Diatreme Resources has bolstered its Si 2 North silica sand project in North Queensland after adding 71 million tonnes (Mt) to its resource.
This represents a 134 per cent increase from Si 2’s original 53Mt resource from when Diatreme first unveiled the project in January.
The inferred resource upgrade is a result of scoping work completed by independent industrial minerals mining engineering consultants Ausrocks and further solidifies Diatreme’s Cape Bedford exploration tenement.
Cape Bedford also includes Diatreme’s Galalar silica sand project, which contains an estimated 75.5Mt. Together, Si 2 and Galalar amount to a total resource of 199.5Mt.
“This latest … expansion now starts to show the enormous scale of our silica sand resources now standing at circa 200 million tonnes across both the Galalar and Si2 North projects,” Diatreme chief executive officer Neil McIntyre said.
“Our Galalar silica project remains our immediate development priority given its advanced stage, however having this second exceptional and growing high-grade resource will add to our project development pipeline in the medium term.
“Diatreme also has an important role to play regionally providing long-term and sustainable economic benefits for the local communities, while supporting the world’s clean energy future.”
Diatreme aims to deliver a definitive feasibility study and final investment decision for the Galalar project in the coming months.
In parallel, Diatreme will examine Si 2’s resource and review the lodgement of a mining lease application concerning the northern section of the Cape Bedford tenement where Si 2 is located.
The company said this could potentially lead to Si 2 being fast-tracked as a second silica sand operation independent from Galalar.