Australia: Allup Silica has set an exploration target of 5-7 million tonnes for its Sparkler C sand project in Western Australia's Great Southern region. The target, which is JORC-compliant, was established following a hand-auger sampling program that involved drilling 30 holes up to 2.4m in depth.

The sampling returned as high as 99.7% grades with an average Iron Oxide reading of 2094 ppm, indicating the potential for a sub-100ppm Iron Oxide product with a high-grade of 99.5% Silica. Allup is preparing to deploy an aircore drill rig to further investigate the prospective Silica-rich sand layer and to extract a bulk sample for further metallurgical testwork. The Sparkler C exploration target contributes to the value of the company's nearby Sparkler A project, which has an estimated mineral resource of 70 million tonnes at 96.84% Silicon Dioxide.

Allup has made significant improvements in the processing of their Silica sands. By incorporating flotation into the process, they've been able to reduce the average level of Iron Oxide impurities to 84ppm and increase Silica levels to between 99.7% and 99.8%. The Sparkler project, which is located on private land between Bunbury and Albany and contains three exploration licenses - Sparkler A, B, and C - has resulted in these advancements.

Silica sands play a vital role in the manufacturing of glassmaking, ceramics, foundries, semiconductors, and other tech products. The quality of Silica is an integral part of electronic and computer processors, optical fibers, premium ceramics, and devices, including tablets, mobile phones, and PV markets.

Iron Oxide impurities can hinder the transmission of optical fibers and decrease glass transparency, ultimately affecting the quality of the finished product. Therefore, the sub-100ppm Iron Oxide reading is a crucial selling point, particularly when marketing to solar panel manufacturers.

Australia's solar power market is set to experience substantial growth, with a 20% compound annual growth rate expected between 2022 and 2027. The country saw a 40% increase in rooftop PV system installations in 2021, totalling over 360,000 households. However, the demand for high-purity Silica sand, required in the production of solar panels, is leading to an increase in illegal sand mining, resulting in a need for ethical and sustainable supply. Recognizing its importance, Australia has added silicon to its strategic critical minerals list and has made available a $2 billion fund through the Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative to support critical mineral projects, including Silica, towards production.

The Allup company has already defined one large mineral resource at Sparkler A and an exploration target at Sparkler C, positioning itself to capitalize on the growing demand for Silica sands in a global market where ethical supply is diminishing.