Overview

Mine Type	Open Pit
Stage	Permitting
Commodities	Silica
Mining Method	Dry mining
Mine Life	...
Snapshot	One of the largest high-purity silica exploration land packages in Australia, the Galalar Silica Sand Project (GSSP) covers an area of 542 sq km in Queensland’s Eastern Cape York region, around 200km north of Cairns. A 2021 Pre-Feasibility Study showed the value of the project, with an estimated post-tax net present value (NPV) of A$358 million. However, Diatreme is currently focused on its Northern Silica Project, with the GSSP remaining a key asset subject to future development. Galalar Project anticipated to feed future Northern Silica Project production.

Deposit type

• Mineral sands

Summary:

The Galalar Deposit is a large surface deposit of overlying sand dunes that is part of the Quaternary age Cape Flattery-Cape Bedford dunefield complex. The deposit is dominated by clean high purity >98.5% silica (quartz) which is principally white, cream and light grey in colour, but also with variably dispersed yellow, orange and brown overtones.

The Galalar Deposit consists of two major paralleling dunes, nominally named Galalar East and Galalar West. The deposit extends approx. 3.4km long by 1.2km wide and ranges in vertical thickness from 6m to 32m. The dunes are elongate southeast to northwest and are densely but shallowly vegetated with topsoil to approx. 0.3m depth. The dunes are clearly defined on their long sides and by lower topography. The base of exploitable sand is defined by the water table and/or intersection with the basement consisting of either ‘B1’ orange-brown coloured sand horizon (“coloured sands”) or the clay basement of older weathered bedrock.

The silica sand is consistently high grade throughout, >98.5% SiO2, with variable but minor proportions of Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2 due to the presence of minor clay, iron oxides and heavy minerals.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Processing

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Production

Operational metrics

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Personnel

Job Title	Name	Profile	Ref. Date
.......................	.......................		Nov 20, 2024
.......................	.......................		Nov 20, 2024

Total Workforce	Year
......	2021