Allup Silica (ASX:APS) continues to advance sand portfolio in December quarter - Kalkine Media

Highlights

• December quarter report highlights Allup Silica’s key advances across its silica sand project portfolio.
• The company continued work streams towards the permitting and approval processes.
• Allup advanced its commercial strategy focused on establishing relationships with future buyers of silica sands for its viable projects.
• In 2023, the company has plans to undertake further metallurgical testwork and drilling programs, subject to heritage approvals.

Allup Silica (ASX:APS) has tabled its December quarter report, highlighting activities majorly focused on the permitting and approvals required for its various silica sand projects.

The quarter saw the ASX-listed company progressing its Sparkler, Pink Bark and Dune Buggy projects. Also, its portfolio was boosted with new projects that the company believes may be prospective for silica sand.  

Project Map (Source: APS update)

During the quarter, the company made progress with the commercial engagement process with  the company holding meetings with prospective customers. The process is aimed at establishing relationships with future buyers of silica sands for each of its  viable projects.

Allup remains well funded with AU$4,179,747 in cash as at December end.

Sparkler Silica Sand Exploration Project

At its maiden project, Sparkler, the company is advancing key work streams, aimed at further defining the high purity mineralisation in 2023. The ongoing exploration is targeted towards updating its current Mineral Resource estimations to a higher level of JORC compliance.

As the company has already secured Program of Works (POW) approvals, further exploration drilling is planned in the first half of 2023 on all Sparkler holdings, subject to heritage approvals.

At its Sparkler A project, the company has already shared encouraging metallurgical testwork results.

Data source: APS update, © Krish Capital 2023

The company has planned air-core drilling campaign across the Sparkler A project for the second half of 2023, eyeing an upgrade to the JORC resource status. However, the plan is subject to receiving heritage approvals.

At the Sparkler C project, hand auger drilling has returned assays with an average raw materials surface grade of 98.8% SiO₂. Read detailed drilling assays here.

This campaign has defined silica target areas for the follow up air core drilling campaign, expected in the first quarter of 2023. Also, full metallurgical beneficiation testwork program is planned. 

At the Sparkler C and Sparkler A projects, the company intends to undertake additional in-fill drilling, chemical analysis, and expanded bulk sampling works to enable a larger program of metallurgical testwork.  

Pink Bark Silica Sand Exploration Project

Analysis results from reconnaissance and hand auger drilling undertaken at Pink Bark are awaited. The results are expected to help define silica targets for a follow up air core drilling campaign.  

The company has planned a heritage survey in the first quarter of 2023, which would pave the way for the planned drilling campaign.

Dune Buggy Silica Sand Exploration Project

Dune Buggy has a very different type of raw silica sand with a ratio of silica and calcium carbonate.

Allup has secured POW approval for resource definition drilling with air core drilling planned in the first half of 2023.

The company is also progressing with a metallurgical processing program, which is aimed at producing two viable product streams, one a high-grade silica sand the other being high-grade calcium carbonate, potentially for use in the local agriculture market.

APS shares traded at AU$0.075 on 22 February 2023.