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Deposit Synonyms
Carey's Well; Poochera
Mineral District
Poochera Kaolin
Deposit Summary
kaolin deposit formed by deep weathering of early- to mid-Proterozoic crystalline granite. Inferred resources of 47Mt of offwhite kaolinised granite.
Deposit Description
GREAT WHITE (previously Carey's Well), kaolin-halloysite deposit formed by deep weathering of early- to mid-Proterozoic crystalline granite, which were blanketed by late Tertiary to Quaternary terrestrial sediment. Drilling of 11 holes outlined broad areas of kaolinisation, for an exploration target of 50-60Mt of off-white kaolinised granite at 40-60% at -45 micron with ISO brightness estimate R457 >80. This figure included 20Mt of very white kaolinised granite.
Measured Resource figure released in February 2012 of 16.3Mt of "bright white" kaolinised granite, open to both the SE and NE for a volume 1.3km x 1km x 3-28m thick, average 11m. The defined resource remains open to the NE and south/SE. Top of the ore zone occurs at base of overlying silicified calcrete, base at the transition from fully kaolinised granite to fresh granite which is variable from extremely sharp to gradational. Halloysite level is variable from 0-70%. February 2019 JORC total resource (inf + ind + meas), of halloysite = 9.7Mtonne for 5.3Mtonne at 18.4% halloysite at recovery factor of -45micron for 2 areas, Southeast area, and North area.
Testing of bulk samples of Bright White Kaolin confirmed its amenability to calcining, producing a product that compared favourably with the highest grade calcined kaolin currently available commercially, and suitable for glossy paper coating and pigment extender in paint and plastic. Minotaur estimated dimensions of the body of fully kaolinised granite as of length in the NS direction of 4.1km, and a width that varied from 1-2.5km, cover depth 8-24m.
Andromeda Metals has completed a Scoping Study into the development of the Poochera Halloysite Kaolin Project Eyre Peninsula SA, based on a Gross Production Target of 7.6Mt over a LOM of 15 years. The Company plan to process 500Ktpa of kaolinized granite mined from two open pits, with an average strip ratio of 2.3, to produce 187Ktpa of refined Premium Kaolin at a grade of 37%. The estimated Capex is A$25M. ASIC estimated at A$396/t of Premium Kaolin. Estimate price A$700/t, ex Asian works. IRR 174% Payback 15 months. Environmental studies and a PFS expected to be completed by mid-2020. ADN is earning a 75% interest in the Project from ASX-MEP. The Total Resource Estimate is 9.7Mt Kaolin with an average 82.9 Reflectance.
Discovery Year
? 1971
Commodities
Kaolin, Kaolinised Granite, Halloysite, Kaolinite
Ore Minerals
Halloysite, Kaolinite
Gangue Minerals
Anatase, Iron oxide (non specific), Mica, Quartz
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