Cape Flattery: Diatreme sets new exploration targets for Galalar Silica Project mine
Shareholders are holding out for good news as an emerging ASX-listed miner expands its exploration targets in the Far North.
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EXPLORATION is ramping up at Cape Flattery as silica and sand miner Diatreme Resources Limited shifts its sights to new target areas north of its emerging flagship Galalar Silica Project.
The listed company (ASX: DRX) recently boosted its silica resource estimate by 22 per cent to 75.5 million tonnes at the site north of Cooktown, largely expected to supply premium‐quality silica to Asia’s solar PV industry.
Now it is exploring new areas for potential expansion – all within a parcel of land southwest of the world’s largest high-grade silica mine, the Mitsubishi-owned project at Cape Flattery.
Diatreme CEO Neil McIntyre was anticipating the announcement of positive results from the exploration in the final quarter of this year.
“These northern exploration targets have the potential to demonstrate the true extent of this world-class high purity silica dune system, playing a key role in Diatreme’s future resource development and logistics planning,” he said.
“The company remains focused on advancing the Galalar Silica Project into production as soon as possible, as it has a demonstrated ability to produce a low iron, premium quality silica sand (99.9 per cent silicon dioxide) product, perfect for the needs of Asia’s fast‐growing solar PV and specialty glass market.
“This is becoming even more significant amid growing global supply concerns, demands for an increasingly decarbonised global economy and the need for environmentally sustainable minerals supply as part of that solution.”
The new target sites comprise five dune systems over about 50sq km of land, although sample analysis is currently experiencing delays due to high demand for laboratory services.
Mr McIntyre said there could be lasting employment opportunities for Far North communities if the mine effort performs as anticipated.
“Galalar has the potential to be a long‐term silica operation that generates valuable new jobs and investment for the local communities of Hope Vale and Cooktown and, together with its potential for downstream processing opportunities in Townsville, has the potential to give the whole region a boost in its post‐pandemic recovery,” he said.
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Originally published as Cape Flattery: Diatreme sets new exploration targets for Galalar Silica Project mine
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