Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) continues to advance its critical minerals projects while the business raises capital by way of a share purchase plan (SPP).
The company believes that the successful monetisation of its exploration portfolio could be vital for securing critical minerals for global economies.
The portfolio comprises 22 exploration licences and one mining licence across South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Within this portfolio, Archer has exploration exposure to graphite, kaolin (feedstock for high purity alumina), nickel, gold, cobalt, copper, tin, tungsten, manganese and magnesium.
Archer has more recently been focused on its Campoona Graphite Project and two kaolin projects in South Australia as well as its Mt Keith Nickel Project in Western Australia.
Campoona has high-spec graphite on granted mining licence
Archer has identified high-quality flake graphite within its Campoona project, which includes a granted mining lease.
Campoona’s graphite is structurally near-perfect down to the atomic scale making it a compelling product for industries such as lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
The company aims to pursue a downstream partnership and development opportunities with the likes of lithium-ion battery manufacturers and other high-end graphite or grapheme users.
In early December 2019, Archer submitted its program for environment protection and rehabilitation (PEPR) as part of its path to development.
Notably, the PEPR allows for a 60-tonne bulk sample to be collected, which Archer can use to explore downstream opportunities.
Kaolin projects to feed growing HPA industry
Archer also continues to advance its Franklyn Halloysite-Kaolin Project and Eyre Peninsula Halloysite-Kaolin Project in South Australia.
Halloysite and kaolin are both aluminium-rich clays and potential feedstocks for high-purity alumina (HPA) processing plants.
Exploration to date at both projects has revealed large-scale resource potential represented by JORC Exploration Targets for kaolin.
Drilling commenced in mid-November 2019 and was designed to confirm the extent and quality of the kaolin mineralisation and to collect a bulk sample for further testing.
Archer’s executive chairman Greg English said: “Franklyn and Eyre Peninsula are both large projects with early regional exploration results showing the potential to expand these projects further.
“Both projects are ideally located to existing infrastructure and easily accessed by existing roads and tracks thereby making exploration easier and relatively low cost.
“In addition to the presence of a large kaolin exploration target, the confirmation of the presence of halloysite at both the Franklyn and Eyre Peninsula projects increases the potential of these projects.”
As per the map below, the Eyre Peninsula project comprises both the Kelly Tank and Bunora prospects and the Franklyn project has the single Franklyn prospect.
Albion Downs Nickel Project near operating mine
During 2019, Archer discovered nickel sulphide drill targets at its Albion Downs Nickel Project, 18 kilometres from BHP Billiton’s Mt Keith Nickel Mine in Western Australia.
Historical work found that the same types of rocks containing nickel compounds were present at the nearby Mt Keith nickel mine.
Positively, Albion Downs is naturally close to infrastructure due to the nearby mine.
The map bellows shows the Albion Downs exploration licence and nearby nickel resources.