Allup Silica is rapidly ticking boxes at its Sparkler project in the South-West of WA as it readies the silica sands project for a mining licence which it will apply for next quarter. The company has appointed the South-West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council to undertake a Heritage Survey and it has also just wrapped up an auger drilling campaign at its Dune Buggy and Pink Bark projects near Esperance with some success.
Air-core drilling is now planned at Dune Buggy and Pink Bark with a view to tabling a maiden resource.
Allup also announced it has received heritage survey approval for Pink Bark, just north of Grass Patch.
Dune Buggy boasts a type of silica sand that is heavily mineralised with calcium carbonate. Allup’s plan is to establish a metallurgical processing solution that separates the silica and calcium carbonate into two product streams – a high-grade silica sand for the photovoltaic industry and high-grade calcium carbonate, potentially for the local agricultural market as a soil conditioner.
The hand auger campaigns at Dune Buggy and Pink Bark were aimed at verifying and adding geological context to the company’s current exploratory work and management says they have outlined some high-priority targets for follow-up resource drilling.
Allup says reconnaissance trips were also conducted to advance discussions with landholders and the company has initiated talks with local heritage and environmental groups. The company reports “significant progress” was made with Native Title and heritage groups, noting it has received approval for a Heritage Survey at Pink Bark.
The company is progressing its various projects on a number of fronts with Sparkler currently the front runner as the company gets set to apply for a mining licence for it.
Sparkler is in the State’s South-West, approximately 300km south of Perth and 150km from Albany.
Allup says the area chosen for the mine application at Sparkler will support its rapid development strategy and minimise roadblocks. It is on a property over which Allup already enjoys a Land Access and Compensation Agreement and management says it maintains a strong working relationship with the property owners. Importantly, given the proposed “disturbance footprint” comprises cleared farmland, there is no need to clear any native vegetation.
Allup managing director, Andrew Haythorpe said: “Allup is making significant progress across its project portfolio and we are seeing good results. Heritage Survey engagement and approvals to operate validates our strategy of conducting business in a compliant and considerate manner for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Allup is starting to hit its straps now having only listed on the ASX board in May last year after raising $5 million in an IPO for its silica sands goals.
The company chose silica sands as its main commodity target due to the enticing combination of growing global demand and dwindling supplies from traditional sources.
Many of recently discovered high-grade silica sands deposits worldwide are located in areas with poor access or are very remote, leaving a gap in the market for projects in easily accessible locations like WA.
Silica is used in products such as road base and foundries. High-grade silica sands are also needed in the automotive, optical, electronics, high-end glass and the photovoltaic (PV) solar power industries.
Allup has landed on high-grade silica projects in the east Kimberley, the Northern Territory and the south of WA, all of which have two key attributes; they are close to ports and they have good purity levels.
If Allup manages to secure a mining licence for Sparkler it will be game on for this fast-moving company – and it has plenty more projects in the pipeline too.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Mark Irving
