Archer Exploration sets HPA exploration target for EPHPA Project in South Australia

Archer Exploration has divulged an exploration target for its Eyre Peninsula High Purity Alumina (EPHPA) Project in South Australia. The EPHPA Project area is within close proximity to existing power, water, road, rail and other critical infrastructure.

Historical drill results in the project area have suggested a maiden kaolin exploration target of 55-130 million tonnes with 33 – 36% alumina content.  Kaolin is an aluminous clay that is used as raw material for high purity alumina production. The target is based on drilling, across 72 percussion drill holes, and auger drilling undertaken by Pechiney within 1968 to 1973.

The exploration target includes the Kelly Tank and Bunora kaolin prospects and does not include other known kaolin occurrences around including Bunora East and Bunora West.

The historical drilling intersected substantial widths of high purity alumina (HPA) mineralisation over an extensive area. The initial kaolin exploration will be for use in paper manufacturing.

“On the Eyre Peninsula we have declared a large HPA Exploration Target that is based on a relatively conservative interpolation of grade and tonnage from historical drill results,” said Archer executive chairman Greg English.

“The project is ideally situated close to existing rail, power, gas and other significant infrastructure which will aide further exploration and possible project development,” he added.

He is optimistic about HPA looking at the increasing in merger and acquisition activity in the HPA sector.

Exploration activities would start once all necessary approvals are in place and once cropping is finished. The company will also look at JVs and divestments for the project.