Overview
| Status | Care and Maintenance |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 35 years (as of Jan 1, 2017) |
Production from the redeveloped Moberly Silica Mine commenced in September 2017 and suspended in February 2020. No production data is publicly available.
About 200 kt of stockpiled material on site from 2019 mining operations. No mining in 2021.
Moberly Silica Sand Plant is used to process Angus bulk samples. Angus PSQ is greenfield project with enormous potential. The Angus PSQ project is currently held under an option to acquire a 100% interest. Vitreo’s experience in mining and processing Moberly quartzites/quartzarenite helps to inform the design basis, capital and operating cost assumptions.
Vitreo produces specialty silica products for a variety of advanced industry applications. |
Source:
p. 3
On June 30, 2020, an initial order was granted in relation to Northern Silica Corporation, Heemskirk Mining Pty. Ltd., Heemskirk Canada Holdings Limited, Heemskirk Canada Limited, Custom Bulk Services Inc. and HCA Mountain Minerals (Moberly) Limited (collectively, the “NSC Companies” or the “Debtors”) pursuant to proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, RSC 1985, c C-36, as amended.
Since the granting of the SISP Order, the Debtors received further orders that terminated the SISP, approved the asset purchase agreement (APA) with Vitreo Minerals Ltd.
On September 11, 2020, the NSC Companies applied for and were granted an approval and vesting order that, inter alia: terminated the SISP; approved the APA submitted by the Purchaser as the Successful Bid (as defined in the SISP).
Contractors
- Subscription is required.
Summary:
The material that is mined at Moberly is the Ordovician Mount Wilson Quartzite unit. Near Golden it reaches a maximum thickness of 480 metres at Horse Creek (less in the mine area) and Mount Moberly is the northern limit of the unit, where it is terminated by a thrust fault. The quartzite is typically grey to buff coloured massive orthoquartzite with some evidence of crudely laminated and cross laminated beds near the base.
Bedding generally strikes around 118° magnetic and is vertical to steeply NE dipping. The rock consists of an orthoquartzite which is variably de-cemented (ie by removal of the silica ‘cement’ binding the grains) so that most of the mining area consists of ‘altered’ friable or ‘sandy’ quartzite to various degrees. There appears to be no systematic variation or control of the de-cementing. The composition of the rock is +99% SiO2 as quartz, with the remainder being silicate clays and very rare other silicate minerals.
Petrological studies show that the sand grains within the rock vary between 0.841mm to 0.105mm in diameter (20 mesh (#) to 100 mesh (#) on the US scale).
The only potentially economic mineralization observed within the map area is quartzite. The quartzite found on the property is a sedimentary deposit known as the "Wonah Quartzite", probably of Ordovician age and is found as two distinct members. The first is a friable quartz sandstone which comes in contact with limestone to the southwest in the area of the s ........
Summary:
The Moberly silica sand deposit was drilled by four cored holes in 1982 with logging was largely done on a qualitative basis and indicates the homogeneity of the deposit at depth, although this would be essentially down-dip of the sandstone beds. Extensive exposure and mining in three dimensions by open cut mining.
Source:
- subscription is required.
Source:
Summary:
- subscription is required.
Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2019 | 2018 |
|
Annual production capacity
| 300,000 t of frac sand | 300,000 t of frac sand |
Reserves at September 30, 2016:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven
|
9.3 Mt
|
Frac Sand
|
70 %
|
|
Probable
|
4.6 Mt
|
Frac Sand
|
70 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
13.9 Mt
|
Frac Sand
|
70 %
|
|
Measured
|
12.5 Mt
|
Frac Sand
|
70 %
|
|
Indicated
|
25 Mt
|
Frac Sand
|
70 %
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
37.5 Mt
|
Frac Sand
|
70 %
|
- Subscription is required.