agreements with local individuals or groups; and governmental factors.  The author is not aware of any factors including environmental, permitting, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other factors, which would materially affect the mineral resource estimate, herein.


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16.0 MINING METHODS

16.1 Introduction

The Sheep Mountain Project includes the Congo Pit, a proposed open pit development, and the re-opening of the existing Sheep Underground mine.

The open pit is phased in 12 smaller pits over a 12-year production life to facilitate internal backfilling in order to reduce longer haul distances to waste dumps.  The average daily production rate of the open pit is 1300 mineralized material tons per day with a strip ratio over the life of mine of 33:1, or an average of 44000 tons per day of waste. The open pit uses backhoes to mine, on average, 4-foot thick mineralized material zones that are stacked in multiple sub-horizontal horizons.  Mineralized material is loaded into trucks, while wheel tractor scrapers are used in waste stripping due to the weak nature of the waste rock.  Past surface mining operations used this equipment and mining method in the Sheep Mountain and Gas Hills District.

Underground mining at Sheep Mountain averages 1300 mineralized material tons per day, also over a 12-year mine life, using a modified room and pillar mining method sequenced from bottom to top.  A twin decline will be developed in the Paydirt open pit and end below the underground deposit.  Mineralized material will be hauled using a 36-inch conveyor located in one of the declines to a surface stockpile shared with the open pit operations.  An 8,500 foot long surface conveyor belt with take both surface and underground mineralized material to the processing facility.

Although other processing alternatives were considered, the recommended uranium recovery method includes the processing of mined materials via an on-site heap leach facility as discussed in Section 13.0 of this report.

Figure 16.1 depicts the overall project. Mining will be completed by both underground and open pit methods as subsequently described. Mined product from the underground and open pit mine operations will be commingled at the stockpile site located near the underground portal and in close proximity to the pit.  At the stockpile, the mined product will be sized, if needed, blended, and then conveyed via a covered overland conveyor system to the heap leach pad where it will be stacked on a double lined pad for leaching.  The primary lixiviant will be sulfuric acid. Concentrated leach solution will be collected by gravity in a double lined collection pond and then transferred to the mineral processing facility for extraction and drying.  The final product produced will be a uranium oxide commonly referred to as yellowcake.

Personnel requirements are discussed in Sections 5.5 and 21.8

16.2 Mine Productivity and Scheduling

The project consists of two distinct and independent mining areas, the Congo Open Pit and the Sheep Underground, with common processing on mine material via a heap leach recovery facility.  The currently planned mine life of the open pit is 12 years with an additional four years allotted for mine closure and reclamation.  The currently planned mine life of the underground is 12 years which includes one year for development and 11 years mine production.  The heap leach facility is designed to accommodate the mined material from both open pit and underground mine operations over an operating life compatible with the open pit operations.  Referring to the mine production profile in Table 21-1, both the open pit and underground mines are scheduled to end at approximately the same time.

16.3 Congo Open Pit

The current mine design for the Congo Pit includes typical highwall heights in the range of 100 to 400 feet and reaches a maximum depth of 600 feet in localized areas in the southeast pit corner.  The open pit design employs similar design parameters and mining equipment configurations to those used successfully in past Wyoming conventional mine operations.  Highwall design is based upon the performance of past projects in the Sheep


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Figure 16-1 Project Overview


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Figure 16-2. McIntosh Pit Circa 2010

Mountain and Gas Hills districts and includes an average highwall slope of 0.7:1 (horizontal: vertical), which reflects the average of a 10-foot bench width and 50-foot highwall at a 0.5:1 slope.

As depicted in Figure 16.2, the open pit highwalls at the McIntosh pit, built to a similar design some 40 years ago, remain remarkably stable. However, moving forward, geotechnical studies are recommended for final determination of highwall design parameters.

Figure 16.3 displays the general mine sequence and annual limits of mining. Due to the nature and extent of mineralization, the Congo Pit is essentially a single open pit that will be developed sequentially to accommodate the desired mine production and allow for internal backfilling.  This sequential schedule and internal backfilling reduces the amount of double-handling of mine waste material required to backfill and reclaim the mined pit during the life of the mine. 

The host formation is exposed at the surface and dips between 9 and 16 degrees to the southeast. The initial pit construction will create access from the open pit mine area to the mine waste and stockpile areas. Subsequent pit extensions will utilize this access. Shallow mineralized areas exist along the north and northwest portions of the pit.  As a result, the overall mine sequence begins in the areas where the mineralized zones have the least amount of cover and proceeds essentially along formational dip. The first 6 pits are constructed in a panel along the up-dip portion of the deposit and are the shallowest.  During this time, the out of pit mine spoils areas will be developed.  Subsequent pits will be completed in successive panels proceeding down and along dip, i.e., pits 7 through 10; 11 through 12 which reach the greatest depths.  Beginning with pit 7, the great majority of the mine waste will be sequentially backfilled in previous pits.

Detailed Open Pit Mine Sequence drawings follow as Figure 16.4 to Figure 16.15. representing the annual open pit mining sequence for pits 1 through 12, respectively.


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Figure 16-3. Congo Pit - Annual Pit Sequence


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Figure 16-4. Congo Pit - Year 01


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Figure 16-5. Congo Pit - Year 02


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Figure 16-6. Congo Pit - Year 03


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Figure 16-7.  Congo Pit - Year 04


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Figure 16-8. Congo Pit - Year 05


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Figure 16-9. Congo Pit - Year 06


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Figure 16-10. Congo Pit - Year 07


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Figure 16-11. Congo Pit - Year 08


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Figure 16-12. Congo Pit - Year 09


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Figure 16-13. Congo Pit - Year 10


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Figure 16-14. Congo Pit - Year 11


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Figure 16-15. Congo Pit - Year 12


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Historic underground mine workings will be encountered during open pit operations. In order to ensure the safety of surface mine personnel, underground workings will be identified prior to surface mining in a given area by the Engineering department, with access to the digital 3D modeling of the underground mines based on the historic underground mine mapping.  Underground workings identified in this way will be uncovered during the pit excavation by the use of a mining crew using a medium sized excavator, medium sized dozer and in-pit drill, all overseen by a field engineer.  The basic procedure for this process will be to locate shallow underground zones below the pit floor based upon the mine mapping and backfill waste into the mine voids.  This may be achieved by over-excavating around the voids and dumping in-pit waste into them or using the in-pit drilling equipment to drill into the workings and blast overlying waste rock into the cavities.  Additional assistance in location of the voids may be provided by shallow seismic testing. 

Based upon site relief in the Congo area, surface water inflow can be kept out of the pit by ditching around the highwall crest and day-lighting the runoff to offsite drainages.  In addition to controlling surface water runoff, the ditching will serve as a safety berm to prevent access to the highwall.  All offsite drainage will meet the requirements of the WYPDES permit, including appropriate sediment control measures.  Excess groundwater inflow in the pit will be used as a part of the daily operation of the pit for dust control on haul roads or consumed at the processing facility.

With respect to ground water, current data indicates that ground water flow will average less than 150 gpm and will not be encountered until pit 7.

Equipment cycle times have been estimated for both stripping and mining using the specific haulage profile for each pit. Based on these estimates, both the stripping and mining can be accomplished in a single 10-hour daily shift, 5 days per week.  This is desirable to accommodate the mining of multiple dipping mineralized zones which will be encountered. The proposed primary stripping fleet consists of four 637 CAT twin engine scrapers paired with four 631 CAT single engine scrapers in a push-pull configuration. Both stripping and mining equipment will be supported by dozers and motor graders.  The nominal capacity of this configuration is capable of excavation and placement of 11.0 million tons of waste and 330,000 tons of mineralized material on an annual basis over the open pit life of mine. 

Surface mining will be completed in a selective manner with a 2-3 cubic-yard bucket on a medium-size excavator loading four articulated mine haul trucks.  The mining crew is projected to have excess annual capacity and will thus be responsible for handling the majority of the internal mine waste and an additional 845,000 tons of material per year. This increases the annual stripping capacity. Table 16-1 summarizes the open pit mining fleet.

In-pit grade control will be a critical aspect of the project.  This type of sandstone hosted uranium deposit may exhibit local variability in grade and thickness, and potentially variable radiometric equilibrium conditions.  To address these conditions, minimize mine dilution, and maximize mine extraction: a tiered systematic grade control program is essential.  The following describes the grade control program. 

  • Tier 1, Radiometric Scanning: Field personnel equipped with calibrated hand-held gamma meters will be assigned to both the stripping and mining crews.

  • Tier 2, In-Pit Assay:  A portable sample trailer equipped with a portable x-ray fluorescence ("XRF") assay instrument, and appropriate sample preparation equipment will be located in the pit.  Mine trucks will be sampled with an auger system; the samples prepped and assayed; and trucks will then be directed to deliver the material to the stockpile or mine waste area depending on the results of the assay. 

  • Tier 3, Quality Control: As each mine truck is sampled and tested, the field assay sample rejects will be collected and separated by grade ranges.  The daily pit samples will be blended and split to provide representative samples which will in turn be assayed at the plant laboratory.  The plant lab will assay both solid and liquid samples and will be subject to an outside and/or third-party quality control system.


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Table 16-1  Open Pit Mining Equipment List

Major Equipment*

Number

Capacity/ Load Factor

336 Excavator

1

2 to 3 cy

345 Excavator

1

4½ cy

16M CAT Motor Grader

1

16 ft blade

140 CAT Motor Grader

1

12 ft blade

D-6 LGP dozer

1

For Heap

D-8T CAT Track Dozer

1

12.9 ft blade

D-9T CAT Track Dozer

1

14.2 ft blade

D-10T CAT Track Dozer

1

17.3 ft blade

A30D Volvo Articulated Truck

4

32 tons/load

980 CAT Wheel Loader

1

6 cy

637 CAT Twin Engine Scraper

4

29 cy/load

631G CAT Scraper

4

29 cy/load

Water truck 3,000 gallons

1

3,000 gal

Water truck 8,000 gallons

1

8,000 gal

Mine Support vehicles

 

 

Fuel/lube truck

1

 

Mechanical service truck

1

 

Rubber tire backhoe CAT 414

1

 

Pickup trucks, 4WD, ¾-ton

8

 

*Specific equipment as specified or equivalent.

16.4 Sheep Underground

The Sheep Underground mine has operated as a conventional underground mine on three separate occasions.  No reports of adverse ground conditions, flooding, cave-ins or any other unusual mining conditions are known to EFR. The historic mining method was a modified room and pillar method using conventional techniques.  Jacklegs were used to drill out the rounds and underground track haulage was used to transport the mined material to Shaft No. 1.

The mining method proposed going forward is also a conventional method using a modified room and pillar method but utilizing modern mining equipment such as jumbo drills and scooptrams for haulage.  A new double entry decline will be constructed starting at the Paydirt Pit and ending below the deposit.  Haulage from the mine will be accomplished via a 36-inch conveyor within one of the double declines. The existing shafts will be used for ventilation purposes only, with exhaust fans mounted at both locations.  If the existing borehole ventilation shafts can be rehabilitated, they will be used as intake shafts.  The deposit is comprised of 16 mineralized zones with a total thickness of approximately 350 feet.  The deposit will be mined primarily from bottom to top. 

Sheep Underground mining method summary:

  • Development drifts will utilize dual openings. 10 by 15-foot openings will be used for haulage, and 8 by 10-foot openings will be used for transportation and ventilation.
  • Mining panels will utilize multiple entries depending on the width of the zone.  Entries will be approximately 12 feet wide, minimum of 6 feet high and averaging 7 feet high. 

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  • Crosscuts will be placed on 100-foot centers.
  • Mining will be completed by advance and retreat methods.
  • Advance mining is accomplished by driving approximately 12 by 7-foot drifts within zones meeting cut-off grade.  Multiple drifts will be driven parallel to one another with crosscuts on 100-foot centers.  The parallel drifts will be 27 feet apart on centerline. 
  • This will leave a pillar with a dimension of approximately 15 feet wide and 90 feet long.  On retreat mining, these pillars are removed if they meet cut-off grade. 
  • Ventilation will be provided by two 500 HP exhaust fans at Sheep No. 1 Shaft and Sheep No. 2 Shaft assisted by multiple portable face fans.  Ventilation requirements for this mine are approximately 220,000 cubic feet of air per minute.  Fresh air must be directed across each of the working faces and through the drifts designed for personnel transport.
  • Mine ventilation, which meets standards for removal of diesel emissions, will also provide adequate ventilation for radon gas given the anticipated mining grades.
  • Blasting of the rock, both for development and mining, will be done by drilling 8 to 12-foot blast holes using jumbo drilling rigs and filling the blast holes with ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil). 
  • Haulage from the working faces to the haulage conveyor or to the loading chutes will utilize 4 cubic yard scoop trams that load, haul and dump mined product.
  • Mined product will be hauled through development drifts directly to the decline or to two loading chutes to transport the mined product to the decline.  The decline will be equipped with a 36-inch conveyor that will take the mined product and waste, when necessary, to the surface.  Haulage drifts will be kept as level as practicable, not exceeding ten percent grades.
  • The roof and sidewalls in the drifts, both mining and development, will be supported with rock bolts and wire mesh. A rock-bolting machine that can drill holes both vertically and horizontally will place the rock bolts on approximately four-foot centers as the drifts advance.  There will be overlap of bolting and wire mesh between each round to ensure proper ground control coverage.   
  • Boreholes to construct loading chutes or to aid in ventilation will be drilled using raised boring methods. 
  • Waste rock, whenever possible, will be placed in mined out workings to minimize haulage of hauling the mined waste to the surface.  When it is not possible, the waste will be taken to the surface where it will be stockpiled for final reclamation.
  • Ground Support will, in addition to bolting and meshing, include:
    • In areas that do not have mineralized zones directly above them temporary support will be placed such as timbers or concrete cylinders, and the pillars will be removed allowing the roof to ultimately fail.
    • In areas with mineralized pods directly overhead, the adjoining rooms will be backfilled using a cemented backfill.  The backfill will be a combination of waste rock mixed with three and one-half percent cement and three and one-half percent fly ash.  This backfill will exceed the strength of the native rock and prevent the roof from failing and diluting the mineralized pods above them.

The planned location of the new decline in relation to the existing workings is shown on Figure 16.6.  This figure is also an index map for the annual underground mine sequence maps that follow.  Figures 16.17 through Figure 16.27 show the annual development and mining sequence for through eleven years of planned mining. Table 16-2 summarizes the underground mine fleet.


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Figure 16-16. Sheep Underground Overview Map


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Figure 16-17. Sheep Underground - Year 01


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Figure 16-18. Sheep Underground - Year 02


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Figure 16-19. Sheep Underground - Year 03


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Figure 16-20. Sheep Underground - Year 04


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Figure 16-21. Sheep Underground - Year 05


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Figure 16-22. Sheep Underground - Year 06


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Figure 16-23. Sheep Underground - Year 07


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Figure 16-24. Sheep Underground - Year 08


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Figure 16-25. Sheep Underground - Year 09


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Figure 16-26. Sheep Underground - Year 10


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Figure 16-27. Sheep Underground - Year 11

Table 16-2  Underground Mining Equipment List


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Major Equipment

Number

Capacity/ Load Factor

Model Boomer S1L Face Drill

4

74 HP-1xBOOM

Model Boomer 104 Face Drill

1

74 HP-1xBOOM

Model Boomer S1D-DH Face Drill

1

74 HP-1xBOOM

Model Boltec SL Bolter

7

40 HP-1xBOOM

Model Boltec 235 Bolter

2

97 HP-1xBOOM

Model ST7LP Scooptram

4

4 CY

Model ST7 Scooptram

2

4 CY

Mine Support vehicles

 

 

Powder Buggies

2

129 HP

Bobcat Skidsteer

3

3,200 lb. Lift

Utility Truck - Flatbed

1

N/A

Scissor Truck

8

N/A

Man trips

6

N/A

Pickup trucks, 4WD, ¾-ton

8

N/A

Fuel/lube truck

1

N/A

Mechanical service truck

1

N/A

Forklift

1

N/A



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17.0 RECOVERY METHODS

17.1 Introduction

The uranium recovery method at the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is conventional heap leaching, a process identical to that applied globally for the last five decades to the oxidized ores of copper and gold.  This process embodies an oxidant to mobilize uranium minerals from the mined material stacked on the heap pad and dilute sulfuric acid to dissolve the uranium. The uranium-enriched solution is pumped to a recovery plant (mill) for purification and concentration of the uranium to a saleable product, using solvent extraction and precipitation systems. Over a 12 year mine life, the heaps will recover an average of 1.4 million pounds of U3O8 annually.

Uranium recovery at Sheep Mountain will include the following processes:

  • stacking of mined material on the heap leach pad.
  • application of leach solution.
  • collection of pregnant leach solution ("PLS").
  • filtering of sand and fines from PLS.
  • solvent extraction to concentrate and purify the extracted uranium.
  • precipitation of uranium oxide, or yellowcake.
  • washing, drying, packaging, storage and loading of yellowcake product.
  • management of process solid and liquid waste and bleed streams; and
  • in-place reclamation of all "byproduct material," within the meaning of Section11e. (2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended hereinafter referred to as (11e. (2)), in a double lined disposal cell, which will include the existing lined heap leach pad and the Raffinate and Collection Ponds.

The uranium recovery or "milling" process equipment will be housed in several buildings within the proposed mill boundary.  All solvent extraction processing and equipment will be located within the SX Plant to isolate potential fire hazards associated with the organic solutions.  Yellowcake processing, including precipitation, washing, drying, packaging, storage, and loading will be located outside the Process Plant In separate buildings to minimize contamination.  Reagent storage and distribution systems will be located within or near the process buildings. Ancillary buildings will be provided for gender-separate change rooms, for radiometric scanning of incoming and departing personnel, and for operations such as yellowcake drying and packaging that have an elevated potential, for exposure of personnel to radionuclides.

Processing, or "milling," begins as crushed uranium-bearing material that is stacked on the double-lined heap leach pad using covered belt conveyors and a covered radial arm stacking ("RAS") belt conveyor as depicted on Figure 17-1.  The material is stacked to a height of 20 feet, forming a "lift."  A protective layer of gravel is placed on top of the lift to mitigate fugitive dust and transport of radionuclide particulates from the heap.  A drip irrigation system using conventional plastic piping is then installed on top of the completed lift, and the heap is ready for the application of an acidic leaching solution.

Figure 17.2 depicts the general flow of solutions and uranium within the heap and recovery plant.  The process begins with pumping the leach solution from the Raffinate Pond to the top of the heap where it is applied using drip emitters.  The leach solution consists of water, an oxidizing agent, such as sodium chlorate, to convert the uranium to a soluble U+6 valence state; and a complexing agent, sulfuric acid, to complex and solubilize the uranium.  The heap leaching process yields a PLS containing a mixture of uranyl trisulfate ("UTS") and uranyl disulfate ("UDS").  PLS percolates through the stacked material via gravity drainage, is intercepted by the pad's liner system, and flows into a network of perforated pipes which drain by gravity into the collection pond.  The PLS is then pumped from the collection pond into a clarifier tank where suspended particulates settle and are collected into a sludge that is pumped to a disposal pond. The clarified PLS is then filtered to remove the remaining very fine particulate matter and pumped to the solvent extraction ("SX") plant, where the uranium is recovered using organic ion exchange. The resulting uranium-depleted aqueous solution, called barren leach solution or "raffinate," flows by gravity from the SX Plant to the raffinate pond. This raffinate is fortified with acid, oxidant, and make-up water and is pumped back to the heap in a continuous cycle.  From the SX Plant, uranium-rich strip


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Figure 17-1. Typical Heap Leach Schematic

solution is sent to the Process Plant for precipitation of yellowcake. The precipitated yellowcake is then washed, dried, and packaged into sealed 55-gallon drums for shipment. Yellowcake is shipped via truck to an enrichment facility in regular shipments approximately once every two weeks.

To prevent buildup of undesirable ionic species in the circulating leach solution, a bleed stream representing a small, calculated fraction of the total leach solution flow is removed from the circuit.  The bleed stream is sent to the holding pond for interim storage and transfer to the disposal pond.  The bleed stream and other liquid wastes are concentrated by evaporation to a sludge that either remains in the holding pond or is spread on spent portions of the heap leach pad. 

The application, collection, stripping, and re-application of the leach solution is a continuous process.  The mined material remains on the heap leach pad throughout primary leaching, resting of the mined material between leach solution applications, secondary leaching, potential rinsing, and final drain down prior to closure.  Only after the mined material is drained does it become a waste product under current regulatory definitions.


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Figure 17-2. Heap Leach Process Block Flow Diagram

17.2 Site Layout and Construction

The general site layout and construction requirements for the heap leach and processing facility are shown on Figure 17-3.  The construction costs related to the heap leach and processing facility are included in the capital cost estimate summarized in Section 21. 

The initial heap leach pad area is approximately 40 acres, which is subdivided into cells that can be loaded with up to three lifts of approximately 20 feet in height or a total of 60 feet. Each lift will be separated with an interim liner and drainage system (Figure 17-3 and Figure 17.4). The stacking rate for individual lifts will depend on the variable mine production rates. The initial 40-acre heap leach pad has adequate space to accommodate approximately 1/2 of the total mined material. In year 6, an additional 40-acre pad will need to be constructed. This can be operated in the same manner as the initial heap pad or used to offload spent heap material from the initial heap pad to allow its continued use. The additional 40-acre expansion is proximate to the initial heap pad as shown on Figure 17.4.

Reclamation and decommissioning of the Sheep Mountain Project uranium recovery facility generally will consist of decommissioning the Process Plant, the SX Plant, ancillary facilities, and the holding pond, and placing the associated 11e. (2) byproduct material within the on-site disposal cell. The lined portions of the collection pond, raffinate pond, and heap leach pad will become the disposal cell for long-term isolation and stabilization of all liquid and solid 11e. (2) byproduct material associated with the planned operations.  The proposed Source Materials License Area and other areas potentially affected by licensed operations will be assessed and remediated to meet appropriate release criteria, and the disposal cell will be capped with an approved cover to ensure compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR 40.


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After the heap leach pad area has been completely filled and leaching, potential rinsing and potential treatment and subsequent drainage have been completed, spent heap materials (now tailings) will be graded to their final configuration.  Any 11e. (2) byproduct material, including material from plant decommissioning, liner from the Holding Pond, and any other 11e. (2) byproduct materials requiring disposal will be appropriately sized and placed within the lined disposal cell prior to completing the reclamation cover.  The final cover will consist of a clay-based radon barrier, a gravel/cobble capillary break, bio intrusion and freeze/thaw protection layer, and a rip rap erosion protection layer. This final reclamation cover is designed to be a zero-water balance cover using vegetation as a planned component of the cover water balance.  The final reclamation plans are shown on Figure 17.5 in plan view and in Figure 17.6 in cross sectional view.

Costs for decommissioning and reclamation of the heap and mineral processing facilities are incorporated into the operating costs estimate, Section 21.

Detailed estimates of capital and operating expenses were completed (Lyntek, 2012) and have been updated to.2021 costs The following is a summary of the operating requirements for energy, water, and consumable materials for the entire mineral processing facility.  Process water and electrical power are currently available on site and are adequate to serve the planned operations.

  • Electrical Power - Operation of the heap leach, conveyor system, solution processing plant, yellowcake drying and packaging facility, and all related appurtenances is estimated to consume approximately 600 kilowatts per hour (kW/hr.) or approximately 5 million kW per year.

  • Water demand - At full capacity, the mineral processing facility will require an average flow rate of 360 gallons per minute (gpm). However, the majority of the flow is recirculated, resulting in an estimated net water demand of 135 gpm.  Process water will be provided from dewatering of the underground mine.

  • The largest single consumable for mineral processing is sulfuric acid.  Consumption of sulfuric acid is estimated at 30 pounds per ton.  At the peak production of 660,000 tons per year this equates to approximately 10,000 tons of sulfuric acid per year. Sulfuric acid is available from an acid plant located in Riverton, Wyoming approximately 60 road miles from the site.

  • Personnel requirements are discussed in Sections 5.5 and 21.8.


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Figure 17-3. Heap Leach Initial Site Layout


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Figure 17-4. Heap Leach Year 08 Expansion


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Figure 17-5. Heap Leach Reclamation Cover


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Figure 17-6. Heap Leach Reclamation Cover Cross-Section (A-A')


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18.0 INFRASTRUCTURE

18.1 Introduction

All necessary utilities and general infrastructure for the planned project are either currently available on site or can readily be established. Existing infrastructure is depicted on Figure 18-1. 

All planned mining, mineral processing, and related activities are located within the existing Mine Permit 381C which is held by EFR. These lands are adequate for all planned mining operations including the disposal of mine mineral processing wastes and/or tailings. 

18.2 Rights of Way

Right of Way applications for an overhead power line and mine dewatering pipeline utility corridor from the heap facility area (located on private land) to the Sheep I and Sheep II shafts have been approved, and the right of ways have been granted under BLM Grants WYW168211 and WYW168212.  The main water supply pipeline for the plant will be located on private lands from either the McIntosh Pit or Sheep underground to the plant site. 

18.3 Power and Utilities

Telephone, electric and natural gas service are available at the site and were upgraded in 2011 to provide the required service for the planned project. 

18.4 Process Water

With respect to mine and mineral processing operations, the mineral processing facility will operate at an average flow rate of 360 gpm.  However, the majority of the flow is recirculated resulting in an estimate net water demand of 135 gpm.  The largest consumptive use of water on the project will be for dust control for the open pit, hauls roads, stockpile areas, and the conveyor system.  This use is estimated to average 150 gpm over a 9-month period or 100 gpm on an annual basis.  Thus, the total water use is estimated at 235 gpm. Dewatering at the Sheep Underground mine produces approximately 200 gpm, based on past production records. In addition, dewatering of the Congo Open pit requires an estimated 150 gpm beginning in year seven and extending to the end of mining.  Thus, approximately 350 gpm of water will be produced by the mines, which is adequate for the planned operations.

18.5 Site Access

Primary access to the site is provided via an existing county road.  This road is designated as an industrial access corridor by the BLM in their current Resource Management Plan ("RMP").  The county road provides access to within one mile of the site from which there is an existing private gravel road to the site. 

18.6 Mine Support Facilities

Mine support facilities will consist of an office, mine shop and warehouse, and a dry facility.  In consideration of the remoteness of the site and the potential for hazardous winter driving conditions, emergency stores of non-perishable food and water will be kept on-site along with portable cots should it be necessary for personnel to remain on-site during such conditions. 

18.7 Public Safety and Facility Maintenance

Access to the site will be controlled by fencing where appropriate at the Mine Permit 381C boundary and internally at the Radiation Control boundary.  Initial public access to the mine and heap leach facility will be controlled through a single entrance with a guard shack manned during operating hours and gated at all other times.  The mine facility will be regulated by MSHA and the State Mine Inspectors Office. Any persons wishing to enter the facility will be required to complete safety training as required by regulations and be equipped with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) depending on which areas they wish to enter.


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The heap leach processing facility is internal to the mine permit and will be enclosed by additional fencing.  As with the main entrance to the project, the entrance to the radiation control area will be protected by a guard shack manned during operating hours and gated at all other times.  In addition to confirming safety training, all visitors accessing the radiation control area will be subject to radiometric scanning prior to entering the area and prior to leaving the area.  All visitors and personnel will have to pass the scan out procedure prior to leaving the facility.

Fire and emergency services are available from Fremont County and Jeffery City.  The site is registered with emergency services and emergency contact numbers are posted at the mine office.


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Figure 18-1  Existing Infrastructure Map


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19.0 MARKET STUDIES

19.1 Uranium Market and Price

Uranium does not trade on the open market, and many of the private sales contracts are not publicly disclosed since buyers and sellers negotiate contracts privately.  Monthly long-term industry average uranium prices based on the month-end prices are published by Ux Consulting, LLC, and Trade Tech, LLC.  As a result, an accepted mining industry practice is to use "Consensus Prices" obtained by collating publicly available commodity price forecasts from credible sources.  EFR has not begun any negotiations of any contracts to develop the property, including those associated with uranium sales, which is appropriate for a project at this level of development.

Figure 19-1 and Figure 19-2 provides a Long Term Uranium Price Forecast through 2039 from TradeTech LLC ("TradeTech") from 2021. The Forward Availability Model (FAM 1 and 2) forecast differ in assumptions as to how future uranium supply enters the market. "FAM 1 represents a good progression of planned uranium projects incorporating some delays to schedules, while FAM 2 assumes restricted project development because of an unsupportive economic environment."  Currently most US producers are in a mode of care and maintenance and numerous facilities globally are also slowing or shutting in production at least on a temporary basis. At this time in the US, no new projects are being constructed, and very few are moving forward with permitting and/or licensing. This condition aligns more with the FAM 2 projections.


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Figure 19-1  TradeTech Uranium Market Price Projections- FAM1 (Nominal US$)

Figure 19-2  TradeTech Uranium Market Price Projections- FAM1 (Nominal US$)

Term forecasts beginning 2025 or later and extending into the future are considered the most reasonable for purposes of this report, as they consider the effects of prices on future existing and new production. In addition, larger projects are typically supported by long-term contracts with investment-grade nuclear utilities. Therefore, term prices are most appropriate for purposes of this report.

Based on the foregoing, the planned production from the project is projected to occur when the price projections under the assumption of FAM 2 are generally in excess of $65 per pound uranium oxide. EFR recommends the use of a long-term uranium price of $65.00 per pound uranium oxide as a base case for the project with the inclusion of an economic analysis including a sensitivity analysis of commodity price in the range of $50 to $70 per pound as presented in Section 22.0. The breakeven price of uranium oxide for the project based on the foregoing assumptions and preliminary mine limits is $51.51 per pound.

By their nature, all commodity price assumptions are forward-looking. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.


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20.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND PLANS, NEGOTIATIONS, OR AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS

20.1 Introduction

Uranium mining at Sheep Mountain occurred from the mid-1950s through 1982, with only short periods of intermittent mining occurring since 1982. Both random room-and-pillar underground and open-pit surface mining methods were employed. In 1973, the State of Wyoming passed the Environmental Quality Act, which required mining operations to reclaim the land after the conclusion of mining. A substantial amount of reclamation has since been performed at the property by mining companies and by the WDEQ's Abandoned Mine Land Division ("AML"). WDEQ/AML is responsible for reclaiming mining activities that predate the implementation of the 1973 Act. Because of the intensive mining that has occurred over the years, most of the property has experienced surface disturbance and mining related impacts.

The Sheep Mountain Project is situated on a mixture of private fee land with federal mineral rights, federal land and minerals administered by the BLM, and State Trust lands with state-owned minerals administered by the WDEQ/LQD.  The Sheep Mountain Project is permitted under an existing Mine Permit 381C, which is held by EFR and administered by the WDEQ/LQD.  The original mine permit for the project was issued by the WDEQ/LQD in 1975 to Western Nuclear, Inc. The permit has been amended six times and remains active and in good standing. Initial environmental baseline studies for this Mine Permit were completed in the 1970s and early 1980s.  Because of this mixture of land and mineral ownership, a number of state and federal agencies are involved in the permitting and licensing of this project.  The WDEQ/LQD is the lead agency for the State, though other State agency approvals are necessary. The primary federal agencies involved include the BLM and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA").  In addition, County approvals for construction are also required.

BLM and Wyoming have established a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") that allows WDEQ/LQD to issue the Mine Permit for both State and BLM lands while the BLM administers the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") for activities and impacts to the federal lands based on a PoO prepared by the permittee.  The BLM also comments on the mining, milling and reclamation activities proposed in the Mine Permit and Source and Byproduct Materials License applications.

This proposed mineral processing facility will consist of a heap leach operation and uranium processing facility that will produce a final product of yellow cake for shipment.  The mineral processing facility will require a combined Source Materials and Byproduct Materials License through the State of Wyoming, which became an NRC Agreement State in September 2018.

This section provides a summary of the environmental studies conducted at the site, the proposed operating plans, state and federal permitting requirements for the project, potential social or community relations requirements, and the proposed mine closure and reclamation plans. With the exception of the combined Source and Byproduct Materials License through the State of Wyoming, all major permits have been obtained for the project and the risk in obtaining the remaining License for the heap leach facility is relatively low as the project has strong local support and there are no identified environmental issues that would materially affect project permitting. 

No potential social or community related requirements, negotiations, and/or agreements are known to exist with local communities and/or agencies other than those discussed herein.

20.1 Environmental Studies

Initial environmental baseline studies for this Mine Permit were completed in the 1970s and early 1980s.  EFR has conducted additional baseline studies from 2010 through the present time. Baseline studies include land use characterization, culture resource surveys, meteorology and air monitoring, geology, hydrology, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and radiology. These studies, which are summarized below, are being performed to the level of detail and quality typically required by state and federal agencies.


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20.2 Land Use

The Sheep Mountain Project is situated in steep terrain, ranging in elevation from 6,600 feet to 8,000 feet. Wildlife density and diversity is limited due to the sparse vegetation and lack of tree overstory over most of the property. The project is remote with only one residence located within 1.5 miles of the project boundary. Land use within the Mine Permit boundary is limited to the permitted mining and exploration activities, livestock grazing under BLM grazing leases and seasonal hunting.  Livestock grazing and hunting access will be restricted within the Mine Permit boundary during the proposed project lifecycle. However, the area removed from hunting and grazing represents a minute fraction of the available hunting and grazing area within the region and is not anticipated to have a significant impact on either land use.  No land use impacts outside the Mine Permit Boundary are anticipated.

20.3 Cultural Resource Surveys

Cultural resource surveys were conducted on the land within the mine permit boundary. The scope for each of these studies was developed in consultation with BLM archaeologists. No enrolled or eligible National Register of Historic Places ("NRHP") cultural properties were found within the permit boundary. The closest NRHP eligible sites to the project are the Crooks Gap Stage Station and the Rawlins-to-Fort Washakie Road located outside the Mine Permit area. BLM has determined that the visual setting is not a contributing factor to these NRHP sites.  Therefore, the project is not expected to materially impact either of these NRHP sites.

20.4 Meteorology and Air Monitoring

The Sheep Mountain Project falls within the intermountain semi-desert weather province.  EFR installed a 10-meter-tall meteorological station directly down-wind of the proposed mineral processing facility in August of 2010 and has operated this station continuously since that time in accordance with EPA and NRC/WDEQ guidance. 

EFR has also installed nine air monitoring stations around the project area. These monitoring stations include high volume air samplers that collect radio-particulates, Track Etch cups that detect radon, and Thermoluminescent Dosimeters ("TLDs") that record direct gamma radiation.  The meteorological and air quality data have been used to support air quality permitting and will be used to support licensing of the proposed mineral processing facility with the State of Wyoming.

20.5 Geology

The project sits within a southeast plunging synclinal fold with the Battle Springs Formation comprising the uppermost geologic unit. It is underlain sequentially by the Fort Union Formation and Cody Shale, which extend several thousand feet below the site.  The Mineral Reserves and Resources are hosted by the Battle Springs Formation. The geologic conditions have been sufficiently characterized to support the proposed permitting activities. 

20.6 Hydrology

Surface water within the Mine Permit area is comprised of ephemeral drainages that flow only in response to snow melt and seasonal, high-intensity rainfall events.  These ephemeral drainages drain to the west from Sheep Mountain into Crooks Creek, a locally perennial creek that flows south to north and is located approximately ½ mile west of the mine permit boundary.  In addition, non-flowing surface water is present on the site in the McIntosh Pit, and seasonally in permitted storm water retention structures.  Both flowing and non-flowing surface water quality and quantity have been characterized through multiple years of regular sampling and flow gauging.


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Groundwater within the Mine Permit boundary exists within the synclinal fold of the Battle Spring Formation and Fort Union Formation and is bounded by the Cody Shale, which acts as a local aquiclude to vertical groundwater migration.  Groundwater in the uppermost aquifer, hosted predominantly by the Battle Spring Formation, has been well characterized over more than 20 years spanning active mining, a long post-mining period and current annual monitoring.  New monitoring wells have been installed in the areas proposed for mining and mineral processing. Collected groundwater quality data is representative of a full cycle of active mining and mine reclamation. No substantial changes to groundwater quality are anticipated from subsequent cycles of mining and reclamation. 

20.7 Soils and Vegetation

Detailed soil and vegetation surveys were performed in 2010-2011 to update the 1980 data presented in the original Mine Permit.  No Threatened and Endangered ("T&E") plant species were encountered on the study area during the 1980 field investigations or in the 2010-2011 surveys. One BLM-sensitive plant species, Pinus flexilus ("Limber Pine") is present within the affected area as well as the control area. Any mitigation measures associated with this species are expected to be minimal. Two wetlands were located and mapped during the 2010-2011 surveys within the project area. However, they are located in the southeast corner of the project area near an unnamed pond where no surface disturbance is proposed. These wetlands are isolated and are likely non-jurisdictional.

20.8 Wildlife

Wildlife surveys were performed in 2010 and 2011 to update the earlier studies presented in the existing Mine Permit.  These studies include raptor surveys, Sage Grouse surveys, small and large mammal surveys, and fish surveys in local ponds.  The proposed disturbances are outside the Sage Grouse Core Area designated by the State of Wyoming as well as crucial winter range for large game species.  No T&E wildlife species were observed or are expected to occur within the permit area and no BLM sensitive species that warrant special attention were identified in site surveys.  In summary, no wildlife management issues, or conflicts have been identified that would preclude the proposed mining and milling activities.

20.9 Radiology

Radiological surveys of the project area, as required by NRC Regulatory Guide 4.14, have been performed at the project site. These include gamma radiation surveys, soil radium-226 concentration mapping, ambient gamma dose rate and radon monitoring, air radio-particulate monitoring, radon flux measurements, as well as soil and sediment, groundwater, surface water, vegetation, and animal tissue sampling (cattle and fish) for radionuclides.  The radiological survey results reflect the elevated baseline conditions present at the site due to natural mineralization and previous mining disturbances.  The radiological surveys have been conducted in accordance with the precision, accuracy and quality assurance guidelines recommended by the NRC.

20.10 Operating Plans

The operating plans for the Congo Open Pit, Sheep Underground, and the heap leach and processing plant are described in detail in other sections of this report. Monitoring and reporting of air, ground water, surface water, reclamation and other mitigation measures will continue throughout the life of the project.

Health and safety at the mines will be primarily regulated through the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration or MSHA.   

20.11 Permitting Requirements

Permitting and licensing of the proposed mining and milling activities will involve county, state and federal agencies.  Summaries of these permits and licenses follow.


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20.11.1 Fremont County

Construction permits for buildings and septic systems will be required by Fremont County.  These permits applications will be developed and submitted prior to construction and once most substantive technical questions have been resolved with the State of Wyoming on the Source and Byproduct Materials License.  The County permits are not anticipated to present technical or time critical issues in the development of this project.

20.11.2 Wyoming Land Quality Division

A major revision to Mine Permit 381C was approved by the WDEQ/LQD on July 8, 2015.

20.11.3 Wyoming Air Quality Division

The Wyoming AQD administers the provisions of the Clean Air Act as delegated to the state by EPA Region VIII. An Air Quality Construction Permit for the project was initially issued by AQD on July 6, 2015. The Air Quality Permit was re-issued on October 17, 2019. On September 9, 2021, authorization to construct was extended for an additional one-year period.

20.11.4 Wyoming Water Quality Division

Discharges to surface water, if needed as part of the mine dewatering and mine water management program, are permitted by the Wyoming WQD through the Wyoming Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("WYPDES") program under authority delegated by EPA Region VIII. A Water Discharge Permit for the project was approved by WQD on October 5, 2015. The WYPDES permit was re-issued on September 21, 2020.

20.11.5 Wyoming State Engineers Office

The Wyoming State Engineers Office ("SEO") is responsible for permitting of wells and impoundments, and issuance and modification to water rights.  Applications to relocate the point(s) of withdrawal for EFR's existing water rights have been approved by the Wyoming SEO for mine dewatering.  In addition, future monitoring wells and impoundments will be permitted with the SEO once the combined Source and Byproduct Materials License application has passed completeness review and most substantive technical questions have been resolved.  Approvals of the SEO permits are not anticipated to be time-critical approvals.

20.11.6 U.S. Bureau of Land Management

On January 6, 2017, the BLM approved the PoO for the project through issuance of a RoD and supporting FEIS. The permitted capacity of the heap leach facility is 4 million tons of mineralized material which is 53% of the estimated Mineral Reserves.  An expansion to the heap leach facility (including permitting) will be required in the future to process the remaining 47% of the estimated Mineral Reserves.

20.11.7 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Wyoming Agreement State)

Development of an application to the NRC for a license to construct and operate the uranium recovery facility has been taken to an advanced stage of preparation. This license would allow Energy Fuels to process the mineralized material into yellowcake at the Sheep Mountain Project site. The draft application to NRC for a Source Material License was reviewed in detail by the NRC in October 2011. The NRC audit report identified areas where additional information should be provided. During September 2018, the State of Wyoming became an NRC Agreement State for licensing of uranium milling activities, including heap leach facilities. Previous data, designs, and related applications prepared for NRC will now be referred to and reviewed by the State of Wyoming WDEQ as an Agreement State with the NRC with respect to Source Materials licensing. The review and approval process for the license by the State of Wyoming is anticipated to take approximately three to four years from the date submitted. Submittal of the license application to the State of Wyoming is on hold pending EFR's evaluation of off-site processing options for this project, and whether or not to proceed with an on-site uranium recovery facility, pending improvements in uranium market conditions.


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20.11.8 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA oversees compliance with 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart B (underground mine venting of radon) and Subpart W (radon emissions from tailings).  Prior to initiation of underground mine operations, EFR will submit construction plans to the EPA in which underground mine ventilation radon emissions will be modeled to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Part 61, Subpart B. During underground operations, routine monitoring and annual modeling will be performed to verify regulatory compliance. 

The project design currently includes control measures to minimize radon flux from the heap leach facility and to be consistent with the requirements of Part 61, Subpart W.

20.12 Social and Community Relations

The surrounding communities have a long history of working with and for the region's mining and mineral resource industry; and their support for this project has been strong. 

The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, 2020, ranks Wyoming as 2nd out of 77 jurisdictions using a Policy Perception Index, which indicates a very favorable perception by the mining industry towards Wyoming mining policies.

20.13 Closure and Reclamation Plans

The land encompassing the project area is currently used for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and recreation (primarily hunting). The reclamation plan will return the areas disturbed by the project to the same pre-mining uses, except for the approximately 100-acre, byproduct-material disposal cell that will be transferred to the DOE for long-term stewardship. Reclamation bonds will be in place prior to start up for both the mining and processing areas of the project in accordance with state and federal requirements.  The amount of the reclamation bond for both the mine and mineral processing area is estimated at US$17 million.  By current regulations the WDEQ requires the bond be posted based on reclamation of lands disturbed in the first year and then updated annually as part of the annual reporting process.  Wyoming has become an agreement state with the NRC with jurisdiction for the mineral processing area and will require a bond for the full estimated closure and reclamation costs. The estimated closure and reclamation costs for the mine and mineral processing areas is approximately US$46 million projected to be spent over the life of mine under a concurrent reclamation scenario followed by an additional reclamation period of 4 years upon cessation of operations.

20.13.1 Congo Pit and Sheep Underground

Mine overburden and waste rock from the Congo Pit will be used to backfill the pit in a phased manner over the life of the open pit. Initially, the waste will be removed from the pit and stockpiled in areas adjacent to the pit limits. As the pit deepens to the south, concurrent backfilling will be performed with waste placed in the mined-out portions of the pit. Backfilling will be performed in a selective manner so that the more mineralized and radioactive material is covered with less mineralized subsoils and topsoil. The proposed plan is to backfill the pit to approximate original contours, returning the ground surface to essentially the pre-mining topographic contours.

