Ventnor Resources Limited (ASX:VRX) has announced the results of an initial test work program on samples from its Arrowsmith silica sands project north of Perth. The test work has confirmed that processing to upgrade the sand to glass-making quality will have a low capital intensity, low technical risk and requires no processing chemicals. Further test work programs will be undertaken to investigate processing options to higher quality and higher value products.
- Glass-making quality with low capital intensity
- Conventional processing
- Potential for higher quality
Ventnor Resources Ltd (“Ventnor” or “the Company”) (ASX: VRX) is pleased to announce the results of an initial testwork program on samples from its Arrowsmith Silica Sands Project, located 270km north of Perth, Western Australia.
Ventnor has four exploration license applications pending totaling 400km2 and holding significant sand deposits.
The project is adjacent to Brand Highway and a rail connection to Geraldton Port, suitable for bulk handling.
Ventnor has been able to conduct a shallow hand auger program to collect composite representative samples from the Arrowsmith North prospect.
Samples were submitted to Nagrom Laboratories for an initial testwork program, which would emulate conventional sand processing techniques.
This testwork confirms that processing to upgrade the sand to glassmaking quality will have a low-capital intensity, low technical risk and requires no processing chemicals.
Further testwork programs will be undertaken to investigate processing options to higher quality and higher value products.
Ventnor has been investigating markets in the Asia-Pacific region this year to potentially supply sand used for glass manufacturing, concrete construction and as a tech metal.
Asian glass demand is increasing for energy-saving double glazing and other applications within the expanding automobile industry in China and India.
There is a looming supply shortage because of reducing access to coastal and river deposits, depletion of known deposits and restrictions due to environmental regulation.
The Arrowsmith area potentially has low environmental impact mining propositions; rehabilitation techniques are well established in the industry.
Managing Director Bruce Maluish said: “This initial program demonstrates that the Arrowsmith sand can easily achieve glassmaking quality and potentially a much higher quality and valuable product using conventional sand processing techniques”.
“Further testwork will be undertaken to determine final circuit design and products,” Mr Maluish said.
Arrowsmith Testwork Update
On 14 December 2017, Ventnor announced a mapping and shallow hand auger sampling program was under way at its Arrowsmith Project, 270km north of Perth in Western Australia, Also announced were preliminary testwork results, which indicated the bulk sand could be upgraded using simple sizing techniques, with further testwork to be carried out to determine if the sand could be further upgraded. In addition to this, samples were to be prepared and sent for proppant testing to API RP-19C standards.
The results of the auger sampling completed in December remain outstanding because of Laboratory delays.
The results are now scheduled to be received next month. The proppant testing is well advanced and results are expected in the coming weeks. The results of further silica sand testwork have been received and are summarised below.
A 5kg composite from Arrowsmith North was tested at the Nagrom Laboratory in Kelmscott, in Perth, using the following flowchart:
