Additional wells being developed for Potash project

Australian Potash is developing two additional production wells at its Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash (SOP) project in Western Australia and will undertake test-pumping and collecting bedrock core for analysis to help determine the reserve estimate.

Australian Potash Managing Director and CEO, Matt Shackleton, said, “Integral to any mineral project’s success is the quality of the JORC Resource estimate underpinning it, and the Lake Wells SOP fertiliser project is no different.

“Project developments have to demonstrate to the lowest level of risk, both longevity of production, and recoverability of minerals.

“A bore-field permits a more straightforward assessment of at least the recoverability of brine and is a well-tried and proven method for abstracting brine.

“Central to the final field program at Lake Wells is the push to a JORC Reserve estimate, and our focus is on building upon the more than 50,000m of drilling and already extensive database of test work that comprises the existing, robust JORC Compliant SOP mineral resource estimate which contains over 12 million tonnes of gravity recoverable SOP at the Indicated level.

“Developing these two additional production wells, test-pumping them, and collecting bedrock core for analysis are critical factors that will feed into the calculation of an Ore Reserve estimate for Lake Wells.

“APC’s extensive geotechnical field and testwork at the project have confirmed the existence of a uniform, flat lying layer of low permeability clay at the lake surface that can accommodate ‘on-playa’ evaporation ponds.

“Because of this, we can avoid the significant capital expenditure required to line the pre-concentration ponds. The final geotechnical field trials will allow us to establish the optimal commercial-scale pond design, in terms of cost of construction and effectiveness of the plan.”

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