Selective backfilling will remove and isolate much of the naturally occurring radioactive materials left in the mine area from historical activities.  The reclaimed Paydirt Pit will also be partially backfilled to create a flow-through drainage system, as opposed to the current closed drainage.


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Underground operations will result in some additional waste rock being added to the open-pit overburden piles, as a result of the construction of vent shafts, declines, and the installation of additional mine buildings. At the conclusion of underground operations, the mine openings will be sealed, mine buildings demolished, and waste piles used as backfill or reclaimed. 

20.13.2 Heap Leach and Processing Plant

Solid and liquid wastes from the processing of uranium ores will be managed on site.  Upon closure, liquid wastes will either be: a) stabilized and placed in the spent heap leach pad, or b) evaporated on the heap leach pad surface prior to closure. Process buildings and equipment that cannot be released from the site, will be decommissioned, sized and placed in the spent heap according to WDEQ requirements.  The heap leach pad and associated ponds will then be encapsulated within an engineered cover that is designed to minimize radon emissions and water infiltration. The disposal cell will then be monitored until the site meets DOE's requirements for long-term stewardship. Refer to Figure 17.5, McIntosh Heap Reclamation Cover for overall reclamation grading plan.

20.14 Opinion of Author

In the opinion of the Author, the current plans related to environmental compliance, permitting and social governance is reasonable.


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21.0 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

21.1 Introduction

Estimated capital expenditures ("CAPEX") and costs for operation and maintenance & repair ("OPEX") of facilities are for a conventional combination open pit and underground mining operation with on-site treatment of mined material by heap leaching. All cost estimates in this report have been updated or escalated to 2021, based on either the 2021 Mining Cost Service (Cost Indexes) or recent internal cost files. It is the opinion of the authors that escalation of costs from March 2021 to the present is a function of short-term supply- chain issues currently being experienced in all sectors of the economy and are not reflective of longer term economic conditions, which the metal price and project development is based on.  These cost estimates reflect complete costs going forward, including the costs of preproduction, permitting, mining, and mineral processing from heap leaching through production of yellowcake, to eventual reclamation and closure. CAPEX estimates, however, do not include sunk costs or property acquisition costs.

Mining and mineral processing methods are described in Sections 16 and 17, respectively. The project consists of two distinct and independent mining areas, the Congo open pit and the Sheep underground mine, with common processing of mined material in a heap leaching facility. The currently planned operating life of the two mines is 12 years, with an additional 4 years allotted for closure and reclamation. The heap leaching facility is designed to accommodate material excavated from both mining operations over their entire aggregated life. Although other alternatives were considered, the base case for this PFS is concurrent operation of the open pit and underground mines over approximately 12-years.

21.2 Cost Assumptions

In all cases, the estimates are based on proven approaches and technologies and conservative assumptions were employed.  A summary of key assumptions follows.

Capital Cost Estimates

  • Open pit equipment: 15% has been added to vendor quotations for all major equipment.

  • Underground equipment: 15-30% has been added, depending on the nature of current information.

  • Heap leaching and mineral processing equipment: 10-30% has been added, depending on whether the item is material, labor, or fees.

These adjustments in vendor quotations are specifically to account for ancillary costs of delivery and setup of the equipment at the Project and for initial specialty items tools, wear parts etc. typically not included in the vendor quotes. We have not applied contingencies to the capital cost estimates.  There is a risk due to uncertainties in future availability of the specified equipment, purchase prices and changes in equipment size or design duty may affect the final equipment selection and corresponding capital cost.

Operating Cost Estimates

  • Open Pit: all new equipment, 85% availability, 90% utilization, and an overall 8% contingency applied to all costs.
  • Underground mine: 90% utilization and an overall 8% contingency applied to all costs.
  • Heap leaching and mineral processing equipment: a 10% contingency has been applied to estimates for utilities and consumable chemicals.

Heap Leach


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  • Column leaching tests produced residues assaying 0.002% U3O8 or less.
  • We have conservatively assumed a heap leach residue assay of 0.01% U3O8 (McNulty, 2012).
  • The 0.01% U3O8 loss (residue assay) used in this study reflects a conservative 0.008% U3O8 loss in the solid residue and an entrained liquid loss equivalent to 0.002% U3O8, and this represents a life-of-mine average 91.9% U3O8 uranium leaching recovery.
  • A loss of 0.01% U3O8 was achieved in the earliest pilot-scale heap leaching program in the Gas Hills (Woolery, 1978), but lower losses (higher extractions) were obtained from subsequent commercial-scale heaps.
  • Sulfuric acid consumption in the current project is assumed to be 30 lb/ton of mineralized material (Lyntek, 2012), whereas current metallurgical testing has consistently required less than 15 pounds per ton.

Open Pit

Open Pit Mine reclamation costs account for backfill to original contours.  Wyoming regulations do not require complete backfill but return to "equal or better use." Regulations can be met with less complete backfill; however, the total backfill plan is conservative and can be readily permitted.

21.3 Production Profile

Table 21.1 provides the planned production profile for the Project. Annual production varies from a low of 270,000 tons processed to a high of 780,000 tons processed with an average annual production of approximately 680,000 tons, yielding 1.4 million pounds annually of U3O8 in yellowcake.


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Table 21-1  Underground and Open pit Production Profile

 

Total

Production Year

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Congo Pit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of Resource Mined (000s)

3,955

 

269

467

217

400

333

516

198

382

413

334

286

140

Pounds Contained (000s)

9,118

 

665

828

587

951

657

1,198

539

719

894

677

767

637

Mine Grade (%U3O8)

0.115

 

0.124

0.089

0.135

0.119

0.099

0.116

0.136

0.094

0.108

0.101

0.134

0.228

Cu. Yd. Stripped

78,096

 

7,062

6,660

6,460

6,493

7,576

6,275

6,500

6,500

6,754

6,618

6,349

4,847

  -Tons Overburden (000s)

131,981

 

11,934

11,255

10,918

10,974

12,803

10,606

10,985

10,985

11,414

11,185

10,730

8,192

  -Strip Ratio (tons: tons)

33

 

44

24

49

27

38

20

55

29

27

33

37

57

  -Strip Ratio (cu. yd.:lb)

9

 

11

8

11

7

12

5

12

9

8

10

8

8

Reclamation (cu. yd.)

25,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheep UG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of Resource Mined (000s)

3,498

 

-----

100

223

431

386

367

351

386

315

299

416

224

Pounds Contained (000s)

9,248

 

-----

300

600

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

348

Mine Grade (%U3O8)

0.132

 

-----

0.151

0.134

0.116

0.130

0.136

0.142

0.130

0.159

0.167

0.120

0.077

Development Tons

2,176

 

200

90

162

144

189

208

224

189

260

276

159

75

Totals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of Resource Mined (000s)

7,453

 

269

567

441

831

719

883

549

767

728

633

703

364

Pounds Contained (000s)

18,365

 

665

1,128

1,187

1,951

1,657

2,198

1,539

1,719

1,894

1,677

1,767

984

Mine Grade (%U3O8)

0.123

 

0.122

0.099

0.134

0.117

0.115

0.124

0.139

0.112

0.129

0.132

0.125

0.134

Tons Processed (000s)

7,453

 

270

540

480

780

780

780

630

750

720

660

630

433

Pounds Contained (000s)

18,365

 

667

1,074

1,274

1,828

1,799

1,946

1,743

1,679

1,868

1,747

1,584

1,157

Plant Feed (%U3O8)

0.123

 

0.122

0.099

0.131

0.117

0.115

0.124

0.137

0.111

0.129

0.132

0.125

0.132

Recovery Fraction (U3O8)

0.919

 

0.919

0.899

0.925

0.915

0.913

0.920

0.928

0.911

0.923

0.924

0.920

0.925

Pounds Recovered (000s)

16,875

 

613

966

1,178

1,672

1,643

1,790

1,617

1,529

1,724

1,615

1,458

1,070



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21.4 Capital Costs

Capital cost summaries follow for the Project. The additional capital in years two through twelve include major repair and/or replacement of mine equipment and cost related to interim liners for the heap leach and the permitting and construction of an addition heap pad area of approximately 20 acres in year eight. Capital costs for the Project are estimated at an AACE Class 3 accuracy range of -20% to +30% (AACE International 2005).

Table 21-2  Sheep Mountain Capital Cost Summary

Capital Expenditures: *

Contingency

Initial Capital*

Years 4-12

Life of Mine

Permitting (WDEQ)

-----

$3,000

$1,000

$4,000

Pre-Development Mine Design

-----

$1,200

-----

$1,200

OP Mine Equipment

15%

$21,141

$3,200

$24,341

UG Mine Equipment

15-30%

$51,504

$13,000

$64,504

Office, Shop, Dry, and support

15%

$3,234

-----

$3,234

Mineral Processing

25%

$32,086

$6,461

$38,546

TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

 

$112,165

$23,661

$135,826

COST PER POUND RECOVERED

 

 

 

$8.05

All costs in 2021 US dollars x 1,000

*Initial Capital includes year 0 to year 3. Does not include working capital and initial warehouse inventory.

21.5 Operating Costs

Operating cost estimates are based on a conventional open pit and underground mine operation with on-site processing via a heap leach facility.  Operating costs reflect a full and complete operation including all mine and mineral processing costs through the production of yellowcake and through final reclamation.  In all cases the estimates are based on proven approaches and technologies. 

Operating cost estimates were based on vendor quotations, published mine costing data, and contractor quotations.  Such estimates were generally provided for budgetary purposes and were considered valid at the time the quotations were provided.  In all cases, appropriate suppliers, manufacturers, tax authorities, smelters, and transportation companies should be consulted before substantial investments or commitments are made.

Open pit mine operating costs account for:

  • All earth moving costs related to excavation and placement including:
    • Primary stripping
    • Mining
    • Interburden
    • Preparation of heap base
    • Surface support equipment
    • Overall mine supervision including health and safety
    • Surface mine and heap leach reclamation costs

Underground mine operating costs account for:

  • All costs related to underground mine excavation
  • Conveyance of mined material to the surface for loading on the heap
  • Underground mine supervision, support and miner training
  • Underground development between mining levels and areas
  • Ventilation

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  • Dewatering
  • Mine safety and ground control

Mineral processing operating costs account for:

  • All costs related to the operation of the heap leach
    • Overland conveyor transport from the mine
    • Heap stacking and loading
    • Heap leaching and liquid handling
    • Power and water use and handling
  • All costs related to processing of uranium bearing liquids from the heap leach
    • Solvent extraction
    • Ammonia stripping and precipitation
    • Yellowcake drying and packaging
    • Power use
    • Mineral processing supervision and support
  • Radiation Safety and compliance
  • On site laboratory facilities
  • General supervision

21.6 Reclamation and Closure Costs

Reclamation and closure costs relate primarily to the open pit and heap leach/plant. 

The current cost model is based on complete backfill of the open pit including sub-grade disposal of the heap leach material and appurtenances including liners, piping, and other materials deemed to be regulated material with respect to the combined Source and Byproduct Materials license.

Bonding costs are included as a line item based on an annual rate of 2% and an estimated bond for the mine and processing facility of an estimated US$17 million.

21.7 Additional Costs

Additional costs include a gross products tax payable to Fremont County; mineral severance tax payable to the State of Wyoming; and various claim and state lease royalties. 

Wyoming Severance Tax is currently assessed at a rate of 4% of the gross value after applying an industry factor which for uranium is currently 0.42 which thereby reduces the effect severance tax rate. 

Wyoming state lease royalties apply only to the Congo Pit area located on State section 16.  The royalty under the current lease is 5% of gross value. 

Individual mining claim royalties vary slightly but do not exceed 4% of gross value.

Note that all state and local sales taxes are included in the capital cost estimate.  Use taxes, such as taxes on supplies and consumables, are included in the operating cost estimate.

Table 21-3 summarizes operating cost for the Project, which includes an 8% contingency.


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Table 21-3  Sheep Mountain Operating Costs**

Operating Costs - OPEN PIT AND
UNDERGROUND MINING
  Open Pit and
UG (US$000s)
    Cost Per
Ton Mined
(US$)
    Cost Per lb
Mined (US$)
    Cost Per lb
Recovered
(US$)
 
Open Pit                        
Strip $ 80,331   $ 20.31   $ 8.81        
Mining $ 18,625   $ 4.71   $ 2.04        
Support $ 15,834   $ 4.00   $ 1.74        
Staff $ 23,485   $ 5.94   $ 2.58        
Contingency $ 11,062   $ 2.80   $ 1.21        
Total Surface Mine
(3,955,000 tons, 9,117,000 lbs)
$ 149,336   $ 37.76   $ 16.38        
Underground Mine                        
Production $ 169,217   $ 48.38   $ 18.30        
Development $ 53,166   $ 15.20   $ 5.75        
Support $ 44,913   $ 12.84   $ 4.86        
Staff $ 18,825   $ 5.38   $ 2.04        
Contingency $ 22,890   $ 6.54   $ 2.48        
Total Underground Mine
(3,498,000 tons, 9,248,000 lbs)
$ 309,011   $ 88.35   $ 33.42        
Blended Mining Costs*
(7,435,000 tons, 18,365,000 lbs)
$ 458,347   $ 61.50   $ 24.96   $ 27.16  
Reclamation and Closure                        
Wyoming Agreement State Annual Inspection Fees $ 1,800   $ 0.24   $ 0.10        
Final Grading and Revegetation $ 2,180   $ 0.29   $ 0.12        
Plant Decommissioning and Reclamation $ 11,166   $ 1.50   $ 0.61        
Total Reclamation and Closure $ 15,146   $ 2.03   $ 0.83   $ 0.91  
Heap Leach                        
Cost per ton $ 143,585   $ 19.27   $ 7.82        
Total Heap Leach $ 143,585   $ 19.27   $ 7.82   $ 8.51  
Reclamation Bond Mine and Heap $ 6,120   $ 0.82   $ 0.33   $ 0.36  
Taxes & Royalties                        
  Gross Products tax per/lb $ 39,702   $ 5.33   $ 2.16        
  Severance Tax per/lb $ 21,965   $ 2.95   $ 1.20        
  State lease (pit) $ 26,966   $ 3.62   $ 1.47        
  Claim royalties (UG) $ 21,640   $ 2.90   $ 1.18        
Total Taxes and Royalties $ 110,273   $ 14.80   $ 6.00   $ 6.53  
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS $ 733,471   $ 98.42   $ 39.94   $ 43.47  
                         

*Blended mine cost represents the weighted average of open pit and underground mines and include open pit backfill.

Open pit and underground mine costs, itemized separately above, are not additive but are included in the blended mine costs.

**All costs 2021 US dollars x 1,000


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21.8 Personnel

At full production, the Sheep Mountain Project will require approximately 176 employees.  Roughly, 56 employees will be required for operation of the open pit, heap leach, and mineral processing plant with the remainder required for the underground mine.  Personnel for the open pit mine operation can be readily recruited locally as can the majority of the personnel needed for the heap leach and mineral processing plant.  Some skilled positions and staff positions will need to be recruited regionally.  Recruitment of underground mine personnel may pose a greater challenge.  As a result, cost allowances for recruiting and training of underground miners were included in the cost estimate.  Figure 21-1 illustrates general project organization chart, based on a total headcount of 176 employees.


Figure 21‑1. Project Organizational Chart


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22.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Financial evaluations for the project assume constant 2021 U.S. dollars and an average sales price of $65.00 per pound of uranium oxide.  Section 21.0 discusses operating and capital costs in detail.  Operating costs includes all direct taxes and royalties, as discussed in Section 21.0, but do not include U.S. Federal Income Tax. As previously stated, all costs are forward-looking and do not include any previous project expenditures or sunk costs.  The NPV is calculated at a range of discount rates as shown both before and after U.S. Federal Income Tax in Table 22-1, which summarizes the estimated Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV) for the Project.  Subsequent sensitivity analysis is provided as pre-tax but is applicable, in principle, to post-tax. A detailed Cash Flow analysis is provided at the end of this section in Table 22-4.

Table 22-1  Sheep Mountain Internal Rate of Return and Net Present Value

 

Before Federal
Income Tax

After Federal
Income Tax

IRR

28%

26%

NPV 5%

$141,749

$120,725

NPV 7%

$116,412

$98,492

NPV 10%

$85,627

$71,381

              *2021 US dollars x 1000

22.1 Sensitivity to Price

The Sheep Mountain Project, like all similar projects, is quite sensitive to uranium price as shown in Table 22-2 and Table 22-3.  A summary of sensitivity of the projected IRR and NPV with respect to key parameters other than price also follows. The project is roughly twice as sensitive to variances in mine recovery and/or dilution as it is to variance in operating and capital costs.

Higher heap recovery may be realized based on current metallurgical test work and historical production experience.  An improvement in uranium loss from 0.10 to of 0.006% U3O8 loss would result in a 3% improvement in IRR and an improvement in NPV at 7% discount of $19 million.  The sensitivity analysis shows that the project is not highly sensitive to changes in operating and/or capital costs.  With respect to mine dilution affecting mined grade, the sensitivity is similar to that of uranium price in that much of the same costs are incurred, and any variance in mine recovery or dilution affects gross revenues either positively or negatively. The project is roughly twice as sensitive to variances in mine dilution as it is to variance in operating and capital costs.  Mine dilution is highly dependent upon grade control and mining selectivity.  The mine plan, equipment selection, and personnel allocations included in the cost estimate, for both the open pit and underground, provide for selective mining and tight grade control in recognition of this factor.

Table 22-2  Pre-tax Sensitivity Summary

 

Selling Price (USD/pound)

Discount Rate

$55

$65

$75

NPV 5% (Million $)

$37

$142

$246

NPV 7% (Million $)

$25

$116

$208

NPV 10% (Million $)

$10

$87

$161

IRR

13%

28%

42%



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22.2 Sensitivity to Other Factors

Sensitivity of the projected IRR and NPV with respect to key parameters other than price, previously shown, is summarized in Table 22-3. The sensitivity analysis was performed with respect to the base case including $65 per pound uranium price, 8% operating cost contingency, and 0.01% U3O8 loss. As with the sensitivity analysis for price, the analysis in pre-tax, however, post-tax would be proportionate.

Higher heap recovery may be realized based on current metallurgical test work and historical production experience.  An improvement in uranium loss from 0.10 to of 0.006% U3O8 loss would result in a 4% improvement in IRR and an improvement in NPV at 7% discount of $22 million.  The sensitivity analysis shows that the project is not highly sensitive to changes in operating and/or capital costs.  With respect to Mine dilution affecting mined grade, the sensitivity is similar to that of uranium price in that much of the same costs are incurred, and any variance in mine recovery or dilution affects gross revenues either positively or negatively. The project is roughly twice as sensitive to variances in mine dilution as it is to variance in operating and/or capital costs.  Mine dilution is highly dependent upon grade control and mining selectivity.  The mine plan, equipment selection, and personnel allocations included in the cost estimate, for both the open pit and underground, provide for selective mining and tight grade control in recognition of this factor.

Table 22-3  Pre-tax Sensitivity Summary

Parameter

Change from Base
Case

Change in
IRR

Change in NPV at 7%
discount

Grade

10%

11%

$49 million

Heap recovery

0.006% U3O8 loss

6%

$40 million

CAPEX

10%

3%

$7  million

OPEX

10%

5%

$16 million

22.3 Payback Period

The project shows positive cumulative cash flow in year five.  Refer to the cash flow summaries that follow.

22.4 Breakeven Price

The breakeven price of uranium oxide for the project based on the foregoing assumptions and preliminary mine limits is approximately $51 per pound.

22.5 Cash Flow

Table 22-4 shows the pre and after tax for both underground and surface mines at Sheep Mountain. 


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Table 22-4  Cash Flow


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Table 22-4  Cash Flow (Continued)


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23.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES

The Sheep Mountain Project is within the Crooks Gap/Green Mountain Uranium District. Past production occurred at both Sheep Mountain by WNC and others, in addition to production at Green Mountain by Pathfinder Mines at their Big Eagle Mine.  Rio Tinto Ltd., through its wholly owned subsidiary Kennecott Corp, USA, currently controls most of the known Mineral Resources in the Green Mountain area including the Big Eagle mine and the Sweetwater Mill 22 miles to the south, which is currently in reclamation.  EFR has no interest in any adjacent properties to the Sheep Mountain Project.

The QPs have not been able to verify the information on the adjacent properties and the information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Project.


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24.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION

24.1 Ground Water Conditions

The Crooks Gap area regional hydrology, as determined by the Platte River Basin Water Plan, includes two separate formations or groups of formations that qualify as potentially productive for groundwater.  The Quaternary aquifer system has both an alluvial and non-alluvial division.  This is considered to be a discontinuous but major aquifer in the State of Wyoming.  It is undetermined at this time whether this surface aquifer exists in the project area.

The second aquifer in the Crooks Gap area is the Tertiary Aquifer System. The System in the Crooks Gap region is comprised of the Fort Union and Battle Spring Formations.  The Platte River Basin Water Plan describes the aquifer as comprised of complex inter-tonguing fluvial and lacustrine sediments. This is also classified as a major aquifer for the State of Wyoming.

Mining will occur in the Battle Spring Formation.  Historic data indicates that sustained dewatering of the Sheep underground mines required approximately 200 gpm, but that the cone of depression is limited in area and will not impact surface water sources in the area.  In addition, dewatering of the Congo Open pit requires an estimated 150 gpm beginning in year seven and extending to the end of mining.  Thus, approximately 350 gpm of water will be produced by the mines.

With respect to mine and mineral processing operations, the mineral processing facility will operate at an average flow rate of 360 gpm.  However, the majority of the flow is recirculated resulting in an estimate net water demand of 135 gpm.  The largest consumptive use of water on the project will be for dust control for the open pit, hauls roads, stockpile areas, and the conveyor system.  This use is estimated to average 150 gpm over a nine-month period or 100 gpm on an annual basis.  Thus, the total water use is estimated at 235 gpm. This is significant in that the water produced by the mine operations is adequate for the consumptive needs of the project and that no additional water sources will be required.


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25.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

The planned development of the Sheep Mountain Project is an open pit and underground conventional mine operation with on-site mineral processing featuring an acid heap leach and solvent extraction recovery facility. The open pit and underground mine operations would be concurrent with a mine life of approximately 12 years. 

The Sheep Mountain Project if implemented would be profitable under the base case and US$65 per pound selling price the project is estimated to generate an IRR of 28% before taxes and has an NPV of approximately US$115 million at a 7% discount rate.  An economic analysis including a sensitivity analysis of commodity price in the range of $50 to $70 per pound is presented in Section 22.0. The breakeven price of $51.00 per pound of uranium oxide for the project is based on the foregoing assumptions and preliminary mine limits. By their nature all commodity price assumptions are forward-looking. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. The technical risks related to the project are low as the mining and recovery methods are proven. The mining methods recommended have been employed successfully at the project in the past.  Successful uranium recovery from the mineralized material at Sheep Mountain and similar project such as the Gas Hills has been demonstrated via both conventional milling and heap leach recovery.

Risks related to permitting and licensing the project are also low as the WDEQ Mine Permit and BLM Plan of Operations have been approved. The major remaining permit needed to start operations is the combined Source and Byproduct Materials License which would be issued through the WDEQ as Wyoming is an agreement state with the NRC.

EFR is not aware of any other specific risks or uncertainties that might significantly affect the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates or the resulting economic analysis.  Estimation of costs and uranium price for the purposes of the economic analysis over the life of mine is by its nature forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.


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NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

As the Sheep Mountain Project (the Project) is sensitive to mining factors including resource recovery, dilution, and grade, and mineral processing factors related to the performance of the heap leach, it is recommended that a bulk sampling program and pilot scale heap leach testing be completed. Mineralization is shallow (less than 40 feet) in the northern portions of the Congo pit. A small test mine could be developed under the existing WDEQ Mine Permit and BLM Plan of Operations. This would allow access to examine and test the mineralization with respect to mining parameters and to collect a bulk sample for pilot scale heap leach testing. It is recommended that a bulk sample of approximately 2,000 tons be collected and transported to Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. White Mesa Mill. At the Mill and under the Mill's Source Materials License, the mineralized material could be stacked at various heights in the range of 15 to 30 feet. The test plots would be lined and could be cribbed on two sides with an open face stacked at the angle of repose. Using 20 x 20-foot pads, four pilot tests could be completed. The testing would determine the geotechnical behavior of the material with respect to consolidation, slope stability, and the leaching characteristics with respect to acid consumption and mineral recovery.  Flow and/or percolation rates retained moisture and other characteristics at various stacking heights could also be determined.

Table 26-1 summarizes the recommended work program to further develop the Project.

Table 26-1  Recommended Work Program

Scope of Work

Est. Cost US$

Test mine approximately ½ acre, 40,000 cy excavation at $150/cy

$60,000

Testing the mineralization and collection of a bulk sample

$40,000

Transportation of 2,000 tons, 500 miles at $0.17/ton mile

$170,000

Heap pilot testing

$200,000

Reclamation of test pit

$60,000

Revise Preliminary Feasibility Study

$100,000

Total

$630,000



SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

27.0 REFERENCES

Previous Reports:

Beahm, D. L., Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA, Updated Preliminary Feasibility Study, National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, Amended and Restated, February 28, 2020.

Beahm, D. L., Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA, Updated Preliminary feasibility Study, National Instrument 43-101 technical Report, April 13, 2012.

Beahm, D. L., David H. Scriven, D. H., McNulty, T.P., Sheep Mountain Project 43-101 Mineral Resource and Reserve Report, April 8, 2010.

Bendix, National Uranium Resource Evaluation: Casper Quadrangle, Wyoming, September 1982.

BRS Inc. (BRS), Beahm, Sheep Mountain Project 43-101 Mineral Resource Update Report, March 1, 2011.

Harris & Thompson, Title Report on Sheep Mountain/Crooks Gap Properties, Fremont County, Wyoming, 1/20/2005 and as updated 12/02/2011.

Irwin, R., Evaluation of the ISL Potential of a Part of the Northern Crooks Gap District Freemont County WY: Internal Report 1998

Lyntek, Titan Uranium - Sheep Mtn. Heap Leach Project, Pre-Feasibility Study Report, Central Wyoming, USA, February 2012.

Pathfinder Mines Corporation (PMC), Sheep Mountain Evaluation, Internal Report, September 1987.

R and D Enterprises, Inc. (RDE), Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, WY, USA, Column Leach Studies, February 21, 2011.

Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA), Wallis, S. and D. Rennie, Technical Report on the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Wyoming, Prepared for Uranium Power Corporation (UPC), October 10, 2006.

Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (RPA), Wallis, S., Technical Report on the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Wyoming, Prepared for Uranium Power Corporation (UPC), January 10, 2005.

US Energy Corp., Healey, C., Wilson, J., 2006 Resource Study Sheep Mountain Project, June 2, 2006.

U.S. Energy Corp and Crested Corp. (USE/CC), February 1990, Exhibit 4.

U.S. Energy Corp and Crested Corp. (USE/CC), Annual Reports Mine Permit 381C, 1990 through 2006.

Western Nuclear Inc., Douglas, S., Ore Reserve Estimates, 1981.

Western Nuclear Inc., Proposed Congo Pit and all Anticipated Extensions, 1981.

Watts Griffis & McQuat (WGM), Valuation of US Uranium Limited: Internal Report 1999

Western Nuclear Inc., Wyoming DEQ Permit to Mine # 381C, 1980.

Western Nuclear Inc., Oliver, D., Ore Reserve Estimates, 1985.

Wilson, J.C., 2005 Drilling Report Sheep Mountain Project Fremont County, Wyoming 2005


SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

Publications Cited:

AACE International, 2005, Cost Estimate Classification System – as Applied in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction for the Process Industries, TCM Framework: 7.3 – Cost Estimating and Budgeting, AACE International Recommended Practice No. 18R-97.

Boberg, W. W., Applied Exploration and Uranium Resources of Great Divide Basin, Wyoming, AAPG Bulletin, volume 63, 1979.

Dunne, R. C., Kawatra, K., and Young, C. A., Eds. 2019, Schnell, H., "Uranium". In SME Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Handbook, Vol. Two, Chapter 12.41.

Gomiero, L. A., Lima, H. A., and Morais, C. A. 2010, "Evaluation of a new milling process for the Caetite". In Uranium 2010: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference in Uranium. Montreal, QC: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Jones, N.R., Gregory, R.W., and McLaughlin, J.F., 2011, Geologic map of the Bairoil 30' x 60' quadrangle, Carbon, Fremont, Sweetwater, and Natrona counties, Wyoming: Wyoming State Geological Survey Map Series 86, scale 1:100,000.

Mining Cost Service, Cost Indexes and Metal Prices (October 2021).  Pub. by InfoMine USA, Inc.

National Uranium Resources Evaluation (NURE), Casper Quadrangle, Wyoming, September 1982.

Rackley, Ruffin I., AAPG Bulletin 56, Environment of Wyoming Tertiary Uranium Deposits, 1972.

Stedman, Ashley, and Kenneth P. Green (2018). Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2018. Fraser Institute.

Stephens, James G., Geology and Uranium Deposits at Crooks Gap, Fremont County Wyoming, Contributions to the Geology of Uranium, Geological Survey Bulletin 1147-F, 1964.

TradeTech, Uranium Market Study, 2019: Issue 4.

Woolery, R. G, et al, 1978, Heap Leaching of Uranium A Case Study, SME Mining Engineering Magazine, June 1978.

Wyoming Water Development Commission, Platte River Basin Water Plan, May 2006.


SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

28.0 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORS

Section 28 is added to this report for compliance to Canadian NI 43-101 standards.

I, Daniel D. Kapostasy, P.G., do hereby certify that:

1. I am currently employed as the Director of Technical Services with Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., 225 Union Blvd. Suite 600, Lakewood, Colorado, 80228.

2. I graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Geology in May 2003 from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

3. I graduated with a Master of Science Degree in December 2005 from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

4. I am a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Wyoming (PG-3778), a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Utah (10110615-2250), and a Registered Member of SME (RM#04172231). I have worked as a geologist for a total of 16 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of this Technical Report is:

  • Senior Geologist, Chief Geologist, Manager of Technical Resources and Director of Technical Resources with Energy Fuels (USA) Inc. since 2013 working on all aspects of developing their uranium assets including: resource evaluation and estimation, drill hole planning, underground mine geologist, permitting, and economic evaluation.
  • Geologist and Senior Geologist with Strathmore Resources between 2008 - 2013 working on drill programs, resource evaluation and permitting the Roca Honda uranium project and Pena Ranch uranium mill.
  • Geologist with Apogen Resources between 2006 - 2013 working as a consultant geologist on the Roca Honda uranium project.

5. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

6. As I am currently employed by Energy Fuels (USA) Inc. I do not meet the definition of being independent of the issuer as described in section 1.5

7. I visited the Sheep Mountain Project on April 8, 2014.

8. I am responsible for Sections 4 - 12 and 18 - 20 and relevant portions of Sections 1 and 2 of this Technical Report

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 30th day of January 2023

"Original signed and sealed"

/s/Daniel D. Kapostasy

Daniel D. Kapostasy, SME Registered Member


SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

I, Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G., do hereby certify that:

1. I am the Principal Engineer and President of BRS, Inc., 1130 Major Avenue, Riverton, Wyoming 82501.

2. I am a co-author of the report " Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA" Dated December 31, 2021.

3. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1974. I am a licensed Professional Engineer in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Oregon; a licensed Professional Geologist in Wyoming; a Registered Member of the SME.

4. I have worked as an engineer and a geologist for over 48 years. My work experience includes uranium exploration, mine production, and mine/mill decommissioning and reclamation.  Specifically, I have worked with numerous uranium projects hosted in sandstone environments in Wyoming.

5. I was last present at the site on the 16th of September 2021.

6. I am responsible for Sections 3, 14, 15, 16, and 22 - 27 and relevant portions of Section 1, 2, and 21 of the report.

7. I am independent of the issuer in accordance with the application of Section 1.5 of NI 43-101. I have no financial interest in the property and am fully independent of Energy Fuels Inc..  I hold no stock, options or have any other form of financial connection to EFR. EFR is but one of many clients for whom I consult.

8. I do have prior working experience on the property as stated in the report. 

9. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 and certify that by reason of my education, professional registration, and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

10. I have read NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with same.

11. As of the date of this report, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, the parts of the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

January 30, 2023

"Original signed and sealed"

/s/ Douglas L. Beahm

Douglas L. Beahm, SME Registered Member


SHEEP MOUNTAIN PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

NI 43-101 COMPLIANT, December 31, 2021

I, Terence P. ("Terry") McNulty, D. Sc., P. E., do hereby certify that:

1. I am president of T. P. McNulty and Associates, Inc., located at 4321 N. Camino de Carrillo, Tucson, AZ 85750-6375.

2. I am the author of Sections 13 and 17 of the report entitled " Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Sheep Mountain Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, USA", dated December 31, 2021.

3. I graduated in 1960 from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. In 1963, I earned a Master of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Montana School of Mines, and in 1966, I was awarded a Doctor of Science degree in Metallurgy from the Colorado School of Mines. I am a Registered Professional Engineer in Colorado with License No. 24789 and am a Registered Member of SME, No. 2152450R.

4. I have worked as a metallurgist in the minerals industry for over 55 years and have had extensive experience in uranium processing, as well as in cost estimation, process engineering, plant design, and plant operations in the recovery of many metals and minerals from their ores. I have contributed to approximately forty-five NI 43-101 compliant studies for projects intended to recover uranium, gold, silver, and copper.

5. I was last present on the site in August 2010.

6. I am responsible for Sections 13, 17, and portions of 21 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of Energy Fuels Inc.. and have no financial interest in the property to which this Technical Report applies.

8. I participated in a report on this property for another client in 2010.

9. Owing to my education, relevant industrial experience, and professional registration, I believe that I am a "qualified person" for the purposes of this Technical Report.

10. I have read NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with same.

11. As of the date of this report, and to the best of my knowledge based on information that has been provided to me, this Technical Report contains all information that must be disclosed to prevent the Technical Report from being in any way incomplete or misleading.

January 30, 2023

"Original signed and sealed"

/s/ Terence P. McNulty

Terence P. McNulty, D. Sc., P. E

P.E Seal: Colorado # 24789



Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility
Study on the Pinyon Plain Project,

Coconino County, Arizona, USA

Energy Fuels Inc.

SLR Project No:  138.02544.00006

Effective Date:

December 31, 2022

Signature Date:

February 23, 2023

Prepared by:

SLR International Corporation

Qualified Persons:

Mark Mathisen, CPG

R. Dennis Bergen, P.Eng.

Jeffrey Woods, MMSA, QP

Lee (Pat) Gochnour, MMSA QP

Grant Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.


Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA

SLR Project No:  138.02544.00006

Prepared by

SLR International Corporation

1658 Cole Blvd, Suite 100

Lakewood, CO  80401

USA

for

Energy Fuels Inc.

225 Union Blvd., Suite 600

Lakewood, CO 80228

USA

Effective Date - December 31, 2022

Signature Date - February 23, 2023

Prepared by:

Mark Mathisen, CPG

R. Dennis Bergen, P.Eng.

Jeffrey Woods, MMSA QP

Lee (Pat) Gochnour, MMSA QP

Grant Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.

Peer Reviewed by:

Deborah McCombe, P.Geo.

Approved by:

Project Manager

Grant Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.

Project Director

Richard Lambert, M.B.A., P.E., P.Eng.

FINAL

Distribution: 1 copy - Energy Fuels Inc.

 1 copy -  SLR International Corporation


CONTENTS

1.0 SUMMARY 1-1
   
1.1 Executive Summary 1-1
   
1.2 Economic Analysis 1-4
   
1.3 Technical Summary 1-12
   
2.0 INTRODUCTION 2-1
   
2.1 Sources of Information 2-1
   
2.2 List of Abbreviations 2-3
   
3.0 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS 3-1
   
3.1 Reliance on Information Provided by the Registrant 3-1
   
4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION 4-1
   
4.1 Location 4-1
   
4.2 Land Tenure 4-3
   
4.3 Required Permits, Authorizations and Status 4-5
   
4.4 Royalties 4-5
   
4.5 Other Significant Risks 4-5
   
5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY 5-1
   
5.1 Accessibility 5-1
   
5.2 Vegetation 5-1
   
5.3 Climate 5-1
   
5.4 Local Resources 5-1
   
5.5 Infrastructure 5-1
   
5.6 Physiography 5-2
   
6.0 HISTORY 6-1
   
6.1 Prior Ownership 6-1
   
6.2 Exploration and Development History 6-2
   
6.3 Past Production 6-3
   
7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION 7-1
   
7.1 Regional Geology 7-1
   
7.2 Local Geology 7-4
   
7.3 Mineralization 7-7
   
8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES 8-1
   
9.0 EXPLORATION 9-1
   
9.1 Geotechnical 9-1

 


10.0 DRILLING 10-1
   
10.1 Drilling 10-1
   
11.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES, AND SECURITY 11-1
   
11.1 Sample Preparation and Analysis 11-1
   
11.2 Sample Security 11-4
   
11.3 Quality Assurance and Quality Control 11-4
   
11.4 Density Analyses 11-15
   
11.5 Conclusions 11-15
   
12.0 DATA VERIFICATION 12-1
   
12.1 SLR Data Verification (2021) 12-1
   
12.2 Audit of Drill hole Database 12-1
   
12.3 Verification of Assay Table 12-1
   
12.4 Limitations 12-1
   
12.5 Conclusion 12-1
   
13.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING 13-1
   
13.1 Metallurgical Testing 13-1
   
13.2 Opinion of Adequacy 13-8
   
14.0 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE 14-1
   
14.1 Summary 14-1
   
14.2 Resource Database 14-3
   
14.3 Geological Interpretation 14-4
   
14.4 Resource Assays 14-8
   
14.5 Treatment of High Grade Assays 14-8
   
14.6 Compositing 14-11
   
14.7 Trend Analysis 14-12
   
14.8 Search Strategy and Grade Interpolation Parameters 14-14
   
14.9 Bulk Density 14-15
   
14.10 Block Models 14-16
   
14.11 Cut-off Grade 14-17
   
14.12 Classification 14-18
   
14.13 Block Model Validation 14-21
   
14.14 Grade Tonnage Sensitivity 14-24
   
14.15 Mineral Resource Reporting 14-27
   
15.0 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE 15-1
   
15.1 Summary 15-1
   
15.2 Dilution 15-2
   
15.3 Extraction 15-2

15.4 Cut-off Grade 15-2
   
15.5 Classification 15-3
   
15.6 Reconciliation 15-3
   
16.0 MINING METHODS 16-1
   
16.1 Mine Design 16-1
   
16.2 Mining Method 16-4
   
16.3 Geotechnical 16-5
   
16.4 Hydrological 16-5
   
16.5 Preproduction Schedule 16-7
   
16.6 Life of Mine Plan 16-7
   
16.7 Mine Infrastructure 16-10
   
16.8 Mine Equipment 16-14
   
16.9 Personnel Requirements 16-15
   
17.0 RECOVERY METHODS 17-1
   
18.0 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE 18-1
   
19.0 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS 19-1
   
19.1 Markets 19-1
   
19.2 Contracts 19-3
   
20.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND PLANS, NEGOTIATIONS, OR AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS  20-1
   
20.1 Environmental Studies 20-1
   
20.2 Social and Community Requirements 20-1
   
20.3 Water Management 20-1
   
20.4 Permitting 20-4
   
20.5 Mineral Examination 20-5
   
20.6 Negotiations and Agreements with Local Groups 20-5
   
20.7 Mine Closure Remediation and Reclamation Plans 20-6
   
20.8 Opinion of Adequacy 20-6
   
21.0 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS 21-1
   
21.1 Capital Costs 21-1
   
21.2 Operating Costs 21-3
   
22.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 22-1
   
22.1 Economic Criteria 22-1
   
22.2 Cash Flow Analysis 22-2
   
22.3 Sensitivity Analysis 22-5
   
23.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES 23-1

23.1 Other Breccia Pipes 23-1
   
24.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION 24-1
   
25.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS 25-1
   
25.1 Geology and Mineral Resources 25-1
   
25.2 Mining and Mineral Reserves 25-1
   
25.3 Mineral Processing 25-2
   
25.4 Infrastructure 25-2
   
25.5 Environment 25-2
   
26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 26-1
   
26.1 Geology and Mineral Resources 26-1
   
26.2 Mining and Mineral Reserves 26-1
   
26.3 Mineral Processing 26-1
   
26.4 Infrastructure 26-1
   
26.5 Environment 26-1
   
27.0 REFERENCES 27-1
   
28.0 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE 28-1
   
29.0 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON 29-1
   
29.1 Grant A. Malensek 29-1
   
29.2 Mark B. Mathisen 29-3
   
29.3 R. Dennis Bergen 29-5
   
29.4 Jeffery L. Woods 29-7
   
29.5 Lee (Pat) Gochnour 29-8
   
30.0 APPENDIX 1 30-1

TABLES

Table 1-1:2023 Proposed Underground Drilling Budget for Main-Lower and Juniper Zones 1-3
   
Table 1-2:After-Tax Cash Flow Summary 1-8
   
Table 1-3:After-tax Sensitivity Analysis 1-9
   
Table 1-4:Summary of Attributable Uranium Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022 1-15
   
Table 1-5:Summary of Attributable Copper Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022 1-15
   
Table 1-6:Summary of Estimated Mineral Reserves - December 31, 2022 1-17
   
Table 1-7:Capital Cost Estimate 1-18
   
Table 1-8:Operating Cost Summary 1-19
   
Table 2-1:Summary of QP Responsibilities 2-2
   
Table 4-1:Claims Held by EFR for the Pinyon Plain Project 4-3
   
Table 6-1:Drilling at Pinyon Plain Project by Previous Operators 6-2
   
Table 10-1:Underground Drill hole Database Summary 10-1
   
Table 10-2:Selected Copper and Uranium Assay Intercepts 10-3
   
Table 10-3:Declustered Cu Assay Statistics 10-5
   
Table 11-1:QA/QC Samples for the Pinyon Plain Project Drilling 11-5
   
Table 11-2:Summary of QA/QC Submittals 11-6
   
Table 11-3:Expected Values and Ranges of Copper CRM 11-8
   
Table 11-4:Summary of CRM Performance 11-8
   
Table 11-5:Basic Comparative Statistics of 2017 Duplicate Assays 11-12
   
Table 11-6:Check Assays List 11-13
   
Table 13-1:Conventional Acid Leach Test Results 13-2
   
Table 13-2:Roasted Acid Test Results 13-3
   
Table 13-3:Summary of Uranium and Copper Recoveries (Hazen) 13-8
   
Table 14-1:Summary of Attributable Uranium Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022 14-2
   
Table 14-2:Summary of Attributable Copper Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022 14-3
   
Table 14-3:Summary of Available Drill hole Data 14-4
   
Table 14-4:Summary Statistics of Uncapped U3O8 Assays 14-8
   
Table 14-5:Summary Statistics of Uncapped vs. Capped Assays 14-9

Table 14-6:Summary of Uranium Composite Data by Zone 14-11
   
Table 14-7:Estimation Steps of Block Model Variables 14-14
   
Table 14-8:Uranium Interpolation Plan 14-15
   
Table 14-9:Summary of Block Model Variables 14-16
   
Table 14-10:Pinyon Plain Project Cut-off Grade Calculation for Mineral Resources 14-17
   
Table 14-11:Comparison of Block and Composite Uranium Grades 14-24
   
Table 14-12:Block Model Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade and Uranium Price in the Main-Lower and Juniper Zones (Indicated) 14-25
   
Table 14-13:Block Model Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade and Uranium Price in the Main-Lower and Juniper Zones (Inferred) 14-26
   
Table 14-14:Summary of Attributable Uranium Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022 14-27
   
Table 14-15:Summary of Attributable Copper Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022 14-28
   
Table 15-1:Summary of Mineral Reserve Estimate - December 31, 2022 15-1
   
Table 15-2:Cut Off Grade Calculation for Mineral Reserves 15-2
   
Table 16-1:Life of Mine Development and Production Plan 16-8
   
Table 16-2:Life of Mine Production Plan 16-9
   
Table 16-3:Required Underground Mining Equipment Purchases and Rebuilds 16-14
   
Table 16-4:Personnel Requirements 16-15
   
Table 19-1:TradeTech Uranium Market Price Forecast (Real & Nominal US$/lb U3O8) 19-2
   
Table 20-1:Environmental Permits for Operation 20-5
   
Table 21-1:Life of Mine Capital Equipment 21-1
   
Table 21-3:Reclamation Cost 21-2
   
Table 21-2:Operating Costs Summary 21-3
   
Table 21-4:Processing Operating Costs 21-3
   
Table 22-1:After-Tax Cash Flow Summary 22-4
   
Table 22-2:After-tax Sensitivity Analysis 22-5
   
Table 26-1:2023 Proposed Underground Drilling Budget for Main-Lower and Juniper Zones 26-1

FIGURES

Figure 1-1:Annual Mine Production 1-6
   
Figure 1-2:After-Tax Metrics Summary 1-7
   
Figure 1-3:After-tax NPV 5% Cash flow Sensitivity 1-11
   
Figure 1-4:After-tax IRR Cash flow Sensitivity 1-12
   
Figure 4-1:Location Map 4-2
   
Figure 4-2:Land Tenure Map 4-4
   
Figure 7-1:Regional Geologic Map 7-2
   
Figure 7-2:Regional Stratigraphic Column 7-3
   
Figure 7-3:Cross Section of Local Geology 7-5
   
Figure 7-4:Pinyon Plain Horizontal Slice Main Zone - Slice 5,200' Level 7-6
   
Figure 10-1:Surface Drill hole Collar Locations 10-2
   
Figure 10-2:Histogram of Declustered Cu Assays 10-5
   
Figure 11-1:Results of Blank Samples 11-7
   
Figure 11-2:Control Charts of Copper CRM 11-9
   
Figure 11-3:Average Copper Grade of CRM Over Time 11-10
   
Figure 11-4:Scatter Plot of Independent vs Primary Laboratory Check Assay Results for U3O8 11-13
   
Figure 11-5:Scatter Plot of Independent vs. Primary Laboratory Check Assay Results for Copper 11-14
   
Figure 11-6:Scatter Pot of the Weighted Average of Probe and Assay U3O8 Results Over Drill hole Intercepts within the Main Zone 11-15
   
Figure 13-1:Laboratory Comparison - Conventional Leaching 13-5
   
Figure 13-2:Laboratory Comparison - Roasting Pre-Treatment and Leaching 13-5
   
Figure 14-1:Uranium and Copper Mineralized Zones 14-7
   
Figure 14-2:Histogram of U3O8 Resource Assay in M_01 and J_1_01 Domains 14-10
   
Figure 14-3:Log Normal Probability Plot with Capping Grades 14-10
   
Figure 14-4:Length Histogram 14-12
   
Figure 14-5:U3O8 Variogram Models 14-13
   
Figure 14-6:Block Classification within the Main Zone 14-20
   
Figure 14-7:Cross Section Comparing Block and Composite U3O8 Grades in the Main Zone 14-22
   
Figure 14-8:Plan View Comparing Block and Composite U3O8 Grades in the Main Zone 14-23
   
Figure 14-9:Indicated Grade Tonnage Curve Main-Lower and Juniper Zones 14-25
   
Figure 14-10:Inferred Grade Tonnage Curve Main-Lower and Juniper Zones 14-26
   
Figure 16-1:Pinyon Plain Overall Mine Design and Naming Conventions 16-3
   
Figure 16-2:Pinyon Plan Mine Shaft Plan View 16-11
   
Figure 16-3:Pinyon Plain Ventilation Design 16-13
   
Figure 18-1:Pinyon Plain Mine Facility Layout 18-2

Figure 19-1:TradeTech Uranium Market Price Forecast (Real & Nominal US$/lb U3O8) 19-3
   
Figure 20-1:Process Flow Diagram for Pinyon Plain Mine 20-3
   
Figure 22-1:Annual Mine Production 22-2
   
Figure 22-2:After-Tax Metrics Summary 22-3
   
Figure 22-3:After-tax NPV 5% Cash flow Sensitivity 22-7
   
Figure 22-4:After-tax IRR Cash flow Sensitivity 22-8

APPENDIX TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 30-1:SLR Base Case Cash Flow Summary 30-2

1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 Executive Summary

SLR International Corporation (SLR) was retained by Energy Fuels Inc. (Energy Fuels), the parent company of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR), to prepare a Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) with respect to the Pinyon Plain Project (Pinyon Plain or the Project), located in Coconino County, Arizona, USA.  EFR owns 100% of the Project.

EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels Inc., is incorporated in Ontario, Canada.  EFR is a US-based uranium and vanadium exploration and mine development company with projects located in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico.  EFR is listed on the NYSE American Stock Exchange (symbol: UUUU) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: EFR).

This Technical Report satisfies the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Modernized Property Disclosure Requirements for Mining Registrants as described in Subpart 229.1300 of Regulation S-K, Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations (S-K 1300) and Item 601 (b)(96) Technical Report Summary.  The purpose of this Technical Report is to disclose the results of a PFS for the Project. 

The Project is a uranium and copper breccia pipe deposit in northern Arizona.  The Project is permitted and has a 1,470 ft deep shaft, headframe, hoist, compressor, and surface facilities including line power.  The Project is currently being developed in preparation for production.  Environmental compliance activities continue with all infrastructure for mine development in place.  EFR envisages this as a mechanized mining underground operation in which the mineralized material will be hoisted to surface and then trucked to a mill for processing based on a toll milling agreement.

Energy Fuels plans to operate the mine at a rate of up to 292 short tons per day (stpd) of ore, averaging 143 stpd of ore.  The mine life extends for a total of 28 months.  The life of mine plan includes mining 134,500 tons of ore grading 0.58% U3O8, yielding 1.57 million pounds (Mlb) of U3O8.  Process recovery is estimated to be 96% to produce 1.51 Mlb of U3O8.  There are additional Mineral Resources at depth below the Mineral Reserves in the current mine plan.

1.1.1 Conclusions

SLR offers the following interpretations and conclusions on the Project:

1.1.1.1 Geology and Mineral Resources

 Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Resources in S-K 1300, which are consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM, 2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.

 In the SLR QP's opinion, the assumptions, parameters, and methodology used for the Pinyon Plain Mineral Resource estimate is appropriate for the style of mineralization and mining methods.

 The SLR QP is of the opinion the block models are adequate for public disclosure and to support mining activities.  The effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate is December 31, 2022.


 Mineral Resource estimates exclude previously reported uranium mineralization from the Cap and Upper zones as a condition of current Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Aquifer Protection Permit which limits mining between the elevations of 5,340 ft and 4,508 ft.

 Mineral Resources are based on a $65/lb uranium price at an equivalent uranium (% eU3O8, referring to radiometric logs converted to grades) cut-off grade of 0.30% based on a combination of longhole stoping, shrinkage stoping, and drifting underground mining methods;  mineralized material from the Project will be trucked 320 miles to the White Mesa Mill located near Blanding, Utah.  Development rock will be temporarily stored on surface, then will be used at the end of mining to fill the voids created by mining the breccia pipe and the developed shafts.

 Indicated uranium Mineral Resources total 37,000 tons at an average grade of 0.95% eU3O8 for a total of 703,000 lb U3O8.  Inferred Mineral Resources total 5,000 tons at an average grade of 0.50% eU3O8 for a total of 48,000 lb U3O8.

 Sampling and assaying procedures have been adequately completed and carried out using industry standard quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) practices.  These practices include, but are not limited to, sampling, assaying, chain of custody of the samples, sample storage, use of third-party laboratories, standards, blanks, and duplicates.

 The SLR QP considers the estimation procedures employed at Pinyon Plain, including compositing, top-cutting, variography, block model construction, and interpolation to be reasonable and in line with industry standard practice.

 The SLR QP finds the classification criteria to be reasonable.

1.1.1.2 Mining and Mineral Reserves

 Mineral Reserve estimates, as prepared by EFR and reviewed and accepted by SLR, have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Reserves in S-K 1300 which are consistent with CIM (2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.

 The Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve estimate is 134,500 tons grading 0.58% U3O8 containing 1.57 Mlb of U3O8 and is comprised of 7,800 tons grading 0.33% U3O8 of Proven Mineral Reserves containing 0.05 Mlb of U3O8 plus 136,700 tons grading 0.60% U3O8 of Probable Mineral Reserves containing 1.52 Mlb of U3O8

 The Mineral Reserves are based upon a cut-off grade of 0.32% U3O8.

 Mineral Reserves were estimated based on stope designs utilizing a mine planning software within a 0.15% U3O8 wireframe.

 The Mineral Reserves include 35% dilution at zero grade.

 Measured Mineral Resources were converted to Proven Mineral Reserves and Probable Mineral Resources were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves.

 No Inferred Mineral Resources were converted into Mineral Reserves.

 The existing shaft will be used for the mine access and rock hoisting.

 The ore will be mined using longhole stoping for the majority of the ore and breasting of roofs and/or ribs for narrow mineralized zones.

 Ore will be mucked and hauled by load-haul-dump (LHD) loaders to a grizzly over the loading pocket feed.

 A ventilation raise will be bored in the centre of the orebody to provide an exhaust airway and emergency egress.

The SLR QP is not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate.

1.1.1.3 Mineral Processing

 There is sufficient metallurgical testing to support a uranium process recovery of 96% at the White Mesa Mill.

1.1.1.4 Infrastructure

1.1.1.5 Environment

 EFR has secured all of the permits required to construct, operate, and close the Pinyon Plain Project.

o Some permits require regular update/renewal.

o These permits involved significant public participation opportunity.

 Financial assurance is in place to guarantee all reclamation will occur.  This amount will be reviewed on a regular basis (at least every five years) to cover any changes at site and/or for any inflationary issue(s).

1.1.2 Recommendations

SLR offers the following recommendations regarding the advancement of the Project.

1.1.2.1 Geology and Mineral Resources

1. Convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources within the Main-Lower and Juniper zones by completing underground delineation drilling program per the estimated budget shown in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1: 2023 Proposed Underground Drilling Budget for Main-Lower and Juniper Zones

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Category

Number of Drill
Holes/Assay

Total Feet
Drilled

Unit Cost

Budget

(US$/ft)

(US$)

Underground Delineation Drilling

45

11,250

31.00

349,000

1.1.2.2 Mining and Mineral Reserves

1. Continue preproduction development and preparations for production.

2. Develop grade control and production reconciliation procedures.

3. Develop a program of monitoring the geotechnical conditions in the stopes and development headings.


4. Monitor the water inflow rate of the ventilation raise pilot hole.

5. Prepare contingency plans for mine dewatering in the event that the ventilation raise encounters a water bearing strata.

6. Prepare contingency plans for additional dewatering due to water inflow to the ventilation raise.

Select the ventilation raise contractor and confirm the schedule for the work.

7. Secure contractor proposals for the ventilation raise development and prepare for development.

1.1.2.3 Mineral Processing

1. Investigate processing the copper.

1.1.2.4 Infrastructure

None

1.1.2.5 Environment

1. Consider development of an environmental management system that lists environmental roles and responsibilities of site personnel, permit conditions, and monitoring requirements for use should someone else unfamiliar with environmental matters have to perform them.

2. Establish a reclamation revegetation test plot program to ensure species selected will work at the site.

1.2 Economic Analysis

An after-tax Cash Flow Projection has been generated from the Life of Mine production schedule and capital and operating cost estimates, as summarized in Table 1-2.  A summary of the key criteria is provided below.

1.2.1 Economic Criteria

1.2.1.1 Revenue

1.2.1.2 Capital and Operating Costs

 Pre-production period: Four months

 Mine life: 24 months

 LOM capital costs, excluding reclamation, of $8.7 million on Q4 2022 US dollar basis


 LOM operating cost (excluding royalties but including severance taxes) of $50.5 million or $372/ton milled on Q4 2022 US dollar basis

1.2.1.3 Royalties and Severance Taxes

A 3.5% private royalty is payable for the Project based on sliding scale of the value of production expressed in lb/t along with allowances for mining and ore hauling.  The royalty payments over the mine life are approximately $1.88/t ore.

Arizona has a severance tax that is 2.5% of the net severance base, which is 50% of the difference between the gross value of production (revenue) and the production costs.  Thus, a rate of 1.25% is used to reflect this 50% base reduction.  The Arizona severance tax payable to the Project is estimated at $3.70/t ore during LOM.

1.2.1.4 Income Taxes

EFR states it is not liable for corporate income tax (CIT) expenditures as a corporation, including the period that the Project is expected to operate.  In addition, the short mine life of 24 months makes an estimate of income tax payable using a standard tax methodology difficult.  Therefore, a proforma CIT estimate was added with the assumption that the Project was a stand-alone entity for tax purposes and does not reflect the company's actual filing position with following assumptions:

1.2.2 Cash Flow Analysis

The Project production schedule is presented in Figure 1-1 and the resulting after-tax free cash flow profile is shown in Figure 1-2.


Figure 1-1: Annual Mine Production


Figure 1-2: After-Tax Metrics Summary

Table 1-2 presents a summary of the Project economics at an average U3O8 price of $60.00/lb.  The full annual cash flow model is presented in Appendix 1.

On a pre-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $28.9 million over the mine life.  The pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV) at a 5% discount rate is $26.5 million and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 14%. 

On an after-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $22.8 million over the mine life.  The after-tax NPV at 5% discount rate is $20.9 million and the IRR is 12%. 

LOM Project cost metrics are as follows:

 Cash Operating Costs: $33.91/lb U3O8

 All-in Sustaining Costs: $34.84/lb U3O8

 All-in Costs: $40.81/lb U3O8


Table 1-2: After-Tax Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Item

Unit

Value

U3O8 Price

$/lb

$60.00

U3O8 Sales

klb

1,505

Total Gross Revenue

US$ 000

90,300

Product Transport to Market

US$ 000

(263)

Royalties

US$ 000

(253)

Total Net Revenue

US$ 000

89,783

Mining Cost

US$ 000

(13,581)

Ore Trucking Cost

US$ 000

(9,681)

Process Cost

US$ 000

(25,817)

G & A Cost

US$ 000

(941)

Severance Tax

US$ 000

(497)

Total Operating Costs

US$ 000

(50,518)

Operating Margin

US$ 000

39,266

Corporate Income Tax

US$ 000

(6,046)

Working Capital

US$ 000

0

Operating Cash Flow

US$ 000

33,220

Development Capital

US$ 000

(8,748)

Closure/Reclamation Capital

US$ 000

(1,145)

Total Capital

US$ 000

(10,155)

 

 

 

Pre-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ 000

29,110

Pre-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ 000

26,682

Pre-tax NPV @ 8%

US$ 000

25,318

Pre-tax NPV @ 12%

US$ 000

23,602

Pre-tax IRR

%

14%

 

 

 

After-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ 000

23,064

After-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ 000

21,072

After-tax NPV @ 8%

US$ 000

19,954

After-tax NPV @ 12%

US$ 000

18,545

After-tax IRR

%

12%




Item

Unit

Value

 

 

 

Cash Operating Costs

$/l U3O8

33.91

All-in Sustaining Costs

$/l U3O8

34.84

All-in Costs

$/l U3O8

40.66

1.2.3 Sensitivity Analysis

Project risks can be identified in both economic and non-economic terms.  Key economic risks were examined by running cash flow sensitivities calculated over a range of variations based on realistic fluctuations within the listed factors:

The after-tax cash flow sensitivities for the base case are shown in Table 1-3, Figure 1-3, and Figure 1-4.  The Project is most sensitive to head grade, uranium price, and recovery, and only slightly less sensitive to operating cost and capital cost at a Class 3 accuracy level.  The sensitivities to metallurgical recovery, head grade, and metal price are nearly identical.

Table 1-3: After-tax Sensitivity Analysis

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Factor Change

U3O8 Price
(US$/lb)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.80

$48

$6,996

6%

0.90

$54

$14,034

9%

1.00

$60

$21,072

12%

1.10

$66

$28,111

15%

1.20

$72

$35,149

17%

Factor Change

Head Grade
(% U3O8)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.80

0.47%

$7,066

6%

0.90

0.52%

$14,072

10%

1.00

0.58%

$21,072

12%

1.10

0.64%

$28,074

15%

1.20

0.70%

$35,073

17%




Factor Change

Metallurgical Recovery
(%)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.80

77%

$7,037

6%

0.90

86%

$14,055

10%

1.00

96%

$21,072

12%

1.03

98%

$22,827

13%

1.04

100%

$23,879

13%

Factor Change

Operating Costs
(US$/ton milled)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.90

$45,019

$24,988

14%

0.95

$47,520

$23,030

13%

1.00

$50,021

$21,072

12%

1.13

$56,273

$16,178

10%

1.25

$62,526

$11,284

8%

Factor Change

Capital Costs
(US$ M)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.90

$9,481

$21,928

13%

0.95

$9,930

$21,500

13%

1.00

$10,378

$21,072

12%

1.13

$11,500

$20,002

11%

1.25

$12,621

$18,932

10%



Figure 1-3: After-tax NPV 5% Cash flow Sensitivity


Figure 1-4: After-tax IRR Cash flow Sensitivity

1.3 Technical Summary

1.3.1 Property Description and Location

The Project is a fully permitted underground uranium and copper deposit in northern Arizona, located on a 17-acre site within the Kaibab National Forest.  It is situated 153 mi north of Phoenix, 86 mi northwest of Flagstaff, and seven miles southeast of Tusayan, in Sections 19 and 20, Township 29 North, Range 03 East, Gila and Salt River Meridian (GSRM), Coconino County, Arizona.  The Project is located on the Coconino Plateau within the Colorado Plateau, at an elevation of approximately 6,500 feet above sea level (ft ASL).

1.3.2 Land Tenure

EFR's property position at the Project consists of nine unpatented mining claims (Canyon 64-66, 74-76, and 84-86), located on USFS land, encompassing approximately 186 acres.  EFR acquired the Project in June 2012 and has a 100% interest in the claims.  The Project is located at latitude 35°52'58.65" N and longitude 112° 5'47.05" W.  All claims are in good standing until September 1, 2023.


1.3.3 Existing Infrastructure

Existing infrastructure includes a shaft, headframe, hoist, compressor, surface maintenance shops, employee offices, a water well, evaporation pond, water treatment plant, rock stockpile pads, water tanks and a fuel tank.  An existing power line terminates at the site.

1.3.4 History

Uranium exploration and mining of breccia pipe deposits started in the region in 1951. 

The Project is located on mining claims held by EFR, a wholly owned subsidiary of EFR Arizona Strip LLC.  These mining claims were originally staked by Gulf Mineral Resources (Gulf) in April 1978, who have maintained a royalty on the property through various changes in ownership.  The exploration and development carried out by the previous owners included surface and underground drilling, developing a deep water well, and constructing a 1,470 ft deep mine shaft and conveyances for underground exploration which are currently operational.

No past production has occurred at the Project.

1.3.5 Geology and Mineralization

Parts of two distant physiographic provinces are found in Arizona: the Basin and Range Province located in the southern portion of the state; and the Colorado Plateau Province located across the northern and central portions of the state.  Pinyon Plain lies within the Colorado Plateau Province.

The region has experienced volcanic activity since the Pliocene epoch.  A number of lava-capped buttes rise above the general landscape, and lava flows cover large areas in the southern part of the district.  Faulting has exerted significant control on the geologic development and geomorphic history of the region.  Major structural features include the Grand Wash, Hurricane, and Toroweap fault systems, all trending generally north-south with an eastern up-thrown side.  These faults are topographically prominent and show impressive scarps though other less prominent fault systems exist.

The surface expression of the Pinyon Plain breccia pipe is a broad shallow depression in the Permian Kaibab Formation.  The pipe is essentially vertical with an average diameter of less than 200 ft but is considerably narrower through the Coconino and Hermit horizons (80 ft in diameter).  The cross-sectional area is in the order of 20,000 ft2 to 25,000 ft2.  The pipe extends for at least 2,300 ft vertically from the Toroweap limestone to the upper Redwall horizons.  The ultimate depth of the pipe is unknown.  Uranium mineralization is concentrated in an annular ring within the breccia pipe.

Mineralization extends vertically both inside and outside the pipe over approximately 1,700 vertical ft, but potentially economic grade mineralization has been found mainly in the collapsed portions of the Coconino, Hermit, and Esplanade horizons and at the margins of the pipe in fracture zones.  Sulfide zones are found scattered throughout the pipe but are especially concentrated in a sulfide cap near the Toroweap-Coconino contact, where the cap averages 20 ft in thickness and consists of pyrite and bravoite, an iron-nickel sulfide.  The mineralization assemblage consists of uranium-pyrite-hematite with massive copper sulfide mineralization common in and near the uranium zone.  The strongest mineralization appears to occur in the lower Hermit-upper Esplanade horizons in an annular fracture zone.

In the mineralized zone, the uranium mineralization occurs largely as blebs, streaks, small veins, and fine disseminations of uraninite/pitchblende (UO2).  Mineralization is mainly confined to matrix material, but may extend into clasts and larger breccia fragments, particularly where these fragments are Coconino sandstone.  In addition to uranium, copper mineralization is also found within the breccia pipe.  Typically replacing the matrix material, copper occurs as chalcocite, bornite, tennantite, and covellite.  Arsenic is present where tennantite mineralization occurs.  Additionally, lower quantities of silver, zinc, lead, molybdenum, copper, nickel, and vanadium are present and scattered throughout the pipe.


1.3.6 Exploration Status

Gulf drilled eight exploration holes at the site from 1978 through May 1982 but found only low-grade uranium in this pipe.  Additional drilling completed by EFNI in 1983 identified a major deposit.  No drilling activity was completed on the Project between EFNI's final drill program in 1994 and EFR's underground drilling program in 2016 to 2017.

1.3.7 Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Resources in S-K 1300, which are consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM, 2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.

The Project resource database, dated June 17, 2017, includes drilling results from 1978 to 2017 and includes surveyed drill hole collar locations (including dip and azimuth), assay, radiometric probe, and lithology data from 130 diamond drill holes totalling 79,775 ft of drilling.

A geologic and resource model of the breccia pipe host was constructed based on drill logs.  Mineralization wireframes for U3O8 were based on assays at a nominal cut-off grade of 0.15%.  Low and high grade copper wireframes were based on nominal cut-off grades of 1% and 8%, respectively.

The previously reported Mineral Resources estimate with an effective date of December 31, 2021 (SLR, 2022) disclosed both uranium and copper Mineral Resources in the Main and Main-Lower zones.  Copper processing adds significantly higher milling costs and thus a higher equivalent uranium cut-off grade was used to report resources at the Main-Lower and Juniper zones.  EFR has not included copper in the Mineral Reserve estimate but could add a copper circuit to the mill in the future.  As a result, uranium and copper mineralization are now reported separately in this updated Mineral Resource.  In addition, the following are important changes in the reporting of Mineral Resources:

 All previously reported uranium Mineral Resources in the Main Zone have been converted into Mineral Reserves (Section 15).

 In 2022, EFR moved from a General Aquifer Protection Permit to an Individual Aquifer Protection Permit with ADEQ.  In an effort to protect the perched aquifer in the Coconino sandstone, ADEQ requested and EFR agreed to limit mining between the elevations of 5,340 feet above sea level (ft ASL) and 4,508 ft ASL.  As a result, this updated Mineral Resource report excludes previously reported uranium mineralization from the Cap and Upper zones.

Table 1-4 summarizes uranium Mineral Resources based on a $65/lb uranium price at an equivalent uranium cut-off grade 0.30% eU3O8 for the Main-Lower and Juniper zones with an effective date of December 31, 2022.  The resources stated in this report supersede any previous Mineral Resources reported for the Project.


Table 1-4: Summary of Attributable Uranium Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Zone

Cut-Off
Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained
Metal

Metallurgical
Recovery

U3O8

(% eU3O8)

(tons)

(% eU3O8)

(lb U3O8)

(%)

Indicated

Juniper I

0.3

37,000

0.95

703,000

96

Total Indicated

 

 

37,000

0.95

703,000

96

Inferred

Main-Lower

0.3

2,000

0.48

16,000

96

Juniper I

0.3

2,000

0.58

24,000

96

Juniper II

0.3

1,000

0.36

8,000

96

Total Inferred

 

 

5,000

0.50

48,000

96

Notes:

1. SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Mineral Resources are estimated at 0.30% eU3O8 with an estimated metallurgical recovery of 96% for uranium.

3. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of US$65 per pound

4. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources.

5. Bulk density is 0.082 ton/ft3 (12.2 ft3/ton or 2.63 t/m3).

6. Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

7. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

8. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR and are in situ.

Table 1-5 lists copper Mineral Resource associated with the Main and Main-Lower zones at Pinyon Plain.  Further study is required to determine if the copper associated with uranium mineralization in the zones may eventually be processed and add value to the project.

Table 1-5: Summary of Attributable Copper Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Zone

Cut-Off
Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained Metal

Metallurgical
Recovery Cu

(% U3O8 Eq)

(tons)

(% Cu)

(lb Cu)

(%)

Measured

Main

0.4

6,000

9.6

1,155,000

90

Indicated

Main

0.4

90,000

5.9

10,553,000

90

Total Measured + Indicated

 

 

96,000

6.1

11,708,000

90

Inferred

Main-Lower

0.4

4,000

6.5

470,000

90

Notes:

1. SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.


2. For the Main and Main-Lower zones of the Pinyon Plain Project, a 0.40% uranium equivalent cut-off grade (% U3O8 Eq) was applied to account for both the copper and uranium mineralization. The %U3O8 Eq grade term is not the same as the eU3O8 % grade term which indicates probe rather than assay data listed elsewhere in this report.

3. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of $65 per pound and a copper price of $4.00 per lb.

4. A copper to U3O8 conversion factor of 18.19 was used for converting copper grades to equivalent U3O8 grades (U3O8 Eq) for cut-off grade evaluation and reporting.

5. For the Pinyon Plain Project, Mineral Resource tonnages of uranium and copper cannot be added as they overlap in the Main and Main-Lower zones.

6. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources.

7. Bulk density is 0.082 ton/ft3 (12.2 ft3/ton or 2.63 t/m3).

8. Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

10. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR and are in situ.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that with consideration of the recommendations summarized in Section 1 and Section 26, any issues relating to all relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction can be resolved with further work.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that there are no other known environmental, permitting, legal, social, or other factors that would affect the development of the Mineral Resources.

While the estimate of uranium and copper Mineral Resources is based on the SLR QP's judgment that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction, no assurance can be given that Mineral Resources will eventually convert to Mineral Reserves.

1.3.8 Mineral Reserves

Mineral Reserve estimates for Pinyon Plain are based on the Mineral Resources as of December 31, 2022, and a mine design including modifying factors such as stope shapes and sizes, external dilution, and mining extraction factors.  Table 1-6 summarizes the estimated Mineral Reserves.  Mineral Resource to Mineral Reserve conversion was 100% within the Main zone based on the stopes within the mine design, with the remaining zones (Main-Lower and Juniper) not considered for inclusion as Mineral Reserves.

The proposed mining methods at Pinyon Plain, similar to other past producing breccia pipe deposits in northern Arizona, includes a combination of longhole stoping, shrinkage stoping, and drifting.  Development rock, temporarily stockpiled on surface, will be used to fill the stope voids and shafts after mining is complete.  Metallurgical test results provided by White Mesa Mill laboratory personnel indicated that metallurgical recoveries using optimum roasting and leach conditions will be approximately 96% for uranium. 

An underground mine design completed by EFR for U3O8 mineralization only was based on assays at a nominal cut-off grade envelope grading 0.15% U3O8.  The breakeven cut-off grade is 0.32% U3O8.  Production is based on underground mining methods and processing via a toll milling agreement. 

Copper mineralization at the site has been excluded from the Mineral Reserve estimates.


Table 1-6: Summary of Estimated Mineral Reserves - December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Cut-Off
Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained
Metal

Metallurgical Recovery U3O8

(% U3O8 )

(tons)

(% eU3O8)

(lb U3O8)

(%)

Main Zone

Proven

0.32

7,800

0.33

50,800

96

Probable

0.32

126,700

0.60

1,517,000

96

Total Proven + Probable

 

134,500

0.58

1,567,800

96

Notes:

1. CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Reserves.

2. Mineral Reserves are estimated using a long-term uranium price of US$60.00 per pound.

3. Underground Mineral Reserves were estimated by creating stope shapes.  The stope shapes were created using a grade envelope of 0.15% U3O8, with a minimum mining width of 5 ft (including hanging wall and footwall dilution), on 10 ft vertical stope heights.

4. The breakeven cut-off grade is 0.32% U3O8,

5. A mining extraction factor of 95% was applied to the underground stopes, while underground development assumed a 100% mining extraction factor.

6. Mining Reserves are in situ.

7. The density varies according to the block model.

8. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

The SLR QP is not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate.

1.3.9 Mining Method

Mineralization is found in fractures which range from single high grade structures to intersections forming large zones; several mining methods will be employed based on the size and geometry of the mineralization.  The majority and largest ore zones at Pinyon Plain will be mined by longhole stoping.  Narrower mineralized zones will be mined as a single drift using jackleg drills with breasting of the roof and ribs to the ore extents.  In some cases, the sill may be blasted and mucked out (termed a "floor pull").  All broken material will be hauled by diesel powered load-haul-dump (LHD) low profile loaders to a muck raise located on the mining level and dropped to the lowest mining level (the 5130 level) or the muck raise located off the spiral ramp.  From either location, a LHD will rehandle the muck and tram it to the dump pocket located at the 1-5 shaft station. 

All mining levels are accessed through a spiral ramp located on the south side of the orebody.  The spiral ramp will connect the mine shaft from the 1-4 to the 1-5 shaft stations.  All mine development in ore and waste will be through 10 ft square drifts and accessed from the production shaft at the 1-4 and 1-5 shaft stations.  Five mining levels will be developed in the orebody, spaced 30 ft to 35 ft apart vertically from the 5130 level to the 5283 levels.

The mine will operate on a single 12 hour day shift, 7 days per week, 355 days per year.  Daily rock production averages 143 stpd of ore and 41 stpd of waste over the life of mine.  The maximum daily production from the mine is 343 tons of ore plus waste. 


1.3.10 Mineral Processing

Ore will be transported to the White Mesa Mill for processing based on a toll milling agreement.

1.3.11 Project Infrastructure

The Pinyon Plain Mine is a developed site with gravel road access and facilities, including line power. Infrastructure at the Project has been designed to accommodate all mining and transportation requirements.  In addition to the mine shaft, existing mine infrastructure includes offices, mine dry, warehousing, development rock storage, standby generators, fuelling station, fresh water well, monitor wells and water tanks, a containment pond, electrical power, rapid response services, explosive magazines, equipment utilities, and a workshop.  The haulage distance from the Project to the White Mesa Mill in Blanding, Utah, is 320 miles.

1.3.12 Market Studies

EFR has signed uranium sales contracts with major nuclear utilities for a portion of the production from the Project. These contracts provide for sales prices that are expected to be consistent with the prices forecast by TradeTech through the period of planned production from the property. In that event, realized uranium prices may be $2 to $4 higher that the $60/lb that SLR has used for the cash flow analysis if the Project operates within this timeframe.

1.3.13 Environmental, Permitting and Social Considerations

EFR has secured all permits necessary to construct, operate, and close the Project.  Permitting involved public participation and involvement.  EFR maintains regular interactions with the regulatory community. 

1.3.14 Capital and Operating Cost Estimates

The base case capital cost estimate summarized in Table 1-7 covers the three year life of the Project and are based on Q4 2022 US dollars.  Based on the American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE) International classifications, Class 3 estimates have an accuracy range between -10% to -20% (low-end) to +10% to +30% (high-end) (AACE International, 2012).  The base case capital and operating cost estimates are within the Class 3 ranges and would meet the S-K 1300 standard of ± 25% accuracy and ≤15% contingency.

Table 1-7: Capital Cost Estimate

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Pinyon Plain Underground Mine Capital Equipment

Units

Total Cost

Mine Development

$ 000

3,799

Loading Pocket & Installation

$ 000

129

Underground Equipment

$ 000

590

Ventilation Fans and heater

$ 000

1,726

Ventilation Raise

$ 000

1,219

Surface Works

$ 000

140

Subtotal UG Capital Before Contingency

$ 000

7,603




Pinyon Plain Underground Mine Capital Equipment

Units

Total Cost

Contingency

$ 000

1,368

Total UG Capital Cost

$ 000

8,748

Reclamation

$ 000

1,407

Total Capital Costs

$ 000

10,155

Operating costs are based on EFR's operating experience.  Table 1-8 shows the operating costs used in the economic evaluation of the Project in Q4 2022 dollars with no contingency applied.

Table 1-8: Operating Cost Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Area

Cost

Unit

Mining

$101.00

$/ore ton mined

Haulage

$72.00

$/ore ton mined

Processing

$192.00

$/ore ton mined

G&A

$7.00

$/ore ton mined

TOTAL OPEX

$372.00

$/ore ton mined



2.0 INTRODUCTION

SLR International Corporation (SLR) was retained by Energy Fuels Inc. (Energy Fuels), the parent company of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFR), to prepare a Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) with respect to the Pinyon Plain Project (Pinyon Plain or the Project), located in Coconino County, Arizona, USA.  EFR owns 100% of the Project.

EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels Inc., is incorporated in Ontario, Canada.  EFR is a US-based uranium and vanadium exploration and mine development company with projects located in the states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico.  EFR is listed on the NYSE American Stock Exchange (symbol: UUUU) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: EFR).

This Technical Report satisfies the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Modernized Property Disclosure Requirements for Mining Registrants as described in Subpart 229.1300 of Regulation S-K, Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations (S-K 1300) and Item 601 (b)(96) Technical Report Summary.  The purpose of this Technical Report is to disclose the results of a PFS for the Project. 

The Project is a uranium and copper breccia pipe deposit in northern Arizona.  The Project is permitted and has a 1,470 ft deep shaft, headframe, hoist, compressor, and surface facilities including line power.  The Project is currently being developed in preparation for production.  Environmental compliance activities continue with all infrastructure for mine development in place.  EFR envisages this as a mechanized mining underground operation in which the mineralized material will be hoisted to surface and then trucked to a mill for processing based on a toll milling agreement.

Energy Fuels plans to operate the mine at a rate of up to 292 short tons per day (stpd) of ore, averaging 143 stpd of ore.  The mine life extends for a total of 28 months.  The life of mine plan includes mining 134,500 tons of ore grading 0.58% U3O8, yielding 1.57 million pounds (Mlb) of U3O8.  Process recovery is estimated to be 96% to produce 1.51 Mlb of U3O8.  There are additional Mineral Resources at depth below the Mineral Reserves in the current mine plan.

2.1 Sources of Information

Sources of information and data contained in this Technical Report or used in its preparation are from publicly available sources in addition to private information owned by EFR, including that of past property owners.

Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., Principal Geologist, SLR, who is an independent qualified person visited the Project under care and maintenance on November 16, 2021.  Mr. Mathisen toured the operational areas, project offices, and water treatment facility (WTF) and conducted discussions with EFR Project geologists on current and future plans of operations.

The QPs, Messrs. Malensek and Gochnour, visited Pinyon Plain on October 27, 2022.  Messrs. Malensek and Gochnour toured the surface and underground operational areas, project offices, and water treatment facility (WTF) and conducted discussions with EFR site personnel on current and future plans of operations.

Table 2-1 presents a summary of the QP responsibilities for this Technical Report.


Table 2-1: Summary of QP Responsibilities

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Qualified Person

Company

Title/Position

Section

Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P. Eng.

SLR

Senior Principal Mining Engineer

1.2, 1.3.12, 1.3.14, 19, 21, 22, 30

Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.

SLR

Principal Geologist

1.1.1.1, 1.1.2.1, 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.4-1.3.7, 2-12, 14, 23, 24, 25.1, 26.1

R. Dennis Bergen, P.Eng.

SLR

Associate Principal Mining Engineer

1.1.1.2, 1.1.2.2, 1.3.8, 1.3.9, 15, 16, 25.2, 26.2

Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP

Woods Process Services

Principal Consulting Metallurgist

1.1.1.3, 1.1.1.4, 1.1.2.3, 1.3.3, 1.3.10, 1.3.11, 13, 17, 18, 25.3, 25.4, 26.3, 26.4

Lee (Pat) Gochnour, MMSA (QP)

Gochnour & Associate, Inc.

Associate Principal Environmental Specialist

1.1.1.5, 1.1.2.5, 1.3.13, 20, 25.5, 26.5

All

-

-

27

During the preparation of this Technical Report, discussions were held with personnel from EFR:

 Dan Kapostasy, P.G., Director of Technical Services

 Gordon Sobering, PE, QP, Chief Engineer

 Scott Bakken, P.G., Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

This Technical Report supersedes the previous Technical Report completed by SLR, dated February 22, 2022.


The documentation reviewed, and other sources of information, are listed at the end of this Technical Report in Section 27 References.

2.2 List of Abbreviations

The U.S. System for weights and units has been used throughout this report.  Tons are reported in short tons (ton) of 2,000 lb unless otherwise noted.  All currency in this Technical Report is US dollars (US$) unless otherwise noted.

Abbreviations and acronyms used in this Technical Report are listed below.

Unit Abbreviation

Definition

Unit Abbreviation

Definition

μ

micron

L

liter

a

annum

lb

pound

A

ampere

m

meter

bbl

barrels

m3

meter cubed

Btu

British thermal units

M

mega (million); molar

°C

degree Celsius

Ma

one million years

cm

centimeter

MBtu

thousand British thermal units

cm3

centimeter cubed

MCF

million cubic feet

d

day

MCF/h

million cubic feet per hour

°F

degree Fahrenheit

mi

mile

ft ASL

feet above sea level

min

minute

ft

foot

Mpa

megapascal

ft2

square foot

mph

miles per hour

ft3

cubic foot

MVA

megavolt-amperes

ft/s

foot per second

MW

megawatt

g

gram

MWh

megawatt-hour

G

giga (billion)

ppb

part per billion

Ga

one billion years

ppm

part per million

gal

gallon

psia

pound per square inch absolute

gal/d

gallon per day

psig

pound per square inch gauge

g/L

gram per liter

rpm

revolutions per minute

g/y

gallon per year

RL

relative elevation

gpm

gallons per minute

s

second

hp

horsepower

ton

short ton

h

hour

stpa

short ton per year

Hz

hertz

stpd

short ton per day

in.

inch

t

metric tonne

in2

square inch

US$

United States dollar

J

joule

V

volt

k

kilo (thousand)

W

watt

kg/m3

kilogram per cubic meter

wt%

weight percent

kVA

kilovolt-amperes

WLT

wet long ton

kW

kilowatt

y

year

kWh

kilowatt-hour

yd3

cubic yard



3.0 RELIANCE ON OTHER EXPERTS

This Technical Report has been prepared by the SLR QP for EFR's parent company, Energy Fuels.  The information, conclusions, opinions, and estimates contained herein are based on:

3.1 Reliance on Information Provided by the Registrant

For the purpose of this Technical Report, the SLR QP has relied on information provided by Energy Fuels for the following:

Ownership information for the Project as described in Section 4 Property Description and Location and the Summary of this Technical Report relied upon a legal opinion by Parsons Behle & Latimer dated January 19, 2022, entitled Mining Claim Status Report - Pinyon Mine, Coconino County, Arizona.  The SLR QP has not researched property title or mineral rights for the Project as we consider it reasonable to rely on Energy Fuels' legal counsel who is responsible for maintaining this information.  The SLR QP has taken all appropriate steps, in their professional opinion, to ensure that the above information from Energy Fuels is sound.

Royalties and other encumbrances for the Project, as described in Section 4 Property Description and Location and the relevant sections of the Summary, was confirmed by Gordon Sobering, Chief  Engineer for EFR in an email dated January 23, 2023.

Environmental and permitting information for the Property, as described in Section 4 Property Description and Location, Section 20 Environmental Studies, Permitting, and Social or Community Impact, and the relevant sections of the Summary was provided by Scott Bakken, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs for EFR and reviewed by the SLR QP.  The permit register was also provided by Mr. Bakken in an email dated January 30, 2022.  SLR is unaware of any changes in the register since the date of confirmation.

SLR has relied on EFR for guidance on applicable taxes and other government levies or interests, applicable to revenue or income, to evaluate the viability of the Mineral Reserves stated in Section 22 Economic Analysis, and the relevant sections of the Summary of this Technical Report.  This information was confirmed by Kara Beck, Tax Manager for EFR in an email dated January 24, 2023.  SLR is unaware of any changes to the US tax code since the date of confirmation.

Except as provided by applicable laws, any use of this Technical Report by any third party is at that party's sole risk.


4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The Project is a fully permitted underground uranium and copper deposit in northern Arizona.  The mineral rights are held by EFR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFR Arizona Strip LLC.

4.1 Location

The Project is located in northern Arizona within the Kaibab National Forest, on a fully permitted 17-acre site.  It is situated 153 mi north of Phoenix, 86 mi northwest of Flagstaff, 47 mi north of Williams, and seven miles southeast of Tusayan, in Sections 19 and 20, Township 29 North, Range 03 East, Gila and Salt River Meridian (GSRM), Coconino County, Arizona (Figure 4-1). 

The geographic coordinates for the approximate center of the Project are located at latitude 35°52'58.65" N and longitude 112°5'47.05" W.  All surface data coordinates are State Plane 1983 Arizona Central FIPS 0202 (US feet) system.


Figure 4-1: Location Map


4.2 Land Tenure

EFR's property position at the Project consists of nine unpatented mining claims (Canyon 64-66, 74-76, and 84-86), located on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land, encompassing approximately 186 acres (Figure 4-2).  Gulf Mineral Resources (Gulf) originally staked the claims in 1978 and various companies have maintained the claims since the original staking.  EFR acquired the Project in June 2012 and has a 100% interest in the claims.

All claims, which are renewed annually in September of each year, are in good standing until September 1, 2023 (at which time they will be renewed for the following year as a matter of course).  All unpatented mining claims are subject to an annual federal mining claim maintenance fee of $165 per claim plus approximately $10 per claim for county filing fees to the BLM.  Table 4-1 lists the mineral claims covering the Project.

Table 4-1: Claims Held by EFR for the Pinyon Plain Project

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Section

Quadrant

Serial
Number

Claim Type

Claim Name

Claimant

Loc.
Date

Next Pmt
Due Date

19 & 20

NE(19),NW(20)

AZ101406928

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #64

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/5/1978

9/1/2023

19 & 20

NE,SE(19),NW,SW(20)

AZ101408027

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #65

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/5/1978

9/1/2023

19 & 20

SE(19),SW(20)

AZ101422944

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #66

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/5/1978

9/1/2023

20

NW

AZ101424281

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #74

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/5/1978

9/1/2023

20

NW,SW

AZ101511848

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #75

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/5/1978

9/1/2023

20

SW

AZ102522768

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #76

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/5/1978

9/1/2023

20

NE,NW

AZ101515633

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #84

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/4/1978

9/1/2023

20

NE,NW,SE,SW

AZ101403513

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #85

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/4/1978

9/1/2023

20

SE,SW

AZ101408062

LODE CLAIM

CANYON #86

EF ENERGY FUELS

4/4/1978

9/1/2023



Figure 4-2: Land Tenure Map


4.3 Required Permits, Authorizations and Status

The Project is located on public lands managed by the USFS and has an approved Plan of Operations (PoO) with the USFS.  The Pinyon Plain Property has also received permit authorizations through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), which include Aquifer Protection Permits for the Non-Stormwater Impoundment, Ore Stockpile and Development Rock Stockpile, an Air Quality Control Permit, and Storm Water Multi-Sector General Permit coverage.  In 2015, the Property also received approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Construct/Modify an Underground Uranium Mine pursuant to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs).

The SLR QP is not aware of any factors or risks that may affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform the proposed work program on the Property.

4.4 Royalties

In late 2022 EFR contracted a legal firm, Parsons Behle & Latimer (the Firm), to examine evidence of title and ownership of the existing royalties on the unpatented land claims associated with the Pinyon Plain mine.

The Firm examined records of the Coconino County Recorder related to existing royalties and found a mining deed and lease dated December 1, 1982, between the Gulf Oil Corporation (Gulf) and Energy Fuels Exploration Company (EFEC) reserving a 3.5% royalty based on a sliding pricing guaranteed by the US Government based on ore grade plus allowances for mining and haulage as outlined in the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Circular 5.  Additionally, a 7% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on minerals other than uranium was also agreed upon with Gulf, which is not applicable at this time since uranium is the only metal planned to be milled from the Project as outlined in the economic analysis section (Section 22) of this Technical Report.

Based on the AEC guidance, current Pinyon Plain Mineral Reserves, and EFR's uranium contracted price for Pinyon Plain ores, the calculated Pinyon Plain royalty to Gulf is $1.88 per ore ton mined.

4.5 Other Significant Risks

The SLR QP is not aware of any environmental liabilities on the Project.  Energy Fuels has all required permits to conduct the proposed work on the Project.  The SLR QP is not aware of any other significant factors and risks that may affect access, title, or the right or ability to perform the proposed work program on the Project.


5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

5.1 Accessibility

Access to the Project site is via State Highway 64 and Federal Highway 180 to within five miles of the mine site, then over unsurfaced public USFS roads (Figure 4-1).  The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway line passes east-west 50 mi south of the site at Williams, and a spur of the railway, which passes 10 mi west of the Project site, services the Grand Canyon National Park.  Airports at Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tusayan provide air access to the area.

Although the Coconino Plateau is sparsely populated, tourist traffic to Grand Canyon National Park results in large numbers of people passing through the region daily.

5.2 Vegetation

Vegetation on the plateaus is primarily ponderosa pine forest with some open pinyon-juniper woodland and shrubs.  The local climate allows for a year-round mining operation.

5.3 Climate

The climate in northern Arizona is semi-arid, with cold winters and hot summers.  January temperatures range from approximately 7°F to 57°F and July temperatures range from 52°F to 97°F.  Annual precipitation, mostly in the form of rain but with some snow, is about 12 in.

5.4 Local Resources

Personnel and supplies for future mining operations are expected to be sourced from the nearby towns of Williams and Flagstaff, Arizona (50 miles and 70 miles, respectively), as well as other underground mining districts in the western United States.  Although the Coconino Plateau is sparsely populated, tourist traffic to Grand Canyon National Park results in large numbers of people passing through the region daily. 

5.5 Infrastructure

In addition to the mine shaft, existing surface mine infrastructure includes surface maintenance shops, employee offices and change rooms, a water well, an evaporation pond, water treatment plant, explosive magazines, water tanks, fuel tank, and rock stockpile pads (ore and development rock).  Electrical power is available through an existing power line that terminates at the site. 

In 1982, Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (EFNI), which is not part of Energy Fuels Inc., acquired the Project.  From 1982 to 1987, EFNI conducted exploration drilling, permitted the mine, constructed certain surface facilities including a headframe, hoist, and compressor, and sunk the shaft to a depth of 50 ft.  From 1987 to 2013, the Project was put on standby due to low uranium prices.  In 2012, EFR acquired the Project through its acquisition of Denison Mines Corporation's US assets (Denison).  Beginning in 2013, EFR refurbished the surface facilities and extended the shaft an additional 228 ft to a depth of 278 ft.  In late 2013, the Project was again placed on standby due to low uranium prices.  In October 2015, EFR re-started the Project and committed to completing the shaft and underground delineation drilling program.  From October 2015 to March 2018, the shaft was sunk to a final depth of 1,470 ft, and three development levels were started at the 1,000 ft (5,506 ft ASL), 1,220 ft (5,286 ft ASL); and 1,400 ft (5,106 ft ASL) depths, all of which have functioned as drill stations. 


During 2019, a 1,000,000-gallon water tank was installed, in addition to the existing 400,000-gallon tank installed in 2017.  These above-ground storage tanks are used for operational flexibility and extra water storage capacity during winter months.  Three floating, downcasting, enhanced evaporators were installed in the Non-Stormwater Impoundment to aid in evaporation.  The tanks and evaporators are part of Energy Fuels' water balance management practices at the site.

During 2020, a fourth floating, down-casting, enhanced evaporator was installed at the site to increase the operational flexibility of the water balance management practices. Additionally, a water capture and pumping system was installed in the shaft to segregate unimpacted water and store it for beneficial use.

During 2021, a water treatment plant was installed to process water for offsite transport. The water treatment plant was commissioned in April 2021.  Water use agreements have been entered into with local farmers and ranchers through which they may utilize excess water from the Pinyon Plain Project for their own beneficial uses within the Coconino Plateau groundwater basin.

In addition to the mine shaft, existing surface mine infrastructure includes surface maintenance shops, employee offices and change rooms, a water well, an evaporation pond, explosive magazines, water tanks, fuel tank, and rock stockpile pads (ore and development rock).  Electrical power is available through an existing power line that terminates at the site.

5.6 Physiography 

Northern Arizona is part of the Colorado Plateau, a region of the western United States characterized by semi-arid, high-altitude, gently sloping plateaus dissected by steep walled canyons, volcanic mountain peaks, and extensive erosional escarpments.  The Project is located on the Coconino Plateau within the Colorado Plateau, at an elevation of approximately 6,500 feet above sea level (ft ASL).

Overall, the land is flat lying across several square miles surrounding the Project.  Elevation at the site is 6,500 ft ASL with a southern downward slope averaging 100 ft per mile.  Two major regional topographical features include the Red Butte, a lava capped mesa 4.5 mi south at an elevation of 7,234 ft ASL, and the Colorado River, 15 mi to the north at an elevation of 2,500 ft ASL.

Major landforms in the general area of the Project include nearly level drainage bottoms of recent alluvium, gently sloping plateau ridgetops, and moderately sloping canyon sideslopes.  Soils have developed from residual or colluvial parent materials, and outcrops of bedrock are typically exposed along shoulder slopes and ridgetops.  The Coconino Rim, a north-facing escarpment east and north of the deposit, is the major landform obstructing access between Pinyon Plain and highways to the east.


6.0 HISTORY

Uranium exploration and mining of breccia pipe deposits started in the region in 1951 when a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey noted uranium ore on the dump of an old copper prospect on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona.  The prospect was inside Grand Canyon National Park, but on fee land that predated the Park.  The Golden Crown Mining Company, which later merged with Western Gold and Uranium Inc., mined a significant high grade uranium deposit, the Orphan Mine, from 1956 to 1969.  By the time mining ended, 4.26 million pounds (Mlb) of uranium, along with some minor amounts of copper, vanadium, and silver had been produced (Bennett, n.d.).

After the discovery of this first uranium deposit in the 1950s, an extensive search for other uranium deposits was made by the government and mining industry, but only a few low-grade prospects were found.  Exploration started again in the early-1970s.

In the mid-1970s, Western Nuclear leased the Hack Canyon prospect located approximately 25 mi north of the Grand Canyon and found high grade uranium mineralization offsetting an old shallow copper-uranium site.  In the next few years, a second deposit was found a mile away along a fault. 

In the late-1970s, EFNI formed a uranium exploration venture with several Swiss utilities and acquired significant uranium reserves in southeast Utah.  EFNI permitted and built the 2,000 stpd White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah, to process Colorado Plateau ore, which was expected to average 0.13% U3O8.  When the uranium market fell in 1980, the higher-grade Hack Canyon property was leased by EFNI from Western Nuclear in December 1980 as a likely low-cost source of U3O8 mill feed.  Development started promptly, and the Hack Canyon deposits were in production by the end of 1981.  They proved to be much better than the initial estimates suggested in terms of both grade and tonnage.

As part of their exploration program, EFNI identified and investigated more than 4,000 circular features, which potentially indicate mineralized breccia pipes, in northern Arizona.  Approximately 110 of the most prospective features were further explored by deep drilling, and nearly 50% of those drilled were shown to contain uranium mineralization.  Ultimately, nine pipes were developed.  Total mine production from the EFNI breccia pipes from 1980 through 1991 was approximately 19.1 Mlb of U3O8 at an average grade of just over 0.60% U3O8.

The Project is a uranium and copper breccia pipe deposit in northern Arizona.  The Project was originally included as part of the Arizona Strip Uranium Project.  The Arizona Strip Uranium Project was located in the Arizona Strip District, a mining district located in northwestern Arizona, and contained three deposits: the Pinenut Mine, the Arizona 1 Mine, and the Project.  The Pinenut and Arizona 1 breccia pipes are located between the town of Fredonia, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon National Park.  The Pinenut Mine was mined-out in 2015 and is currently being reclaimed.  The Arizona 1 Mine is currently on standby.  The Project has been considered separate from the Arizona Strip Uranium Project since 2017.

6.1 Prior Ownership

The Project is located on mining claims that EFNI acquired from Gulf in 1982.  Gulf originally staked the claims in April 1978.  EFNI was acquired by the Concord group in the early-1990s.  The Concord group declared bankruptcy in 1995, and most of the EFNI assets, including the Project, were acquired by International Uranium Corporation (IUC) in 1997.  IUC merged with Denison Mines Inc. on December 1, 2006, and the new company changed its name to Denison Mines Corporation.  In June 2012, Energy Fuels Inc. acquired all of Denison's mining assets and operations in the United States.  Currently the Project claims are held by EFR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFR Arizona Strip LLC.


6.2 Exploration and Development History

Since 1994, exploration activities undertaken on the Project have only included drilling.  Prior to that, exploration activities carried out by EFR's predecessors from 1983 to 1987 include:

At the time of the acquisition by EFR the Project was permitted and contained a headframe, hoist, and compressor, and a shaft to a depth of 50 ft.  EFR refurbished the surface facilities and extended the shaft an additional 228 ft to a depth of 278 ft.  In late 2013, the Project was placed on standby due to low uranium prices.  In October 2015, EFR re-started the Project and committed to completing the shaft and underground delineation drilling program.  From October 2015 to March 2017, the shaft was sunk to a depth of 1,470 ft, and three development levels were started at the 1,003 ft, 1,220 ft, and 1,400 ft depths, all of which have functioned as drill stations.

The Project was previously referred to as the Canyon Mine, however, in November of 2020 EFR changed the project name to Pinyon Plain.

6.2.1 Drilling

The basic tool for exploring breccia pipes in northern Arizona is deep rotary drilling, supplemented by core drilling, up to a depth of 2,000 ft or more from surface.  All drill holes are surveyed for deviation and logged using gamma logging equipment, as described in Section 11.1.1.  Previous operators drilled 45 surface holes, including a deep water well, totalling 62,289 ft (Table 6-1).  Gulf drilled eight exploration holes at the Project site from 1978 to May 1982 but found only low-grade uranium mineralization.  Additional drilling by EFNI in 1983 identified economic uranium mineralization at the Pinyon Plain breccia pipe.

After EFNI identified mineralization, shallow drilling was conducted to locate the center of the collapse feature (holes S01-S13), as a guide to the throat of the underlying breccia pipe.  EFNI followed this up with additional deep drilling to better define the mineralization.

Table 6-1: Drilling at Pinyon Plain Project by Previous Operators

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Year

Company

Location

# Holes

Total Depth
(ft)

Hole ID

Type

1978-1982

Gulf

Surface

8

13,041

COG Series

Rotary

1983

EFNI

Surface

5

10,504

CYN Series 01-05

Rotary

1984

EFNI

Surface

13

1,350

CYN Series S01-S13

Rotary

1984

EFNI

Surface

10

18,462

CYN Series 06-14C & 16C

Core/Rotary

1985

EFNI

Surface

2

3,534

CYN 15C & CYN 15W1

Core




Year

Company

Location

# Holes

Total Depth
(ft)

Hole ID

Type

1986

EFNI

Surface

1

3,086

55-515772

Water Well

1994

EFNI

Surface

6

12,312

CYN Series 17-22

Rotary

Total

 

 

45

62,289

 

 

6.3 Past Production

A mine shaft and conveyances were developed for underground exploration, as described in Section 5.5, and are operational, however, no past production has occurred at the Project.


7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION

7.1 Regional Geology

The Project is located on the Colorado Plateau, south of the Grand Canyon, within the Kaibab National Forest.  The Project's mineralization is controlled by a collapse structure known as a breccia pipe.  This breccia pipe is one of thousands of collapse structures found on the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon.  The Pinyon Plain pipe extends from the surface (Moenkopi Formation) through various geologic strata into the Redwall Limestone.

Parts of two distant physiographic provinces are found in Arizona: the Basin and Range Province located in the southern portion of the state; and the Colorado Plateau Province located across the northern and central portions of the state.  Pinyon Plain lies within the Colorado Plateau Province.

Surface exposures near the Project reveal sedimentary and volcanic rocks ranging in age from upper Paleozoic to Quaternary.  The area is largely underlain by Mississippian through Triassic Period sedimentary rocks, however, exposed within the Grand Canyon are older rocks reaching Precambrian in age.

The region has experienced volcanic activity since the Pliocene epoch.  A number of lava-capped buttes rise above the general landscape, and lava flows cover large areas in the southern part of the district.  Faulting has exerted significant control on the geologic development and geomorphic history of the region.  Major structural features are the Grand Wash, Hurricane, and Toroweap fault systems, all generally trending north-south with an eastern up thrown side.  These faults are topographically prominent and show impressive scarps though other less prominent fault systems exist.

The deep incision of the Grand Canyon and associated side canyons, such as Kanab Creek, have dewatered the sedimentary section.  Regionally ground water is encountered in the Redwall limestone, which coincides with the deeper formations exposed in the Grand Canyon.  Perched ground water, usually in very limited quantities, is often encountered at the base of the Coconino sandstone in contact with the low permeability Hermit shale sequence.  Figure 7-1 is a map showing the regional geology of the Project.  Figure 7-2 presents a regional stratigraphic column. 


Figure 7-1: Regional Geologic Map


Figure 7-2: Regional Stratigraphic Column


7.2 Local Geology

The surface expression of the Project is a broad shallow depression in the Permian Kaibab Formation.  The pipe is essentially vertical with an average diameter of less than 200 ft, but it is considerably narrower through the Coconino and Hermit horizons (80 ft in diameter).  The cross-sectional area is approximately 20,000 ft² to 25,000 ft².  The pipe extends for at least 2,300 ft vertically from the Toroweap limestone to the upper Redwall horizons (Figure 7-3).  The ultimate depth of the pipe is unknown.  Uranium mineralization is concentrated in an annular ring within the breccia pipe.

7.2.1 Structural Geology

Regional joint systems rooted below the Redwall trend northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest.  The regional joints and fractures lead to upward caving of the karstic voids in the Redwall Limestone vertically through the overlying Paleozoic sediments.  As surface water and groundwater interact with the pipe, a circular brecciated column forms inside of the fracture controlled boundary.

Fractures related to the pipe can surround the brecciated zone and extend thin "ring fractures" up to 300 ft beyond the breccia pipe.  Vertical joints and associated breccia pipes increase permeability and porosity, leading to the mineralization observed in the region.  Figure 7-4 presents a horizontal section looking down at the breccia pipe and shows the distribution of mineralization with reference to the pipe structure.

7.2.2 Alteration

The Pinyon Plain breccia pipe is surrounded by bleached zones, particularly notable in the Hermit Formation where unaltered red sediments contrast sharply with gray-green bleached material.  Bleaching is common within 100 ft of the pipe boundary.  Sulfide mineralization, commonly in the form of pyrite, is found as streaks or blebs within the bleached zones.


Figure 7-3: Cross Section of Local Geology


Figure 7-4: Pinyon Plain Horizontal Slice Main Zone - Slice 5,200' Level


7.3 Mineralization

Mineralization at the Project extends vertically approximately 1,700 ft, both inside and outside the pipe, but high grade uranium and copper mineralization is found primarily in the collapsed portions of the Coconino, Hermit, and Esplanade horizons and at the margins of the pipe in fracture zones.  Sulfide zones are found scattered throughout the pipe but are especially concentrated (within a sulfide cap) near the Toroweap-Coconino contact, where the cap averages 20 ft thick and consists of pyrite and bravoite, an iron-nickel sulfide.  The ore assemblage consists of uranium-pyrite-hematite with massive copper sulfide mineralization common in and near the high grade zone.  The strongest mineralization appears to occur in the lower Hermit-upper Esplanade horizons in an annular fracture zone.

The metal of interest at the Project is uranium, though significant copper mineralization co-exists in the breccia pipe.  As the rocks making up the breccia within the pipe are all sedimentary rocks, mineralization typically occurs within the matrix material (primarily sand) surrounding the larger breccia clasts.

7.3.1 Uranium Mineralization

Uranium mineralization at the Project is concentrated in three stratigraphic levels or zones (Upper/Cap, Main, and Juniper) within a collapse structure ranging from 80 ft to 230 ft wide with a vertical extension from a depth of 650 ft to over 2,100 ft, resulting in approximately 1,450 ft of mineralization.  Mineralized intercepts range widely up to several tens of feet with grades in excess of 1.00% U3O8.  In previous reports and EFR news releases, the mineralization was subdivided into six distinct zones; those six have been combined into the three listed above for simplicity.  The Upper/Cap Zone combines the previously reported Upper and Cap Zones.  The Main Zone combines the previously reported Main and Main-Lower zones, and Juniper combines the previously reported Juniper I and Juniper II zones.

Age dating of mineralization (U-Pb) indicates a range from 101 million to 260 million years, which suggests that the earliest uranium mineralization had occurred in the Permian Period before the pipes completely formed in the Triassic Period.

Consistent with other breccia pipe deposits, in the mineralized zone, the uranium mineralization occurs largely as blebs, streaks, small veins, and fine disseminations of uraninite/pitchblende (UO2).  Mineralization is mainly confined to matrix material, but may extend into clasts and larger breccia fragments, particularly where these fragments are of Coconino sandstone.  Uranium mineralization occurs primarily as uraninite and various uranium phase minerals (unidentifiable minerals) with lesser amounts of brannerite and uranospinite.

7.3.2 Copper Mineralization

Currently, there is no reasonable prospect for the economic extraction of copper at the Project.

Significant copper mineralization occurs at the Project within the Main zone and to a lesser extent in the Main-Lower zone, both with uranium mineralization and outside of uranium mineralization.

Copper mineralization can be disseminated throughout the matrix material (commonly replacing calcite cement) with higher-grade mineralization typically occurring as vug fills, blebs, or streaks within the matrix and sometimes zoning the breccia clasts.  The highest-grade copper mineralization completely replaces the matrix cement or replaces the matrix material all together.

 


Copper mineralization occurs primarily as tennantite, chalcocite, and bornite with lesser amounts of covellite.  Pyrite and sphalerite are also found throughout the pipe.  Silver is commonly associated with the copper mineralization in the Main Zone.  Assay values of silver greater than one ounce per short ton are common where copper grades are high.  Arsenic is present where tennantite mineralization occurs.  Additionally, lower quantities of silver, zinc, lead, molybdenum, copper, nickel, and vanadium are present and scattered throughout the pipe.


8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES

Paleozoic Era sedimentary rocks of northern Arizona are host to thousands of breccia pipes.  The pipes extend from the Mississippian Redwall Limestone up to the Triassic Chinle Formation, a total of approximately 4,000 ft of section.  Due to erosion and other factors, however, no single pipe has been observed cutting through the entire section.  No pipe occurs above the Chinle Formation or below the Redwall Limestone.  Breccia pipes mineralized with uranium are called Solution-Collapse Breccia Pipe Uranium deposits, which are defined as U.S. Geological Survey Model 32e (Finch, 1992).

Breccia pipes within the Arizona Strip District are vertical or near vertical, circular to elliptical bodies of broken rock comprised of slabs, rotated angular blocks and fragments of surrounding and stratigraphically higher formations.  The inclusion of breccia made of stratigraphically higher formations suggests that the pipes formed by solution collapse of underlying calcareous rocks, such as the Redwall Limestone.  Surrounding the blocks and slabs making up the breccia is a matrix of fine material comprised of surrounding and overlying rock from various formations.  For the most part, the matrix consists of siliceous or calcareous cement.

Breccia pipes are comprised of three interrelated features: a basinal or structurally shallow depression at surface (designated by some as a collapse cone); a breccia pipe, which underlies the structural depression; and annular fracture rings, which occur outside, but at the margin of the pipes.  Annular fracture rings are commonly, but not always, mineralized.  The structural depression may range in diameter up to 0.5 miles or more, whereas breccia pipe diameters can range up to approximately 600 ft, but normally range from 200 ft to 300 ft in diameter.

Mineralization in the breccia pipes takes place by water flowing along fractures and through porous materials that provide conduits for fluid flow and typically takes place in stages.  Wenrich and Sutphin (1989) identified at least four separate mineralizing events that occur within the Arizona Strip District pipes, with uranium and copper mineralization occurring as part of the last two mineralizing events.

To date, mineralized breccia pipes appear to occur in clusters or trends.  Spacing between pipes ranges from hundreds of feet within a cluster to several miles within a trend.  Pipe location may have been controlled by deep-seated faults, but karstification of the Redwall Limestone in the Mississippian and Permian Periods is considered to have initiated formation of the numerous and widespread pipes in the region.


9.0 EXPLORATION

EFR has completed no exploration work on the Project other than underground development drilling discussed in Section 10, since acquiring the properties in 2012.

9.1 Geotechnical

In 1987, the geotechnical consulting firm of Dames and Moore (1987) completed an evaluation of mine stability and subsidence potential at the Project.

The scope of work was based on a review of geologic and geotechnical data from similar breccia pipe uranium mines on the Arizona Strip (the Orphan Mine, the Hack 2 Mine, Kanab North, and the Pigeon Mine), including the stability of existing underground stopes.

Numerical modeling of stopes was analyzed at depths of 800 ft, 1,200 ft, and 1,600 ft below surface with a surrounding rock strength of 3,000 psi.  Stope dimensions at these mines varied from 60 ft high by 30 ft wide (Orphan Mine) to 350 ft high by 200 ft wide (Hack 2 Mine).  Ground support was limited to rock bolts in the stope backs and no backfill.

The report concluded that stopes up to 350 ft high at a depth of 1,200 ft would not develop significant stability problems as long as prudent ground supports were employed, which EFR plans to install during mining.  In addition, the report predicted mined out stopes would fill with rubblized rock as a result of subsidence reaching surface in several hundred years; the surface expression would be less than two feet over a broad area and would be difficult to observe in the field. 

Since the geotechnical report was produced, EFR has decided to fill stopes with waste rock generated from accessing the orebody, which will significantly reduce any post-mining surface expression from ground subsidence.

EFR has not conducted any geotechnical work at the Project since its acquisition.


10.0 DRILLING

EFR acquired the Project from Denison in 2012.  Since that time, exploration work carried out by EFR at the Project has included the drilling of 80 core holes and 25 percussion holes from three subsurface levels accessed from the production shaft to delineate mineralization extents, results of which were used to update the geologic model and Mineral Resource estimates discussed in the following sections of this report.

Three mineralized zones have been identified on the Project; from top downward, they are the Upper/Cap Zone, the Main Zone, and the Juniper Zone.  Mineral Resources (Section 14) are reported on the Main and Juniper Zones; the Upper/Cap Zone is currently an exploration target.

10.1 Drilling

As of the effective date of this report, EFR and its predecessors have completed 150 holes (45 surface and 105 underground), totalling 92,724 ft, from 1978 to 2017 using core, rotary, and percussion methods.  No drilling was conducted on the Project from 1994 to 2016.

Drill hole collar locations are recorded on the original drill logs and radiometric logs created at the time of drilling, including easting and northing coordinates in local grid or modified NAD 1983 Arizona Central FIBPS 0202 (US feet) and elevation of collar in feet above sea level.  Drill hole orientation were surveyed with a Reflex EZ Shot or similar deviation tool in the drill string every time a length of drill pipe was added.

From 2016 to 2017, EFR completed 105 underground drill holes totalling 30,314 ft from drill stations developed from the Pinyon Plain mineshaft.  No drilling has taken place on the Project since 2017.  A summary of drilling completed by EFR is presented in Table 10-1, and Figure 10-1 shows the locations of all the drill collars from EFR and the previous operators.

Table 10-1: Underground Drill hole Database Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Year

Company

Location

# Holes

Total Depth
(ft)

Hole ID

Type

2016

EFR

1-3 Level

15

12,435

CMCH Series 001 - 015

Core

2016

EFR

1-4 Level

25

4,179

CMLH Series 001 - 025

Percussion

2016-2017

EFR

1-4 Level

42

8,420

CMCH Series 016 - 058

Core

2017

EFR

1-5 Level

23

5,401

CMCH Series 059 - 081

Core

Total

 

 

105

30,314

 

 



Figure 10-1: Surface Drill hole Collar Locations


All core was removed by the drillers from the wireline core barrel and placed in core boxes, orienting the core to fit together where possible and limiting a core box to a single run.  The driller labeled the core box with the drill hole ID, box number, and start/finish depths on both the bottom of the core box and the core box lid.  The driller also placed blocks or core markers in the core box to indicate the "from" and "to" depths of the core run as well as the core run number.  If core was not recovered during a core run, a wooden block was placed in the core box by the driller with the "from" and "to" depths of no recovery (if known).  Core was transported from the drill station by the driller or the geologist to surface for logging.

Upon arrival at the core logging facility on surface, core was photographed and screened radiometrically using a Radiation Solutions RS‐125 Super‐SPEC device and elementally using a handheld x-ray fluorescent (XRF) analyzer.  Drill core recovery percentage was noted.  Core was then logged by the field geologist, noting the depth of each stratigraphic unit, and a description of lithology and structures.  Details noted on the lithology log include colour, texture, grain size, cementation, and mineralogy of each lithologically distinct unit, as well as the type of fracture and any voids or vugs.

All drill holes on the Property were logged with a radiometric probe to measure the natural gamma radiation, from which an indirect estimate of uranium content was made and is discussed in Section 11.1.1.

In the opinion of the SLR QP, the drilling, logging, sampling, and conversion and recovery factors at the Project meet or exceed industry standards and are adequate for use in the estimation of Mineral Resources.

10.1.1 Copper Mineralization

During exploration drilling at the Project in 2016, copper mineralization was discovered within the breccia pipe.  The core from the underground drilling program was analyzed for copper mineralization with an Olympus Vanta handheld XRF device.  Sections of core that showed grades of approximately 0.5% Cu or above where uranium was not present were sampled for chemical assay.  Sections of core that contained uranium (identified with a scintillometer) were also sampled for chemical assay to determine both the uranium and copper content.  Table 10-2 lists a number of selected composited intercepts of copper mineralization.  Figure 10-2 and Table 10-3 provide some detail of the statistics associated with the copper mineralization.

Table 10-2: Selected Copper and Uranium Assay Intercepts

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Hole ID

Target
Zone

From
(ft)

To
(ft)

Intercept
Length
(ft)

U3O8

Cu

Azimuth
(°)

Dip
(°)

Depth
(ft below
surface)

2

Main

213

318

105.0

0.17%

9.55%

225

-63

1,190

3

Main

205

265

60.0

0.02%

7.66%

213

-63

1,182

4

Main

294

335

41.0

1.09%

2.75%

211

-75

1,285

4

Main

335

342

7.0

0.01%

9.95%

213

-75

1,320

5

Main

265

319

54.0

0.72%

9.19%

224

-70

1,250

6

Main

298

342

44.0

0.74%

10.22%

228

-75

1,284

6

Juniper

784

822

38.0

0.28%

0.53%

228

-75

1,793




Hole ID

Target
Zone

From
(ft)

To
(ft)

Intercept
Length
(ft)

U3O8

Cu

Azimuth
(°)

Dip
(°)

Depth
(ft below
surface)

7

Main

302

348

46.0

1.37%

13.52%

240

-74

1,287

7

Juniper

644

656

12.0

1.26%

0.81%

240

-74

1,626

8

Main

316

374

58.0

0.75%

13.91%

244

-74

1,305

1

Main

372

390

18.0

1.23%

7.74%

240

-78

1,360

11

Main

636

642

6.0

16.99%

1.20%

240

-78

1,618

12

Main

302

314

12.0

1.78%

3.81%

224

-76

1,294

12

Main

332

340

8.0

0.84%

26.20%

224

-76

1,318

13

Main

348

360

12.0

0.95%

6.83%

195

-76

1,334

14

Main

296

300

4.0

8.35%

1.64%

200

-75

1,281

14

Main

334

354

20.0

0.93%

9.30%

200

-75

1,319

15

Main

436

444

8.0

0.02%

12.87%

250

-79

1,420

16

Main

12

70

58.0

0.51%

5.57%

200

-60

1,221

16

Main

120

132

12.0

1.41%

3.28%

200

-60

1,329

17

Main

12

48

36.0

0.65%

5.12%

195

-51

1,242

18

Main

3

53

50.0

0.22%

5.49%

195

-40

1,238

19

Main

107

143

36.0

1.14%

12.68%

195

-32

1,283

23

Main

14

62

48.0

0.48%

14.25%

175

-60

1,254

25

Main

14

42

28.0

0.61%

10.08%

180

-40

1,221

26

Main

18

42

24.0

0.56%

18.17%

180

-30

1,221

26

Main

86

134

48.0

2.88%

2.31%

180

-32

1,323

27

Main

12

44

32.0

0.29%

11.54%

180

-20

1,216

32

Main

120

192

72.0

0.99%

10.08%

220

-41

1,348

33

Main

4

76

72.0

0.11%

5.25%

222

-31

1,240

33

Main

100

128

28.0

1.66%

14.85%

222

-31

1,328

37

Main

166

196

30.5

1.54%

10.35%

240

-50

1,346

38

Main

8

154

146.0

0.47%

6.22%

241

-40

1,292

40

Main

12

112

100.0

0.90%

9.44%

240

-21

1,288

43

Main

16

136

120.0

0.81%

11.95%

260

-41

1,287

48

Main

54

62

8.0

3.57%

0.29%

280

-41

1,258

64

Main

64

142

78.0

1.11%

9.47%

300

+47

1,325

67

Main

142

190

48.0

1.78%

11.22%

285

+19

1,346

69

Main

144

208

64.0

1.08%

14.51%

285

+40

1,287

80

Juniper

290

298

8.0

5.03%

0.61%

290

-62

1,538

81

Juniper

275

286

11.0

3.26%

0.64%

263

-51

1,577



Table 10-3: Declustered Cu Assay Statistics

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Item

Value

No. Samples

3,500

Mean

2.37%

Standard Deviation

5.14

Variance

26.36

Coef. Of Variation

2.17

Maximum

55.66%

Upper Quartile

1.81%

Median

0.17%

Lower Quartile

0.04%

Minimum

0.00%

Figure 10-2: Histogram of Declustered Cu Assays


11.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES, AND SECURITY

11.1 Sample Preparation and Analysis

This section references the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Handbook for core handling, sampling, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols for core drilling at the Project, prepared by EFR in December 2016 (Energy Fuels, 2016).

Samples respect geological contacts and vary from 2 ft to 10 ft in length, depending on core recovery, length of the lithological unit, and mineralization.  Most core samples were four feet long, except where broken along lithological or mineralization contacts.  Core outside the breccia pipe was considered barren and was not sampled.  Sample interval and number were marked on the core log, the core-sampling log, and the sample bags.

Sample core was cut in half, lengthwise, by technicians with a diamond saw, returning half of the split core to the core box and submitting the other half for sample preparation and analysis.  The sample number, which references the drill hole name, depth, and sample length, was written on two aluminum tags.  One sample tag was stapled to the sample bag and an additional sample tag was placed within the bag.  The sample tag that was affixed to the outside of the sample bag also contained the sample date and the sampler's initials.

Once sampled, the remaining half core splits were returned to the core box and archived onsite.

11.1.1 Gamma Logging

All drill holes completed by EFR at the Project were logged with a Mount Sopris gamma logging unit employing a natural gamma probe.  The probe measures natural gamma radiation using one 0.5-inch by 1.5-inch sodium iodide (NaI) crystal assembly.  Normally, accurate concentrations can be measured in uranium grades ranging from less than 0.1% to as high as 5% U3O8.  Data are logged at a speed of 15 ft to 20 ft per minute down hole and 15 ft to 20 ft per minute up hole, typically in open holes.  Occasionally, unstable holes are logged through the drill pipe and the grades are adjusted for the material type and wall thickness of the pipe used.

The radiometric or gamma probe measures gamma radiation which is emitted during the natural Radioactive decay of uranium (U) and variations in the natural radioactivity originating from changes in concentrations of the trace element thorium (Th) as well as changes in concentration of the major rock forming element potassium (K).

Potassium decays into two stable isotopes (argon and calcium) which are no longer radioactive and emits gamma rays with energies of 1.46 mega electron-volts (MeV).  Uranium and thorium, however, decay into daughter products which are unstable (i.e., radioactive).  The decay of uranium forms a series of about a dozen radioactive elements in nature that finally decay to a stable isotope of lead.  The decay of thorium forms a similar series of radioelements.  As each radioelement in the series decays, it is accompanied by emissions of alpha or beta particles, or gamma rays.  The gamma rays have specific energies associated with the decaying radionuclide.  The most prominent of the gamma rays in the uranium series originate from decay of 214Bi (bismuth 214), and in the thorium series from decay of 208Tl (thallium 208).

The natural gamma measurement is made when a detector emits a pulse of light when struck by a gamma ray.  This pulse of light is amplified by a photomultiplier tube, which outputs a current pulse that is accumulated and reported as counts per second (cps).  The gamma probe is lowered to the bottom of a drill hole, and data are recorded as the tool travels to the bottom and then is pulled back up to the surface.  The current pulse is carried up a conductive cable and processed by a logging system computer that stores the raw gamma cps data.


The basis of the indirect uranium grade calculation (referred to as "eU3O8" for "equivalent U3O8") is the sensitivity of the detector used in the probe, which is the ratio of cps to known uranium grade and is referred to as the probe calibration factor.  Each detector's sensitivity is measured when it is first manufactured and is also periodically checked throughout the operating life of each probe against a known set of standard "test pits," with various known grades of uranium mineralization, or through empirical calculations.  Application of the calibration factor, along with other probe correction factors, allows for immediate grade estimation in the field as each drill hole is logged.

Downhole total gamma data are subjected to a complex set of mathematical equations, considering the specific parameters of the probe used, speed of logging, size of bore hole, drilling fluids, and presence or absence of any type of drill hole casing.  The result is an indirect measurement of uranium content within the sphere of measurement of the gamma detector.

An EFR in-house computer program known as GAMLOG converts the measured cps of the gamma rays into 0.5 ft increments of equivalent percent U3O8 (%eU3O8).  GAMLOG is based on the Scott's Algorithm developed by James Scott of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1962 (Scott, 1962) and is widely used in the industry.

The conversion coefficients for conversion of probe cps to percent equivalent uranium grades are based on the calibration results obtained at the United States Department of Energy Uranium Calibration Pits in Grand Junction, Colorado, USA.

In those holes associated with copper mineralization or where EFR personnel reported that the probe underestimated U3O8 grades above 2% due to saturation of the probe's sodium iodide crystal, (a normal occurrence associated with gamma logging for uranium), EFR used chemical assay for both copper and uranium.  Where there was lower grade uranium and areas of low-grade copper mineralization, radiometric data was used in lieu of chemical assays.

11.1.1.1 Calibration

For the gamma probes to report accurate %eU3O8 values the gamma probes must be calibrated regularly.  The probes are calibrated by running the probes in test pits maintained historically by the AEC and currently by the DOE.  There are test pits in Grand Junction, Colorado, Grants, New Mexico, and Casper, Wyoming.  The test pits have known %U3O8 values, which are measured by the probes.  A dead time (DT) and K-factor can be calculated based on running the probes in the test pits.  These values are necessary to convert CPS to %eU3O8.  The dead time accounts for the size of the hole and the decay that occurs in the space between the probe and the wall rock.  DT is measured in microseconds (μsec).  The K-factor is simply a calibration coefficient used to convert the DT-corrected CPS to %eU3O8

Quarterly or semi-annual calibration is usually sufficient.  Calibration should be done more frequently if variations in data are observed or the probe is damaged. 


11.1.1.2 Method

Following the completion of a rotary hole, a geophysical logging truck will be positioned over the open hole and a probe will be lowered to the hole's total depth.  Typically, these probes take multiple different readings.  In uranium deposits, the holes are usually logged for gamma, resistivity, standard potential, and hole deviation.  Only gamma is used in the grade calculation.  Once the probe is at the bottom of the hole, the probe begins recording as the probe is raised.  The quality of the data is impacted by the speed the probe is removed from the hole.  Experience shows a speed of 20 feet per minute is adequate to obtain data for resource modeling.  Data is recorded in CPS, which is a measurement of uranium decay of uranium daughter products, specifically Bismuth-24.  That data is then processed using the calibration factors to calculate a eU3O8 grade.  Historically, eU3O8 grades were calculated using the AEC half amplitude method, which gives a grade over a thickness.  Currently, the eU3O8 grades tend to be calculated on 0.5-foot intervals by software.  Depending on the manufacturer of the probe truck and instrumentation, different methods are used to calculate the eU3O8 grade, but all, including the AEC method, are based on the two equations given below. 

The first equation converts CPS to CPS corrected for the dead time (DT) determined as part of the calibration process

The second equation converts the Dead Time Corrected CPS (N) to %eU3O8 utilizing the K-factor (K)

Depending on the drilling and logging environment, additional multipliers can be added to correct for various environmental factors.  Typically, these include a water factor for drill hole mud, a pipe factor if the logging is done in the drill steel, and a disequilibrium factor if the deposit is known to be in disequilibrium.  Tables for water and pipe factors are readily available.

11.1.2 Core Sampling

11.1.2.1 Sample Preparation

Samples were delivered by a staff geologist to the White Mesa Mill in Blanding, Utah, for uranium and copper assaying.  The White Mesa Mill Laboratory holds no certifications and no accreditations.

Upon delivery of the samples to White Mesa Mill, samples were weighed, dried for 16 to 24 hrs, and weighed again to determine the moisture content.  The samples were crushed using a Bico Jaw Crusher and Metso Minerals cone crusher and split using a riffle splitter before pulverization using a ring and puck pulverizer.  The crushers, splitters, and pulverisers are cleaned between uses with abrasive sand.

11.1.2.2 Assaying and Analytical Procedure

A split of the pulverized sample was digested in the laboratory in a combination of nitric, perchloric, and hydrofluoric acid, diluted, and analyzed.  Determination of uranium content in the sample was performed by a spectrophotometric analysis using the Thermo Scientific Biomate 3 Spectrophotometer.  Other analyses were performed either on the Perkin Elmer Optima 5300V ICP-OES or the Perkin Elmer ELAN DRC II ICP-MS. Calibrations were performed daily on these instruments, and every four in 100 analyses were spiked with a standard solution after analysis to ensure consistency of results.


11.1.3 Radiometric Equilibrium

Disequilibrium in uranium deposits is the difference between equivalent (eU3O8) grades and assayed U3O8 grades.  Disequilibrium can be either positive, where the assayed grade is greater than the equivalent grades, or negative, where the assayed grade is less than the equivalent grade.  A uranium deposit is in equilibrium when the daughter products of uranium decay accurately represent the uranium present.  Equilibrium occurs after the uranium is deposited and has not been added to or removed by fluids after approximately one million years.  Disequilibrium is determined during drilling when a piece of core is taken and measured by two different methods, a counting method (closed-can) and chemical assay.  If a positive or negative disequilibrium is determined, a disequilibrium factor can be applied to eU3O8 grades to account for this issue.

A comparison of chemical data vs probe data showed that no disequilibrium factor is needed for the Project. 

11.2 Sample Security

Bagged samples were placed in barrels, which were secured in the back of a truck for transport and delivered by EFR personnel to the laboratory at White Mesa Mill for analytical testing.  White Mesa Mill personnel were responsible for shipping check samples to various third-party laboratories.  A chain of custody form was maintained at all times.

Following analysis, dried, crushed samples were stored in sealed, plastic bottles for long-term storage.  Pulverized samples were also stored in sealed, plastic bottles.  All samples are stored out of the elements to ensure stored sample quality.

The laboratory at White Mesa Mill uses a combination of digital exports from the instrument's computer and hand entry from logbooks to maintain a master spreadsheet, which calculates grade based on the various inputs.  Certificates of analysis were provided to EFR personnel in secured Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Excel format.

EFR believes the sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures are acceptable for the purposes of a Mineral Resource estimate and meet industry standards.

11.3 Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality assurance (QA) consists of evidence to demonstrate that the assay data has precision and accuracy within generally accepted limits for the sampling and analytical method(s) used in order to have confidence in the assay data used in a resource estimate.  Quality control (QC) consists of procedures used to ensure that an adequate level of quality is maintained in the process of collecting, preparing, and assaying the exploration drilling samples.  In general, QA/QC programs are designed to prevent or detect contamination and allow assaying (analytical), precision (repeatability), and accuracy to be quantified.  In addition, a QA/QC program can disclose the overall sampling-assaying variability of the sampling method itself.

QA/QC samples, including duplicates, blanks, certified reference materials (CRMs or standards), and checks, were submitted by the onsite team at the Project, EFR's office located in Lakewood, Colorado, and the White Mesa Mill laboratory.  The submission rate and responsible party of each sample type is listed in Table 11-1.


Table 11-1: QA/QC Samples for the Pinyon Plain Project Drilling

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Sample Type

Responsible Party

Collection Method

Rate of Insertion

Duplicates

Field

Field Geologist

¼ core

1 in 100

Coarse

WMM2 Lab personnel

Second split of crushed sample

2 in 100

Pulp

WMM Lab personnel

Second split of pulverized sample

2 in 100

CRM1

 

Lakewood Office

Shipped directly to lab

4 in 100

Blank

Coarse

Lakewood Office

Shipped directly to lab

2 in 100

Pulp

Lakewood Office

Shipped directly to lab

2 in 100

Check Assay

 

WMM Lab personnel

Split of reject sample

4 in 100

CRM1 with Check Assay

 

WMM Lab personnel

 

10 in 100

Bulk Density

 

WMM Lab personnel

Core samples

As Available

Notes:

1. CRM = Certified Reference Material

2. WMM = White Mesa Mill

CRMs and fine blanks were shuffled (random sequence applied), numbered, and catalogued in the Lakewood, Colorado, office by EFR technical personnel prior to shipment to the White Mesa Mill laboratory manager.  These samples (blind to the White Mesa Mill manager, laboratory manager, and laboratory personnel) were inserted into the sample stream by the laboratory manager.  The coarse blanks were not blind to the White Mesa Mill laboratory manager.

Check assays were performed by three independent laboratories (Section 11.3.4) and were submitted by White Mesa Mill personnel.  Drilling and assaying were performed in 2016 and 2017; however, all assay results were received by Project personnel in 2017.  Table 11-2 outlines the number of submitted QA/QC samples and the portion of the total database they comprise.

Results of the QA/QC program were compiled in a series of Microsoft Excel tables and charts on a regular basis as the program progressed and were distributed to the project and laboratory personnel.  QA/QC trends were discussed as the program progressed and action was taken to correct issues.


