VRX Silica Limited (ASX:VRX) has upgraded the mineral resource estimate at its Arrowsmith North silica sand project 270 kilometres north of Perth.
The company reported a maiden proved ore reserve of 9.2 million tonnes and updated total ore reserve of 221 million tonnes.
The update mineral resource of 768 million tonnes at 98 per cent silica includes a measured resource of 10 million tonnes at 95.9 per cent silica.
The MRE update is based on an additional 130 close spaced grade control holes, which were drilled as a pre-production activity to increase the resource confidence in the initial years of mining.
They were drilled also to produce a bulk sample for pilot scale metallurgical test work and the generation of bulk samples for potential offtake partners.
The pilot plant testwork of a 3.3 tonne bulk metallurgical composite has been completed.
In combination with market analysis, VRX has determined a suite of five saleable products that will be produced from Arrowsmith North.
Process and engineering design of the proposed process plant has been guided by the chemical and physical specifications of these products.
VRX managing director Bruce Maluish said the updated mineral resource and resource was a culmination of significant metallurgical test work and evaluation of the resource to determine the premium products the company could produce.
Maluish continued: “These products include sought after foundry sand as well as glassmaking sand suitable for flat glass, including automobile glass and also container glass.
“We have dispatched large samples to a number of foundry and glassmaking companies in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan for evaluation and subsequent discussions for offtake.”
