Allup Silica (ASX:APS) announced advancements at its McLaren Mineral Sands Project in Western Australia.
The company has engaged IHC Mining Consultants for the pre-feasibility study engineering design, targeting a 10Mtpa throughput to produce up to 400,000tpa ilmenite product.
The initial design scope leverages positive metallurgical test work completed by IHC in 2018 that demonstrated high ilmenite recoveries using conventional mineral sands processes.
Preparations are underway for an infill drilling program planned for the fourth quarter, managed by Environmental Resources Management.
The drilling aims to update the mineral resource estimate in early 2025 and explore the potential to increase the known resource at McLaren.
"The Environmental Resources Management team has been instrumental in planning the infill drilling program and we’re looking forward to updating the MRE with the new data," said Simon Finnis, Managing Director, Allup Silica.
The PFS, expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025, will focus on a mining rate of 10Mtpa using dry mining unit technology.
It aims for a resource target of 200Mt in the JORC Indicated category, alongside a 20-year mine life and annual production of up to 400,000tpa ilmenite product.
Allup continues to progress towards the development of the McLaren Project while maintaining advancements in its existing silica sand opportunities.
Allup Silica is a silica exploration company. It is focused on the development of its silica sand tenements located in several Western Australian exploration project locations.