Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX:SUV) has passed a milestone with the production of High Reactivity Metakaolin (HRM) from Gabbin Kaolin Deposit, 215 kilometres northeast of Perth in Western Australia.
The Gabbin HRM product was measured at 97.8%, showing equivalent or better quality than other Metakaolin products currently sold.
HRM is in high demand for use in fast emerging low-carbon, high-performance cement and concrete.
Moving forward, samples are being sent to offtake partners for verification.
“Potential partners aligned”
Suvo non-executive chairman Henk Ludik said: “The successful bulk sample production of High Reactivity Metakaolin from our Gabbin deposit is an excellent result, which allows us to commence meaningful discussions with potential partners aligned with greening the cement and concrete sectors.
“On the back of the company’s recent decision to calcine kaolin supplied from our Pittong operation in Victoria, we see this as a crucial step towards diversifying Suvo’s product basket and meeting demand for commodities with application in industrial emission reduction initiatives.”
Gabbin HRM product
The Gabbin sample was prepared by global cement technology specialist FLSmidth using its flash calciner, at its Bethlehem laboratory in the US.
While the commonly defined indicator of acceptable performance for HRM is based on a 90% total of silicon dioxide, aluminium oxide and iron oxide, the Gabbin sample was measured at 97.8%.
Additionally, the Gabbin product was found to contain low quantities of certain oxides responsible for discolouration, meaning it has the potential to be used for the production of whiter concrete demonstrating potential applications for high-end architectural design.
FLSmidth also found the caustic reactivity of the Gabbin HRM to be significantly higher than the minimum required of a pozzolan to effectively react with free lime to produce additional cementitious material.
Consequently, this reactivity leads to substantial benefits in strength improvement, resistance to chemical corrosion and prevention of alkali-silica reaction and efflorescence.
HRM potential
High-quality HRM is used in the cement industry as an additive, or pozzolan, for ultra-high performance, high-strength and lightweight applications.
As a partial replacement for the traditional 'clinker' binding agent, HRM has the potential to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions in cement manufacturing.
Cement production is estimated to contribute 8% of global CO2 emissions, about the same carbon footprint as the global car fleet.
Metakaolin has been used by the cement industry for over 50 years as a pozzolanic to drastically reduce porosity, increase compressive and flexural strength, and offer greater durability and control of concrete breakdown caused by alkali-silica and other aggressive substance reactions.