Table 11-2: Summary of QA/QC Submittals

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Sample Type

Count

Percentage of Assay Samples

Drill holes

130

-

Assay Samples

3,413

-

Probe Samples

97,994

-

Probe / Assay Duplicates

563

16%

Coarse Blanks

63

2%

Fine Blanks

63

2%

Copper CRMs

125

4%

Field Duplicates

36

1%

Coarse Duplicates

62

2%

Pulp Duplicates

69

2%

Check Assays

114

3%

Total QA/QC Samples

532

16%

11.3.1 Blanks

The regular submission of blank material is used to assess contamination during sample preparation and to identify sample numbering errors.  EFR submitted blank samples at an insertion rate of one in 50 at both the coarse and fine preparation stages.  The coarse blank sample is a granite matrix sourced from ASL and certified as barren for both copper and uranium, and the fine blank material was purchased from Ore Research and Exploration (reference material OREAS 24b).  OREAS 24b has certified values of 0.0038% Cu and 0.000174% U.  The SLR QP reviewed the results of the blank samples submitted alongside drill core and tabulated the number of failures for both coarse and fine blanks.  A blank sample was considered to have failed if the assay returned a copper or uranium value more than ten times the detection limit for the assay method.  No failures were reported for the coarse or fine blank samples, as presented in Figure 11-1.


Figure 11-1: Results of Blank Samples

11.3.2 Certified Reference Material

Results of the regular submission of CRMS (standards) are used to identify problems with specific sample batches and biases associated with the primary assay laboratory.  Three different copper CRMs were submitted into the sample stream at White Mesa Mill, representing low, medium, and high grade copper material for an insertion rate of one in 25.  The matrix of the material, expected value, and tolerance limits are listed in Table 11-3.  The CRMs were assayed using a 4-acid digest or aqua regia technique with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or atomic absorption (AA) finish.


Table 11-3: Expected Values and Ranges of Copper CRM

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

CRM

Cert. Date

Matrix

Expected Value
(%)

Tolerance 2 S.D.
(%)

CDN-CM-41

2016

Minto Mine: Hypogene Cu
Sulfide hosted in Granodiorite

1.71

0.05

CDN-ME-1410

2014

High Sulfide VMS

3.80

0.17

OREAS 1131

2009

Tritton Cu Project: Chalcopyrite
Breccia Ore

13.5

0.8

Notes:

1. Certified tolerance is a 95% confidence interval from 13.3% to 13.8% Cu.

No U3O8 specific CRMs were sent to White Mesa Mill.  As part of the mill's daily protocol for running samples, the equipment was calibrated daily using U3O8 CRM 129-A, sourced from the New Brunswick Laboratory at the U.S. Department of Energy.  The SLR QP recommends sourcing three matrix-matched or matrix-similar CRMs for U3O8, representing low, medium, and high grades at the Project, and incorporating them into the sample stream sent to White Mesa Mill at a rate of one in 25.

The SLR QP calculated failure rates of each copper CRM, prepared contact plots, and looked at temporal trends of the CRMs.  Failure rates, defined as a copper value reporting more than three standard deviations (SD) from the expected value, or two consecutive copper values reporting more than two SD from the expected values were tabulated, and are presented in Table 11-4.  All CRMs assayed at White Mesa Mill displayed a low bias relative to the expected copper value, as well as a positive temporal trend, and a high failure rate.  Control plots of each CRM are presented in Figure 11-2 and a graph of the average copper value by date for each CRM is shown in Figure 11-3.  Two of the CRMs, CDN-CM-41 and CDN-ME-1410, are made of a material unlike the material at the Project.

The SLR QP recommends that EFR continue to monitor for low-grade bias of copper and slight low-grade bias of U3O8 at the White Mesa Mill laboratory and continue to monitor for temporal trends (change in average grade of CRM data over time) observed at White Mesa Mill laboratory.  The SLR QP also recommends EFR procure CRM made from the Project resource material (matrix matched), to obtain an improved understanding of laboratory performance as applied to Project samples;  source three matrix-matched or matrix-similar CRMs for U3O8 that represent low, medium, and high grade ore at the Project; incorporate the CRMs in the sample stream sent to White Mesa Mill at a rate of one in 25 and ensure the certified values of these CRMs are blind to the laboratory.  In addition, submit these CRMs to independent laboratories with check assays at a rate of one in 10 to obtain a meaningful sample size for analysis.

Table 11-4: Summary of CRM Performance

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

CRM

Expected Value
(%Cu)

Submittals

Failures

Percentage of
Failures

CDN-CM-41

1.71

39

31

79%

CDN-ME-1410

3.80

49

25

51%

OREAS 113

13.5

37

20

54%

Total

 

125

76

61%



Figure 11-2: Control Charts of Copper CRM


Figure 11-3: Average Copper Grade of CRM Over Time


11.3.3 Duplicates

Duplicate samples help to monitor preparation and assay precision and grade variability as a function of sample homogeneity and laboratory error.  The field duplicate includes the natural variability of the original core sample, as well as levels of error at various stages, including core splitting, sample size reduction in the preparatory laboratory, sub-sampling of the pulverized sample, and the analytical error.  Coarse reject and pulp duplicates provide a measure of the sample homogeneity at different stages of the preparation process (crushing and pulverizing).   

Field duplicate samples were collected by the onsite geologist and submitted to the laboratory as separate samples, adjacent in the sample stream and clearly marked as such.  A total of 1% of the drill hole samples have been duplicated by splitting the half core sample into two quarter core samples.  The duplicate protocol and procedure for collecting, submitting, and analyzing coarse and pulp duplicate assays is carried out by the White Mesa Mill.  A total of 2% of the drill hole samples were resubmitted at the coarse and pulp assay preparation stages for comparison.   

Results for both coarse and pulp sample pairs show excellent correlation (Table 11-5) with very good repeatability for both copper and uranium.  Of the field, coarse, and pulp duplicate sample sets, however, less than 20% of each of the submitted sample types report grades above the cut-off grade of 0.29% U3O8 and less than 10% are above the expected average grade of 1% U3O8.

Over half of the field duplicates reported U3O8 values with a relative difference greater than 20%, which may be related to the uranium occurring as blebs or vug fill.  Only one of the four field sample pairs within the grade range of interest, however, had a relative difference greater than 20%.  Over half of the field duplicates reported copper values with a relative difference greater than 20%.  Only five of the 16 sample pairs with a grade higher than 1% Cu, however, had a relative difference greater than 20%.  The SLR QP recommends collecting additional field samples, in the form of ½ core, in the grade range of interest, in order to draw deeper conclusions about the nature of the material at Pinyon Plain.

The SLR QP also recommends implementing a duplicate assay protocol for field, coarse, and pulp samples that is blind to the laboratory, and recommends that the rates of insertion for duplicate samples be approximately one in 50 for field duplicates and one in 25 for coarse and pulp duplicate samples.


Table 11-5: Basic Comparative Statistics of 2017 Duplicate Assays

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

 

Field

Coarse

Pulp

Original

Duplicate

Original

Duplicate

Original

Duplicate

U3O8

Count

36

36

62

62

69

69

Mean (%)

0.14

0.13

0.30

0.31

1.13

1.12

Max. Value (%)

1.45

1.00

9.71

9.80

25.90

25.36

Min. Value (%)

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

Median (%)

0.02

0.01

0.02

0.02

0.02

0.03

Variance

0.10

0.06

1.67

1.73

19.74

19.03

Std. Dev.

0.32

0.25

1.29

1.31

4.44

4.36

Corr. Coefficient

0.961

1.000

1.000

% Diff. Btw Means

8.5

-2.0

1.3

Copper

Count

35

35

61

61

69

69

Mean (%)

4.12

4.33

2.22

2.21

3.51

3.42

Max. Value (%)

24.22

22.60

22.38

22.84

30.50

26.14

Min. Value (%)

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

Median (%)

0.34

0.44

0.14

0.12

0.20

0.20

Variance

48.18

49.38

19.86

20.06

52.68

49.60

Std. Dev.

6.94

7.03

4.46

4.48

7.26

7.04

Corr. Coefficient

0.983

0.997

0.997

% Diff. Btw Means

-5.0

0.6

2.5

11.3.4 Check Assays

A total of 114 assays were sent for re-assay at one of three independent laboratories to ascertain if any bias is present within the primary laboratory, the White Mesa Mill laboratory:


The number of check assay samples sent to each laboratory is presented in Table 11-6.  Because Inter-Mountain Labs (IML) is the only laboratory with a significant number of samples, and the only laboratory to include CRMs, it was chosen for comparison with the primary laboratory at White Mesa Mill.  Scatter plots of the primary and independent laboratory results for U3O8 and copper are shown in Figure 11-4 and Figure 11-5, respectively.

Table 11-6: Check Assays List

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Laboratory

No. Check Assay Samples Sent

No. Cu CRMs Sent

American West Analytical Labs

10

-

Energy Laboratories

5

-

Inter-Mountain Labs

99

11

Total

114

11

The results indicate a slight low bias of both copper and U3O8 results at White Mesa Mill.  This finding is supported by the low bias observed in the copper CRM results from White Mesa Mill.  Copper CRM results from IML are not conclusive due to the small number of samples submitted, however, the CRM results from IML were mostly slightly above the expected value, with no failures.

Notes:

1. EL = Energy Laboratories

2. IML = Inter-Mountain Labs

3. AWAL = American West Analytical Labs

Figure 11-4: Scatter Plot of Independent vs Primary Laboratory Check Assay Results for U3O8


Notes:

1. EL = Energy Laboratories

2. IML = Inter-Mountain Labs

3. AWAL = American West Analytical Labs

Figure 11-5: Scatter Plot of Independent vs. Primary Laboratory Check Assay Results for Copper

11.3.5 Comparison of Probe vs. Assay Results

A total of 97,944 U3O8 0.5 ft probe samples were included in the Mineral Resource database where chemical assay data were not available.  To check for disequilibrium and ensure that no bias was present between assay and probe results, EFR assayed several drill holes for which probe data were available.  Drill hole intervals in the Main Zone were flagged and weighted averages were calculated for the results of each method over the interval of interest.  These weighted averages were then compared using basic statistics, including scatter and quantile-quantile plots.  A total of 14 sample pairs were removed that returned results above 2% U3O8, to account for probe saturation.  A scatter plot of the 77 sample pair results is shown in Figure 11-6.


Figure 11-6: Scatter Pot of the Weighted Average of Probe and Assay U3O8 Results Over Drill hole Intercepts within the Main Zone

The results indicate good correlation between the assay and probe data, with negligible bias.

11.4 Density Analyses

Bulk densities were determined at White Mesa Mill for a majority of the samples submitted (2,630 of 3,347).  A single piece of split core sample, at least four inches in length, was measured in all dimensions using calipers to calculate volume, and then weighed dry.  Density was calculated using the measured volume and the mass.  An additional 37, full core, six-inch samples, were submitted to White Mesa Mill to verify the caliper method.  These 37 full core samples were measured with calipers to calculate volume and then weighed dry.  Additionally, these samples were immersed in water to determine volume via water displacement.  The densities calculated by both methods were compared.  The densities calculated using the caliper method were approximately 1% greater than those calculated using water displacement on the same core samples, which is a negligible difference.

11.5 Conclusions

The SLR QP is of the opinion that the sample security, analytical procedures, and QA/QC procedures used by EFR meet industry best practices and are adequate to estimate Mineral Resources.


12.0 DATA VERIFICATION

Data verification is the process of confirming that data has been generated with proper procedures, is transcribed accurately from its original source into the project database and is suitable for use as described in this Technical Report.

As part of the resource estimation procedure, drill data is spot checked by EFR personnel and audited by the SLR QP for completeness and validity.

12.1 SLR Data Verification (2021)

The SLR QP visited the Project on November 16, 2021.  Discussions were held with the EFR technical team and found them to have a strong understanding of the mineralization types and their processing characteristics, and how the analytical results are tied to the results.  The SLR QP received the project data from EFR for independent review as a series of MS Excel spreadsheets and Vulcan digital files.  The SLR QP used the information provided to validate the Mineral Resource interpolation, tons, grade, and classification.

12.2 Audit of Drill hole Database

The SLR QP conducted a series of verification tests on the drill hole database provided by EFR.  These tests included a search for missing information and tables, unique location of drill hole collars, and overlapping sample or lithology intervals.  Empty tables were limited to lithology, alteration, and geotechnical results.  No database issues were identified.

12.3 Verification of Assay Table

The SLR QP compared 100% of the assay sample database for both copper and uranium to assay results in Excel format from White Mesa Mill.  Several values in the database were recorded at 0% Cu or 0% U3O8.  The industry standard is to record assays which return a value below detection limit at a value equal to half the detection limit.  This is not expected to materially impact the Mineral Resources.  No other discrepancies were found.

12.4 Limitations

There were no limitations in place restricting the ability to perform an independent verification of the Project drill hole database.

12.5 Conclusion

The SLR QP is of the opinion that database verification procedures for the Project comply with industrystandards and are adequate for the purposes of Mineral Resource estimation.


13.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING

13.1 Metallurgical Testing

Preliminary metallurgical bench tests have been completed on samples from the Project to determine both uranium and copper metallurgical performance.  Copper mineralization presents an upside to the Project, but is not considered as part of this PFS.

Test work was completed at the White Mesa Mill's metallurgical laboratory while confirmatory testing was conducted at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), an independent metallurgical laboratory in New South Wales, Australia, that operates a Quality Management System which complies with the requirements ISO 9001:2015 for conduct of strategic and applied nuclear research across three themes, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Environment, and Human Health  Testing included conventional acid leaching, flotation of conventionally leached residue, and roasting pre-treatment followed by conventional acid leaching.  The primary goal of the work was to determine if the existing White Mesa Mill process flow sheet would be suitable for processing the Project's mineralized material types, and if not, what process flow sheet would be appropriate while minimizing capital modifications to the White Mesa Mill circuit.

Several metallurgical testing programs have been completed on the Project's mineralized material types.  The goal of these tests is to maximize uranium and copper recoveries, and to minimize changes to the White Mesa Mill circuit and any associated capital requirements, while also minimizing process operating costs and uranium deportment to the final copper product.

Two metallurgical composites were used for testing during 2016 and 2017.

The first metallurgical composite was created in October 2016 and was made from 37 core samples.  White Mesa Mill laboratory testing showed the average grades for this composite were 0.81% U3O8 and 9.78% Cu.  This composite was the most representative of the Main Zone of the deposit from the samples available at the time.  Testing was done on this composite from October 2016 to January 2017.  The preliminary conventional acid leaching test work was conducted to determine uranium and copper recoveries.  Leaching conditions, including temperature, solids density, and free acid and chlorate dosages, were varied between a total of 17 tests.

Uranium recoveries were high for this test series ranging from 96.3% to 99.8%.  Copper recoveries were significantly lower ranging from 18.7% to 55.5%.  Sulfuric acid consumption was higher than normal for ores treated at White Mesa Mill ranging between 221 pounds per short ton (lb/ton) to 670 lb/ton.  Sodium chlorate consumptions were 0 lb/ton to 164 lb/ton of feed, which is significantly higher than the normal ore range of 0 lb/ton to 30 lb/ton.

Owing to the poor copper metallurgical performance during conventional acid leaching, flotation testing of conventional leaching residue was examined.  Due to the possibility of uranium deportment to the copper concentrate, it was decided to run flotation concentration tests on leached residue in order to potentially minimize uranium concentrations.  Flotation of copper worked very well with rougher copper recovery at 72% with a copper concentrate grade of 33.3%.  Unfortunately, uranium deportment to the concentrate exceeded normal treatment charge/refining charge (TC/RC) limits at 0.105% U3O8, making flotation an unlikely processing option.

A second (and larger) composite was made in January of 2017 and was used for testing from that point on.  This composite was the most representative of the Main Zone of the deposit from the samples available at the time.  The metallurgical testing composite was generated from 60 core samples representing 240 ft of half drill core (approximately 360 lb) from the Pinyon Plain deposit.  A split of this composite was also sent to ANSTO in Australia for independent testing.  White Mesa Mill laboratory testing showed the average grades for this composite were 0.76% U3O8 and 9.93% Cu.  The primary goal of this program was to determine the metallurgical response using the conventional acid leach process currently in use at White Mesa Mill.  Summary results are presented in Table 13-1 below.


As expected, uranium recoveries averaged 93.4%, ranging from a low of 68.3% to 99.8%.  Copper recoveries were considerably lower, averaging 26.9% and ranging from 4% to 53.7%.  Reagent consumptions using the conventional leaching averaged 900 lb/ton for sulfuric acid and 20 lb/ton for chlorate.

Table 13-1: Conventional Acid Leach Test Results

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Test #

Metallurgical
Recovery

Targets

Actual

Consumption
(lb/ton)

U3O8

Cu

Free Acid

Temp
(⁰F)

EMF

% Solids

Free
Acid

EMF

Acid

Chlorate

1

98.2

37.6

85

85

none

50

80.9

385

224.0

80.0

2

98.0

48.6

80

80

500

50

76.4

443

434.0

128.0

3

96.8

50.0

50

80

500

50

48.5

457

361.0

128.0

4

94.0

53.7

20

80

500

50

18.1

439

265.0

144.0

5

98.0

46.9

80

80

450

50

76.9

438

420.0

120.0

6

99.2

53.3

80

80

500

33

85.3

415

316.0

80.0

7

96.7

35.9

50

50

500

50

39.7

658

280.0

100.0

8

96.6

17.0

50

ambient

500

50

51.5

846

258.0

80.0

9

97.0

33.1

50

50

400

50

52.4

396

309.0

80.0

10

95.5

6.8

50

50

none

50

49.5

409

228.0

0.0

11

96.7

17.2

50

50

none

50

47.0

416

246.0

20.0

12

80.9

9.2

50

ambient

none

50

47.5

401

228.0

20.0

13

80.1

7.8

80

ambient

none

50

73.0

398

291.0

20.0

14

99.8

11.9

50

60

none

50

43.1

366

220.0

20.0

15

97.5

18.4

50

60

none

33

54.9

366

362.0

20.0

16

97.2

30.6

50

60

none

50

48.5

386

276.0

40.0

17

96.6

20.7

20

50

none

50

19.1

357

154.6

20.0

18

97.8

19.0

20

80

none

50

15.2

325

147.2

20.0

19

82.4

16.6

50

60

none

50

48.0

318

209.8

10.0

20

68.3

4.0

50

60

none

50

45.6

278

180.3

0.0

Avg.

93.4

26.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

270.5

56.5




Test #

Metallurgical Recovery

Targets

Actual

Consumption
(lb/ton)

U3O8

Cu

Free Acid

Temp
(⁰F)

EMF

% Solids

Free
Acid

EMF

Acid

Chlorate

Max.

99.8

53.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

434.0

144.0

Min.

68.3

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

147.2

0.0

Due to low copper recoveries, a series of tests were run to determine the effect of a roasting pre-treatment.  Roasting temperatures were varied between 450°C and 650°C.  As shown in Table 13-2, roasting improved recoveries for both uranium and copper, averaging 86% and 87.6% respectively.  Using the optimum roasting temperature of 650°C, recoveries averaged 91.6% for uranium and 94.9% for copper.  Reagent consumptions on the roasted material averaged 250 lb/ton for sulfuric acid and 15 lb/ton chlorate using temperatures of 650°C for the roasting phase and 50°C for the leaching phase.

Table 13-2: Roasted Acid Test Results

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Test #

Roasting

Metallurgical Recovery

Targets

Actual

Consumption
(lb/ton)

Temp
(⁰F)

Time

U3O8

Cu

Free
Acid

Temp
(⁰F)

EMF

% Solids

Free
Acid

EMF

Acid

Chlorate

2

450

45

78.8

85.2

80

60

none

4

76.9

379.0

5500

0

3

550

45

98.7

98.4

80

60

none

4

78.4

550.0

5500

0

4

650

45

99.2

92.2

80

60

none

4

78.4

603.0

5500

0

5

550

45

60.9

63.3

80

60

none

4

67.1

337.0

4600

0

7

550

45

95.4

87.3

80

60

none

4

59.8

536.0

4600

20

8

550

90

93.3

86.0

80

60

none

4

60.3

534.0

4600

20

9

550

45

85.3

81.8

80

80

none

4

72.0

349.0

4875

20

10

550

120

63.6

73.9

80

80

none

15

81.8

336.0

4325

0

11

650

120

94.7

96.0

80

80

none

15

75.5

432.0

4325

0

12

650

20

81.3

76.0

80

80

none

15

78.0

341.0

1195

0

13

650

40

89.3

87.4

80

80

none

15

80.9

382.0

1195

0

14

650

60

94.9

91.9

80

80

none

15

77.9

417.0

1195

0

15

650

60

76.4

88.4

20

20

none

15

24.0

322.0

460

0

16

650

60

82.8

92.0

50

50

none

15

49.9

400.0

775

0

17

650

60

82.6

92.6

20

80

none

15

20.6

405.0

506

0

18

650

60

84.0

90.3

80

20

none

15

76.0

354.0

1150

0

19

650

60

95.9

97.3

80

80

none

15

85.0

433.0

1380

0

20

650

60

99.1

92.2

20

50

none

15

17.6

555.0

450

10




Test #

Roasting

Metallurgical
Recovery

Targets

Actual

Consumption
(lb/ton)

Temp
(⁰F)

Time

U3O8

Cu

Free
Acid

Temp
(⁰F)

EMF

% Solids

Free
Acid

EMF

Acid

Chlorate

21

650

60

30.6

90.9

30

50

none

40

30.9

412.0

318

10

22

650

60

79.7

93.3

80

80

none

40

83.3

396.0

580

0

23

650

60

97.8

95.4

none

80

none

33

41.7

458.0

479

10

24

650

60

95.8

93.4

none

80

none

33

26.0

426.0

350

10

25

650

60

96.5

93.7

none

50

none

33

51.0

445.0

450

10

26

650

60

80.9

92.0

none

50

none

20

26.5

400.0

450

10

27

650

60

86.6

94.5

none

50

none

20

22.4

405.0

450

10

28

650

60

97.1

96.3

none

50

none

20

31.9

642.0

450

20

29

650

60

97.2

96.7

none

50

none

20

28.9

654.0

450

20

30

440

60

68.4

26.2

none

80

none

33

45.6

325.0

350

10

31

606

60

93.4

84.6

none

80

none

33

25.5

395.0

350

10

32

770

60

89.7

88.2

none

80

none

33

15.2

631.0

350

10

Avg.

 

 

86.0

87.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

1992.2

6.5

Max.

 

 

99.2

98.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

5500.0

20

Min.

 

 

30.6

26.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

317.5

0

Two different metallurgical testing programs have been completed at ANSTO's facilities in Australia.  These series of tests were conducted on the second bulk composite generated at White Mesa Mill and coincide with the White Mesa Mill's program from January 2017.  Pertinent test work focused on conventional acid leaching (one test) and roasting pre-treatment followed by acid leaching (six tests). Comparisons between the White Mesa Mill and ANSTO test work results are presented in Figure 13-1 and Figure 13-2 for conventional leaching and roasting pre-treatment respectively.  Results from the White Mesa Mill laboratory are in red and results from the ANSTO laboratory are blue.  It should be noted that the results presented incorporate the entire data set and no outliers were culled.


Figure 13-1: Laboratory Comparison - Conventional Leaching

Figure 13-2: Laboratory Comparison - Roasting Pre-Treatment and Leaching


In 2018 Hazen Research Inc. (Hazen) in Golden, Colorado conducted bench- and pilot-scale programs to demonstrate copper extraction from ore at the Project.  Hazen Research holds certifications from various state regulatory agencies and from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  And ELI is NELAP accredited with certifications USEPA: WY00002; FL-DOH NELAC: E87641; Oregon: WY200001; Utah: WY00002; Washington: C1012.

Bench-scale experiments were conducted to determine the preferred operating conditions for the pilot-scale roasting and leaching programs.  Four roasting experiments were performed to evaluate two variables: temperature and excess air.  Four batch, bench-scale sulfuric acid (H2SO4) leach tests of the batch calcines were conducted, using the leach conditions set by EFR, to measure roasting success.  Four additional bench-scale leach tests of pilot kiln calcine and pre-roasted calcine also were conducted.  The results of this work showed that uranium and copper recoveries exceeding 95% and 90%, respectively, could be expected from the Project ore evaluated in this program.  Results suggested that leaching efficiency was controlled, in large part, by the degree of sulfide oxidation and that oxygen availability was a key variable in roasting.

A continuous roasting program was performed to demonstrate oxidative roasting of the Project ore and to generate calcine for subsequent pilot acid leaching.  Target parameters for the pilot roast were discussed and accepted by EFR.  The target parameters included a 4% to 5% oxygen concentration in the off-gas, 1-hour residence time, and 650°C burden temperature.  Approximately 360 kg of ore were processed in the pilot kiln system.  Roasted product (calcine) was collected continuously and sampled on an hourly basis.  The product samples were assayed for acid insoluble sulfur to determine the extent of sulfide oxidation.  The average sulfide oxidation from the product samples was 95%.  During operations, a runaway temperature excursion occurred causing material to stick to the kiln wall.  As a result, the residence time through the kiln may have been affected, as suggested by incomplete sulfide oxidation.  A single batch pilot acid leach using 60 kg of pilot calcine was performed to confirm the leaching results and generate pregnant leach solution (PLS) for subsequent uranium and copper solvent extraction (SX).  The conditions prescribed by EFR for the leach evaluation were 350 lb/ton H2SO4, 10 lb/ton sodium chlorate (NaClO3), 33% solids, and 80°C.  The leaching time was 24 hours in a 70 gal agitated tank; kinetic samples were obtained at two hours, four hours, and eight hours.  The final slurry was filtered in a filtering centrifuge and washed thoroughly.  The PLS and wash were collected; washed solids were dried and analyzed.  Uranium extraction from calcine was 95% and copper extraction was 90% at 24 hours.  Kinetic data suggested that leaching was essentially complete for both metals at eight hours.

Before uranium SX, deionized (DI) water was added to the PLS to simulate the dilution that would occur in countercurrent washing of leach solids.  An eight-stage continuous SX circuit was assembled using glass mixers and settlers.  Solvent (tertiary amine extractant [Alamine 336], isodecanol, aliphatic diluent) was mixed with the PLS and separated in four countercurrent stages, followed by solvent scrubbing, two sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) strip stages for uranium recovery and concentration, and a wash stage to prepare the solvent for recycling.  The circuit was operated for 30 hours and demonstrated greater than 99% uranium extraction with only about 2.5 mg/L U3O8 reporting to the raffinate (tailings stream).  The uranium SX was operated as a precursor to copper SX and was not in itself a research and development effort.

The combined uranium SX raffinate solution became feed to copper SX.  Components of the uranium SX circuit, after cleaning and tubing replacement, were used to assemble the copper SX, and the stage configuration was identical.  The copper SX solvent was 20% LIX 984N (aldoxime-ketoxime blend) in aliphatic diluent.  The stripping agent was 180 g/L H2SO4; no copper was introduced into the strip feed to ensure that the copper cathode produced in the electrowinning (EW) step would be 100% ore-sourced.  The copper SX circuit was operated for 35 hours over 4 days and produced 15.8 L of pregnant strip solution at a concentration of 38.2 g/L Cu.  Copper extraction during steady-state operation exceeded 96%, with raffinate copper levels of less than 0.3 g/L.


The copper SX strip product became feed to a small-scale, continuous copper EW operation.  A single glass cell was assembled using a calcium-lead alloy anode and a stainless steel cathode.  A small Hewlett Packard rectifier provided the power to apply a current density of 300 ampere per square foot (A/ft2) to the cathode.  The operation design targeted a 3 g/L to 4 g/L reduction in copper concentration, from 38 g/L Cu to 34 g/L Cu.  This reduction was achieved over 64 hours of continuous operation, and an approximately 50 g copper plate was produced.  An impurity scan of the copper product by glow discharge mass spectroscopy (GDMS) conducted by Northern Analytical Laboratory, Inc. (NAL), in Londonderry, New Hampshire, showed generally low levels or an absence of the 78 impurities analyzed.  Lead was present at 300 ppm, which was attributed to loss from the lead anode caused by a nonoptimized EW setup and operation; commercial EW operation should minimize or eliminate lead as a cathode impurity.

During the bench- and pilot-scale programs, Hazen was able to demonstrate that extraction of copper from the Project ore using EFR's process is technically feasible.  The data collected from the bench-scale experiments were repeatable in the pilot-scale demonstration in terms of uranium and copper extractions.  The results and observations from both programs elucidated potential issues for commercial scaleup, including material stickiness during roasting and the formation of uranium precipitate (metazeunerite, Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8H2O) in diluted acid leach liquor.

Residual sulfide after roasting affects copper extraction as confirmed in the bench- and pilot-scale leaches.  The average residual sulfide removed from the roasted products during the pilot-scale program was 95%, which resulted in a copper extraction of 90%.

During the pilot-scale roasting program, temperature excursions were experienced, likely due to the exothermic oxidation of sulfides.  The temperature excursions caused the ore to become sticky, which may have affected the residence time through the kiln.  There was still a considerable amount of residual sulfide on the roasted product, which suggests that material stuck on the kiln walls may have caused a decrease in the effective cross-sectional area of the kiln.  At the end of the pilot roast program, the kiln was inspected and cleaned out.  A total of 8 kg of material was found stuck on the kiln walls and required physical separation.  Because of the short duration of the continuous roasting program, evaluating this phenomenon was not considered.

Acid leaching of calcine at the conditions established by EFR showed good uranium and copper dissolution, exceeding 90% for both metals in some experiments.  Uranium appeared to leach more rapidly than copper.  In one roast-leach experiment, copper extraction exceeded 90% in two hours of leaching; the batch roast conditions for this calcine sample were 650°C and double the standard airflow (six litres per minute, L/min).  These and other data collected in the program confirm the relationship between sulfide oxidation and both leaching potential and leaching kinetics.

Uranium SX of the dilute acid leach PLS proceeded very well and showed excellent results; the use of tertiary amine for SX of uranium in a sulfate system is a proven and robust unit operation.  The SX circuit operated well within the conditions evaluated.  Hazen recommended that the formation of metazeunerite in the dilute PLS be further evaluated to determine the conditions of its precipitation, which deprives leach liquor of both uranium and copper.

Copper was successfully recovered from uranium SX raffinate by SX using LIX 984N.  After circuit shakedown and adjustment of the overall extraction, the copper tenor in the raffinate was consistently less than 0.3 g/L Cu.  Stripping using copper-free strong H2SO4 generated pregnant strip solution with more than 40 g/L Cu.  Analysis of stripped, washed organic showed approximately 3 g/L Cu, suggesting that an additional strip stage may have been beneficial.  Arsenic was notably absent at a significant concentration in the strip product; therefore, it was unavailable as a potential impurity in copper EW.


Copper EW from pregnant SX strip solution was carried out in a small glass cell using a single lead-calcium anode and single stainless steel cathode.  Preoperational design resulted in achievement of the operating targets: 300 A/ft2 current density, and a nominal 3 g/L Cu bite in a single pass.  A 50 g copper plate was produced, which contained minimal impurities (as shown by GDMS analysis) other than lead, a typical contaminant when using a lead anode.  Because of the short duration of the copper EW operation, optimization of the system was not evaluated.  Therefore, further evaluation of the copper EW process is recommended to determine how improvements to impurity levels can be made.  The lead content, especially, can be significantly reduced or eliminated through EW operational changes to reduce cell turbulence.

The roast-acid leach, uranium SX, copper SX, and copper EW process designed by EFR for the Pinyon Plain deposit and modeled at bench and pilot scale by Hazen comprises a series of proven, robust unit operations.  Each of these operations performed well in the test work.  Minor idiosyncrasies in some experimental work discussed in individual report sections herein may point to potential process optimization paths, however, the overall process showed strong competency to recover and concentrate the uranium and copper values.  A summary of uranium and copper recoveries from each unit operation is provided in Table 13-3.

Table 13-3: Summary of Uranium and Copper Recoveries (Hazen)

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Unit of Operation

Metallurgical Recovery (%)

U

Cu

Pilot Leach

95

90

Uranium SX

100

N/A

Copper SX

N/A

95

Copper EW

N/A

100

Overall Calculated Recoveries

95

86

Notes:

1. N/A = not applicable

2. Recoveries are calculated from the inputs and outputs of individual unit operations.

To economically produce copper cathode, the copper cathode grade will need to be considered when scaling to a commercial capacity.  Based on the GDMS results from NAL, certain impurities may need to be further evaluated for refinement depending on market criteria.

13.2 Opinion of Adequacy

Copper test work indicates the best scenario to process the metal is using roasting, followed by acid leach and solvent extraction.  Acid leach followed by solvent extraction is the current process used for uranium recovery.  Following solvent extraction, a saleable copper product could be produced by electrowinning.  To recover copper from the Pinyon Plain mineralized material, some modifications to White Mesa Mill process circuits would be required.  The copper modifications would be expected to include the existing vanadium solvent extraction circuit for copper extraction, the addition of a roaster to improve copper recovery, and the addition of an electrowinning circuit. Bench and pilot scale test work done by HAZEN in 2018 indicates that acid leaching after roasting pre-treatment would result in satisfactory copper and uranium recoveries.


The metallurgical test results provided by the White Mesa Mill, ANSTO, and Hazen indicate that metallurgical recoveries using optimum roasting and leach conditions are expected to be approximately 96% for uranium and 86 to 90% for copper.

The metallurgical composites that were used for metallurgical testing are representative of the various types and styles of copper and uranium mineralization for the Main Zone.  The average U3O8 grades for these two test composites were close to the average grade of the U3O8 presented as a resource in this Technical Report.

There are no known processing factors or deleterious elements that could have a significant effect on potential economic extraction.

The White Mesa Mill has a significant operating history using the uranium SX circuit, which has included milling relatively high grade copper ores with no detrimental impact to the uranium recovery or product grade.  Expected White Mesa Mill modifications to recover copper include utilizing the existing vanadium solvent extraction circuit for copper and the addition of an EW circuit.  Carry over of uranium to the copper electrolyte is not expected and will be verified by future laboratory test work.

The SLR QP supports the conclusions of the expected performance of the metallurgical processes based on test work data from the White Mesa Mill, ANSTO, and Hazen, in addition to historical operating data from White Mesa Mill.  In the SLR QP's opinion, the metallurgical test work is adequate for the purposes of Mineral Resource estimation.


14.0 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

14.1 Summary

Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Resources in S-K 1300, which are consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM, 2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.

The SLR QP has reviewed and accepted the Mineral Resource estimate prepared by EFR based on block models constrained with 3D wireframes on the principal mineralized domains.  Mineralized values for U3O8 and copper values were interpolated into blocks using inverse distance squared (ID2) or ordinary kriging (OK).

A geologic and resource model of the breccia pipe host was constructed based on drill logs.  Mineralization wireframes for U3O8 were based on assays at a nominal cut-off grade of 0.15%.  Low and high grade copper wireframes were based on nominal cut-off grades of 1% and 8%, respectively.

The previously reported Mineral Resources estimate with an effective date of December 31, 2021 (SLR, 2022) disclosed both uranium and copper Mineral Resources in the Main and Main-Lower zones and uranium only Mineral Resource in the Juniper Zone.  Copper processing adds significantly higher milling costs and thus a higher equivalent uranium cut-off grade was used to report resources at the Main-Lower and Juniper zones.  EFR has not included copper in the Mineral Reserve estimate but recognizes that a copper circuit could be added to the mill in the future.  As a result, uranium and copper mineralization are reported separately in this updated Mineral Resource.  In addition, the following are important changes in the reporting of Mineral Resources:

 All previously reported uranium Mineral Resources in the Main Zone have been converted into Mineral Reserves (Section 15) based on designed mine stopes.

 In 2022, EFR moved from a General Aquifer Protection Permit to an Individual Aquifer Protection Permit with ADEQ.  In an effort to protect the perched aquifer in the Coconino sandstone, ADEQ requested and EFR agreed to limit mining between the elevations of 5,340 ft and 4,508 ft.  As a result, this updated Mineral Resource report excludes previously reported uranium mineralization from the Cap and Upper zones.

Table 14-1 summarizes the uranium Mineral Resource estimate based on a $65/lb uranium price at an equivalent uranium cut-off grade of 0.30% U3O8 for the Main-Lower and Juniper zones with an effective date of December 31, 2022.  The Mineral Resource is in situ.  The Resources stated in this Technical Report supersede any previous Mineral Resources reported for the Project.

 


Table 14-1: Summary of Attributable Uranium Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Zone

Cut-Off
Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained
Metal

Metallurgical
Recovery
U
3O8

(% U3O8)

(tons)

(% eU3O8)

(lb U3O8)

(%)

Indicated

Juniper I

0.3

37,000

0.95

703,000

96

Total Indicated

 

 

37,000

0.95

703,000

96

Inferred

Main-Lower

0.3

2,000

0.48

16,000

96

Juniper I

0.3

2,000

0.58

24,000

96

Juniper II

0.3

1,000

0.36

8,000

96

Total Inferred

 

 

5,000

0.50

48,000

96

Notes:

1. SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Mineral Resources are estimated at 0.30% U3O8 with estimated recoveries of 96% for uranium.

3. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of US$65 per pound.

4. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources.

5. Bulk density is 0.082 ton/ft3 (12.2 ft3/ton or 2.63 t/m3).

6. Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

7. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

8. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR and are in situ.

There are no permitting constraints to EFR for processing the copper at the mill, and previous test studies conducted by Hazen (Price and Schwartz, 2018) shows that it is possible to process it.  Depending on future copper price conditions, EFR may determine that it is economically beneficial to process the copper or may evaluate alternatively reprocessing it out of tails.  It is also possible that additional development drilling in the Juniper Zone, expected to be completed in 2023, may encounter additional copper mineralization, making the process more economically viable.

Further study is required to determine if the copper associated with uranium mineralization in the reserve stopes may eventually be processed and add value to the project.

Table 14-2 lists the current estimated copper mineralization associated with the Main and Main-Lower zone resources at Pinyon Plain at a cut-off grade of 0.4% equivalent U3O8 due to higher processing costs for copper.  Initial preliminary studies indicate that the copper does have reasonable prospects for economic extraction, however, at this time the Company's focus is on the uranium only.


Table 14-2: Summary of Attributable Copper Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Zone

Cut-Off
Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained
Metal

Metallurgical
Recovery Cu

(% U3O8 Eq)

(tons)

(% Cu)

(lb Cu)

(%)

Measured

Main

0.4

6,000

9.6

1,155,000

90

Indicated

Main

0.4

90,000

5.9

10,553,000

90

Total Measured + Indicated

 

 

96,000

6.1

11,708,000

90

Inferred

Main-Lower

0.4

4,000

6.5

470,000

90

Notes:

1. SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. For the Main and Main-Lower zones of the Pinyon Plain Project, a 0.40% uranium equivalent cut-off grade (% U3O8 Eq) was applied to account for both the copper and uranium mineralization. The %U3O8 Eq grade term is not the same as the eU3O8 % grade term which indicates probe rather than assay data listed elsewhere in this report.

3. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of $65 per pound and a copper price of $4.00 per lb.

4. A copper to U3O8 conversion factor of 18.19 was used for converting copper grades to equivalent U3O8 grades (U3O8 Eq) for cut-off grade evaluation and reporting.

5. For the Pinyon Plain Project, Mineral Resource tonnages of uranium and copper cannot be added as they overlap in the Main and Main-Lower zones.

6. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources.

7. Bulk density is 0.082 ton/ft3 (12.2 ft3/ton or 2.63 t/m3).

8. Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

10. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR and are in situ.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that with consideration of the recommendations summarized in Section 1 and Section 26, any issues relating to all relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction can be resolved with further work.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that there are no other known environmental, permitting, legal, social, or other factors that would affect the development of the Mineral Resources.

While the estimate of uranium and copper Mineral Resources is based on the SLR QP's judgment that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction, no assurance can be given that Mineral Resources will eventually convert to Mineral Reserves.

14.2 Resource Database

As of the effective date of this report, EFR and its predecessors have completed 150 holes (45 surface and 105 underground) totalling 92,724 ft from 1978 to 2017.  No drilling was conducted on the Project from 1994 to 2016.  In 2016 and 2017, EFR completed 105 underground drill holes totalling 30,314 ft at the Project.  For this Resource estimate, all holes drilled from underground and 25 of the 45 surface holes were used in the modeling of mineralization.  Twenty surface holes were excluded because they are located outside the pipe and contain no mineralization.


The Project resource database, dated June 17, 2017, includes drilling results from 1978 to 2017 and includes surveyed drill hole collar locations (including dip and azimuth), assay, radiometric probe, and lithology data from 130 diamond drill holes totalling 79,775 ft of drilling.

The resource dataset for the Main Zone is primarily based on assay data, supported by probe composites where assay data was not available.  This practice is unique for Arizona Strip District uranium deposits, where standard practice is to use only probe assay data.  The use of chemical assays within the Main Zone is due to the large copper component which is not captured with radiometric logging.  A summary of the Project resource database is presented in Table 14-3.

Table 14-3: Summary of Available Drill hole Data

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Table

Number of Records

Collar

130

Survey

23,483

Geology

512

Geotech

488

Lab

3,651

Probe

120,942

Assay, including:

 

Probe U3O8

97,994

Assay U3O8

3,409

Assay Cu

3,409

14.3 Geological Interpretation

14.3.1 Uranium

Uranium mineralization at the Project is concentrated in six vertical zones (Cap, Upper, Main, Main-Lower, Juniper I, and Juniper II) within a collapse structure ranging from 100 ft to 230 ft in plan section with a vertical extension from a depth of 650 ft to over 2,100 ft below ground surface, resulting in approximately 1,450 ft of mineralization vertically.  Intercepts range widely up to several tens of feet, with grades in excess of 1.00% U3O8.  Uranium mineralization is hosted within each zone; copper mineralization has been modeled within the Main and Main-Lower zones only.  For reporting purposes, the six zones have been combined into three geologic zones: the Upper/Cap, Main, and Juniper Zones (Figure 14-1).  The bulk of mineralization for both commodities is hosted within the Main Zone.  At present, no structural features other than the pipe boundary have been incorporated into the geological model.

The model of the breccia pipe host was constructed based on drill logs.  Geological interpretations supporting the estimate were generated by EFR personnel and audited for completeness and accuracy by the SLR QP.  Topographical surfaces, solids, and mineralized wireframes were modeled using Maptek's Vulcan software.


EFR created a series of north-south and east-west polylines spaced at 10 ft.  The polylines were edited and joined together in 3D using tie lines.  During this "stitching" process, polylines and/or tie lines were snapped to composite control intervals, which were interpreted using a 0.15% eU3O8 cut-off.  Occasionally, lower grade intersections were included to facilitate continuity.  Extension distance for the mineralized wireframes was half-way to the next hole, or approximately 20 ft vertically and horizontally past the last drill intercept.  In total, 38 uranium wireframes, or domains, were contained within the three geologic zones and assigned identifier numbers for Upper/Cap (17 domains), Main (12 domains), and Juniper (9 domains).  The domains ranged in size from 105 tons to 100,500 tons, for a total of 187,700 tons.  Domains M_01 (Main) and J_1_01 (Juniper I) account for over 80% of the total tons.  A detailed description of these two domains follows.

Within the M_01 domain, the uranium mineralization occurs within the structurally prepared breccia pipe and adjacent to the country rock forming a donut shape roughly 185 ft in diameter and extending from an elevation of 5,325 ft to 5,115 ft.  Mineralization consists predominantly of uraninite/pitchblende that occurs as massive to semi-massive accumulations ranging in thickness from less than five feet to 50 ft but is generally in the 30 ft to 40 ft range (horizontally).  Within this area, the center or throat of the breccia pipe is essentially barren of uranium mineralization.

EFR proposes that the underlying J_1_01 zone that extends from 4,925 ft elevation to 4,700 ft elevation may be the down-dropped center block of uranium mineralization from the overlying M_01 domain.  The shape, depth extension, and horizontal thickness of the mineralization, which ranges from five feet to 50 ft but is generally 25 ft to 30 ft, generally mimics the dimensions of the unmineralized portion of the M_01 zone.

The SLR QP reviewed the uranium mineralization domains and found them to be appropriately extended beyond existing drilling, snapped, and referenced to the principal mineralization controls.  The SLR QP recommends EFR continue to work to smooth the connection of the uranium wireframes between sections in future updates.

14.3.2 Copper

Copper mineralization models at Pinyon are restricted to the Main and Main-Lower zones.  Copper mineralization present within the Juniper Zone has not been modeled at this time due to the much lower sample assay values overall.  Final wireframe surfaces, as well as a cross section of mineralization from within the Main Zone, are shown in Figure 14-1.

Within the Main zone, the copper mineralization domain has been modeled at a nominal cut-off grade of 1% Cu, encapsulating mineralization within the breccia pipe.  The mineralization tends to concentrate at the contact between the breccia pipe and the country rock, creating a toroid (donut) shape, and elongated at depth.  A few flat lying structures carry mineralization into the center of the pipe.  Mineralization ranges in thickness from five feet to 80 ft thick (horizontally) but is generally from 20 ft to 40 ft thick.  The domain is located from 5,320 ft to 5,120 ft elevation and ranges from 50 ft. deep in the southeast of the breccia pipe and up to 200 ft deep elsewhere.

Additionally, a high grade domain has been modeled in the Main Zone at a cut-off grade of approximately 8% Cu.  High grade mineralization also follows the contact with the country rock, but does not extend into the center, or to the southeast, creating a C-shape which is oriented to the southeast and vertically elongated.  Mineralization has been modeled to be thickest in the northeast; however, this is also the region with the best access, and therefore the closest drill hole spacing, allowing for a more robust interpretation.  The high grade domain is as elongate as the lower grade domain, but patchier, particularly at depth.  The high grade domain accounts for approximately 30% of the total copper domain in the Main Zone.  The copper domain overlaps approximately 50% of the uranium domain.


Within the Main-Lower Zone, mineralization has been captured within three separate wireframes, using a cut-off grade of 1% Cu, delineated using from one to five drill holes.  As with the Main Zone, mineralization is modeled towards the edge of the breccia pipe.  There is no high grade domain in the Main-Lower Zone.

The SLR QP reviewed the copper mineralization domains and found them to be appropriately extended beyond existing drilling, snapped, and referencing the principal mineralization controls.  The SLR QP recommends that future updates to the copper mineralization include some marginal material where appropriate to increase the continuity and volume of the wireframes, particularly the high grade copper wireframe.


Figure 14-1: Uranium and Copper Mineralized Zones


14.4 Resource Assays

The mineralization wireframe models were used to code the drill hole database and to identify samples within the mineralized wireframes.  These samples were extracted from the database on a group-by-group basis, subjected to statistical analyses for their respective domains, and then analyzed by means of histograms and probability plots.  A total of 5,203 samples were contained within the mineralized uranium wireframes.  The sample statistics are summarized by zone in Table 14-4.  The coefficient of variation (CV) is a measure of variability of the data.

Table 14-4: Summary Statistics of Uncapped U3O8 Assays

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Zone

Count

Minimum
(%U3O8)

Maximum
(%U3O8)

Mean
(%U3O8)

Variance

SD
(%U3O8)

CV

CAP

99

0.009

1.040

0.213

0.020

0.141

0.660

UPPER

733

0.000

4.585

0.337

0.160

0.405

1.200

MAIN

3,128

0.000

45.121

0.886

5.750

2.397

2.710

MAIN-LOWER

108

0.000

1.835

0.267

0.090

0.305

1.140

JUNIPER-1

955

0.000

22.720

0.612

2.580

1.606

2.630

JUNIPER-2

180

0.000

1.489

0.254

0.030

0.159

0.630

ALL ZONES

5,203

0.000

45.121

0.710

4.010

2.002

2.820

14.5 Treatment of High Grade Assays

14.5.1 Capping Levels

Where the assay distribution is skewed positively or approaches log-normal, erratic high grade assay values can have a disproportionate effect on the average grade of a deposit.  One method of treating these outliers to reduce their influence on the average grade is to cut or cap them at a specific grade level.  In the absence of production data to calibrate the capping level, inspection of the assay distribution can be used to estimate a "first pass" cutting level.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that the influence of high grade uranium assays must be reduced or controlled and uses a number of industry best practice methods to achieve this goal, including capping of high grade values.  The SLR QP employs a number of statistical analytical methods to determine an appropriate capping value including preparation of frequency histograms, probability plots, decile analyses, and capping curves.  Using these methodologies, the SLR QP examined the selected capping values for the mineralized domains for the Project.

Examples of the capping analysis are shown in Figure 14-2 and Figure 14-3 as applied to the data set for the mineralized domains.  Very high grade uranium outliers were capped at 15% U3O8 within the M_01 and J_1_01 domains, resulting in a total of 16 capped assay values.  Capped assay statistics by zones are summarized in Table 14-5 and compared with uncapped assay statistics.

In the SLR QP's opinion, the selected capping values are reasonable and have been correctly applied to the raw assay values for the Pinyon Plain Mineral Resource estimate.


Table 14-5: Summary Statistics of Uncapped vs. Capped Assays

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Zone

Cap

Upper

Main

Descriptive Statistics

Uncap

Cap

Uncap

Cap

Uncap

Cap

Number of Samples

99

99

733

733

3,128

3,128

Minimum (%U3O8)

0.009

0.009

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

Maximum (%U3O8)

1.040

1.040

4.585

4.585

45.121

15.000

Mean (%U3O8)

0.213

0.213

0.337

0.337

0.886

0.842

Variance

0.020

0.020

0.160

0.160

5.750

3.710

SD (%U3O8)

0.141

0.141

0.405

0.405

2.397

1.927

CV

0.660

0.660

1.200

1.200

2.710

2.290

Number of Caps

0

0

0

0

0

13

Zone

Main-Lower

Juniper-1

Juniper-2

Descriptive Statistics

Uncap

Cap

Uncap

Cap

Uncap

Cap

Number of Samples

108

108

955

955

180

180

Minimum (%U3O8)

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

Maximum (%U3O8)

1.835

1.835

22.720

15.000

1.489

1.489

Mean (%U3O8)

0.267

0.267

0.612

0.595

0.254

0.254

Variance

0.090

0.090

2.580

2.000

0.030

0.030

SD (%U3O8)

0.305

0.305

1.606

1.414

0.159

0.159

CV

1.140

1.140

2.630

2.380

0.630

0.630

Number of Caps

0

0

0

3

0

0



Figure 14-2: Histogram of U3O8 Resource Assay in M_01 and J_1_01 Domains

Figure 14-3: Log Normal Probability Plot with Capping Grades


14.5.2 High Grade Restriction

In addition to capping thresholds, a secondary approach to reducing the influence of high grade composites is to restrict the search ellipse dimension (high yield restriction) during the estimation process.  The threshold grade levels, chosen from the basic statistics and from visual inspection of the apparent continuity of very high grades within each estimation domain, may indicate the need to further limit their influence by restricting the range of their influence, which is generally set to approximately half the distance of the main search.

Upon review of the capped assays, the SLR QP agrees with EFR's approach that no high grade restrictions are required for a Mineral Resource estimation.

14.6 Compositing

Composites were created from the capped, raw assay values using the downhole compositing function of Maptek's Vulcan modeling software package.  The composite lengths used during interpolation were chosen considering the predominant sampling length, the minimum mining width, style of mineralization, and continuity of grade.  The majority of assay intervals within the mineralized domains varied in length from 0.5 ft (probe data) to 10 ft (assay data), as presented in Figure 14-4, with a few samples outside this range.  Most assay samples were four feet, and the drill hole samples were composited to four feet, starting at the wireframe pierce point for each domain, continuing to the point at which the hole exited the domain.  A small number of unsampled and missing sample intervals were ignored.  Residual composites were maintained in the dataset.  The composite statistics by zone are summarized in Table 14-6.

Table 14-6: Summary of Uranium Composite Data by Zone

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Zone

Count

Minimum
(%U
3O8)

Maximum
(%U
3O8)

Mean
(%U
3O8)

Variance

SD
(%U
3O8)

CV

CAP

16

0.076

0.689

0.220

0.022

0.148

0.670

UPPER

101

0.055

1.683

0.335

0.069

0.263

0.786

MAIN

1015

0.000

15.000

0.847

2.589

1.609

1.900

MAIN_LOWER

41

0.000

1.152

0.251

0.064

0.253

1.006

JUNIPER-1

186

0.000

14.130

0.691

2.402

1.550

2.244

JUNIPER-2

25

0.119

0.619

0.252

0.010

0.102

0.405

ALL ZONES

1384

0.000

15.000

0.753

2.262

1.504

1.997



Figure 14-4: Length Histogram

14.7 Trend Analysis

14.7.1 Variography

EFR generated downhole and directional variograms using the four-foot U3O8 composite values located within the M_01 and J_1_01 mineralized domains (Figure 14-5) for uranium.  The variograms were used to support search ellipsoid anisotropy, linear trends observed in the data, and Mineral Resource classification decisions.

Long range directional variograms were focused in the primary plane of mineralization, which commonly strikes northeast and dips steeply to the southeast.  Most ranges were interpreted to be from 40 ft to 60 ft.


Figure 14-5: U3O8 Variogram Models


14.8 Search Strategy and Grade Interpolation Parameters

The steps in calculating the U3O8 grade are presented in Table 14-7, including a description of each step and the variable parameters.  Section 14.11 describes how the cut-off grade was determined in this report.

Table 14-7: Estimation Steps of Block Model Variables

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Step

Description

Variable Name

Steps 1 and 2 estimate U3O8 grade within individual wireframes

1

Build Uranium Estimation File

1st Pass Estimation: canu_est_pass_1_final.bef

 

 

2nd Pass Estimation: canu_est_pass_2_final.bef

 

 

3rd Pass Estimation: canu_est_pass_3_final.bef

2

Run Uranium Estimation File:
Calculates U3O8_ok (2 triangulations) and U3O8_idw (38 triangulations) variables

All Uranium: July_2017_43101_Est_Run_File_U_Only.ber

Steps 3 and 4 calculate U3O8_final (combines U3O8_ok and U3O8_idw estimations)

3

Block->Manipulation->Calculate

 

 

Variable Name:

U3O8_final

 

Calculation =

U3O8_ok

OK

 

 

Select Blocks by bounding triangulation:

ore.tri/U3O8.tri/ok.00t to calc U3O8_final from U3O8_ok

 

Select Block centers

 

4

Block->Manipulation->Calculate

 

 

Variable Name:

U3O8_final

 

Calculation =

U3O8_idw

OK

 

 

Select Blocks by bounding triangulation:

ore.tri/U3O8.tri/idw.00t to calc U3O8_final from U3O8_idw

 

Select Block centers

 

Estimation of uranium grades was controlled by the grade zones.  In the larger domain wireframes, search ellipsoid geometry of the major, semi-major, and minor axis was oriented into the structural plane of the mineralization, as indicated by the variography ranges for each domain.  Within the small domain wireframes, the search ellipse was isotropic.  The interpolation strategy involved setting up search parameters in three nested estimation runs for each domain.  Each subsequent pass was doubled in size.  A maximum of three passes was employed to interpolate all blocks.

First, second, and third pass search ellipses maintained normalized anisotropic ratios.  Grade interpolation was carried out using OK on mineralized domains M_01 and J_1_01 with ID2 on all remaining mineralized domains.  Depending on the pass and domain wireframe, a minimum of one to eight to a maximum of 1 to 16 composites per block estimate were employed, with a maximum of two to six composites per drill hole.  Hard boundaries were used to limit the restrict composites to within the domain wireframe in which they were located.  A nearest neighbor (NN) block model was also prepared for comparison purposes.  Search parameters are listed in Table 14-8 for the Project.


In order to reduce the influence of very high grade composites, grades greater than a designated threshold level for each domain were restricted to shorter search ellipse dimensions.  The threshold grade level of 7% eU3O8 was chosen from the basic statistics and from visual inspection of the apparent continuity of very high grades within each domain, which indicated the need to limit their influence to 32 ft by 22 ft by 4 ft or 40 ft by 21.6 ft by 16 ft, domain dependant.

Table 14-8: Uranium Interpolation Plan

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Domain

Wireframe1

Interp. Type

Bearing/Plunge

First Pass Dimensions
(ft)

CAP

c_01

ID2

335°/-1°

64 x 44 x 8

CAP

c_03

ID2

345°/1°

64 x 44 x 8

UPPER

u_04

ID2

84°/-33°

64 x 44 x 8

UPPER

u_08

ID2

44.5°/-10°

64 x 44 x 8

UPPER

u_09

ID2

44.5°/-4°

64 x 44 x 8

UPPER

u_10

ID2

150°/-28°

64 x 44 x 8

UPPER

u_12

ID2

177°/2°

64 x 44 x 8

MAIN

m_01

OK

315°/-70°

64 x 44 x 8

MAIN-LOWER

ml_01

ID2

345°/0°

64 x 44 x 8

MAIN-LOWER

ml_02

ID2

356.5°/12°

64 x 44 x 8

MAIN-LOWER

ml_05

ID2

245.5°/-5°

64 x 44 x 8

MAIN-LOWER

ml_06

ID2

287.5°/4°

64 x 44 x 8

MAIN-LOWER

ml_08

ID2

62.5°/-33°

64 x 44 x 8

JUNIPER I

j_1_01

OK

350°/10°

80 x 43.2 x 32

JUNIPER I

j_1_02

ID2

298°/-3°

64 x 44 x 8

JUNIPER II

j_2_01

ID2

284.5°/0°

64 x 44 x 8

Notes:

1. Wireframes not included in this table were interpolated using an omnidirectional search ellipse, the first pass of which was 20 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft.

14.9 Bulk Density

Bulk density was determined by EFR with specific gravity (SG) measurements on drill core by measuring a minimum four-inch piece of core in all directions with calipers to determine a volume.  The sample is then weighed to get a mass and the density calculated.  This method was used to determine the density of 2,857 samples.  The density is modeled using inverse distance weighting squared and an average value across the deposit of 0.082 t/ft3 was calculated.


This method of density determination was validated using the water immersion method according to the Archimedes principle, after the core has been sealed in wax.  SG is calculated as weight in air (weight in air - weight in water).  Under normal atmospheric conditions, SG (a unitless ratio) is equivalent to density in t/m3.  The validation utilized 37 bulk density measurements that were collected on six-inch drill core samples from the main mineralized zones to represent local major lithologic units, mineralization styles and alteration types.  Samples were collected on full core, which had been retained in the core box prior to splitting for sampling.  EFR determined the difference between the caliper method and water immersion method is about 1% in favor of the caliper method.

A global density of 0.082 t/ft3 was assigned to the block model.

14.10 Block Models

All modeling work was carried out using Maptek's Vulcan software version 10.0 software.  The Pinyon Plain block model has 4 ft by 4 ft by 4 ft whole blocks and an origin at 646,630 ft East, 1,776,530 ft North, 4,450 ft elevation.  The block model is not rotated, and extends 360 ft east-west, 320 ft north-south and 1,460 ft elevation.  Before grade estimation, all model blocks were assigned density and mineralized domain codes (copper and uranium), based on majority rules.  A summary of the block model variables is provided in Table 14-9.

Table 14-9: Summary of Block Model Variables

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Variable

Type

Default

Description

U3O8_ok

Double

-99

U3O8 estimation using ordinary kriging

U3O8_idw

Double

-99

U3O8 estimation using inverse distance

U3O8_nn

Double

-99

U3O8 estimation using nearest neighbor

ok_u_est_flag

Integer

0

Ordinary Kriging Estimation Flag

ok_u_samp_flag

Integer

0

No. of samples used in ordinary kriging

ok_u_holes_flag

Integer

0

No. of holes used in ordinary kriging

idw_u_est_flag

Integer

0

Inverse Distance Estimation Flag

idw_u_samp_flag

Integer

0

No. of samples used in inverse distance

idw_u_holes_flag

Integer

0

No. of samples used in inverse distance

nn_u_nearest_samp

Double

0

Distance to nearest neighbor

class

Integer

0

Block Classification

dens

Double

0.082

Density of Block (Default is 12.2 cu ft/ton - 0.082)

bound

Name

out

Mineralized Boundary Zone (C, U, M, ML, J_1, J_2)

U3O8_final

Double

-99

Final U3O8 idw or ok block grade

u_tri_flag

Integer

0

block in U shape (in =1, out=0)



14.11 Cut-off Grade

Two cut-off grades were used for the resource estimate.  For the uranium and copper bearing zones, a 0.40% uranium equivalent (% U3O8 Eq) cut-off grade was used.  For the uranium-only zones, a 0.30% eU3O8 cut-off grade was used.  The two cut-off grades account for separate process campaigns with different unit costs.

Assumptions used in the determination of the Pinyon Plain uranium resource cut-off grade of 0.30% eU3O8 and the uranium and copper resource cut-off grade of 0.40% U3O8 Eq are presented in Table 14-10.

 Uranium price of US$65.00/lb and copper price of US$4.00/lb.  The prices are based on independent, third-party, and market analysts' average forecasts as of 2022, and the supply and demand projections are for the period 2023 to 2035.  In the SLR QP's opinion, these long-term price forecasts are a reasonable basis for estimation of Mineral Resources.

Table 14-10: Pinyon Plain Project Cut-off Grade Calculation for Mineral Resources

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Item

Unit

Quantity

Metal Price Uranium

US$/lb U3O8

65.00

Metal Price Copper

US$/lb Cu

4.00

Process Plant Recovery Uranium

%

96

Process Plant Recovery Copper

%

90

Mining Cost

US$/ton processed

101.00

Surface Haulage Cost

US$/ton processed

72.00

Processing Cost (Uranium + Copper)

US$/ton processed

291.00

Processing Cost (Uranium)

US$/ton processed

192.00

G&A Cost

US$/ton processed

7.00

Total Operating Cost (Uranium + Copper)

US$/ton processed

471.00

Total Operating Cost

US$/ton processed

372.00

Royalty Cost

US$/ton processed

1.88

lb/ton

 

2,000

Break-Even Cut-off Grade (Uranium +Copper (% U3O8 Eq)

%

0.40

Break-Even Cut-off Grade (Uranium % eU3O8)

%

0.30

The SLR QP reviewed the operating costs and cut-off grade reported by EFR and is of the opinion they are reasonable for disclosing Mineral Resources.


14.12 Classification

Classification of Mineral Resources as defined in SEC Regulation S-K subpart 229.1300 were followed for classification of Mineral Resources.  The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (CIM 2014) are consistent with these definitions.

A Mineral Resource is defined as a concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction.  A mineral resource is a reasonable estimate of mineralization, considering relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location, or continuity, that with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in whole or in part, become economically extractable.  It is not merely an inventory of all mineralization drilled or sampled. 

Based on this definition of Mineral Resources, the Mineral Resources estimated in this Technical Report have been classified according to the definitions below based on geology, grade continuity, and drill hole spacing.

Measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling.  The level of geological certainty associated with a measured mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors, as defined in this section, in sufficient detail to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.  Because a measured mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than the level of confidence of either an indicated mineral resource or an inferred mineral resource, a measured mineral resource may be converted to a proven mineral reserve or to a probable mineral reserve.

Indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling.  The level of geological certainty associated with an indicated mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.  Because an indicated mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource, an indicated mineral resource may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve.

Inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling.  The level of geological uncertainty associated with an inferred mineral resource is too high to apply relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability.  Because an inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability, an inferred mineral resource may not be considered when assessing the economic viability of a mining project and may not be converted to a mineral reserve.

The SLR QP has considered the following factors that can affect the uncertainty associated with each class of Mineral Resources:


Confidence in interpretation and modeling of geological and estimation domains:

Confidence in block grade estimates:

Blocks were classified as Indicated or Inferred based on drill hole spacing, confidence in the geological interpretation, and apparent continuity of mineralization. 

14.12.1 Measured Mineral Resources

Classification of Measured Resources was limited to blocks contained in the Main Zone, directly adjacent to underground drilling station 1-4, where 67 drill holes were collared in a fan pattern on general drill hole spacing of 15 feet.  A cross section of block classification in the Main Zone is shown in Figure 14-6.  All Measured and Indicated Resources in the Main Zone have been converted to Reserves and are excluded from the current Mineral Resource estimate.

14.12.2 Indicated Mineral Resources

The remainder of the blocks within the Main Zone, as well as the blocks in primary wireframe within Juniper I, j_1_01, were assigned a classification of Indicated, in which drill hole pierce point spacing is generally less than 25 feet from underground drilling station 1-4.

14.12.3 Inferred Mineral Resources

All remaining blocks in the model were limited to an Inferred classification.

In the SLR QP's opinion the classification of Mineral Resources is reasonable and appropriate for disclosure.


Figure 14-6: Block Classification within the Main Zone


14.13 Block Model Validation

The SLR QP reviewed and validated the block model using various modeling and interpolation aspects of the Pinyon Plain model.  Observations and comments from the model validation are provided below.

Mineralization wireframes were checked for conformity to drill hole data, continuity, similarity between sections, overlaps, appropriate terminations between holes and into undrilled areas, and minimum mining thicknesses.  The wireframes were snapped to drill hole intervals, are reasonably consistent, continuous, and generally representative of the extents and limits of the mineralization.  The SLR QP recommends that EFR continue to work to smooth the connection of the uranium wireframes between sections in future updates.

Capping statistics were reviewed and audited for a series of individual zones and compared to the statistics of capping groups defined by EFR.  The SLR QP is satisfied with the chosen caps.

Compositing routines were checked to confirm that composites started and stopped at the intersections with the wireframes and that the composite coding is consistent with the wireframes.  The SLR QP is satisfied with the compositing routines and finds the composites appropriate for Mineral Resource estimation.

Contact plots were prepared for selected mineralization domains and confirmed the appropriateness of hard boundaries between the domains during estimation.

Visual inspection and comparison of drill hole composites against mineralized solids were carried out for a number of sections with focus on the Main and Juniper I domains for both copper and uranium.  The mineralized solids were found to conform reasonably well to the drill hole composite grades, although some evidence of smoothing was present.  A cross section and plan section comparing uranium composite and uranium block grades are presented in Figure 14-7 and Figure 14-8.


Figure 14-7: Cross Section Comparing Block and Composite U3O8 Grades in the Main Zone


 

Figure 14-8: Plan View Comparing Block and Composite U3O8 Grades in the Main Zone


 The SLR QP reviewed the variogram models for selected mineralization groups and prepared variogram models representing selected individual mineralization domains for comparison, then validated the trend of the variogram against observed trends and grade shells created in Leapfrog Geo software.  The SLR QP recommends exploring the use of dynamic anisotropy for the interpolation of mineralization within the Main Zone in future updates, where mineralization follows the contact of the breccia pipe with the country rock.

The SLR QP validated the grades estimated in the block models prepared by EFR using basic statistics, visual inspection, volumetric comparison, swath plots, and a re-estimation of a portion of the Main Zone using the ID2 method.  The grades of re-estimated areas were found to be within 10%.

A statistical comparison of the estimated block grades with the four-foot composites is shown in Table 14-11.  The block results compare well with the composites, indicating a reasonable overall representation of the uranium grades in the block model.

Table 14-11: Comparison of Block and Composite Uranium Grades

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Domain

Type

Count

Min

Max

Mean

Variance

SD

CV

CAP

Blocks

685

0.076

0.361

0.196

0.000

0.060

0.300

CAP

Comps

16

0.076

0.689

0.220

0.022

0.148

0.670

UPPER

Blocks

3,017

0.117

1.338

0.336

0.030

0.165

0.490

UPPER

Comps

101

0.055

1.683

0.335

0.069

0.263

0.786

MAIN

Blocks

19,339

0.069

10.887

0.872

0.910

0.953

1.090

MAIN

Comps

1015

0.000

15.000

0.847

2.589

1.609

1.900

MAIN_LOWER

Blocks

1,397

0.016

0.884

0.233

0.030

0.170

0.730

MAIN_LOWER

Comps

41

0.000

1.152

0.251

0.064

0.253

1.006

JUNIPER-1

Blocks

10,516

0.034

11.831

0.724

1.110

1.054

1.460

JUNIPER-1

Comps

186

0.000

14.130

0.691

2.402

1.550

2.244

JUNIPER-2

Blocks

833

0.124

0.614

0.259

0.010

0.086

0.330

JUNIPER-2

Comps

25

0.119

0.619

0.252

0.010

0.102

0.405

14.14 Grade Tonnage Sensitivity

Table 14-12 shows the Indicated block model sensitivity to cut-off grade and uranium prices as represented in the grade tonnage curve shown in Figure 14-9.

Table 14-13 shows the Inferred block model sensitivity to cut-off grade and uranium prices as represented in the grade tonnage curve shown in  Figure 14-10 .


Table 14-12: Block Model Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade and Uranium Price in the Main-Lower and Juniper Zones (Indicated)

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Price
($/lb U3O8)

Cut-Off Grade
(%U3O8)1

Tonnage
(ton)

Grade
(% U3O8)

Contained Metal
(lb U3O8)

$80

0.24

43,000

0.86

734,000

$75

0.25

42,000

0.87

730,000

$70

0.27

40,000

0.90

721,000

$65

0.30

37,000

0.95

703,000

$60

0.32

35,000

0.98

693,000

$55

0.35

33,000

1.03

678,000

$50

0.38

31,000

1.07

662,000

$45

0.42

28,000

1.14

641,000

$40

0.48

24,000

1.25

605,000

$35

0.54

21,000

1.35

575,000

$30

0.63

18,000

1.49

538,000

$25

0.76

15,000

1.68

491,000

Notes:

1. U3O8 Recovery and operating costs held constant for sensitivity analysis.

2. Base Case Scenario

Figure 14-9: Indicated Grade Tonnage Curve Main-Lower and Juniper Zones


Table 14-13: Block Model Sensitivity to Cut-off Grade and Uranium Price in the Main-Lower and Juniper Zones (Inferred)

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Price
($/lb U3O8)

Cut-Off Grade
(%U3O8)1

Tonnage
(ton)

Grade
(% U3O8)

Contained Metal
(lb U3O8)

$80

0.24

8,000

0.41

63,000

$75

0.25

7,000

0.43

60,000

$70

0.27

6,000

0.45

55,000

$65

0.30

5,000

0.50

48,000

$60

0.32

4,000

0.54

43,000

$55

0.35

3,200

0.58

38,000

$50

0.38

2,900

0.61

35,000

$45

0.42

2,300

0.66

31,000

$40

0.48

1,600

0.76

24,000

$35

0.54

1,200

0.85

20,000

$30

0.63

900

0.94

17,000

$25

0.76

800

0.97

15,000

Notes:

1. U3O8 Recovery and operating costs held constant for sensitivity analysis.

2. Base Case Scenario

Figure 14-10: Inferred Grade Tonnage Curve Main-Lower and Juniper Zones


14.15 Mineral Resource Reporting

A summary of the Pinyon Plain uranium Mineral Resources is presented in Table 14-14.  Mineral Resources are based on a $65/lb uranium price at an equivalent uranium cut-off grade 0.30% eU3O88.  In the SLR QP's opinion, the assumptions, parameters, and methodology used for the Pinyon Plain Mineral Resource estimate is appropriate for the style of mineralization and mining methods.  The effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate is December 31, 2022.

The SLR QP is of the opinion that with consideration of the recommendations summarized in Section 1 and Section 26, any issues relating to all relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction can be resolved with further work.  There are no other known environmental, permitting, legal, social, or other factors that would affect the development of the Mineral Resources.

While the estimate of Mineral Resources is based on the SLR QP's judgment that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction, no assurance can be given that Mineral Resources will eventually convert to Mineral Reserves.

Table 14-14: Summary of Attributable Uranium Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Zone

Cut-Off Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained Metal

Metallurgical Recovery U3O8

(% eU3O8 )

(tons)

(% eU3O8)

(lb U3O8)

(%)

Indicated

Juniper I

0.3

37,000

0.95

703,000

96

Total Indicated

 

 

37,000

0.95

703,000

96

Inferred

Main-Lower

0.3

2,000

0.48

16,000

96

Juniper I

0.3

2,000

0.58

24,000

96

Juniper II

0.3

1,000

0.36

8,000

96

Total Inferred

 

 

5,000

0.50

48,000

96

Notes:

1. SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Mineral Resources are estimated at 0.30% eU3O8 with estimated metallurgical recovery of 96% for uranium.

3. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of US$65 per pound.

4. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources.

5. Bulk density is 0.082 ton/ft3 (12.2 ft3/ton or 2.63 t/m3).

6. Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

7. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

8. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR.

Table 14-15 lists the current estimated copper mineralization associated with the Main and Main-Lower zones at Pinyon Plain.  Further study is required to determine if the copper associated with uranium mineralization in the zones may eventually be processed and add value to the project.


Table 14-15: Summary of Attributable Copper Mineral Resources - Effective Date December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Zone

Cut-Off
Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained
Metal

Metallurgical
Recovery Cu

(% U3O8 Eq)

(tons)

(% Cu)

(lb Cu)

(%)

Measured

Main

0.4

6,000

9.6

1,155,000

90

Indicated

Main

0.4

90,000

5.9

10,553,000

90

Total Measured + Indicated

 

 

96,000

6.1

11,708,000

90

Inferred

Main-Lower

0.4

4,000

6.5

470,000

90

Notes:

1. SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Resource categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. For the Main and Main-Lower zones of the Pinyon Plain Project, a 0.40% uranium equivalent cut-off grade (% U3O8 Eq) was applied to account for both the copper and uranium mineralization. The %U3O8 Eq grade term is not the same as the eU3O8 % grade term which indicates probe rather than assay data listed elsewhere in this report. For details, seethe Pinyon Plain Project below.

3. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term uranium price of $65 per pound and a copper price of $4.00 per lb.

4. A copper to U3O8 conversion factor of 18.19 was used for converting copper grades to equivalent U3O8 grades (U3O8 Eq) for cut-off grade evaluation and reporting.

5. For the Pinyon Plain Project, Mineral Resource tonnages of uranium and copper cannot be added as they overlap in the Main and Main-Lower zones.

6. No minimum mining width was used in determining Mineral Resources.

7. Bulk density is 0.082 ton/ft3 (12.2 ft3/ton or 2.63 t/m3).

8. Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

10. Mineral Resources are 100% attributable to EFR.


15.0 MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE

15.1 Summary

The Mineral Reserve estimate for Pinyon Plain, summarized in Table 15-1, is based on the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources as of December 31, 2022, a detailed mine design, and modifying factors such as a feasible mining method, external dilution, and mining extraction factors.  Mineral Resource to Mineral Reserve conversion was 100% within the Main Zone, with the remaining zones (Main-Lower and Juniper) not considered for inclusion as Mineral Reserves.  No Inferred Mineral Resources were converted to Mineral Reserves.

Based on the similarity of the Pinyon Plain deposit to other past producing breccia pipe deposits in northern Arizona, the proposed mining methods at Pinyon Plain will include a combination of longhole stoping, shrinkage stoping, and drifting.  Development rock will be temporarily stored on surface and then used at the end of mining to fill voids created by mining.  Metallurgical test results provided by White Mesa Mill laboratory personnel indicated that metallurgical recoveries using optimum roasting and leach conditions will be approximately 96% for uranium. 

The underground mine design completed by EFR was based on grade envelopes of assays at a nominal grade of 0.15% U3O8 using underground mining methods and processing via a toll milling agreement. 

Current economic conditions, mine design, and cash flow analysis do not account for processing of copper mineralization and thus copper is excluded from the Mineral Reserve estimate. 

Table 15-1: Summary of Mineral Reserve Estimate - December 31, 2022

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Classification

Cut-Off Grade

Tonnage

Grade

Contained
Metal

Metallurgical Recovery
U
3O8

(% U3O8 )

(tons)

(% U3O8)

(lb U3O8)

(%)

Main Zone

Proven

0.32

7,800

0.33

50,800

96

Probable

0.32

126,700

0.60

1,517,000

96

Total Proven + Probable

 

134,500

0.58

1,567,800

96

Notes:

1.  SEC S-K-1300 definitions were followed for all Mineral Reserve categories.  These definitions are also consistent with CIM (2014) definitions in NI 43-101.

2. Mineral Reserves are estimated using a long-term uranium price of US$60.00/lb.

3. Underground Mineral Reserves were estimated by creating stope shapes using a grade envelope of 0.15% U3O8, with a minimum mining width of 5 ft (including hanging wall and footwall dilution), on 10 ft vertical stope heights.

4. The breakeven cut-off grade is 0.32% U3O8.

5. A mining extraction factor of 95% was applied to the underground stopes, while underground development assumed a 100% mining extraction factor.

6. Mining Reserves are in situ.

7. The density varies according to the block model.

8. Numbers may not add due to rounding.


The SLR QP is not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate.

15.2 Dilution

Dilution for the Mineral Reserve estimate was estimated as the material outside of the Mineral Resource limits but included within the stope designs in the application of the 0.15% U3O8 grade contour.  The Mineral Reserves include 34,600 tons (35%) of dilution which has been included at zero grade.

The QP is of the opinion that the dilution estimate is appropriate considering:

15.3 Extraction

Extraction of the planned stopes is 95%.  Long hole stope ore will be drilled from successive levels sequenced upward and blasted, dropping to the lowest mine level (the 5130 level), where it will be mucked and transported to the shaft loading pocket..  The potential for ore loss is reduced as the losses would only occur in the final stages of mucking and efforts to maximize extraction will reduce losses.

15.4 Cut-off Grade

The SEC defines cut off grade as "the grade that distinguishes material deemed to have no economic value (it will not be mined in underground mining or if mined in surface mining, its destination will be the waste dump) from material deemed to have economic value (its ultimate destination during mining will be a processing facility)".  The calculated cut off grade for Pinyon Plain Mineral Reserves was based on modifying factors including metal prices, metallurgical recoveries, operating costs, and other operational constraints.  Mine operating costs were based on historical operating costs for similar underground operations on the Arizona Strip operated by Energy Fuels and comparisons to underground mining cost models while mill operating costs and process recovery were based on current data. 

Metal prices used for Mineral Reserves are based on industry institutions and other sources.  For Mineral Resources, metal prices used are slightly higher than those for reserves.  Metal pricing and the royalty cost are discussed in Sections 19.1 and 4.4 of this report, respectively.

The uranium cut off grade applied to the Mineral Reserves is 0.32% U3O8 for the Main Zone.  Table 15-2 lists the assumptions used in determining the uranium cut off grade.

Table 15-2: Cut Off Grade Calculation for Mineral Reserves

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Item

Unit

Quantity

Metal Price

US$/lb U3O8

$60.00

Process Plant Recovery

%

96.0%

Mining Cost

US$/ton ore

$101.00

Surface Haulage Cost

US$/ton ore

$72.00




Item

Unit

Quantity

Processing

US$/ton ore

$192.00

G&A Cost

 

$7.00

Total Operating Cost

US$/ton ore

$372.00

Royalty Cost

US$/ton ore

$1.88

Break-Even Cut-off grade

% U3O8

0.32%

15.5 Classification

Measured Mineral Resources were converted to Proven Mineral Reserves and Indicated Mineral Resources were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves.  No Inferred Mineral Resources were converted to Mineral Reserves.

15.6 Reconciliation

Reconciliation cannot be performed on the Mineral Reserve estimate as there has been no ore production at the Project.

SLR recommends that EFR develop grade control and production reconciliation procedures to permit an ongoing evaluation of the Mineral Reserve estimation parameters (dilution and extraction) and to maximize the value of the production from the mine.


16.0 MINING METHODS

The mine is an underground, vertical shaft access mine which is planned to be mined using small scale mechanized rubber tired equipment.  Energy Fuels and its predecessors have mined numerous uranium bearing breccia pipes by underground methods dating back to the 1980s.  Because mineralization can be found in fractures which range from a single fracture to intersections of many, forming large zones, several mining methods will be employed based on the size and geometry of the mineralization.

Ore will be mined by a combination of longhole stoping and shrinkage mining to suit the irregular nature of the deposit.  Ore will be hoisted to surface, stored in a surface ore stockpile, and then transported by highway trucks to a processing facility.  The shaft is 1,470 ft deep with mine production planned over a 150 ft vertical interval, from 1,223 ft below surface (approximately the 1-4 level of the shaft) to 1,376 ft below surface (approximately the 1-5 level of the shaft).  A spiral ramp will be driven up from the 1-5 level to connect the planned sublevels and to connect to the shaft at the 1-4 level.

Mineral Reserves are located on the outer side of a roughly cylindrical shape with a diameter of 300 ft and a barren center with a diameter of approximately 50 ft.  Mining sublevels are spaced at irregular intervals of 20 ft to 35 ft.  An eight foot diameter return air raise, also functioning as an emergency escapeway, will be developed in the barren center of the deposit to a depth of 1,400 ft below surface. 

16.1 Mine Design

The mine is currently accessed via a production shaft.  The shaft is 1,470 ft deep with the 1-4 shaft station at approximately 5,283 ft ASL and the 1-5 station at 5,130 ft ASL.  The shaft is equipped with a double drum hoist and is used for personnel and materials.

The stope design at Pinyon Plain was completed using Maptek's Vulcan mine software (Vulcan) and based on a block model also completed in the software.  A grade shell from the block model at a 0.15% U3O8 grade guided the mine design process, which is less than the breakeven cut off grade of 0.32% for the Project. This accounted for planned dilution due to blasting overbreak around a given stope shape.  In some cases, because of the narrow nature of the mineralized fractures, internal dilution was also included in the stope designs. 

Drifts in ore and waste were designed to a minimum size of 10 ft x 10 ft, which also accounts for blasting overbreak.  Ore production will be realized from these drifts and supplemented by breasting the back, ribs, and in some cases, floor pulls.  However, longhole stoping will contribute the majority of ore tons  in the mine plan, accounting for 71% of contained U3O8.  Longhole stopes vary in dimension from 10 ft to 55 ft wide and 20 ft to 35 ft in height.

Access to the orebody is through a 10 ft by 10 ft spiral ramp located on the south side of the breccia pipe.  The ramp connects the shaft stations of the 1-4 and 1-5 levels and is driven at a 15% gradient.  Flat cross cuts from the spiral ramp are developed at five mining levels referenced by their sill elevation above sea level: the 5130, 5175, 5215, 5255, and 5283 levels.  The mining levels are spaced apart 30 ft to 35 ft vertically.  From these mining levels, a circular drift is developed around the inside perimeter of the breccia pipe, alternating though ore and waste.  Once drifts in ore are widened to the extent of mineralization, longhole drilling can begin.  Ring drilling will be sequenced in a clockwise and counter clockwise direction, retreating back to the mine level entrance to develop two stope faces and facilitate optimal mine production.  Longhole drilling will begin at the 5175 level and sequence upward.  The bottom of the mine (the 5130 mining level) is the sole mucking level during the mine life.


An eight foot diameter exhaust ventilation raise is designed in the center of the breccia pipe.  Depending on which mining levels are active at any one time, drifts will intersect the ventilation raise to exhaust air.  A series of air doors or regulators will control the volume of air required for mining or block air flow once mining is completed on a given level.

Figure 16-1 shows the overall mine design and naming convention at Pinyon Plain.


Notes: View looking northwest.

Figure 16-1: Pinyon Plain Overall Mine Design and Naming Conventions


16.2 Mining Method

Energy Fuels and its predecessors have mined numerous uranium bearing breccia pipes by underground methods dating back to the 1980s.  Because mineralization can be found in fractures which range from single high grade structures to intersections of many forming large zones, several mining methods will be employed based on the size and geometry of the mineralization.

The majority and largest ore zones at Pinyon Plain will be mined by longhole stoping using a ring drill due to this mining method's low cost and high productivity per employee-shift.  Narrower mineralized zones will be mined as a single drift using handheld jackleg drills with breasting of the roof and ribs to the ore's extents.  In some cases, the sill will be blasted and mucked out (termed a "floor pull").  All broken material will be hauled by diesel powered, low profile load-haul-dump loaders (LHDs) to a muck raise located on the mining level and dropped to the lowest mining level (the 5130 level) or the muck raise located off the spiral ramp.  From either location, an LHD will rehandle the muck and tram it to the dump pocket located at the 1-5 shaft station.  The ore control system at the mine will ensure ore and waste are not commingled.

Due to the circular nature of the breccia pipe in plan view, each level will be developed in a circular fashion from the mine access drift to the level and be connected.  Longhole stoping will be initiated from the farthest point away from the access drift and sequenced in both a clockwise and counter clockwise fashion to facilitate broken rock to the mucking level (the 5130 level).

The current planned production rate, assuming day shift only, is 250 stpd ore, based on past production metrics at similar uranium breccia pipes and the Pinyon Plain hoisting capabilities.  Hoisting at Pinyon Plain can achieve 400 stpd, assuming work on day shift only, which allows for skipping a significant amount of waste development during the mine life of mine (LOM).  An opportunity exists to skip ore on night shift with a limited crew with day shift using muck bays and the 5130 level to store a sufficient broken ore inventory.

Longhole stoping, also known as blasthole or sublevel stoping, is an open stoping, high-production, bulk mining method applicable to large, steeply dipping, regular ore bodies having competent ore and host rock that requires little or no support.  Typical production ranges from 15 tons to 40 tons per employee-shift, and individual stopes may produce in excess of 25,000 tons/month. 

Sublevel stoping is very development intensive, although the cost of development is compensated by the fact that much of it is done in ore.  It is limited to steeply inclined ore bodies where both ore and country rock are competent and broken ore flows under the influence of gravity.  Ore bodies should be regular, because the method is not selective.

Production drilling is accomplished using longhole equipment utilizing large-diameter down-the-hole (DTH) drills because of their directional accuracy.  Efficient use of large-scale blasting makes sublevel stoping one of the lowest-cost underground mining methods available.

Mining will start from the lowest mining level (the 5130 level) and progress upward through the four additional mining levels.  Each one of these levels will have developed a circular, connected drift which will produce ore from drifting and subsequently breasting of backs and ribs.  Longhole drilling will then begin, first on the 5175 level and blasted ore will drop to the mucking level (the 5130 level).  Once the ore has been extracted from this level, sufficient mine development will have been completed to continue drifting in ore, breasting, and ring drilling from the next level (the 5215 level), and so on until the Reserve has been completed exploited.  Once mining is completed, all development rock stored on surface will be placed back underground through the ventilation raise as part of the Project's reclamation plan, as agreed to with State regulators. 


16.3 Geotechnical

In 1987, the geotechnical consulting firm of Dames and Moore completed an evaluation of mine stability and subsidence potential at the Project.

The scope of work was based on a review of geologic and geotechnical data from similar breccia pipe uranium mines on the Arizona Strip (the Orphan Mine, the Hack 2 Mine, Kanab North, and the Pigeon Mine), including the stability of existing underground stopes.

Numerical modelling of stopes was analyzed at depths of 800 ft, 1,200 ft, and 1,600 ft below surface with a surrounding rock strength of 3,000 psi.  Stope dimensions at these mines varied from 60 ft high by 30 ft wide (Orphan Mine) to 350 ft high by 200 ft wide (Hack 2 Mine).  Ground support was limited to rock bolts in the stope backs and no backfill.

The report concluded that stopes up to 350 ft high at a depth of 1,200 ft would not develop significant stability problems as long as prudent ground supports were employed, which EFR plans on installing during mining.  In addition, the paper predicted mined out stopes would fill with rubblized rock as a result of subsidence reaching surface in several hundred years; the surface expression would be less than two feet over a broad area and would be difficult to observe in the field.  Since the geotechnical report was produced, EFR has decided to fill stopes with waste rock, which will significantly reduce any post-mining surface expression from to-ground subsidence.

SLR recommends that EFR develop a program for monitoring the geotechnical conditions in the stopes to provide an early warning of potential ground condition problems or stope wall failures.  Similarly, the geotechnical condition of the development headings should be noted and recorded to support any required changes in the ground support regimes.

