Technical
Geology, chemistry and development data
Data from the SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd Competent Person's Report (26 November 2025) and ALS Brisbane laboratory analysis.
01 · Geology
Pilliga Sandstone, Injune Group (Late Jurassic)
The site lies within the New England Fold Belt region, in the Pilliga Sandstone of the Injune Group (Late Jurassic). The unit comprises tenacious, friable, fine to very coarse-grained quartz sandstones with minor pebbly sandstones and shales, dipping gently north and persisting beyond the resource area.
Within the resource area iron content does not exceed 6% in any area of interest; the sand is ~70–80% quartz and 10–14% alumina with low clay content. Tertiary volcanics (basalt, dolerite, andesite) cap the sandstone to the south.
Regional geology
Illustrative only, not to scale. Original figures: SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd, Competent Person's Report, 26 November 2025 — available on request.
02 · Geological profile
Soil, free sand and two sandstone benches
Geological profile
Source: SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd, Competent Person's Report, 26 November 2025
03 · Chemistry
Pozzolanic sandstone zone (15–60 m, 8 samples)
SiO₂
65.0%
avg · range 62.6–66.8
Al₂O₃
16.1%
avg · range 13.2–18.8
Fe₂O₃
4.7%
avg · range 3.0–7.3
SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + Fe₂O₃
85.8%
avg · range 84.0–87.8
LOI
6.4%
avg · range 5.0–7.8
SiO₂ + Al₂O₃ + Fe₂O₃: WPSA 85.8% vs 70% minimum oxide content for ASTM C618 Class N natural pozzolan.
Chemical criterion only; full classification also requires SO₃, fineness and strength activity testing, which form part of the current test programme.
Downhole results — Lot 7 borehole
Highlighted rows: pozzolanic sandstone zone (15–60 m).
| 4 | 91.70 | 4.15 | 1.65 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.04 | <0.01 | 0.33 | 2.01 |
| 6 | 93.80 | 3.33 | 1.10 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | <0.01 | 0.15 | 1.42 |
| 9 | 77.60 | 12.05 | 3.72 | 0.08 | 0.42 | 0.20 | 0.05 | 0.85 | 4.91 |
| 15 | 66.10 | 18.75 | 2.99 | 0.51 | 1.93 | 1.04 | 0.46 | 1.14 | 6.64 |
| 20 | 63.50 | 17.75 | 4.88 | 1.02 | 1.97 | 1.52 | 0.97 | 0.99 | 6.91 |
| 26 | 62.60 | 17.20 | 4.88 | 2.18 | 2.30 | 1.73 | 1.47 | 0.94 | 6.06 |
| 30 | 62.80 | 14.55 | 6.63 | 2.43 | 2.04 | 1.50 | 0.86 | 0.81 | 7.82 |
| 42 | 66.80 | 15.60 | 3.23 | 2.54 | 2.39 | 1.47 | 1.75 | 0.72 | 4.96 |
| 45 | 66.80 | 15.15 | 3.75 | 2.09 | 2.16 | 1.28 | 1.90 | 0.89 | 5.44 |
| 51 | 66.50 | 16.55 | 3.67 | 1.53 | 2.14 | 1.82 | 0.59 | 0.76 | 6.08 |
| 60 | 64.80 | 13.20 | 7.34 | 2.12 | 2.33 | 0.75 | 0.69 | 0.55 | 7.60 |
| 72 | 51.90 | 19.90 | 0.77 | 0.36 | 0.59 | 0.23 | 0.10 | 1.27 | 24.57 |
| 81 | 84.60 | 8.80 | 0.97 | 0.18 | 1.91 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.36 | 2.66 |
| 90 | 80.50 | 11.00 | 1.41 | 0.15 | 2.76 | 0.25 | 0.13 | 0.36 | 3.20 |
Source: ALS Brisbane, Certificate BR11019867, fusion XRF, Lot 7 borehole, 4–90 m.
04 · Exploration data
Test pits, RAB drilling and a deep borehole
- 22 historical test pits to 15 m.
- Rotary air blast (RAB) drilling to 30 m on ~400 m × 400 m spacing.
- One deep borehole in Lot 7.
05 · Resource modelling
3-D geological block model in Geovia Surpac, constrained by interpreted domains with material and density attributes, validated visually and by volume reproduction. No dilution or mining-loss factors applied, as the whole rock unit is extracted. Topography from the NSW Elvis elevation system at 2 m contours.
Drillhole locations
Illustrative only, not to scale. Original figures: SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd, Competent Person's Report, 26 November 2025 — available on request.
06 · Conceptual pit design
Pit design parameters
| Wall angle | 45° |
|---|---|
| Bench height — sand | 8 m |
| Bench height — sandstone | 15 m |
| Berm width | 10 m |
| Boundary buffer (screening and bunding) | 20 m |
Conceptual pit design
Source: SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd, Competent Person's Report, 26 November 2025
07 · Mining method
Conventional open-pit quarrying
Vegetation clearing and soil stockpiling for rehabilitation
Overlying sand stripped by excavator/loader and stockpiled for sale
Sandstone drilled and blasted
Load and haul to primary crushing
Dispatch for secondary processing and sale
08 · Site infrastructure
Planned facilities
- Offices and amenities
- Workshop and equipment parking
- Primary processing plant
- Weighbridge
- Electricity connection
- Water connection
09 · Approvals & environment
Current consents and licence
Development Consent 32/97 (granted 15 April 1988; modification 33/2016 approved 12 December 2016) and Environment Protection Licence No. 20792 (issued 12 July 2016) are current.
The current licence permits up to 35,000 tonnes of finished material per 12-month period; expansion to export scale will be pursued through a State Significant Development (SSD) application supported by detailed technical assessments.
No non-compliances identified on the NSW POEO public register. Rehabilitation is provided for at A$1.00 per tonne in the financial model.
10 · Work programme
Next technical steps
Infill drilling and test pitting
Particle size distribution and source material testing
Bulk sample extraction and processing trials
Geotechnical wall-stability analysis
Flora, fauna, water and community studies
Updated resource model and CPR
SSD application
