The quartz sand explorer Allup Silica Sand (ASX: APS; FRA: U77), which raised 5 million AUD for its IPO in early May this year, is embarking on the systematic exploration of its extensive portfolio of promising quartz sand projects in Western Australia. Initial analysis results from the first surface sampling at Pink Bark, 110 km from the Western Australian port of Esperance, indicate that the raw sample material has SiO2 contents between 93.43% (lowest grade) and 98.82% (highest grade), as well as Fe2O3 contents between 0.08% (800 ppm) and 0.95% (9,500 ppm).
The strike length is estimated at 6 kilometers, with further work required to determine the potential size and nature of the deposit. The entire target area is approximately 29 km². A POW (Provision-of-Works) application has been submitted for approval of future drilling programs. The metallurgical results are still pending. Once these are available, Allup plans to begin drilling.
Given the preliminary positive values of the raw samples, the company has sent bulk samples to the Nagrom Metallurgical Laboratory in Perth for further testing (wet sieving, heavy liquid separation, attrition and screening, magnetic separation). These tests will help determine the potential of the quartz sands that can be processed into a suitable quartz sand product after processing. These tests are currently underway, and once the final results are available, they will be forwarded to Battery Limits’ metallurgical consultants for the preparation of an independent metallurgical report, which will then be published for the market.
Pink Bark is located about 110 kilometers north of Esperance, between the small towns of Salmon Gums and Grass Patch. The exploration project consists of two concessions, namely E63/2139 (granted) and ELA63/2138 (pending).
Only preliminary sampling has been conducted on the granted property E63/2139, as part of the signing of exploration and access agreements with the respective landowners. The company has currently concluded nine exploration and access agreements with landowners covering the identified areas of interest at Pink Bark.
The majority of this site is cleared and cultivated farmland with little or no permanent vegetation or forestation. The Pink Bark Silica Sands exploration project is still in the initial phase of investigation. Allup first became aware of this area because Triton Gold had already conducted historical drilling in 2009. During this process, the thickness of promising sand units was recorded.
This initial round of surface samples determined the lateral extents of the quartz sand in this area of the property as well as the initial raw grades of SiO2 and other materials such as Fe2O3. Further metallurgical tests will provide additional information about the quartz sand potential.
The company expects to release the metallurgical results from the surface sampling program in the third quarter of 2022. After interpreting the results, the company plans to continue exploration at Pink Bark with a drilling, sampling, and analysis/metallurgy program once permits are in place.
Conclusion: Allup Silica has set out to investigate at least six of its projects over the coming six months. The corresponding approval processes are underway. Subsequently, the company aims to select the best projects and further develop them to production.
