Diatreme Resources has unlocked potential to expand its Northern silica project in north Queensland, defining two conceptual exploration targets within the asset.
The exploration targets for the Casuarina East and Casuarina West dune systems were defined via LiDAR (light detection and ranging) based terrain modelling and remote geomorphological interpretation.
Both processes identified large volumes of potentially low-iron, high-purity silica sand.
Casuarina East’s exploration target has a tonnage range of 80–190 million tonnes and Casuarina West’s exploration target has a tonnage range of 35 to 85 million tonnes, with both targets having a grade range of 98.5–99.9 per cent silicon dioxide.
These results demonstrate an opportunity to potentially expand Diatreme’s regional resource footprint.
“This is a progressive and important step in unlocking the broader potential of our Northern silica project tenement package,” Diatreme chief executive officer Neil McIntyre said.
“Casuarina sits directly alongside a globally recognised silica operation (Cape Flattery Silica Mines), and while we are at an early stage, the scale and geometry appear compelling with an estimated total target tonnage range from 115 million tonnes to 275 million tonnes.
“With exploration approvals in hand and access planning underway, we look forward to drilling and defining what could be another world class high-grade silica sand resource extension to our already long life mine project in far north Queensland.”
Diatreme is expected to continue ongoing exploration adjacent to the Northern silica project to further expand its resources and reserves inventory, which will in turn underpin the area’s mine development.
In other Diatreme news, the company was recently awarded ‘Major Project Status’ for the Northern silica project. It was the first project in Queensland to receive the designation, cementing its significance as a world-class, high-purity silica resource in Australia.
Diatreme also significantly increased the mineral resource for its Si2 deposit at the Northern silica project.
The measured category of the Si2 mineral resource jumped from 49.5 million tonnes to 187.5 million tonnes, representing a 278 per cent increase.
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