Surefire (ASX:SRN) appoints Lava Blue to undertake HPA study at Victory Bore vanadium project

Highlights

• Surefire Resources has initiated a study to assess a potential significant value-add to its high purity vanadium project, Victory Bore
• The company has engaged Lava Blue, a minerals science company, to undertake the study on high purity alumina (HPA) production from the project  
• The fully owned project of Surefire in Western Australia has the potential for high purity Aluminium Oxide, says the company
• Surefire is presently conducting a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on its Victory Bore vanadium project

Australia's listed explorer Surefire Resources NL (ASX:SRN) has roped in Lava Blue Ltd to undertake a study assessing the potential for the production of High Purity Alumina (HPA) from its Victory Bore vanadium project.

Notably, the Victory Bore deposit of Surefire has exceptionally high Aluminium Oxide in the waste rock (grades up to 31.4% Al₂O₃). These high grades could provide feedstock for HPA production, with target as 4N-HPA (>99.99% pure), says the company.

Surefire pursues HPA production potential at Victory Bore

According to the company, its Victoria Bore resource is surrounded by Anorthosite. Laboratory assays have shown that the Anorthosite has high Aluminium Oxide (drill chips grading up to 31%). Broad downhole drilling intervals have been intercepted during drilling of the resource. These include VBRC018 40m to 94m, 54m @ 23.88% Aluminium Oxide, which is between the Main and the Central Lode.

Now, in the latest development, Lava Blue Ltd -- a company which has developed methods of HPA production from numerous untraditional sources -- has been appointed by Surefire to assess potential HPA production at the Victory Bore Vanadium project. Notably, Lava Blue has a proprietary process for production of HPA, Surefire mentions. Lave Blue, which has built a demonstration plant in Redlands (Brisbane) showing a scaled up modified hydrochloric acid leach process, would carry out laboratory test work under its association with Surefire.

More about Victory Bore vanadium project and HPA production plans

Via its vanadium asset, the company intends to tap the evolving Vanadium Redox Flow battery sector. Victory Bore is progressing at a time when there is an increasing demand for vanadium globally, Surefire states.

For now, the company is undertaking a Pre-Feasibility Study on the project.

The company also mentions that 4NHPA is used in the production of sapphire glass, which is predominantly used as an essential material in LEDs. HPA has also been adopted in ceramic coated separators in Lithium ion (Li-ion) Batteries.

Samples of high-grade intersects have been sent by Surefire to Lava Blue and the results of tests are likely to be available over the coming months. The next stage could be the production of bulk samples at Lava Blue’s Redlands (Brisbane) facility for market testing.

The company mentioned that HPA products are currently achieving USD25-40/kg, equivalent to USD25,000-40,000/tonne.

Shares jump over 6%

Surefire's ASX listed shares were trading at AU$0.017, up over 6% at the time of writing on 21 March 2023.