Australian miner targets solar panel supply chain with high-grade silica

Perth-based mining company Allup Silica reported on Tuesday that recent test results taken from the company’s Sparkler site in Western Australia produced consistent high-grade and low-iron silica sands.

The latest metallurgical tests taken from the Sparkler Silica Exploration Project in Western Australia reported an average grade of 84ppm Fe₂O₃, under the 100ppm premium specification necessary for solar photovoltaic applications.

This is good news for the company, which is targeting the solar panel industry as a prime market for its silica product.

Premium silica sands are not guaranteed in every location, but they are a key component in the manufacturing of high-end glass needed for solar panels.

High purity specs

“The results from the improvements we are making to the process circuit are very encouraging and indicate that we do have the right projects and the high purity silica sands to start with,” explained Andrew Haythorpe, chairperson for Allup Silica.

“Being able to achieve the high purity specs required for the manufacture of PV cells means we are on track, and we look forward to being able to supply samples to potential customers as we progress to development on our Sparkler Project.”

The metallurgical tests were carried out by an independent body.

Allup Silica currently boasts a number of exploration projects across Western Australia, including sites located in the South-West, one in the North-East near Wyndham, and two prospective project sites in the Southern Goldfields near Esperance.

The Sparkler project site is located approximately 300 kilometres south of Perth.