Allup Silica Ltd (ASX:APS) has completed a resource upgrade for the Sparkler A Silica Sands Exploration Project in Western Australia, which provides encouragement for further work to reduce iron content and increase the potential purity of the final processed products.
The updated inferred mineral resource estimate, based on the most recent drilling and metallurgical results, reclassified into three sand fraction characterisations, has been updated to:
- 70 million inferred tonnes at 96.84% silicon dioxide and 0.34% (3400ppm) iron oxide in-situ bulk mineral resource.
- 37 million inferred tonnes at 99.66% silicon dioxide and 0.02% (200ppm) iron oxide in sand fractions (0.106mm – 0.6mm).
- 25 million inferred tonnes at 99.67% silicon dioxide and 0.03% (300ppm) iron oxide in coarse sand fractions (+0.6mm).
- 4 million inferred tonnes at 97.70% silicon dioxide and 0.41% (4,100ppm) iron oxide in fine sand fraction.
Encouragingly, the improved confidence in the updated inferred resource estimate provides encouragement for further work to reduce iron content and increase the potential purity of the final processed products.
“Validate strong held hope and belief”
Allup chairperson Andrew Haythorpe said: “Allup is very encouraged by these results as in many ways they validate our strong held hope and belief for this project.
“We are currently exploring further at both the Sparkler B and Sparkler C locations looking for much of the same outstanding potential."
Sparkler A Silica Sand Exploration Project inferred mineral resource estimate.
Metallurgical test-work
A composite sample from four drill holes (UAC020, UAC021, UAC033 and UAC040) was submitted for metallurgical test-work carried out by Nagrom Laboratories, Perth.
The initial test-work consisted of a sizing analysis followed by wet screening. Additional test-work was conducted on the sand fraction 0.106mm-0.6mm. This work consisted of attrition analysis, heavy liquid separation (HLS) and magnetic separation.
From the testing, it has been shown that the finished product at a target sand fraction of 0.106mm-0.6mm is suitable for high-quality glass manufacturing.
The metallurgical test-work shows that magnetic separation samples yielded 99.465% to 99.774% silicon dioxide and 80ppm to 290ppm iron oxide across the four samples.
About the project
The Sparkler Silica Sands Exploration Project’s sites are about 300 kilometres south of Perth in Western Australia’s southwest region.
This region has well-established infrastructure for the benefit of local industry, agriculture and the community.
The Sparkler Project encompasses three granted exploration licences - E70/5447 (Sparkler A), E70/5527 (Sparkler B) and E70/5920 (Sparkler C).
The location is accessible via all-weather sealed highways and major roads, while the tenement areas can be reached via some sealed gravel/sand access roads.
Local roads, some of which may need to be upgraded to support future operations, are typically accessible and suitable for exploration teams and associated equipment.