Equity Metals Corporation (TSX-V:EQTY, OTCQB:EQMEF) reports analyses and initial test work on its 100% controlled La Ronge Silica project, a sand quarry in central Saskatchewan, around 60 kilometers (km) south-southeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and 210 km west of Flin Flon, Manitoba.
The Vancouver-based company said preliminary studies indicate the silica deposit may be developed into a simple and profitable, low-cost mining and washing operation to produce high-purity silica (>98% SiO2), a specialty product.
The sand can be mined “very efficiently” due to its unconsolidated nature, said the company. High-purity silica can be converted into silicon, which is being tested by the electric-car industry to replace, or augment carbon in battery anodes to dramatically extend the time between charging. Other possible conventional uses exist in the ceramics and glass industries.
Equity Metals acquired the lease as possible fracking sand but never mined the deposit. Historic mining was minimal, and the extent of the silica deposit is open in all directions and at depth, noted the company. Equity recognized the purity of the silica and its potential use as a low-cost material to produce silicon for the expected increase in demand due to electrification requirements.
In October 2021, Equity initiated a sampling program to evaluate the deposit. Ten representative sites were sampled within the quarry, and sufficient material was collected to derive an average purity of the sand.
The samples were first analyzed by whole-rock analysis for silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), loss-on-ignition, organic material (LOI) and other elements. Average results of the 10 samples indicated 96.2% SiO2 and over 2% Al2O3, said the company.
Assuming that much of the Al2O3 was in the form of clay and that LOI represented organics, a process was developed to wash all 10 samples in the lab and then to re-analyze the residual sample by whole-rock analysis. The result produced an average of 98.1% SiO2, with a range of 96.1 - 99.2%, and with 0.98% Al2O3 and less than 0.1% LOI.
The company explained that the washing process lost a relatively minor percentage of the original samples, approximately 12% of the total sample (2% clay + LOI and 10% SiO2 lost). X-ray diffraction (XRD) has determined that 100% of the material identified by XRD is quartz.
In a statement, Equity Metals President Joe Kizis, said: "Our Silver Queen precious/base-metal property in British Columbia will remain Equity's main focus. However, these results from the La Ronge Silica property are very encouraging and suggest it may become a "third leg" value to Equity, in addition to Silver Queen and the diamond properties.”
He added: "The electric vehicle industry recognizes the need to reduce frequency of battery charging in order to be widely accepted by the general public, and much progress on that front has been reported recently by adding silicon.”
Kizis noted that “high-purity silica is the feedstock to produce silicon,” and now that Equity Metals has “this positive test work,” it can investigate potential markets and partnerships for this specialty silica product.
Equity Metals' two major mineral properties are the Silver Queen gold-silver-copper-zinc-copper project, in central BC, and the Monument Diamond project in Lac De Gras, in Canada. The company also has a 1% royalty and a 100% working interest in the La Ronge Silica project.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive