Mourilyan Silica Sands Project

Project Overview

Mourilyan Silica Sands Project

The project is a high-purity silica flour processing mine and facility and is located approximately 100km south-southeast of Cairns and 30km south of Innisfail.

It is located in close proximity to major infrastructure, 5km from the Bruce Highway and 27km to the port of Mourilyan Harbour.

 

Mourilyan Silica Sands Project is an advanced permitted project with existing Extractive Licence, Mining Lease and Mining Applications over the resource area along with existing environmental authorities and the resource has been identified as a high-grade ‘Critical Mineral’ by the Federal Government.

 

Project Details

Mourilyan Silica Sands Project
The Mourilyan Silica Sands Project (stage 1 and stage 2) are located between Mourilyan Harbour and Kurrimine Beach in the Cassowary Coast Regional Council area. The nearest town of significant size is Innisfail (population 10,000 people).
 
Stage 1 has an existing mining lease, which sets out certain standards for extraction and is expected to start extracting silica in the second half of 2024.
 
Stage 2 approvals will be guided by the State Government and will be known in more detail as the process starts.  There will be a large body of work undertaken such as ecological studies, social studies, and water resource studies. This stage is anticipated to start operating in 2028, subject to approvals and a final investment decision.
 

There are two stages to the project – Stage 1 and stage 2.

  • Stage 1 will mine silica from a brownfield former quarry site and has a mining lease in place.
  • Stage 2 will encompass an expansion of the Stage 1 project and depth of the extraction.

 

LIFE OF THE MINE
Stage 1 mine life, under the existing mine lease, is anticipated at nine years.
 
Stage 2 mine life is anticipated at over 50 years.
 
SIZE OF THE DEPOSIT
Stage 1 3.53 million tonnes
 
Stage 2 45.25 million tonnes
 
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PROJECT
Over the project’s lifetime, the royalties generated to the Australian economy are expected to be over $45 million dollars.
 
PROJECT JOB CREATION
An independent EY economic report has shown, stage 1 and stage 2 of the project is anticipated to support over 180 jobs over a 10-year period.
 
This projection is comprised of:
50 direct Full-Time Equivalent (FTEs) ,130 indirect FTEs. SRA will look to employ 82 FTEs through contract services by the fifth year of operations.
 
SIMPLE MINING AND PRODUCTION PROCESS
The project resource is near surface and requires only shallow low cost extraction methods. There will also be a low-cost, on-site plant for processing and packaging before the product is trucked a short distance (27km) to the Mourilyan Harbour port for shipping.
 
THE PROJECT’S SILICA FLOUR EXPORT 
The project will utilise the Port of Mourilyan for export and will develop its own common user infrastructure.
 
Refer to FAQ for more information

Location

High Grade Silica Uses

What is high-grade silica flour used for ?

The project will position Australia as a major exporter of silica flour to the Asia-Pacific Region including Japan and the US.

Silica flour is used in products to manufacture glass, solar panels, the automotive industry and technology manufacturers.

The core products will be used to make solar wafers, ceramics, fibreglass, solar panels, and high-grade glass coverings. Commercial by-products include foundry sand and construction sand, for the South East Asian, Australian and US markets.

Silica Resources Australia Limited

ACN: 655 231 066
PO Box 100
Innisfail QLD 4860

P:  1800 1 SILICA (174 542)

E:  info@silicaresources.com.au

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