Quarterly Activities Report
29 April 2021
Quarterly Activities Report
The following is a summary of the activities conducted by VRX Silica Ltd
(VRX or Company) (ASX: VRX) during the quarter ending 31 March 2021.
Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project
Grade Control Drilling
During the March 2021 quarter VRX conducted a 130 hole grade control drill program at its
Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project (Arrowsmith North), located approximately 270km north
of Perth, Western Australia.
The grade control area is wholly within the previously reported area of the Ore Reserve
Statement (ORS) of 204 Mt @ 99.7% SiO2 within Mining Lease M70/1389 and contains
approximately 10.2Mt of Probable Ore Reserve. The grade control area is not expected to
materially change the tonnage in the ORS or the BFS as reported1 (see Figure 1).
Drilling was conducted over 10 days with assay results to follow in late May 2021. The close
spaced drilling campaign is anticipated to upgrade the ORS in the area drilled to a Measured
Resource and Proven Reserve and increase the geological knowledge and confirm the
continuity and homogeneity that has been demonstrated by previous drilling. The Resource
Estimated will be re-assessed following receipt of the assay results.
The material assumptions underpinning the production target and detailed in the BFS continue
to apply and have not materially changed.
The drilling of tight spaced grade control holes at Arrowsmith North is another key preproduction activity being undertaken in preparation for the commencement of mining. The area
being grade control drilled is where the Company plans to mine for the first 6-10 years.
The drilling will also generate a significant tonnage of additional raw material for VRX to conduct
supplementary bulk metallurgical test work to confirm the design and operating parameters of
the process plant and for approvals required by Mid West Ports for the shipping of silica sand
under its environmental licence with the Department of Water and Environment Regulation.
Importantly, the drilling will also generate additional commercial sample for despatch to
potential offtake partners as demand for VRX’s silica sand continues to grow.
Sources of supply of quality silica sand throughout the Asian region are shrinking at a rapid
rate, and this has led to tremendous interest for VRX’s silica sand from potential customers
who are acutely aware of the supply problem.
1 ASX announcement of 28 August 2019, “Arrowsmith North BFS and Maiden Ore Reserve”
Figure 1: Mineral Resource Estimate within the grade control drilling area
Environmental approval referral
In March, VRX submitted its referral to the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation (DWER) for assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), under
Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, for environmental approval for
Arrowsmith North.
The referral was the culmination of wide-ranging environmental studies undertaken by and
for the Company over the past three years and extensive pre-referral consultation with the
EPA.
This is a significant milestone for the development of Arrowsmith North and the Company’s
goal to become a leading supplier of high-quality silica sand to the global market.
VRX has developed a unique and progressive mining and rehabilitation method specifically
for Arrowsmith North and its other silica sand projects to minimise the environmental impact
of the Company activities.
Figure 2: Arrowsmith Vegetation
VRX’s Vegetation Direct Transfer (VDT) method lends itself to rapid and extensive
regeneration of affected areas based on continuous rehabilitation as silica sand mining
progresses.
Root structures in the loose sand at Arrowsmith North are relatively shallow at 200-300mm
in depth. The VDT method removes a 400mm deep sod, with the topsoil containing the vast
majority of native flora and invertebrate fauna preserved with near-surface humus and its
microbial contents remaining intact.
A video of the Company’s proposed VDT method is available for viewing at:
https://vrxsilica.com.au/miningandrehabilitationmethodology/
VRX’s referral, which incorporates pre-referral feedback received from the EPA in December
2020 to the Company’s draft referral submitted in September 2020, concludes that Arrowsmith
North can be developed without significant residual impacts on the environment given the
implementation of mitigation measures, in particular the proposed mining and rehabilitation
methodology.
VRX will use no chemicals and produce no dust while processing the mined silica sand, with
efficient attritioning beneficiating the sand to glass-quality product for export.
The Company will recycle a substantial proportion of water used in processing, with preliminary
engineering work targeting an up to 95% recycling rate and further investigations underway to
recycle even more water. Water will be sourced from the deeper Yarragadee North aquifer.
All mining will be conducted well above the surficial water table.
The Arrowsmith North processing plant will ultimately be powered by a hybrid wind, solar and
gas power system to minimise emissions.
The Company has already conducted Aboriginal heritage and ethnographic surveys with no
significant sites recorded in the proposed mining area. Arrowsmith North will offer employment
and contract opportunities to local Indigenous groups and VRX intends to support the local
ranger program.
The EPA’s environmental impact assessment is underway and the Company is in
communication with the EPA to ensure all requirements are met.
Importantly, thorough planning will allow VRX to deliver its silica sand projects sustainably and
efficiently, with a very low carbon footprint.
Offtake and other activities
During the quarter the Company continued discussions with potential offtake partners for the
sale of silica sand product from Arrowsmith North. The Company continues to receive
enquiries to purchase sand and demand remains strong. VRX is well-positioned to fill this
demand and, as the Company develops its silica sand projects will remain focussed on
delivering long term dependable offtake partnerships with significant industrial participants in
the Asian market.
Discussions with potential debt financiers for Arrowsmith North and the Company’s other silica
sand projects continued through the quarter and interest remains high.
The Company has instigated an Independent Technical Review by AMC Consultants to
support the debt financing due diligence requirements.
The Company has also continued work on logistics planning and implementation for the
project, including progressing final plant design and tenders for power supply, transport and
shipping solutions.
Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Project
During the March 2021 quarter VRX conducted additional environmental field surveys at its
Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Project (Arrowsmith Central), located approximately 250km
north of Perth, Western Australia.
These surveys were conducted following feedback from the EPA in pre-referral meetings to
secure environmental approvals for the development of the project. Referral to the Federal
Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) will then be made to be followed
by a formal referral to DWER to be assessed by EPA.
