Shield looks to uranium in Mauritania

West Perth-based African-focused gold and base metals explorer Shield Mining Ltd has applied for six uranium tenements alongside its existing gold and base metal licences in Mauritania.

The full text of a company announcement is pasted below

Shield Mining Limited (ASX:SHX) is expanding its African mineral exploration interests to take in uranium opportunities.

The Company announced today that it had applied for 6 new uranium licences in Mauritania in the general tenement area of its existing gold and base metal licences in the country.

Five of these new uranium applications, numbered ELA504 to 508, with a total area of 5883 km2, generally cover the existing Conchita Florence licences in the north of Mauritania. Application ELA 503, with an area of 1381 km2, covers the Saboussiri joint venture licence in the south of the country. These applications are for Group 4 - Uranium.

Gold & base metals are in Group 2 and licences may be held by different parties for different groups of metals over the same area under Mauritanian law.

"By applying for these licences, Shield is both protecting and enhancing its mining interests in Mauritania and will be exploring for uranium as part of our expanding gold and base metal exploration programs. There is significant current interest in Mauritania's uranium potential and many licences have already been granted," Shield Mining's Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Netherway, said today.