Highlights

• Recent sampling at the Dingo Hole Highly Pure Quartz (HPQ) Project reported an average silica content of 99.95% SiO₂ with low levels of deleterious elements after initial acid leaching.
• In raw rock and pre-prepared samples, extremely low levels of AI, Ti and Li have been observed.
• A8G believes in the potential of the project to achieve “4 nine” (99.99%) or ‘5 nine’ (99.999%) purity levels.
• A8G shares traded ~50% higher in the morning hours.

Australasian Metals Limited (ASX:A8G) has announced promising results from its recent sampling program at the Dingo Hole HPQ Project. The initial field sampling program has exceeded expectations, revealing low levels of deleterious elements and an impressive average silica content of 99.95% SiO₂ following preliminary acid leaching. These findings align with historical data.

High purity quartz confirmed at Dingo Hole

The company reported that samples subjected to acid leaching yielded a higher SiO₂ content of 99.95%, compared to the untreated stream, which demonstrated 99.88% of silica content.

The analysis showed extremely low levels of Al, Ti and Li in both raw rock and pre-prepared samples. The main impurities in the samples were K, Na, Mg, Ca and Ba, but the company is optimistic about removing these through further processing.

Based on these results, the company believes that the project has the potential to acheive “4 nines” quality (99.99%) purity with simple processing. The focus will now shift on removing K, Na, Mg, Ca and Ba, to reach the desired purity levels of ‘4 nine’ (99.99%) or ‘5 nine’ (99.999%).

Details of the analysis

For the sampling program, the company collected 18 surface rock samples, partially crushed them, removed obvious impurities, and sent them to Groundswell Laboratories in Victoria for analysis.

At the laboratory, the samples underwent further crushing and pulverisation, and were then divided into two sample streams. One stream remained untreated, while the other stream was subjected to aqua-regia and hydrofluoric acid treatment.

A8G eyes highest purity of silica

The company’s technical team will undertake additional sampling at the project to prepare for a drilling program aimed at gathering the data necessary for estimating a mineral resource. The team also plans to research the optimal process flow for commercial-scale production, focusing on crushing, grinding, washing, and optical sorting.

The company is engaging with several leading scientific institutions, both in Australia and internationally, that specialise in processing and treating highly pure quartz. These discussions aim to explore potential collaborations and partnerships to produce the highest quality product from the Dingo Hole deposit.

Additionally, A8G’s management has reached out to several process plant operators in China and plans to select one or more to conduct further work on the Dingo Hole material. The goal is to achieve the highest possible purity of silica, thereby defining the final product and its applications.

A8G shares surge

At the time of writing on 22 August 2024, A8G shares were trading nearly 50% up at AU$0.150 apiece with a market cap exceeding AU$5 million.