16.4 Hydrological

Mine workings will be constructed within competent bedrock having low to very low permeability.  The breccia pipe and bedrock underlying the workings (the Lower Supai) are both considered nearly impermeable.

Despite the low permeability of the Coconino sandstone at the site, workings (including the mine access shaft) that penetrate saturated portions of the Coconino sandstone are expected to experience water seepage, at rates similar to those currently measured at the shaft, due to the relatively large, saturated thickness (approximately 200 ft) of the Coconino sandstone.  The transmissivity (the product of hydraulic conductivity and saturated thickness) is high enough that current seepage to the mine shaft is approximately 16 gpm.

Even where fully saturated, the Upper Supai is expected to have a hydraulic conductivity (and transmissivity) substantially lower than that of the Coconino sandstone, therefore, mine workings that penetrate the Upper Supai are expected to make very little water, as supported by the current low seepage entering the mine shaft from the Upper Supai, consistent with expectations.

Mine workings that penetrate the breccia pipe are expected to make little to no water due to the nearly impermeable nature of the breccia material. 

Regardless of the amount of water that actually seeps into the mine workings, such water will drain or be pumped to a lined sump at the base of the shaft.

In addition, during mining operations, the workings will act as sinks for any perched groundwater encountered; flow will be directed from the country rock toward the workings rather than the reverse. Furthermore, the long-term impacts of the relatively small volume of workings penetrating a very large volume of low permeability rock will have a negligible impact on the overall average hydraulic properties of the surrounding rock.


16.4.1 Mine Shaft Seepage

As discussed above, although the Mine is located within an area of the Coconino Plateau where the Coconino sandstone contains only locally perched groundwater, perched groundwater encountered within the Coconino during sinking of the mine shaft is slightly higher than but comparable to that anticipated.  Perched groundwater is currently seeping into the shaft at a rate of approximately 16 gpm.  This water is currently collected in a lined sump at the base of the shaft, however, EFR has installed water rings within the shaft at the base of the Coconino and at the base of the Kaibab to separate this water from any other water that may seep into the shaft.

The rate of seepage of water from the Coconino into the shaft, which acts as a very large diameter well, is consistent with the low estimated hydraulic conductivity for the Coconino.  The rate of seepage of water from the Kaibab into the shaft is minimal (a few gpm), which is consistent with expectation.  Any water from the Coconino and Kaibab that overflows or is not otherwise captured by or pumped out of the water rings reports to the sump at the bottom of the mine shaft.

Seepage from the Coconino has created a cone of depression within the perched groundwater that directs flow inward towards the shaft.  Effectively, the shaft acts as a well that is continuously overpumped to the extent that a seepage face is created.  As long as the shaft is in use and water is being pumped from the lined sump at the bottom of the shaft, groundwater flow will be directed inward from the Coconino into the shaft.

Potential seepage from perched water zones in other formations penetrated by the shaft (such as the Kaibab, Toroweap, and Upper Supai) is relatively small, however, groundwater flow from these formations will also be directed inward toward the shaft.

As the ventilation shaft will be installed within the breccia pipe, which is comprised of a dense, well-cemented, compact and predominantly dry rock matrix, no additional water inflows are expected during the planned ventilation raise or after installation of the vent shaft. .

16.4.2 Drifts into Breccia Pipe Orebody

Drifts extending from the shaft into the orebody are expected to remain dry unless saturated materials are penetrated.  If saturated materials are penetrated, water is expected to seep into the drifts, with the rate of seepage roughly proportional to the permeability of the saturated materials.  As discussed above, workings penetrating any materials other than saturated Coconino are expected to make little or no water.  In particular, drifts designed to access the main orebody will be completed in Hermit Shale or very low permeability Supai Formation materials and are expected to have an insignificant impact on the surrounding hydrogeology.

Because drifts will be designed to drain toward the shaft, any water seeping into the drifts will drain or be pumped to the lined sump at the base of the shaft.  In general, drifts are expected to act much like horizontal wells and to collect, rather than discharge, water from surrounding materials.


16.5 Preproduction Schedule

Mine development recommenced at the site in mid 2022 and is ongoing.  There are 1,595 ft of waste development before preproduction ore development commences.  The ventilation raise construction is scheduled for June and July 2023 and this will be followed by installation of the ventilation facilities and emergency hoist pad.

SLR recommends that the ventilation raise development contractor be selected and the work scheduled to avoid delays in the project implementation.

16.6 Life of Mine Plan

The LOM development and ore production plan is summarized in Table 16-1.  Mine development takes four months and the first development ore is hoisted and sent for processing in Month 5 of Year 0.  The LOM production plan is shown in Table 16-2.  Ore production totals 134,464 tons grading 0.58% U3O8 and containing 1.57 Mlb of uranium oxide.  The total LOM recovered uranium oxide production totals 1.5 Mlb.  Once ore production commences, mining is scheduled to be complete in 28 months.

Daily rock production averages 143 stpd of ore and 41 stpd of waste over the life of mine.  The maximum daily production from the mine is 343 tons of ore plus waste. 

This mine plan covers the Main zone only.  There are uranium Mineral Resources in the Jupiter Zone that exist below the Main Zone.


Table 16-1: Life of Mine Development and Production Plan

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

 

 

Ore Hoisted
(tons)

Waste
Hoisted

(tons)

Raise
Cuttings
Hoisted

(tons)

Total
Material
Hoisted

(tons)

Waste
Development

(ft)

Ventilation
Raise

(ft)

Total
Waste

(ft)

Year 0

Month 1

-

3,475

 

3,475

424

 

424

 

Month 2

-

414

 

414

51

 

51

 

Month 3

-

2,754

 

2,754

336

 

336

 

Month 4

-

6,426

 

6,426

784

 

784

 

Month 5

2,013

5,246

 

7,259

640

 

640

 

Month 6

3,501

4,877

1,992

10,370

595

484

1,079

 

Month 7

1,052

5,582

3,629

10,263

681

881

1,562

 

Month 8

2,138

3,852

 

5,991

470

 

470

 

Month 9

4,376

1,335

 

5,711

128

 

128

 

Month 10

8,750

-

 

8,750

-

 

-

 

Month 11

5,250

459

 

5,709

56

 

56

 

Month 12

5,250

1,377

 

6,627

168

 

168

Year 1

Month 1

5,250

344

 

5,594

42

 

42

 

Month 2

7,000

66

 

7,066

8

 

8

 

Month 3

8,750

1,887

 

10,637

230

 

230

 

Month 4

7,000

-

 

7,000

-

 

-

 

Month 5

6,164

-

 

6,164

-

 

-

 

Month 6

8,750

267

 

9,017

33

 

33

 

Month 7

5,250

-

 

5,250

-

 

-

 

Month 8

7,000

-

 

7,000

-

 

-

 

Month 9

7,000

-

 

7,000

-

 

-

 

Month 10

7,000

-

 

7,000

-

 

-

 

Month 11

5,250

-

 

5,250

-

 

-

 

Month 12

5,250

-

 

5,250

-

 

-

Year 2

Month 1

5,250

-

 

5,250

-

 

-

 

Month 2

7,000

-

 

7,000

-

 

-

 

Month 3

7,264

459

 

7,723

56

 

56

 

Month 4

2,426

157

 

2,583

19

 

19

 

Month 5

530

-

 

530

-

 

-

Total

 

134,464

38,978

5,621

179,063

4,720

1,365

6,085



Table 16-2: Life of Mine Production Plan

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

 

 

Total Mill Feed
Processed

(tons)

Head
Grade, U
3O8
(%)

Contained
U
3O8
(lb)

Average
Metallurgical
Recovery

(%)

Recovered
U
3O8
(lb)

U3O8
Sales

(lb)

Year 0

Month 5

2,013

0.37

15,051

96

14,449

14,449

 

Month 6

3,501

0.37

26,178

96

25,131

25,131

 

Month 7

1,052

0.58

12,155

96

11,669

11,669

 

Month 8

2,138

0.61

25,972

96

24,933

24,933

 

Month 9

4,376

0.61

53,203

96

51,074

51,074

 

Month 10

8,750

0.61

106,523

96

102,262

102,262

 

Month 11

5,250

0.61

63,914

96

61,357

61,357

 

Month 12

5,250

0.61

64,137

96

61,571

61,571

Year 1

Month 1

5,250

0.70

73,027

96

70,105

70,105

 

Month 2

7,000

0.69

96,548

96

92,686

92,686

 

Month 3

8,750

0.68

118,192

96

113,465

113,465

 

Month 4

7,000

0.55

76,646

96

73,581

73,581

 

Month 5

6,164

0.58

71,868

96

68,993

68,993

 

Month 6

8,750

0.57

100,271

96

96,260

96,260

 

Month 7

5,250

0.59

62,017

96

59,536

59,536

 

Month 8

7,000

0.69

96,553

96

92,691

92,691

 

Month 9

7,000

0.69

96,553

96

92,691

92,691

 

Month 10

7,000

0.64

89,339

96

85,765

85,765

 

Month 11

5,250

0.58

61,263

96

58,812

58,812

 

Month 12

5,250

0.58

61,263

96

58,812

58,812

Year 2

Month 1

5,250

0.49

51,143

96

49,098

49,098

 

Month 2

7,000

0.48

67,396

96

64,700

64,700

 

Month 3

7,264

0.46

67,480

96

64,781

64,781

 

Month 4

2,426

0.19

9,046

96

8,684

8,684

 

Month 5

530

0.19

1,975

96

1,896

1,896

Total

 

134,464

0.58

1,567,711

96

1,505,003

1,505,003



16.7 Mine Infrastructure

The Project has significant existing infrastructure and has been used for the storage of surplus materials and equipment from other similar mining projects.  The existing infrastructure at the Project includes:

16.7.1 Mine Shaft and Hoist

The mine shaft is a conventional three compartment shaft; the shaft bottom is at a depth of 1,470 ft. below the collar.  Two compartments are for hoisting and the third is for the manway, ventilation duct, and services.  A plan view of the shaft is shown in Figure 16-2. 

The shaft is equipped with steel sets on 10 ft spacing with wooden guides for conveyances.  The shaft collar is at an elevation of 6,506 ft.  The 1-3 level is approximately 1,000 ft below the collar, the 1-4 level is approximately 1,230 ft below the collar, and the lowest station is at the 1-5 level, 1,400 ft below the collar.  It is currently planned to connect the 1-4 and 1-5 stations via a spiral ramp.

The loading pocket will be installed below the 1-5 station level.  A decline to the shaft bottom is planned for shaft bottom clean up.

The shaft is serviced by a Nordberg 400 hp double drum hoist with 10 ft diameter drums grooved for 1.5 in wire rope.  The hoisting speed is 800 feet per minute (fpm).  The skips will have a capacity of 60 ft3.  The head frame is an unsheeted steel structure.


Figure 16-2: Pinyon Plan Mine Shaft Plan View

16.7.2 Mine Ventilation

EFR contracted a consultant to complete the prefeasibility level ventilation design on the Main Zone of the Pinyon Plain mine (Rawlins, 2022).  The planned production rate (250 tpd), existing shaft and drift openings, and planned future development drifts (10 ft x 10 ft) were utilized in the design.

EFR contracted a consultant to complete the prefeasibility level ventilation design on the Main Zone of the Pinyon Plain mine (Rawlins, 2022).  The existing shaft and drift openings and planned future development drifts (10 ft x 10 ft) were utilized in the design.

The ventilation design follows the production schedule and meets all industry and regulatory standards for mining uranium in the US.  Capital and operating costs are based on budgetary quotes based on specifications from the ventilation design.

The calculated air quantity was based on three factors, namely:

1. Diesel equipment fleet requirements

2. Radon exposure from exposed mineralization

3. Mine environmental conditions (heat, dust, noise, etc.).

Other aspects for the mine and ventilation design evaluation included determining acceptable and practical air velocities in intake and return airways.

The ventilation circuit at Pinyon Plain is a push-pull system with fresh air downcast from the Production Shaft and returning through the Ventilation Shaft located in the center of the orebody.  The Ventilation Shaft, also referred to as the Return Air Raise (RAR) will be used for secondary egress if needed.

The mine ventilation design determined that the air quantity needed will be 136,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) to allow for the following requirements:

 Legal aspects such as air supply for diesel equipment.

 Underground workshop air requirements.

 Radon air requirements from exposed mine workings.


 Air leakages.

 Avoiding critical velocities in the upcast shaft.

 Heat loads, including auto-compression effects.

The RAR is planned to have a diameter of eight feet.  The surface shaft bend in the RAR ducting will include a hinged hatch that can open to allow an emergency man-cage to pass through the exhaust duct system to descend to the bottom of the ventilation shaft where miners can be loaded and brought to surface in an emergency. 

The mine ventilation system was designed for both winter and summer conditions; during winter periods, where air temperatures fall below 32°F, a four million British Thermal Unit per Hour (BTUH) propane heater system will be needed to heat the ambient air to 38°F and force it down the five foot square manway compartment of the Production Shaft using a 250 hp fan.  The single variable frequency drive (VFD) force fan will force 140, 000 CFM at 5.6 inches of water gauge (WG), using a 250 hp fan, into the manway compartment of the downcast mine access shaft.  Approximately 10,000 CFM will upcast back to surface to allow the shaft collar and systems to remain above freezing during winter periods.  The remainder of the fresh air will be pulled down the shaft via the exhaust fans on the RAR.

Fresh air will be distributed to the development and production sections of the mine via secondary force fans (60 hp, 25,000 CFM at 10 inches of WG) through 30-inch diameter rigid steel or rigid plastic type ducting positioned at the RAR through a vent door.

The recommended exhaust fan option includes two fans operating at the same time in both bifurcation legs.  Each exhaust fan was specified as 68,000 CFM, 8.7 inches of WG, and motor size of 150 hp.

Ventilation doors will be positioned at mined out areas to minimize leakage and prevent air losses.  Forced air fans in production and development areas will also utilize regulators to ensure airflow distribution is maintained and applied where needed.  The ventilation design includes for additional allowances such as workshop, overall leakages, auto-compression effects, etc., to maintain both the legal and practical airflow distribution requirements, thereby establishing an effective and efficient operating system for the Main zone.

Figure 16-3 illustrates the ventilation design at Pinyon Plain.


Note: View looking southeast.

Figure 16-3: Pinyon Plain Ventilation Design


16.7.3 Water Management

The mine dewatering facilities consist of:

The last pump listed handles the water from the shaft water ring.  Mine inflow during care and maintenance has averaged less than 20 gpm.  Mine inflow will continue to be collected in underground sumps for use in underground drills and other aspects of underground mining.  Any excess water not needed for mine operations that collects in the lined sump will be pumped to the surface impoundment. Excess water from the water rings will be pumped to the surface and treated in existing facilities for beneficial use.

The Project has an existing evaporation pond and permitted rock stockpile areas on surface.  It is anticipated that mineralized and non-mineralized rock will be stored in the permitted stockpile areas.  No process tailings will be stored at the Project site.  During mine operations, it is expected that excess water will be stored in the evaporation pond, or in some cases it may be beneficially used as per Arizona state law.

After closure, the site will be monitored for reclamation performance by state and federal agencies until reclamation is deemed complete and the bond(s) are released.

16.7.4 Compressed Air

Compressed air is supplied from surface from one of three units:

The 970 CFM compressor is sufficient for development and the 1,500 CFM unit is a spare.

16.8 Mine Equipment

Surface support equipment was purchased or rehabilitated in 2022.  Equipment purchased or rehabilitated in 2022 included three Bobcat loaders for underground, a surface front end loader, vans for personnel transportation to site, air compressors, a chippy hoist, and water truck which has a blade for snow removal.  Additional equipment required for underground mining is listed in Table 16-3. 

Table 16-3: Required Underground Mining Equipment Purchases and Rebuilds

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Equipment

Year 0

Stope Drill (Boart Stope Mate-rebuilt)

1




Equipment

Year 0

Jackleg Drills (hammers and legs)

6

Skid-Steer Loaders (new Bobcat model S510)

3

LHD (rebuilt JCI 125, 1 ¼ yd)

2

LHD (rebuilt LT 350, 2 ½ yd)

2

Boss Buggy (side-by-side)

1

16.9 Personnel Requirements

Staffing of personnel began in mid-2022 as the Project came out of care and maintenance. The Project is currently in preproduction.  Current mine operations personnel provided an estimate of personnel requirements for the life of mine, as summarized in Table 16-4.  Production will cease in year 2, after which some of the labor listed will assist in mine reclamation.

Table 16-4: Personnel Requirements

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Position

Year 0

Year 1

Year 2

Staff

Mine Superintendent

1

1

1

Assistant Mine Superintendent

1

1

0

Engineer / Surveyor

0.75

1

1

Geologist / Ore Control

0.5

1

1

Environmental Scientist/Technician/Safety

1

1

1

Total

4.25

5

4

Hourly

Water Truck / Compliance Technician

2

2

2

Master Mechanic

1

1

0

Master Electrician

1

1

0

Lead Miner

2

2

2

Miner

8

12

2

Hoistman

2

2

2

Toplander

2

2

2

Electrician

1

2

1

Mechanic

3

3

1

Skip Tender

2

2

2

Total

24

29

14



17.0 RECOVERY METHODS

Mineralized material from the Pinyon Plain Mine (the Project) will be milled based on a toll milling agreement at the White Mesa Mill.


18.0 PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE

Pinyon Plain is a developed site with gravel road access and facilities, including line power.  Infrastructure at the Project has been designed to accommodate all mining and transportation requirements.  In addition to the mine shaft, existing mine infrastructure includes offices, mine dry, warehousing, air compressor, water lines, development rock storage, standby generators, fueling station, fresh water well, monitor wells and water tanks, a containment pond, electrical power, rapid response services, explosive magazines, equipment utilities, and a workshop.  Prior to mine production, EFR will construct the shaft load out, ore pad, ventilation raise, primary ventilation circuit and secondary egress apparatus.  The Pinyon Plain Mine Project layout is shown in Figure 18-1.

18.1.1 Power

Electrical power to Pinyon Plain is available through an existing power line located along Arizona State Highway 64 from the Arizona Public Service (APS).  An APS substation provides a six-mile powerline (12 KW) to the mine over a route that parallels the mine access road.  Onsite, the power is stepped down to 4160, 480 and other voltages as needed through several transformers to power the hoist motor, pumps, ventilation fans, onsite buildings, and any remaining site power needs. 


A 455 KVA diesel generator provides emergency backup power to operate the mine hoist, an air compressor, and the shaft pumps if line power is interrupted.

Figure 18-1: Pinyon Plain Mine Facility Layout


19.0 MARKET STUDIES AND CONTRACTS

19.1 Markets

Uranium does not trade on the open market, and many of the private sales contracts are not publicly disclosed since buyers and sellers negotiate contracts privately.  Monthly long-term industry average uranium prices based on the month-end prices are published by Ux Consulting, LLC and TradeTech, LLC (TradeTech).  EFR primarily utilizes the pricing forecasts from TradeTech, which is considered a leading independent provider of uranium prices and nuclear fuel market information.

19.1.1 Supply

According to the World Nuclear Association (World Nuclear, 2022), world uranium requirements totaled more than 48,300 t U in 2021, with the global pandemic accelerating a trend of slowly-decreasing production:

 2017 - 60,514 t U

 2018 - 54,154 t U

 2019 - 54,742 t U

 2020 - 47,731 t U

 2021 - 48,332 t U

The top five producing countries (Kazakhstan, Namibia, Australia, Canada, and Uzbekistan) accounted for over 80% of world production in 2021.

The share of uranium produced by in situ recovery (ISR) mining has steadily increased, mainly due to the addition of ISR operations in Kazakhstan, and now accounts for over 50% of production.

Over half of uranium mine production is from state-owned mining companies, some of which prioritise secure supply over market considerations.

19.1.2 Demand

The primary demand is as a source for nuclear power plants.  The use of nuclear power generation plants has become increasingly acceptable politically.  Both China and India have indicated an intention to increase the percentage of power generated by nuclear plants.  The largest increase in demand will come from those two countries.

Demand for uranium fuel is more predictable than for most other mineral commodities, due to the cost structure of nuclear power generation, with high capital and low fuel costs.  Once reactors are built, it is very cost-effective to keep them running at high capacity and for utilities to make any adjustments to load trends by cutting back on fossil fuel use.  Demand forecasts for uranium thus depend largely on installed and operable capacity, regardless of economic fluctuations.

The World Nuclear Association website notes that mineral price fluctuations are related to demand and perceptions of scarcity.  The price cannot indefinitely stay below the cost of production, nor can it remain at a very high price for longer than it takes for new producers to enter the market and for supply anxiety to subside.


19.1.3 Price

Figure 19-1 and Table 19-1 show TradeTech's latest (Q3 2022) uranium price forecast through 2040 (TradeTech, 2022).

Table 19-1: TradeTech Uranium Market Price Forecast (Real & Nominal US$/lb U3O8)

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project


Figure 19-1: TradeTech Uranium Market Price Forecast (Real & Nominal US$/lb U3O8)

The production from the Project is planned to begin within the next five years; uranium spot prices during that time are expected to range between $61/lb and $64/lb.  Based on this data, SLR used a constant uranium price of $60/lb for the cash flow analysis.

By their nature, all commodity price assumptions are forward-looking.  No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.

19.2 Contracts

EFR has signed uranium sales contracts with major nuclear utilities for a portion of the production from the Project.  These contracts provide for sales prices that are expected to be consistent with the prices forecast by TradeTech (Table 19-1) through the period of planned production from the property. In that event, realized uranium prices may be $2 to $4 higher that the $60/lb that SLR has used for the cash flow analysis if the Project operates within this timeframe.


20.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, PERMITTING, AND PLANS, NEGOTIATIONS, OR AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS

20.1 Environmental Studies

Environmental studies have been completed for the Pinyon Plain Mine as part of the permitting process through state and federal agencies.  These studies include components such as land use, climate, geology and mineralization, seismicity, soils, vegetation, air quality, surface water, ground water, wildlife, radiological, and cultural and archaeological resources. There are no ongoing permit-related environmental studies beyond compliance-based data collection and reporting.

20.2 Social and Community Requirements

While development and operation of the Mine requires limited surface disturbance (less than 20 acres) and has minimal environmental impact, the Mine has been particularly contentious among local communities due to factors such as (a) its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park (b) claims by the Havasupai Indian Tribe that the Mine site has significant religious value and (c) its location within the US Bureau of Land Management's (BLMs) 2009 mineral withdrawal of approximately one million acres of public lands around Grand Canyon National Park. A discussion of these issues is presented in more detail below as it relates to project permitting requirements.  As stated in its Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability Policy, Energy Fuels is committed to the operation of its facilities in a manner that puts the safety of its workers, contractors and community, the protection of the environment, and the principles of sustainable development above all else.  Accordingly, Energy Fuels considers environmental and social issues which may impact its stakeholders, including minority groups, local landholders, and the communities in which it operates.

20.3 Water Management

The Mine has been designed to have no discharge of fluids, to eliminate the possibility of migration of contaminants to groundwater, and to maintain structural integrity during a 500-year, 24-hour stormwater runoff event. All stormwater runoff from surface operations will be contained within the 17-acre mine site. The entire site is surrounded by diversion structures capable of diverting runoff from areas upslope around the perimeter of the facility from a 500-year, 24-hour storm event (ELMA, 1993). All runoff from precipitation that falls within the bermed Mine site drains to the lined Impoundment, as shown in the Site Plan provided in Figure 2. Surface water drainage within the Mine site is diverted away from the Mine access shaft and will be diverted away from the future ventilation shaft. 


Groundwater encountered in the Mine workings below the Coconino Formation is collected in a lined sump at the base of the main shaft and pumped to the surface for on-site use or evaporation in the lined Impoundment and water storage tanks.  Two water rings have been installed in the shaft to capture water infiltrating from the Coconino Formation and, to the extent water is available, from the Kaibab Formation. Water collected in the capture rings is pumped to aboveground storage tanks at the site for use as dust control or other beneficial use (water from the two water capture rings is currently assigned to the Impoundment). Water from the Coconino and Kaibab Formations that is not captured in the water capture rings and pumped to the Impoundment, reports to the Mine shaft sump. Water in the lined Impoundment is used for dust control on the current DRS, and will be used, as needed, for dust control on the future IOS, where drainage and runoff flows are returned to the lined Impoundment. Water in the Impoundment is circulated through a boiler/heat exchanger and APEX 2.0 Wastewater Evaporator ("APEX") units to enhance evaporation. Sump water will also be used in other mining operations when active mining commences. Water management at the site is illustrated in the Process Flow Diagram provided in Figure 20-1.


Figure 20-1: Process Flow Diagram for Pinyon Plain Mine


20.4 Permitting

In October 1984, Energy Fuels Nuclear submitted a proposed Plan of Operations (PoO) to mine uranium from the Pinyon Plain claims, approximately 7 miles south of Tusayan, Arizona.  The US Forest Service (USFS) completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the Plan, including significant comment and input from federally recognized tribes. The final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) were issued on September 29, 1986, approving the PoO with modifications.  Mine site surface preparation activities began in late 1986.  Appeals of this decision were made to the Southwestern Regional Forester, and the Chief of the Forest Service, who both affirmed the Forest Supervisor's decision. The Havasupai Tribe and others then sued over this decision in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. The District Court ruled for the USFS on all counts, and a subsequent appeal was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which affirmed the District Court on August 16, 1991. In 1992, due to the economic downturn in the price of uranium, the Mine was put into standby status.

On September 13, 2011, Denison Mines informed the Kaibab Forest Supervisor they intended to resume operations at Pinyon Plain Mine under the existing PoO and ROD.  On June 25, 2012, the USFS completed a review of the Pinyon Plain Mine PoO and associated approval documentation in anticipation of the resumption of operations.  The USFS' review concluded that (a) no modification or amendment to the existing PoO was necessary, (b) no correction, supplementation, or revision to the environmental document was required and (c) that operations at the Pinyon Plain Mine could continue as a result of no further federal authorization being required.

On May 22, 2020, after the matters were briefed, the District Court issued its final order in favor of the Defendants, which the Pinyon Plaintiffs thereafter appealed to the Ninth Circuit. In December 2020, the Pinyon Plaintiffs filed their Appellant's Opening Brief with the Ninth Circuit and, in April 2021, the Defendants filed their respective Answering Briefs. Oral arguments were held remotely on August 30, 2021. On February 22, 2022, the Ninth Circuit filed its Opinion in favor of the USFS and the Company. The Pinyon Plaintiffs did not request a hearing on this matter in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. As such, this matter is now resolved.

In 2020, Energy Fuels submitted a clean closure plan to the USFS to provide a description of how the Company will reclaim the mine to clean closure standards after the cessation of mining operations, as contemplated in the USFS-approved PoO, ROD and modifications to the reclamation plan contained in Appendix B of the EIS. The clean closure plan included an update to the reclamation cost estimate, resulting in an increase in the reclamation bond from $461,245 to $1,407,235.

In September 2009, the groundwater General Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) was obtained for the water storage pond from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). This permit was up for renewal in 2019, and an application for renewal was timely submitted by the Company in 2019. General APPs were also obtained from ADEQ for the development rock stockpile and intermediate ore stockpile in December 2011 and renewed in 2018.  At the request of the ADEQ, the three General APPs were consolidated into an Individual APP on April 28, 2022, which resulted in a supplemental reclamation bond through ADEQ in the amount of $132,581.  The Individual APP was amended on October 26, 2022, to establish an alert level (AL) and aquifer quality limit (AQL) for arsenic and an AQL for uranium in a monitoring well completed in the regional Redwall-Muav aquifer.  An Air Quality Permit was issued by the ADEQ in March 2011, renewed in 2016, amended in 2017, and renewed in 2021.  The Company received EPA's approval under the Clean Air Act National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for the Pinyon Plain Project in September of 2015.


Table 20-1 presents a list of active permits including the approving authority, validity period and expiry dates, status, and indicating if renewal is required or not.

Table 20-1: Environmental Permits for Operation

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Authority

Obligation/License

Date of
Issue
MM/DD/YY

Expiration
Date
MM/DD/YY

Status

ADEQ

Class II Air Quality Permit No. 88788

10/20/21

10/19/26

Active

ADEQ

Individual APP, Minor Amendment (No. P-100333) (Includes previously approved; Development Rock Stockpile, Intermediate Ore Stockpile and Non-Stormwater Impoundment)

10/26/22

N/A

Active

ADEQ

AZPDES Stormwater Multi-Sector General Permit - Industrial for Mining (#AZMS79829)

01/01/20

12/31/24

Active

ADWR

Well Registration Number 55-515772 (Redwall-Muav Water Supply/Monitoring Well)

10/07/86

N/A

Active

ADWR

Well Registration Numbers 55-924769 through 55-924771 (Coconino Monitoring Wells)

08/21/20

N/A

Active

CCDPH

Permit to Construct No. 5918 (Septic System)

12/17/86

N/A

Active

USEPA

Approval to Construct an Underground Uranium Mine (NESHAPs Subpart B)

09/21/15

N/A

Active

USFS

Record of Decision

09/26/86

N/A

Active

USFS

Road Use Permit

01/20/23

10/31/27

Active

20.5 Mineral Examination

In July 2009, the BLM issued a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal (the 2009 Notice) under which it proposed that a total of approximately one million acres of public lands around the Grand Canyon National Park be withdrawn from location and entry under the Mining Law of 1872, subject to valid existing rights, for a period of two years. BLM stated that the purpose of the withdrawal, if determined to be appropriate, would be to protect the Grand Canyon watershed from any adverse effect of locatable hardrock mineral exploration and mining. This timeframe was extended an additional six months in July 21, 2011 to complete the EIS studies. In January 2012, the Secretary of the Interior implemented the withdrawal proposed in the 2009 Notice, subject to valid existing rights, for a 20-year period. Whether or not a mining claim is valid must be determined by a Mineral Examination conducted by BLM or the USFS.  The Mineral Examination for the Mine deposit was completed by the USFS on April 18, 2012, and determined that the Pinyon Plain Mine has valid existing rights.

20.6 Negotiations and Agreements with Local Groups

Commitments to Ensure Local Procurement and Hiring


EFR is committed to supporting local businesses and labor markets in the region of their operations.

20.7 Mine Closure Remediation and Reclamation Plans

The costs to reclaim the project to its pre-mining land use is estimated to be approximately US$1,500,000. Reclamation performance bonds are in place with the USFS in the amount of $1,407,235 and through the state of Arizona in the amount of $132,581.  At the conclusion of underground operations, the shafts will be backfilled, mine openings will be plugged and sealed, and most of the buildings and infrastructure will be dismantled and removed. The evaporation pond and other infrastructure such as the office trailer, electrical substation, power line, and perimeter fencing and berms are expected to remain on site for an additional 30 years during long-term monitoring of groundwater.  At the end of long-term groundwater monitoring, the remaining infrastructure will be removed, wells will be abandoned, and final reclamation and clean closure activities will be completed.  The water supply/monitoring well in the Redwall-Muav aquifer is expected to remain in place as a regional water supply well for livestock grazing or other uses as appropriate.

20.8 Opinion of Adequacy

EFR has all of the permits and authorizations necessary to construct, operate, and close the Project.  Financial assurance is in place to guarantee reclamation and closure activities will occur.  After closure, the site will be monitored for reclamation performance by state and federal agencies until reclamation is deemed complete and the bond(s) are released.


21.0 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS

EFR has experience in operating several similar underground uranium mines on the Arizona Strip, an area located in northern Arizona, north of the Colorado River to the Colorado border.  These past producers include Kanab North, Arizona 1, Pinenut, and EZ1 mines. 

Based on the American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE) International classifications, Class 3 estimates have an accuracy range between -10% to -20% (low-end) to +10% to +30% (high-end) (AACE International, 2012).  The base case capital and operating cost estimates are within the Class 3 ranges and would meet the S-K 1300 standard of ± 25% accuracy and ≤15% contingency.

21.1 Capital Costs

The capital costs for the Mine are estimated to be $10.4 million in current Q4 2022 dollars including $7.6 million in direct capital costs, $1.4 million in contingency, and $1.5 million for reclamation.  In light of the short mine life, all sustaining costs are included in operating costs.  No escalation was included in the project costs. 

21.1.1 Development Capital

The type and size of underground and surface mining equipment was based on EFR's experience at the above mines.  Capital costs for each item were sourced from Infomine's Mine Cost Handbook.  No rebuild or replacement cost is included, due to the Project's short production schedule (3 years).

Table 21-1 shows the life of mine capital equipment and cost, including surface support equipment.

Table 21-1: Life of Mine Capital Equipment

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Description

Units

Total Cost

Mine Development

$ 000

3,799

Loading Pocket & Installation

$ 000

129

Underground Equipment

$ 000

590

Ventilation Fans and heater

$ 000

1,726

Ventilation Raise

$ 000

1,219

Surface Works

$ 000

140

Subtotal UG Capital Before Contingency

$ 000

7,603

Contingency

$ 000

1,145

Total UG Capital Costs

$ 000

8,748

Reclamation

$ 000

1,407

Total Capital

$ 000

10,155

Mine development capital was based upon the mine design and a development cost of $1,200/ft.  Mine development rates are based on past mining experience of similar EFR mine operations.  Mine and ventilation equipment costs are based on budgetary estimates from suppliers with some allowances for additional items.  The ventilation raise cost was based upon a 2016 bid for the Project which was escalated to current pricing.


21.1.2 Contingency

Contingency is an amount added to an estimate to allow for items, conditions, or events which are uncertain and that experience shows will likely result, in aggregate, in additional costs which are expected to be expended.

A capital cost contingency estimate was generated by reviewing the development capital cost elements and assigning a percentage of the costs based upon the level of detail in the estimate preparation, the operator's experience, the state of the Project and the QP's experience.  The assigned percentages ranged from:

The weighted average overall contingency was estimated to be 15% and this was applied as a single value.  The QP considers this to be a reasonable estimate of contingency for this development capital estimate. 

21.1.3 Sustaining Capital

Due to the short three year mine life of the Project, no sustaining capital has been budgeted in the estimate. 

21.1.4 Working Capital

Working capital estimates assume 30 days account receivable and account payable terms.  The Project has a large supply of consumable inventory at the site as EFR has consolidated material from prior mines and projects in the warehouse.  Thus, the inventory working capital adjustment is estimated to be zero over LOM.  All working capital will be recaptured at the end of mine life, so the net effect of LOM is zero.

21.1.5 Reclamation

Reclamation costs are based on the clean closure and reclamation cost estimate and surety bond, which EFR has with the USFS as the beneficiary.  Table 21-2 shows the reclamation cost at the Pinyon Plain project, which will start approximately three months before the end of mine life and take 20 months in total to complete.

Table 21-2: Reclamation Cost

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Item

Units

Total Cost

Infrastructure Removal

$ 000

428

Future Environmental Monitoring

$ 000

45

Backfilling

$ 000

411




Item

Units

Total Cost

Reclamation Plans & Surveys

$ 000

67

Subtotal Direct Costs

$ 000

951

Indirects1

$ 000

314

Subtotal Before Contingency

$ 000

1,265

Contingency (15% of Directs)

$ 000

143

Total Reclamation Costs

$ 000

1,407

Notes:

1. Indirects include G&A, Engineering, and Contractor cost.

21.2 Operating Costs

Operating costs are based on EFR's operating experience.  Table 21-3 shows the operating costs used in the economic evaluation of the Project.

Table 21-3: Operating Costs Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Area

Cost

Unit

Mining

$101.00

$/ore ton mined

Haulage

$72.00

$/ore ton mined

Processing

$192.00

$/ore ton mined

G&A

$7.00

$/ore ton mined

TOTAL OPEX

$372.00

$/ore ton mined

Notes:

1. Mining costs include labour, supplies, equipment operation, and sundries as well as an allowance for ongoing mine development over the life of the project. 

2. Ore haulage covers the cost of trucking ore from the mine to White Mesa mill for toll processing.  The contract haulage cost is based on a $0.225/ton mile unit rate and assumes a 5% moisture content of the ore.

3. Processing cost estimate is based on a toll milling arrangement between the Project and the White Mesa Mill.

4. )General and Administrative (G&A) costs are based on the assumption that the Project will be supported by existing staff based in EFR's Lakewood, Colorado, office headquarters, with regular site visits as needed during the year.  G&A costs, totaling $7.00/ton ore, are estimated as 2.5% of direct operating costs.

5. No contingency applied.

21.2.1 Personnel

Annual headcounts for the three year mine operations are detailed in Table 21-7.

Table 21-4: Processing Operating Costs

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Area

Year 0

Year 1

Year 2

Salaried

Mine Superintendent

1

1

1




Area

Year 0

Year 1

Year 2

Assistant Mine Superintendent

1

1

0

Engineer/Surveyor

0.75

1

1

Geologist/Ore Control

0.5

1

1

Environmental Scientist/Technician/Safety

1

1

1

Subtotal Salaried

4.25

5

4

Hourly

Water Truck/Compliance tech

2

2

2

Master Mechanic

1

1

0

Master Electrician

1

1

0

Lead Miner

2

2

2

Miner

8

12

2

Hoistman

2

2

2

Toplander

2

2

2

Electrician

1

2

1

Mechanic

3

3

1

Skip Tender

2

2

2

Subtotal Hourly

24

29

14

Total Headcount

28.25

34

18



22.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

An after-tax Cash Flow Projection has been generated from the Life of Mine production schedule and capital and operating cost estimates, as summarized in Table 22-1.  A summary of the key criteria is provided below.

22.1 Economic Criteria

22.1.1 Revenue

  • Total mill feed processed: 134 thousand tons

  • Average processing rate: 216 stpd (steady state)

  • U3O8 head grade: 0.58%

  • Average mill recovery: 96%

  • Recovered U3O8: 1.51 Mlb

  • Metal price: $60/lb U3O8

  • Yellowcake product trucking cost from the toll mill to customer: $0.175/lb U3O8

22.1.2 Capital and Operating Costs

  • Pre-production period: Four months

  • Mine life: 24 months

  • LOM capital costs, excluding reclamation, of $8.7 million on Q4 2022 US dollar basis

  • LOM operating cost (excluding royalties but including severance taxes) of $50.5 million or $372/ton milled on Q4 2022 US dollar basis

22.1.3 Royalties and Severance Taxes

A 3.5% private royalty is payable for the Project based on sliding scale of the value of production expressed in lb/t along with allowances for mining and ore hauling.  The royalty payments over the mine life are approximately $1.88/t ore.

Arizona has a severance tax that is 2.5% of the net severance base, which is 50% of the difference between the gross value of production (revenue) and the production costs.  Thus, a rate of 1.25% is used to reflect this 50% base reduction.  The Arizona severance tax payable to the Project is estimated at $3.70/t ore during LOM.

22.1.4 Income Taxes

EFR states it is not liable for corporate income tax (CIT) expenditures as a corporation, including the period that the Project is expected to operate.  In addition, the short mine life of 24 months makes an estimate of income tax payable using a standard tax methodology difficult.  Therefore, a proforma CIT estimate was added with the assumption that the Project was a stand-alone entity for tax purposes and does not reflect the company's actual filing position with following assumptions:

  • A Federal income tax rate of 10.5% is used in this analysis.  This rate takes into account the percentage depletion deduction which allows profitable mining companies to reduce their taxable income by 50% and then the remaining amount is taxed at the current Federal tax rate of 21% so that the net rate is 10.5%.

  • The Arizona state income tax rate is 4.9% so the combined Federal and state rate is 15.4%%

  • The tax amounts may be negative some months as the pre-tax cash flow dips below zero.  However, as taxable income is computed on an annual basis and as the annual amounts for the first 24 months are all positive, the sum of the monthly tax amounts will be positive.  In the remaining 24 months after the mine ceases operation, there are negative cash flows which can be carried back to profitable years to receive a tax refund.  Thus, the project total income tax is the pre-tax cash flow x 15.4%.

  • CIT payable for LOM totals $6.0 million.

22.2 Cash Flow Analysis

The Project production schedule is presented in Figure 22-1 and the resulting after-tax free cash flow profile is shown in Figure 22-2.

Figure 22-1: Annual Mine Production


Figure 22-2: After-Tax Metrics Summary

Table 22-1 presents a summary of the Project economics at an average U3O8 price of $60.00/lb.  The full annual cash flow model is presented in Appendix 1.

On a pre-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $29.1 million over the mine life.  The pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV) at a 5% discount rate is $26.7 million and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 14%. 

On an after-tax basis, the undiscounted cash flow totals $23.0 million over the mine life.  The after-tax NPV at 5% discount rate is $21.1 million and the IRR is 12%. 

LOM Project cost metrics are as follows:

 Cash Operating Costs: $33.91/lb U3O8

 All-in Sustaining Costs: $34.84/lb U3O8

 All-in Costs: $40.66/lb U3O8


Table 22-1: After-Tax Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Item

Unit

Value

U3O8 Price

$/lb

$60.00

U3O8 Sales

klb

1,505

Total Gross Revenue

US$ 000

90,300

Product Transport to Market

US$ 000

(263)

Royalties

US$ 000

(253)

Total Net Revenue

US$ 000

89,783

Mining Cost

US$ 000

(13,581)

Ore Trucking Cost

US$ 000

(9,681)

Process Cost

US$ 000

(25,817)

G & A Cost

US$ 000

(941)

Severance Tax

US$ 000

(497)

Total Operating Costs

US$ 000

(50,518)

Operating Margin

US$ 000

39,266

Corporate Income Tax

US$ 000

(6,046)

Working Capital

US$ 000

0

Operating Cash Flow

US$ 000

33,220

Development Capital

US$ 000

(8,748)

Closure/Reclamation Capital

US$ 000

(1,407)

Total Capital

US$ 000

(10,155)

 

 

 

Pre-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ 000

29,110

Pre-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ 000

26,682

Pre-tax NPV @ 8%

US$ 000

25,318

Pre-tax NPV @ 12%

US$ 000

23,602

Pre-tax IRR

%

14%

 

 

 

After-tax Free Cash Flow

US$ 000

23,064

After-tax NPV @ 5%

US$ 000

21,072

After-tax NPV @ 8%

US$ 000

19,954

After-tax NPV @ 12%

US$ 000

18,545

After-tax IRR

%

12%




Item

Unit

Value

Cash Operating Costs

$/lb U3O8

33.91

All-in Sustaining Costs

$/lb U3O8

34.84

All-in Costs

$/lb U3O8

40.66

22.3 Sensitivity Analysis

Project risks can be identified in both economic and non-economic terms.  Key economic risks were examined by running cash flow sensitivities calculated over a range of variations based on realistic fluctuations within the listed factors:

  • U3O8 price: 10% increments between $51/lb and $76/lb

  • Head grade: -/+ 20%

  • Recovery: -20%/+4% (96% is base case already)

  • Operating cost per ton milled: -10% to 25% (AACE Class 3 range)

  • Capital cost: -10% to 25% (AACE Class 3 range)

The after-tax cash flow sensitivities for the base case are shown in Table 22-2, Figure 22-3, and Figure 22-4.  The Project is most sensitive to head grade, uranium price, and recovery, and only slightly less sensitive to operating cost and capital cost at a Class 3 accuracy level.  The sensitivities to metallurgical recovery, head grade, and metal price are nearly identical.