Logistics planning and implementation for Arrowsmith Central during the quarter closely
followed work on Arrowsmith North.
Muchea Silica Sand Project
VRX continued progress on its Muchea Silica Sand Project (Muchea) during the quarter, with
further studies and compilation of necessary data to support formal referrals to DAWE and
DWER. As studies have been completed at Arrowsmith North following consultation with EPA,
the same studies have been duplicated at both Arrowsmith Central and Muchea.
The Company also continued work on progressing an expansion of the current proposed
development area to extend the Muchea Project’s mine life to well beyond 25 years and
assessment of available options to do so while addressing concerns relating to the file notation
area 12671 that sits adjacent to that area.
The low vegetation at Muchea which includes the recalcitrant sedges and grasses have root
systems which are 200-300 mm below the surface will be addressed by the same rehabilitation
method (VDT) which has been developed at the Arrowsmith Projects.
The larger widely spaced Banksia trees will be propagated and tube planted to ensure the
same density of trees.
Figure 3: Muchea Vegetation
Corporate
During the March quarter the Company issued a total of 2,624,264 new fully paid ordinary
shares on conversion of options at various exercise prices, raising approximately $332,117 in
additional funds.
A further 3,250,000 new shares were issued subsequent to the end of the quarter, raising a
further $325,000.
Guidance Note 23 disclosures
Details of mining exploration activities
Details of exploration activities are set out above.
The $28,000 payment for exploration and evaluation expenditure under operating activities
expensed during the quarter related mainly to tenement rents.
The $363,000 amount of exploration and evaluation expenditure under investing activities and
capitalised is comprised of Mining Project Agreement payment on granting of mining lease,
Muchea-SWALSC ($20,000), metallurgical test work ($79,000), environmental approvals,
including flora and fauna assessments and rehabilitation modelling ($117,000), hydro drilling
deposit ($106,000) and heritage surveys ($25,000).
Details of mining production and development activities
No production and development activities were undertaken during the quarter.
Details of tenement activities
The tenement schedule on the following page shows all holdings and any change for the
Company and its subsidiaries.
During the quarter, the following tenements were granted:
Miscellaneous Licence L70/204, and
Miscellaneous Licence L70/206.
Also, at E39/1828 in the Biranup Project the Company voluntarily surrendered 17 graticular
blocks (retained 25 graticular blocks) on 15 March 2021.
Details of related party payments
The aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates of $107,000
represents directors’ fees and salaries paid during the quarter.
This report has been authorised for release to ASX by the Managing Director.
Further information:
Bruce Maluish
Managing Director
brucem@vrxsilica.com.au
0418 940 417
Peter Klinger
Cannings Purple
pklinger@canningspurple.com.au
0411 251 540
Interests in Mining Tenements (Western Australia)
Arrowsmith Project – Silica
Tenement
Status
E70/4986
E70/4987
E70/5027
E70/5109
E70/5197
M/1389
M/1392
L70/198
L70/199
L70/202
L70/203
L70/208
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Interest at
beginning of
quarter
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
-
Interests relinquished,
reduced or lapsed
Interests acquired
or increased
Interest at end
of quarter
-
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Interests relinquished,
reduced or lapsed
Interests acquired
or increased
Interest at end
of quarter
-
100%
100%100%-
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%-
Interests relinquished,
reduced or lapsed
Interests acquired
or increased
Interest at end
of quarter
-
-
100%
100%
Interests relinquished,
reduced or lapsed
Interests acquired
or increased
Interest at end
of quarter
-
-
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
-
Muchea Project – Silica
Tenement
Status
E70/4886
E70/5157
E70/5548
E70/5651
M/1390
L70/200
L70/204
L70/205
L70/206
Granted
Granted
Application
Application
Granted
Granted
Granted
Application
Granted
Interest at
beginning of
quarter
100%
100%
100%
-
Boyatup Project – Silica
Tenement
Status
E69/3560
E69/3668
Granted
Granted
Interest at
beginning of
quarter
100%
100%
Biranup Project – Base Metals/Gold*
Tenement
Status
E39/1828
E38/3191
E39/2000
E39/2001
E39/2003
E38/3294
E38/3533
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Granted
Application
Interest at
beginning of
quarter
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
-
*The Biranup Project tenements are held in a 100% owned subsidiary Ventnor Gold Pty Ltd
which is proposed to be vended in to a new IPO NickelX Ltd. See announcement 31
December 2020.
Competent Persons’ Statements
The information in this document that relates to Arrowsmith North Exploration Results is based
on data collected and compiled under the supervision of Mr David Reid, who is a full-time
employee of VRX Silica. Mr Reid, BSc (Geology), is a registered member of the Australian
Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity being undertaken to
qualify as a Competent Person under the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting
of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Mr Reid consents
to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.
The information in this document that relates to Arrowsmith North Mineral Resources is based
on information compiled by Mr Grant Louw who was a full-time employee of CSA Global, under
the direction and supervision of Dr Andrew Scogings, who is an Associate of CSA Global.
Dr Scogings is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member
of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. He is a Registered Professional Geologist in
Industrial Minerals. Dr Scogings has sufficient experience relevant to the style of
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is
undertaking to qualify as Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the Australasian
Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources, and Ore Reserves (JORC
Code). Dr Scogings consents to the disclosure of information in this report in the form and
context in which it appears.
The information in this document that relates to Arrowsmith North Probable Ore Reserves is
based on data collected and compiled under the supervision of Mr David Reid, who is a fulltime employee of VRX Silica. Mr Reid, BSc (Geology), is a registered member of the Australian
Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity being undertaken to
qualify as a Competent Person under the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting
of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Mr Reid consents
to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.
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