Diatreme Resources says results from exploration drilling undertaken late
last month have highlighted the Galalar silica project’s potential for further expansion.

The drilling program comprised 44 air‐core drill holes for 835m, with some 2000kg of bulk samples collected from the preliminary mine plan footprint.

It also featured exploration drilling outside the current resource, with new
holes encountering deeper sections of silica sand than anticipated, indicating the potential for an increased resource in this area, the company reported.

“These latest drilling results yet again demonstrate the potential for
Galalar to become a long‐term source of valuable high purity silica sand, a designated ‘new economy mineral’, for fast‐growing export markets and a key component in the decarbonisation of energy sources through creating more solar generation capacity,” Diatreme chief executive officer Neil McIntyre said.

“We are determined to unlock its potential for the benefit of the community, including the traditional owners and all other stakeholders, delivering new jobs and investment that support the region’s post‐pandemic recovery and create genuine long‐term employment opportunities.”

Diatreme Resources has its sights set on a 2022 start to production at the Cape York project, which lies near the world’s largest operating silica sand mine at Cape Flattery.

Diatreme announced in May a 25 per cent increase in the Galalar silica sand resource to 47.5 million tonnes, including a maiden Measured Mineral Resource of 30.9 million tonnes at 99.28 per cent SiO2.

This followed the release of an independent economic study showing the project’s potential to generate more than 110 full‐time jobs and inject some $24 million in the construction phase and up to $42 million in the operational phase for the benefit of the Hope Vale, Cooktown and surrounding region.