VRX Silica Limited (ASX: VRX) today announced the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its 100%-owned Boyatup silica sand project, located 125km east of Esperance in WA.
The project has an Inferred Mineral Resource of 60 million tonnes at 97.8% SiO2, bringing VRX’s total silica sand resources – across its four WA projects – to about 1.12 billion tonnes.
Testwork showed that Boyatup silica sand can be processed to high-quality glass-making sand.
VRX Boyatup silica sand project
The MRE was based on a drilling program conducted in March 2022 consisting 46 hand-held auger and 160 vacuum drill holes to a depth of about four metres for a total of 312 metres.
The estimate has utilised a comprehensive collation of assays and Particle Size Distribution (PSD) on the drill samples collected.
VRX Silica Managing Director Bruce Maluish said, “The Boyatup mineral resource has confirmed our belief that this is a significant silica sand project for VRX.
“This maiden mineral resource estimate has added significantly to our current inventory, bringing our total silica sand resources to 1.12 billion tonnes.
“The sand identified at Boyatup is different in nature to our existing identified deposits and can open up new supply markets that differ from our other projects.
“Boyatup ultimately will export through the Esperance Port meaning production is not limited to the logistical constraints of the Kwinana and Geraldton Ports.
“The Esperance Port is capable of handling Cape sized vessels of up to 200,000 tonnes.
“VRX continues to investigate other silica sand opportunities in Australia as it progresses its approvals processes at its Arrowsmith and Muchea Silica Sand Projects.”
