Metallica Minerals has increased its mineral resource by 40 per cent at its Cape Flattery silica sand project in Queensland, increasing confidence in its value to a growing market.
Metallica began 2021 with an inferred resource of 12.85 million tonnes (Mt) of silica sand, before an announcement in March almost tripled that figure to 38.3Mt.
Now, after another successful drilling program in August with industrial mineral specialist Ausrocks, this figure has risen once more to 53.5Mt of silica sand.
The quality of the resource has also risen marginally to an average of 99.19 per cent silicon dioxide.
Metallica executive chairman Theo Psaros said these results bolstered the future of the project as Australia holds its place as the fifth largest exporter of silica sands.
“The combined measured and indicated components of the total resource confirms our confidence and are a major milestone as we progress the development of our high quality silica sand project,” Psaros said.
“We continue to receive positive interest from international and domestic parties for quality silica sand.
“This does not surprise us based on forecast growth in the global demand for premium product.”
Such high quality sand can be used in a range of products such as flooring, mortars, cement and asphalt.
Psaros also recognised the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Cape Flattery project lies.
“These results were achieved with the significant support and effort of representatives of the key clans whose shared land includes the project area,” Psaros said.
“A team comprising representatives from the Dingaal Clan and Nguurruumungu Clan worked tirelessly on the drilling program.”
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