Thor Energy has secured approvals for drilling at its 100%-owned Wedding Bell and Radium Mountain projects in south-west Colorado, US.

With the approval and permits in place, the company will start the planned drilling programme at the priority uranium and vanadium prospects in the Wedding Bell and Radium Mountain projects.

The drilling programme will follow up on the successful 2022 programme targeting the uranium and vanadium host Salt Wash Sandstone in the Morrison Formation.

The projects are located in the historic uranium-vanadium mining district within the Uravan Mineral Belt.

Intended to further advance the uranium and vanadium projects, the proposed 4,000m programme involves drilling along strike of the mineralisation at Rim Rock and Groundhog, targeting airborne uranium anomalies.

The programme will also include assessing the underexplored Section 23 area, where uranium and vanadium prospectivity was confirmed during the drilling of the area in 2022.

Thor Energy managing director Nicole Galloway Warland said: “Thor is delighted to now have all approvals in place to commence our proposed upcoming drilling programme at our priority uranium and vanadium prospects at the Wedding Bell and Radium Mountain projects. We are excited as the news aligns with our green energy strategy.

“It has been a great effort by the Thor team and the supportive local communities, enabling us to now move forward with final drill site preparations, ready for the drill rig in September.”

Thor is currently undertaking field assessment over the airborne uranium anomalies that were identified by recently completed radiometric surveys at the project areas.

Warland added: “In the meantime, Thor is on the ground actively following up on our identified uranium anomalies from the recently completed magnetic and radiometric surveys. Each anomaly is being mapped, sampled and ranked for potential drill testing.”

Thor Energy has selected Boart Longyear as a drilling contractor and drilling work is planned to start next month.