Table 22-2: After-tax Sensitivity Analysis

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Factor Change

U3O8 Price
(US$/lb)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.80

$48

$6,996

6%

0.90

$54

$14,034

9%

1.00

$60

$21,072

12%

1.10

$66

$28,111

15%

1.20

$72

$35,149

17%

Factor Change

Head Grade
(% U3O8)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.80

0.47%

$7,066

6%

0.90

0.52%

$14,072

10%

1.00

0.58%

$21,072

12%

1.10

0.64%

$28,074

15%

1.20

0.70%

$35,073

17%




Factor Change

Metallurgical Recovery
(%)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.80

77%

$7,037

6%

0.90

86%

$14,055

10%

1.00

96%

$21,072

12%

1.03

98%

$22,827

13%

1.04

100%

$23,879

13%

Factor Change

Operating Costs
(US$/ton milled)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.90

$45,019

$24,988

14%

0.95

$47,520

$23,030

13%

1.00

$50,021

$21,072

12%

1.13

$56,273

$16,178

10%

1.25

$62,526

$11,284

8%

Factor Change

Capital Costs
(US$ M)

NPV at 5%
(US$ 000)

IRR
(%)

0.90

$9,481

$21,928

13%

0.95

$9,930

$21,500

13%

1.00

$10,378

$21,072

12%

1.13

$11,500

$20,002

11%

1.25

$12,621

$18,932

10%



Figure 22-3: After-tax NPV 5% Cash flow Sensitivity


Figure 22-4: After-tax IRR Cash flow Sensitivity


23.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES

23.1 Other Breccia Pipes

There are two mineralized breccia pipes near the Pinyon Plain Mine.  The Black Box and the New Years pipes are exploration properties located within two miles of Pinyon Plain. Drilling on both these pipes in the 1980s indicate the presence of uranium and some copper mineralization, but it was determined that neither had economic quantities of either mineral. The Orphan Mine, located approximately 13 miles north-northwest of Pinyon Plain produced both copper and uranium during its production run between 1956 and 1969.  EFR has successfully mined and reclaimed the Pinenut and Arizona 1 breccia pipes, both of which are located on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

The QP has not independently verified this information and this information is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization at the Pinyon Plain Project.


24.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION

EFR knows of no other relevant data related to the Pinyon Plain Project.


25.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

SLR offers the following interpretations and conclusions on the Project:

25.1 Geology and Mineral Resources

 Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Resources in S-K 1300, which are consistent with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM, 2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.

 In the SLR QP's opinion, the assumptions, parameters, and methodology used for the Pinyon Plain Mineral Resource estimate is appropriate for the style of mineralization and mining methods.

 The SLR QP is of the opinion the block models are adequate for public disclosure and to support mining activities.  The effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate is December 31, 2022.

 Mineral Resource estimates exclude previously reported uranium mineralization from the Cap and Upper zones as a condition of current Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Aquifer Protection Permit which limits mining between the elevations of 5,340 ft and 4,508 ft.

 Mineral Resources are based on a $65/lb uranium price at an equivalent uranium (% eU3O8, referring to radiometric logs converted to grades) cut-off grade of 0.30% based on a combination of longhole stoping, shrinkage stoping, and drifting underground mining methods;  mineralized material from the Project will be trucked 320 miles to the White Mesa Mill located near Blanding, Utah.  Development rock will be temporarily stored on surface, then will be used at the end of mining to fill the voids created by mining the breccia pipe and the developed shafts.

 Indicated uranium Mineral Resources total 37,000 tons at an average grade of 0.95% eU3O8 for a total of 703,000 lb U3O8.  Inferred Mineral Resources total 5,000 tons at an average grade of 0.50% eU3O8 for a total of 48,000 lb U3O8.

 Sampling and assaying procedures have been adequately completed and carried out using industry standard quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) practices.  These practices include, but are not limited to, sampling, assaying, chain of custody of the samples, sample storage, use of third-party laboratories, standards, blanks, and duplicates.

 The SLR QP considers the estimation procedures employed at Pinyon Plain, including compositing, top-cutting, variography, block model construction, and interpolation to be reasonable and in line with industry standard practice.

 The SLR QP finds the classification criteria to be reasonable.

25.2 Mining and Mineral Reserves

 Mineral Reserve estimates, as prepared by EFR and reviewed and accepted by SLR, have been classified in accordance with the definitions for Mineral Reserves in S-K 1300 which are consistent with CIM (2014) definitions which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101.

 The Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve estimate is 134,500 tons grading 0.58% U3O8 containing 1.57 Mlb of U3O8 and is comprised of 7,800 tons grading 0.33% U3O8 of Proven Mineral Reserves containing 0.05 Mlb of U3O8 plus 136,700 tons grading 0.60% U3O8 of Probable Mineral Reserves containing 1.52 Mlb of U3O8


 The Mineral Reserves are based upon a cut-off grade of 0.32% U3O8.

 Mineral Reserves were estimated based on stope designs utilizing a mine planning software within a 0.15% U3O8 wireframe.

 The Mineral Reserves include 35% dilution at zero grade.

 Measured Mineral Resources were converted to Proven Mineral Reserves and Probable Mineral Resources were converted to Probable Mineral Reserves.

 No Inferred Mineral Resources were converted into Mineral Reserves.

 The existing shaft will be used for the mine access and rock hoisting.

 The ore will be mined using longhole stoping for the majority of the ore and breasting of roofs and/or ribs for narrow mineralized zones.

 Ore will be mucked and hauled by load-haul-dump (LHD) loaders to a grizzly over the loading pocket feed.

 A ventilation raise will be bored in the centre of the orebody to provide an exhaust airway and emergency egress.

The SLR QP is not aware of any mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate.

25.3 Mineral Processing

 There is sufficient metallurgical testing to support a uranium process recovery of 96% at the White Mesa Mill.

25.4 Infrastructure

 There is suitable existing or planned infrastructure to support the planned operations.

25.5 Environment

 EFR has secured all of the permits required to construct, operate, and close the Pinyon Plain Project.

o Some permits require regular update/renewal.

o These permits involved significant public participation opportunity.

 Financial assurance is in place to guarantee all reclamation will occur.  This amount will be reviewed on a regular basis (at least every five years) to cover any changes at site and/or for any inflationary issue(s).

In SLR's opinion, there are not any significant risks and uncertainties that could reasonably be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the exploration information, mineral resource, or mineral reserve estimates, or projected economic outcomes.


26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

SLR offers the following recommendations regarding the advancement of the Project.

26.1 Geology and Mineral Resources

1. Convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources within the Main-Lower and Juniper zones by completing underground delineation drilling program per the estimated budget shown in Table 26-1.

Table 26-1: 2023 Proposed Underground Drilling Budget for Main-Lower and Juniper Zones

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Category

Number of Drill
Holes/Assay

Total Feet
Drilled

Unit Cost

Budget

(US$/ft)

(US$)

Underground Delineation Drilling

45

11,250

31.00

349,000

26.2 Mining and Mineral Reserves

1. Continue preproduction development and preparations for production.

2. Develop grade control and production reconciliation procedures.

3. Develop a program of monitoring the geotechnical conditions in the stopes and development headings.

4. Monitor the water inflow rate of the ventilation raise pilot hole.

5. Prepare contingency plans for mine dewatering in the event that the ventilation raise encounters a water bearing strata.

6. Prepare contingency plans for additional dewatering due to water inflow to the ventilation raise.

Select the ventilation raise contractor and confirm the schedule for the work.

7. Secure contractor proposals for the ventilation raise development and prepare for development.

26.3 Mineral Processing

1. Investigate processing the copper.

26.4 Infrastructure

None

26.5 Environment

1. Consider development of an environmental management system that lists environmental roles and responsibilities of site personnel, permit conditions, and monitoring requirements for use should someone else unfamiliar with environmental matters have to perform them.

2. Establish a reclamation revegetation test plot program to ensure species selected will work at the site.


27.0 REFERENCES

AACE International, 2012. Cost Estimate Classification System - As Applied in the Mining and Mineral Processing Industries, AACE International Recommended Practice No. 47R-11, 17 p.

ANSTO Minerals, 2017 Progress Note 1, Processing of Pinyon Plain Mine Ore, Dated May 16, 2017, ANSTO Minerals, 2017 Progress Note 2-Update on Batch Tests; Processing of Pinyon Plain Mine Ore, Dated June 14, 2017

Bennett, D. (n.d.).  Orphan Mine.  Retrieved November 2021, from Nature, Culture and History at the Grand Canyon: https://grcahistory.org/history/logging-mining-and-ranching/mining/orphan-mine/

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), 2014: CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by CIM Council on May 10, 2014.

Cottrell, J.T., 1994, Internal Memorandum to I.W. Mathisen on Canyon Resource - 1994 Changes; written for Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., unpublished, June 27, 1994.

Dames and Moore, 1987:  Evaluation of Underground Mine Stability and Subsidence Potential, Proposed Pinyon Plain Mine, Arizona.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 17: Commodity and Securities Exchanges, Chapter II, Part 229 Standard Instructions for Filing Forms Under Securities Act of 1933, Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975- Regulation S-K. (https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?amp;node=17:3.0.1.1.11&rgn=div5#se17.3.229_11303)

Energy Fuels, 2016, Standard Operating Procedure: Core Handling, Sampling and QA/QC Protocols for Core Drilling at the Pinyon Plain Mine, internal report.

Energy Fuels, 2020, Application to Consolidate Existing Environmental Protections in an Individual Aquifer Protection Permit for the Pinyon Plain Mine, submitted to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, November 11, 2020, Section 1.4.7, page 23.

Finch, W.I., 1992, Descriptive Model of Solution-Collapse Breccia Pipe Uranium Deposits, in, Bliss, J.D., ed., Developments in Mineral Deposit Modeling, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2004, p. 33-35.

RME Consulting, 2022: Pinyon Plain & Juniper Underground Mine Ventilation Design, (August, 2022).

RPA, 2017:  Technical Report on the Canyon Mine, Coconino County, Arizona, USA, RPA NI 43-101 report prepared for Energy Fuels Inc. Available at www.sedar.com

Mathisen, I.W., Jr., 1985, Internal Memorandum, written for Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., unpublished, January 15, 1985.


Mining Cost Service, 2021, Transportation, InfoMine USA, Inc. Section TR, Appendix A, p. TR A5.

Montgomery, E.L., et al., 1985, Appendix F -Groundwater Conditions Canyon Mine Region, Coconino County, Arizona, Draft Environmental Impact Statement Canyon Uranium Mine, p. 206

Parsons Behle & Latimer, 2022, Mining Claim Status Report - Pinyon Plain Mine, Coconino County, Arizona, letter report to Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc., January 19, 2022, 8 pp.

Pool, T.C., and Ross, D.A., 2012: Technical Report on the Arizona Strip Uranium Projects, Arizona, USA, RPA NI 43-101 Report prepared for Energy Fuels Inc. (June 27,2012), Available at www.sedar.com

Price, J.W. and Schwartz, R.L., 2018, Hazen Research Project 12493 Demonstration of Copper Extraction from Canyon Mine Uranium-Copper Ore, Revison1, prepared for Energy Fuels Resources, Inc, December 11, 2018, p. 313.

Scott, J.H., 1962: GAMLOG A Computer Program for Interpreting Gamma-Ray Logs; United States Atomic Energy Commission, Grand Junction Office, Production Evaluation Division, Ore Reserves Branch, TM-179, September 1962.

Shumway, L., 2017: Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. Internal Memorandum dated June 9, 2017

SLR, 2022, Technical Report on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA, SLR NI 43-101 / S-K 1300 report prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., p. 119, Available at www.sedar.com

TradeTech, LLC, 2022: Uranium Market Study, 2022: Issue 4.

US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest, 1985:  Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Pinyon Plain Uranium Mine, Appendix F Groundwater Conditions.

US Securities and Exchange Commission, 2018: Regulation S-K, Subpart 229.1300, Item 1300 of Regulation S-K, Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations and Item 601 (b)(96) of Regulation S-K, Technical Report Summary.

Wenrich, K.J., and Sutphin, H.B., 1989, Lithotectonic setting necessary for formation of a uranium rich, solution collapse breccia pipe province, Grand Canyon Region, Arizona, in Metallogenesis of uranium deposits; Technical committee meeting on metallogenesis of uranium deposits, organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 9-12 March 1987, p. 307-344

Wenrich, K.J., 1992, Breccia Pipes in the Red Butte Area of the Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 92-219, p. 14

World Nuclear, 2021. Uranium Production Figures, 2011-2020.  Updated September 2021.  Retrieved December 2021 from World Nuclear Association: https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/facts-and-figures/uranium-production-figures.aspx


28.0 DATE AND SIGNATURE PAGE

This report titled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2022, was prepared and signed by the following authors:

  (Signed & Sealed) Mark B. Mathisen
   
   
Dated at Lakewood, CO Mark B. Mathisen, CPG
February 23, 2023  
   
  (Signed & Sealed) R. Dennis Bergen
   
   
Dated at Toronto, ON R. Dennis Bergen, P.Eng.
February 23, 2023  
   
 

(Signed & Sealed) Jeffrey Woods

   
   
Dated at Sparks, NV Jeffrey L. Woods, MMSA QP
February 23, 2023  
   
 

(Signed & Sealed) Lee (Pat) Gochnour

   
   

Dated at Aberdeen, WA

Lee (Pat) Gochnour, MMSA QP

February 23, 2023  
   
 

(Signed & Sealed)Grant A. Malensek

   
   
Dated at Lakewood, CO Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.
February 23, 2023  

 

 

 


29.0 CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON

29.1 Grant A. Malensek

I, Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng., as an author of this report entitled"Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2022, prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am a Senior Principal Mining Engineer with SLR International Corporation, of Suite 100, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA  80401.

2. I am a graduate of the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 1987 with a B.Sc. degree in Geological Sciences and Colorado School of Mines, USA in 1997 with a M.Eng. degree in Geological Engineering.

3. I am registered as a Professional Engineer/Geoscientist in the Province of British Columbia (Reg.# 23905).  I have worked as a mining engineer for a total of 25 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Feasibility, Prefeasibility, and scoping studies

 Fatal flaw, due diligence, and Independent Engineer reviews for equity and project financings

 Financial and technical-economic modelling, analysis, budgeting, and forecasting

 Property and project valuations

 Capital cost estimates and reviews

 Mine strategy reviews

 Options analysis and project evaluations in connection with mergers and acquisitions

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Pinyon Plain Project on October 27, 2022.

6. I am responsible for Sections 1.2, 1.3.12, 1.3.14, 19, 21, 22, and 30, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I was the Project Manager for the report entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections 1.2, 1.3.11, 1.3.13, 19, 21, 22, and 30 of the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.


Dated this 23rd day of February, 2023

(Signed & Sealed)Grant A. Malensek


Grant A. Malensek, M.Eng., P.Eng.


29.2 Mark B. Mathisen

I, Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2022, prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am Principal Geologist with SLR International Corporation, of Suite 100, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Lakewood, CO, USA  80401.

2. I am a graduate of Colorado School of Mines in 1984 with a B.Sc. degree in Geophysical Engineering.

3. I am a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Wyoming (No. PG-2821), a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists (No. CPG-11648), and a Registered Member of SME (RM #04156896).  I have worked as a geologist for a total of 23 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Mineral Resource estimation and preparation of NI 43-101 Technical Reports.

 Director, Project Resources, with Denison Mines Corp., responsible for resource evaluation and reporting for uranium projects in the USA, Canada, Africa, and Mongolia.

 Project Geologist with Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc., responsible for planning and direction of field activities and project development for an in situ leach uranium project in the USA.  Cost analysis software development.

 Design and direction of geophysical programs for US and international base metal and gold exploration joint venture programs.

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Pinyon Plain Project on November 16, 2021.

6. I am responsible for Sections 1.1.1.1, 1.1.2.1, 1.3.1- 1.3.7, 2-12, 14, 23, 24, 25.1, and 26.1, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I was involved previously with the Project from 2006 to 2012 when serving as Director of Project Resources with Denison Mines.  Since the Project was acquired by Energy Fuels Resources (USA) in 2012, I authored the report entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2021.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections 1.1.1.1, 1.1.2.1, 1.3.1- 1.3.7, 2-12, 14, 23, 24, 25.1, and 26.1, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.


Dated this 23rd day of February, 2023

(Signed & Sealed) Mark B. Mathisen

 
Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G.


29.3 R. Dennis Bergen

I, R. Dennis Bergen, P.Eng., as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2022, prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am Associate Principal Mining Engineer with SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd, of Suite 501, 55 University Ave., Toronto, ON  M5J 2H7.

2. I am a graduate of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, in 1979 with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mineral Engineering.  I am a graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby, B.C., Canada, in 1972 with a Diploma in Mining Technology.

3. I am registered as a Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia (Reg. #16064).  I have worked as an engineer for a over 40 years since my graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Practice as a mining engineer, production superintendent, mine manager, Vice President Operations and a consultant in the design, operation, and review of mining operations.

 Review and report, as an employee and as a consultant, on numerous mining operations and projects around the world for due diligence and operational review related to project acquisition and Technical Report preparation.

 Engineering and operating superintendent at the Con gold mine, a deep underground gold mine, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada

 General Manager of the Ketza River Mine, Yukon, Canada

 Vice President Operations in charge of the restart of the Golden Bear Mine, BC, Canada

 General Manager in Charge of the Reopening of the Cantung Mine, NWT, Canada

 Mine Manager at three different mines with open pit and underground operations.

 Consulting engineer (Associate Principal Mining Engineer with RPA, now part of SLR) for over ten years working on project reviews, engineering studies, Mineral Reserve audits, Technical Report preparation, and other studies for a wide range of worldwide projects.

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I have not visited the Pinyon Plain Project.

6. I am responsible for 1.1.1.2, 1.1.2.2, 1.3.8, 1.3.9, 15, 16, 25.2, 26.2 and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.


10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections in the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 23rd day of February, 2023

(Signed & Sealed)R. Dennis Bergen


R. Dennis Bergen, P.Eng.


29.4 Jeffery L. Woods

I, Jeffery L. Woods, MMSA QP, as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2022, prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am Principal Consulting Metallurgist with Woods Process Services, of 1112 Fuggles Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89441.

2. I am a graduate of Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., in 1988 with a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

3. I am a member in good standing of Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, membership #4018591.I have practiced my profession continuously for 34 years since graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Review and report as a consultant on numerous exploration, development, and production mining projects around the world for due diligence and regulatory requirements

 Metallurgical engineering, test work review and development, process operations and metallurgical process analyses, involving copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, uranium, and base metals located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile, Turkey, Cameroon, Peru, Argentina, and Colombia

 Senior Process Engineer for a number of mining-related companies

 Manager and Business Development for a small, privately owned metallurgical testing laboratory in Plano, Texas, USA

 Vice President Process Engineering for at a large copper mining company in Sonora, Mexico

 Global Director Metallurgy and Processing Engineering for a mid-tier international mining company

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I have not visited the Pinyon Plain Project.

6. I am responsible for Section 1.1.1.4, 1.1.1.5, 1.1.2.4, 1.3.3, 1.3.10, 1.3.11, 5.5, 13, 17, 18, 25.3, 25.4, 26.3, and 26.4, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections in the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 23rd day of February, 2023
(Signed & Sealed)Jeffrey L. Woods
Jeffery L. Woods, MMSA QP


29.5 Lee (Pat) Gochnour

I, Lee (Pat) Gochour, MMSA QP (#01160), as an author of this report entitled "Technical Report on the Pre-Feasibility Study on the Pinyon Plain Project, Coconino County, Arizona, USA" with an effective date of December 31, 2022, prepared for Energy Fuels Inc., do hereby certify that:

1. I am Associate Principal Environmental Specialist, and Principal of Gochnour & Associates, Inc. of 915 Fairway Lane, Aberdeen, Washington, 98520.

2. I am a graduate of Eastern Washington University in 1981 with a B.A. in Park Administration and Land Use Planning.

3. I am a member in good standing of Mining and Metallurgical Society of America.  I have practiced my profession continuously for 42 years since graduation.  My relevant experience for the purpose of the Technical Report is:

 Vice President of Environmental Services for Pincock, Allen & Holt

 Corporate Environmental Manager for St. Joe Minerals, Bond International Gold, LAC Minerals and MinVen Gold Corporation

 Environmental audits, permitting programs, developing Plan of Operations and EA/EIS, alternative siting studies, reclamation planning, environmental contingency planning, remediation and environmental litigation support

 Environmental and permitting feasibility support for project financing for domestic and international projects and clients

4. I have read the definition of "qualified person" set out in National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and certify that by reason of my education, affiliation with a professional association (as defined in NI 43-101) and past relevant work experience, I fulfill the requirements to be a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

5. I visited the Pinyon Plain Project on October 27, 2022.

6. I am responsible for Section 1.1.1.5, 1.1.2.5, 1.3.13, 4.3, 20, 25.5, and 26.5, and contributions to Section 27 of the Technical Report.

7. I am independent of the Issuer applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101.

8. I have had no prior involvement with the property that is the subject of the Technical Report.

9. I have read NI 43-101, and the Technical Report has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1.

10. At the effective date of the Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, the Sections in the Technical Report for which I am responsible contain all scientific and technical information that is required to be disclosed to make the Technical Report not misleading.

Dated this 23rd day of February, 2023

(Signed & Sealed) Lee (Pat) Gochnour


Lee (Pat) Gochnour, MMSA QP


30.0 APPENDIX 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Table 30-1: SLR Base Case Cash Flow Summary

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Months INPUTS USD and US Units
UNITS
  TOTAL     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10     11     12     13     14     15     16     17     18  
MINING                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                     
Underground                                                                                                                    
Mine Operating Days days   750     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30  
Tons milled per day (Steady State) tons / day   219                     67     117     35     71     146     292     175     175     175     233     292     233     205     292  
Tons moved per day (Steady State) tons / day   227     116     14     92     214     242     279     221     200     190     292     190     221     186     236     355     233     205     301  
                                                                                                                     
Production dry tons   134,464                     2,013     3,501     1,052     2,138     4,376     8,750     5,250     5,250     5,250     7,000     8,750     7,000     6,164     8,750  
Ore Grade % U3O8   0.58%     0.00%     0.00%     0.00%     0.00%     0.37%     0.37%     0.58%     0.61%     0.61%     0.61%     0.61%     0.61%     0.70%     0.69%     0.68%     0.55%     0.58%     0.57%  
Contained U3O8 tons   784                     8     13     6     13     27     53     32     32     37     48     59     38     36     50  
Waste tons   38,978     3,475     414     2,754     6,426     5,246     4,877     5,582     3,852     1,335         459     1,377     344     66     1,887             267  
Total Moved tons   173,442     3,475     414     2,754     6,426     7,259     8,378     6,634     5,991     5,711     8,750     5,709     6,627     5,594     7,066     10,637     7,000     6,164     9,017  
PROCESSING                                                                                                                      
Ore to Milling and Flotation   dry tons   134,464                     2,013     3,501     1,052     2,138     4,376     8,750     5,250     5,250     5,250     7,000     8,750     7,000     6,164     8,750  
Head Grade U3O8   % U3O8   0.58%     0.00%     0.00%     0.00%     0.00%     0.37%     0.37%     0.58%     0.61%     0.61%     0.61%     0.61%     0.61%     0.70%     0.69%     0.68%     0.55%     0.58%     0.57%  
Contained U3O8   lbs U3O8   1,567,712                     15,051     26,178     12,155     25,972     53,203     106,523     63,914     64,137     73,027     96,548     118,192     76,646     71,868     100,271  
                                                                                                                       
U3O8 Recovery                                                                                                                      
Recovery 96% %   96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%  
Payable U3O8   lbs U3O8   1,505,003                     14,449     25,131     11,669     24,933     51,074     102,262     61,357     61,571     70,105     92,686     113,465     73,581     68,993     96,260  
REVENUE                                                                                                                      
Market Price   Input Units                                                                                                                  
Current Market Price SLR US$/lb U3O8 $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60  
% Sold At Market Price 100%                                                                                                                    
Long‐term Contract Price $0.00 US$/lb U3O8 $   ‐   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
% Sold At Contract Price 0%                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                       
Total Gross Revenue   US$ '000 $ 90,300   $   $   $   $   $ 867   $ 1,508   $ 700   $ 1,496   $ 3,064   $ 6,136   $ 3,681   $ 3,694   $ 4,206   $ 5,561   $ 6,808   $ 4,415   $ 4,140   $ 5,776  
                                                                                                                       
Concentrate Freight $0.18/lb U3O8 US$ '000 $ 263   $   $   $   $   $ 3   $ 4   $ 2   $ 4   $ 9   $ 18   $ 11   $ 11   $ 12   $ 16   $ 20   $ 13   $ 12   $ 17  
Total Charges   US$ '000 $ 263   $   $ -   $   $   $ 3   $ 4   $ 2   $ 4   $ 9   $ 18   $ 11   $ 11   $ 12   $ 16   $ 20   $ 13   $ 12   $ 17  
                                                                                                                       
Gross Less Charges   US$ '000 $ 90,037   $   $   $   $   $ 864   $ 1,503   $ 698   $ 1,492   $ 3,056   $ 6,118   $ 3,671   $ 3,683   $ 4,194   $ 5,545   $ 6,788   $ 4,402   $ 4,128   $ 5,759  
Royalty $1.88/t milled US$ '000 $ 253   $   $   $   $   $ 3   $ 5   $ 2   $ 4   $ 8   $ 17   $ 10   $ 10   $ 12   $ 15   $ 19   $ 12   $ 11   $ 16  
                                                                                                                       
Net Smelter Return   US$ '000 $ 89,783   $   $   $   $   $ 862   $ 1,499   $ 696   $ 1,487   $ 3,047   $ 6,101   $ 3,661   $ 3,673   $ 4,183   $ 5,530   $ 6,769   $ 4,390   $ 4,116   $ 5,743  
Unit NSR   US$ / t milled $ 0.67   $   $   $   $   $ 0.43   $ 0.43   $ 0.66   $ 0.70   $ 0.70   $ 0.70   $ 0.70   $ 0.70   $ 0.80   $ 0.79   $ 0.77   $ 0.63   $ 0.67   $ 0.66  
OPERATING COST                                                                                                                      
Underground Mining Cost $101.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00  
Ore Trucking Cost $72.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00  
WMM Milling & Processing $192.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00  
G&A $7.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00  
Total Unit Operating Cost   US$/t milled $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00  
                                                                                                                       
Underground Mining Cost   US$ '000 $ 13,581   $   $   $   $   $ 203   $ 354   $ 106   $ 216   $ 442   $ 884   $ 530   $ 530   $ 530   $ 707   $ 884   $ 707   $ 623   $ 884  
Ore Trucking Cost   US$ '000 $ 9,681   $   $   $   $   $ 145   $ 252   $ 76   $ 154   $ 315   $ 630   $ 378   $ 378   $ 378   $ 504   $ 630   $ 504   $ 444   $ 630  
Milling & Processing   US$ '000 $ 25,817   $   $   $   $   $ 387   $ 672   $ 202   $ 411   $ 840   $ 1,680   $ 1,008   $ 1,008   $ 1,008   $ 1,344   $ 1,680   $ 1,344   $ 1,183   $ 1,680  
G&A   US$ '000 $ 941   $   $   $   $   $ 14   $ 25   $ 7   $ 15   $ 31   $ 61   $ 37   $ 37   $ 37   $ 49   $ 61   $ 49   $ 43   $ 61  
Subtotal Operating Cost   US$ '000 $ 50,021   $   $   $   $   $ 749   $ 1,303   $ 391   $ 795   $ 1,628   $ 3,255   $ 1,953   $ 1,953   $ 1,953   $ 2,604   $ 3,255   $ 2,604   $ 2,293   $ 3,255  
AZ Severance Tax 1.25% US$ '000 $ 497   $   $   $   $   $ 1   $ 2   $ 4   $ 9   $ 18   $ 36   $ 21   $ 22   $ 28   $ 37   $ 44   $ 22   $ 23   $ 31  
Total Operating Cost with Severance Tax   US$ '000 $ 50,518   $   $   $   $   $ 750   $ 1,305   $ 395   $ 804   $ 1,646   $ 3,291   $ 1,974   $ 1,975   $ 1,981   $ 2,641   $ 3,299   $ 2,626   $ 2,316   $ 3,286  
                                                                                                                       
Unit Operating Cost   US$/t milled $ 372   $   $   $   $   $ 373   $ 373   $ 376   $ 376   $ 376   $ 376   $ 376   $ 376   $ 377   $ 377   $ 377   $ 375   $ 376   $ 376  
Operating Margin   US$ '000 $ 39,266   $   $   $   $   $ 111   $ 194   $ 301   $ 683   $ 1,401   $ 2,810   $ 1,686   $ 1,699   $ 2,202   $ 2,889   $ 3,470   $ 1,763   $ 1,800   $ 2,457  
CAPITAL COST                                                                                                                      
Direct Cost                                                                                                                      
Mine Development $1200/ft US$ '000 $ 3,799   $ 509   $ 61   $ 403   $ 941   $ 970   $ 916                                                                          
Loadout Installation   US$ '000 $ 129         $ 129                                                                                                  
UG Mine Equip.   US$ '000 $ 590   $   $ 166   $ 90   $ 240   $   $ 74   $   $   $ 10   $   $   $ 10   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Ventilation Fans   US$ '000 $ 1,726   $   $   $   $   $   $   $ 1,726   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Ventilation Raise   US$ '000 $ 1,219   $   $   $   $   $   $ 432   $ 787   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Surface Infrastructure   US$ '000 $ 140   $   $   $ 140   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Total Direct Cost   US$ '000 $ 7,603   $ 509   $ 355   $ 633   $ 1,181   $ 970   $ 1,422   $ 2,513   $   $ 10   $   $   $ 10   $   $   $   $   $   $  
                                                                                                                       
Other Costs Incl. Above                                                                                                                    
EPCM / Owners / Indirect Cost   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Subtotal Costs   US$ '000 $ 7,603   $ 509   $ 355   $ 633   $ 1,181   $ 970   $ 1,422   $ 2,513   $   $ 10   $   $   $ 10   $   $   $   $   $   $  
                                                                                                                       
Contingency 15% US$ '000 $ 1,145   $ 77   $ 54   $ 95   $ 178   $ 146   $ 214   $ 379   $   $ 2   $   $   $ 2   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Initial Capital Cost   US$ '000 $ 8,748   $ 585   $ 409   $ 729   $ 1,359   $ 1,116   $ 1,636   $ 2,892   $   $ 12   $   $   $ 12   $   $   $   $   $   $  
                                                                                                                       
Sustaining   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Working Capital   US$ '000 $ (0 ) $   $   $   $   $ 118   $ 87   $ 103   $ 392   $ 736   $ 1,444   $ (1,152 ) $ 13   $ 512   $ 704   $ 596   $ (1,742 ) $ 36   $ 674  
Reclamation   US$ '000 $ 1,407   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Total Capital Cost   US$ '000 $ 10,155   $ 585   $ 409   $ 729   $ 1,359   $ 1,234   $ 1,723   $ 2,995   $ 392   $ 748   $ 1,444   $ (1,152 ) $ 24   $ 512   $ 704   $ 596   $ (1,742 ) $ 36   $ 674  
PRE‐TAX CASH FLOW             (600 )   (419 )   (747 )   (1,393 )   (1,151 )   (1,571 )   (2,768 )   292     654     1,366     2,839     1,674     1,690     2,185     2,875     3,505     1,765     1,783  
Net Pre-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000 $ 29,110   $ (585 ) $ (409 ) $ (729 ) $ (1,359 ) $ (1,122 ) $ (1,529 ) $ (2,694 ) $ 292   $ 654   $ 1,366   $ 2,839   $ 1,674   $ 1,690   $ 2,185   $ 2,875   $ 3,505   $ 1,765   $ 1,783  
Cumulative Pre-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000       $ (585 ) $ (994 ) $ (1,723 ) $ (3,081 ) $ (4,204 ) $ (5,733 ) $ (8,428 ) $ (8,136 ) $ (7,482 ) $ (6,116 ) $ (3,277 ) $ (1,603 ) $ 87   $ 2,272   $ 5,147   $ 8,652   $ 10,417   $ 12,199  
                                                                                                                       
Taxes 15.4% US$ '000 $ 6,046   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $ 45   $ 101   $ 210   $ 437   $ 258   $ 260   $ 337   $ 443   $ 540   $ 272   $ 275  
                                                                                                                       
After-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000 $ 23,064   $ (585 ) $ (409 ) $ (729 ) $ (1,359 ) $ (1,122 ) $ (1,529 ) $ (2,694 ) $ 247   $ 553   $ 1,156   $ 2,401   $ 1,417   $ 1,429   $ 1,849   $ 2,432   $ 2,966   $ 1,493   $ 1,508  
Cumulative After-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000       $ (585 ) $ (994 ) $ (1,723 ) $ (3,081 ) $ (4,204 ) $ (5,733 ) $ (8,428 ) $ (8,181 ) $ (7,628 ) $ (6,472 ) $ (4,071 ) $ (2,654 ) $ (1,225 ) $ 624   $ 3,056   $ 6,022   $ 7,515   $ 9,023  
PROJECT ECONOMICS                
Pre‐Tax IRR   %   14%  
Pre‐tax NPV at 5% discounting 5% US$ '000 $ 26,682  
Pre‐tax NPV at 8% discounting 8% US$ '000 $ 25,318  
Pre‐tax NPV at 12% discounting 12% US$ '000 $ 23,602  
           
After‐Tax IRR   %   12%  
After‐Tax NPV at 5% discounting 5% US$ '000 $ 21,072  
After‐Tax NPV at 8% discounting 8% US$ '000 $ 19,954  
After‐tax NPV at 12% discounting 12% US$ '000 $ 18,545  
PROJECT CASH COSTS                                                                                                                      
Operating Cash Costs $/lb U3O8   33.91     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     52.29     52.29     34.21     32.59     32.56     32.52     32.52     32.41     28.59     28.83     29.41     36.03     33.91     34.48  
All‐in Sustaining Costs $/lb U3O8   34.84     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     60.46     55.76     43.07     48.30     46.97     46.64     13.74     32.62     35.90     36.42     34.66     12.36     34.42     41.48  
All‐in Costs $/lb U3O8   40.66     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     137.68     120.86     290.91     48.30     47.20     46.64     13.74     32.80     35.90     36.42     34.66     12.36     34.42     41.48  
WORKING CAPITAL                                                                                                                      
Accounts Receivable 30 Days O/S   (0 )                   867     641     (808 )   796     1,569     3,071     (2,454 )   13     512     1,355     1,247     (2,393 )   (275 )   1,636  
Accounts Payable 30 Days O/S   0                     749     554     (911 )   404     832     1,627     (1,302 )           651     651     (651 )   (311 )   962  
Working Capital Adjustments       (0 )                   118     87     103     392     736     1,444     (1,152 )   13     512     704     596     (1,742 )   36     674  


Table 30-1: SLR Base Case Cash Flow Summary - con't

Energy Fuels Inc. - Pinyon Plain Project

Months INPUTS USD and US Units
UNITS
 
19
   
20
   
21
   
22
   
23
   
24
   
25
   
26
   
27
   
28
   
29
   
30
 
MINING                                                                                                             
                                                                           
Underground                                                                          
Mine Operating Days days   30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30     30  
Tons milled per day (Steady State) tons / day   175     233     233     233     175     175     175     233     242     81     18      
Tons moved per day (Steady State) tons / day   175     233     233     233     175     175     175     233     257     86     18      
                                                                           
Production dry tons   5,250     7,000     7,000     7,000     5,250     5,250     5,250     7,000     7,264     2,426     530      
Ore Grade % U3O8   0.59%     0.69%     0.69%     0.64%     0.58%     0.58%     0.49%     0.48%     0.46%     0.19%     0.19%     0.00%  
Contained U3O8 tons   31     48     48     45     31     31     26     34     34     5     1      
Waste tons                                   459     157          
Total Moved tons   5,250     7,000     7,000     7,000     5,250     5,250     5,250     7,000     7,723     2,583     530      
PROCESSING                                                                            
Ore to Milling and Flotation   dry tons   5,250     7,000     7,000     7,000     5,250     5,250     5,250     7,000     7,264     2,426     530      
Head Grade U3O8   % U3O8   0.59%     0.69%     0.69%     0.64%     0.58%     0.58%     0.49%     0.48%     0.46%     0.19%     0.19%     0.00%  
Contained U3O8   lbs U3O8   62,017     96,553     96,553     89,339     61,263     61,263     51,143     67,396     67,480     9,046     1,975      
                                                                             
U3O8 Recovery                                                                            
Recovery 96% %   96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%     96%  
Payable U3O8   lbs U3O8   59,536     92,691     92,691     85,765     58,812     58,812     49,098     64,700     64,781     8,684     1,896      
REVENUE                                                                            
Market Price Input Units                                                                        
Current Market Price SLR US$/lb U3O8 $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60   $ 60  
% Sold At Market Price 100%                                                                          
Long‐term Contract Price $0.00 US$/lb U3O8 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
% Sold At Contract Price 0%                                                                          
                                                                             
Total Gross Revenue   US$ '000 $ 3,572   $ 5,561   $ 5,561   $ 5,146   $ 3,529   $ 3,529   $ 2,946   $ 3,882   $ 3,887   $ 521   $ 114   $  
                                                                             
Concentrate Freight $0.18/lb U3O8 US$ '000 $ 10   $ 16   $ 16   $ 15   $ 10   $ 10   $ 9   $ 11   $ 11   $ 2   $ 0   $  
Total Charges   US$ '000 $ 10   $ 16   $ 16   $ 15   $ 10   $ 10   $ 9   $ 11   $ 11   $ 2   $ 0   $  
                                                                             
Gross Less Charges   US$ '000 $ 3,562   $ 5,545   $ 5,545   $ 5,131   $ 3,518   $ 3,518   $ 2,937   $ 3,871   $ 3,876   $ 520   $ 113   $  
                                                                             
Royalty $1.88/t milled US$ '000 $ 10   $ 15   $ 15   $ 14   $ 10   $ 10   $ 9   $ 12   $ 12   $ 2   $ 0   $  
                                                                             
Net Smelter Return   US$ '000 $ 3,552   $ 5,530   $ 5,530   $ 5,117   $ 3,509   $ 3,509   $ 2,928   $ 3,859   $ 3,864   $ 518   $ 113   $  
Unit NSR   US$ / t milled $ 0.68   $ 0.79   $ 0.79   $ 0.73   $ 0.67   $ 0.67   $ 0.56   $ 0.55   $ 0.53   $ 0.21   $ 0.21   $  
OPERATING COST                                                                            
Underground Mining Cost $101.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00   $ 101.00  
Ore Trucking Cost $72.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00   $ 72.00  
WMM Milling & Processing $192.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00   $ 192.00  
G&A $7.00/t milled US$/t milled $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00   $ 7.00  
Total Unit Operating Cost   US$/t milled $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00   $ 372.00  
                                                                             
Underground Mining Cost   US$ '000 $ 530   $ 707   $ 707   $ 707   $ 530   $ 530   $ 530   $ 707   $ 734   $ 245   $ 54   $  
Ore Trucking Cost   US$ '000 $ 378   $ 504   $ 504   $ 504   $ 378   $ 378   $ 378   $ 504   $ 523   $ 175   $ 38   $  
Milling & Processing   US$ '000 $ 1,008   $ 1,344   $ 1,344   $ 1,344   $ 1,008   $ 1,008   $ 1,008   $ 1,344   $ 1,395   $ 466   $ 102   $  
G&A   US$ '000 $ 37   $ 49   $ 49   $ 49   $ 37   $ 37   $ 37   $ 49   $ 51   $ 17   $ 4   $  
Subtotal Operating Cost   US$ '000 $ 1,953   $ 2,604   $ 2,604   $ 2,604   $ 1,953   $ 1,953   $ 1,953   $ 2,604   $ 2,702   $ 903   $ 197   $  
AZ Severance Tax 1.25% US$ '000 $ 20   $ 37   $ 37   $ 31   $ 19   $ 19   $ 12   $ 16   $ 15   $ (5 ) $ (1 ) $  
Total Operating Cost with Severance Tax   US$ '000 $ 1,973   $ 2,641   $ 2,641   $ 2,635   $ 1,972   $ 1,972   $ 1,965   $ 2,620   $ 2,717   $ 898   $ 196   $  
                                                                             
Unit Operating Cost   US$/t milled $ 376   $ 377   $ 377   $ 376   $ 376   $ 376   $ 374   $ 374   $ 374   $ 370   $ 370   $  
                                                                             
Operating Margin   US$ '000 $ 1,579   $ 2,889   $ 2,889   $ 2,481   $ 1,536   $ 1,536   $ 963   $ 1,239   $ 1,147   $ (380 ) $ (83 ) $  
CAPITAL COST                                                                            
Direct Cost                                                                            
Mine Development $1200/ft US$ '000                                                                        
Loadout Installation   US$ '000                                                                        
UG Mine Equip.   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Ventilation Fans   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Ventilation Raise   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Surface Infrastructure   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Total Direct Cost   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
                                                                             
Other Costs Incl. Above                                                                          
EPCM / Owners / Indirect Cost   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Subtotal Costs   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
                                                                             
Contingency 15% US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Initial Capital Cost   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
                                                                             
Sustaining   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $  
Working Capital   US$ '000 $ (901 ) $ 1,338   $   $ (416 ) $ (966 ) $   $ (583 ) $ 285   $ (93 ) $ (1,566 ) $ 298   $ 83  
Reclamation   US$ '000 $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $   $ 75   $ 75   $ 75   $ 75  
Total Capital Cost   US$ '000 $ (901 ) $ 1,338   $   $ (416 ) $ (966 ) $   $ (583 ) $ 285   $ (18 ) $ (1,491 ) $ 373   $ 158  
PRE‐TAX CASH FLOW       2,480     1,551     2,889     2,897     2,502     1,536     1,546     954     1,165     1,111     (456 )   (158 )
Net Pre-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000 $ 2,480   $ 1,551   $ 2,889   $ 2,897   $ 2,502   $ 1,536   $ 1,546   $ 954   $ 1,165   $ 1,111   $ (456 ) $ (158 )
Cumulative Pre-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000 $ 14,680   $ 16,231   $ 19,120   $ 22,017   $ 24,520   $ 26,056   $ 27,602   $ 28,556   $ 29,721   $ 30,832   $ 30,376   $ 30,218  
                                                                             
Taxes 15.4% US$ '000 $ 382   $ 239   $ 445   $ 446   $ 385   $ 237   $ 238   $ 147   $ 179   $ 171   $   $  
                                                                             
After-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000 $ 2,098   $ 1,312   $ 2,444   $ 2,451   $ 2,117   $ 1,300   $ 1,308   $ 807   $ 986   $ 940   $ (456 ) $ (158 )
Cumulative After-Tax Cashflow   US$ '000 $ 11,121   $ 12,434   $ 14,878   $ 17,329   $ 19,446   $ 20,745   $ 22,053   $ 22,860   $ 23,846   $ 24,786   $ 24,330   $ 24,172  
PROJECT ECONOMICS          
Pre‐Tax IRR   %
Pre‐tax NPV at 5% discounting 5% US$ '000
Pre‐tax NPV at 8% discounting 8% US$ '000
Pre‐tax NPV at 12% discounting 12% US$ '000
     
After‐Tax IRR   %
After‐Tax NPV at 5% discounting 5% US$ '000
After‐Tax NPV at 8% discounting 8% US$ '000
After‐tax NPV at 12% discounting 12% US$ '000
PROJECT CASH COSTS                                                                            
Operating Cash Costs $/lb U3O8   33.48     28.83     28.83     31.07     33.88     33.88     40.39     40.85     42.30     103.76     103.76     0.00  
All‐in Sustaining Costs $/lb U3O8   18.34     43.27     28.83     26.22     17.45     33.88     28.51     45.26     42.01     ‐67.97     300.56     0.00  
All‐in Costs $/lb U3O8   18.34     43.27     28.83     26.22     17.45     33.88     28.51     45.26     42.01     ‐67.97     300.56     0.00  
WORKING CAPITAL                                                                            
Accounts Receivable 30 Days O/S   (2,203 )   1,989         (416 )   (1,617 )       (583 )   936     5     (3,366 )   (407 )   (114 )
Accounts Payable 30 Days O/S   (1,302 )   651             (651 )           651     98     (1,800 )   (705 )   (197 )
Working Capital Adjustments       (901 )   1,338         (416 )   (966 )       (583 )   285     (93 )   (1,566 )   298     83