Anfield Energy Inc. has completed the first underground blast in nearly 40 years at its Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium project in San Juan County, Utah, following the receipt of a federal blast permit in June 2026.

The blast marks a key milestone in the ongoing underground rehabilitation and development program at the project, where Anfield has now rehabilitated the first 700 feet of the decline. Completed work in the decline includes rock bolting and wire mesh installation for ground support, road building, mucking, surveying, and the installation of essential mine ventilation and utilities such as a primary surface ventilation fan, air compressors, and electrical infrastructure.

Construction of the water treatment plant and installation of the dewatering pump are also nearing completion. Anfield expects to begin testing and sampling of the facility within the coming weeks. The system will undergo a 60-day testing and reporting period to confirm its effectiveness before the company advances to dewatering the historic underground workings. Anfield expects the remaining decline to dewater within three weeks of active operations, while clearing the existing underground workings will require two to three months.

The Velvet-Wood mine last produced commercially in 1984 before the current underground rehabilitation program got underway. Development work at the site supports Anfield’s hub-and-spoke production strategy centered on the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Utah, with the company also aiming to secure its final radioactive materials license renewal for the mill by the end of 2026.

“Completing the first underground blast at Velvet-Wood since the mid-1980s, following the receipt of our ATF blast permit in June, is a concrete step in rehabilitating the decline and moving the project toward dewatering of the historic workings. The water treatment plant and dewatering pump are nearly complete, which gives us a defined path to the next phase of underground development. Continued engagement from Utah state and local officials underscores support for responsible development of domestic uranium and vanadium resources. We remain focused on advancing Velvet-Wood as a key component of our hub-and-spoke strategy centered on the Shootaring Canyon Mill.”

— Corey Dias, CEO of Anfield

The ongoing rehabilitation activities at Velvet-Wood and the planned reactivation of the Shootaring Canyon Mill form the core of Anfield’s strategy to establish a near-term domestic supply of uranium and vanadium.

Read the full announcement: Anfield Energy Completes First Underground Blast in Nearly 40 Years at Velvet-Wood Mine