Sunrise Resources makes progress with various projects

Sunrise Resources updated the market on some of its projects on Wednesday, saying that at the CS Pozzolan-Perlite Project, the latest testwork showed “promise” for the production of premium-value super-coarse horticultural grades of perlite.

The AIM-traded firm said it saw “positive” results from concrete trials by a second large cement and ready-mix company, using its natural pozzolan, with an additional programme of bulk sampling now completed.

From that, a seven-ton perlite sample was submitted for crushing and screening to confirm the mobile plant design.

An 18-ton pozzolan sample was also sent to a custom milling facility, to provide information on grinding characteristics and to provide larger ground samples for additional customer trials.

Finally, a 100-ton sample of perlite was extracted for further processing and customer testing.

On the permitting front, a plan of operation and reclamation permit application for the production of pozzolan and perlite was set to be submitted this month.

The firm said its emissions inventory was nearing completion, for the Federal Environmental Assessment and State Air Quality Permit application.

It explained that the latest estimates suggested that completion of permitting would be delayed “slightly” to the fourth quarter, following procedural changes by the regulator.

A suitable water source had been identified, with water rights and development rights of way applications now submitted.

Sunrise Resources said market opportunities for natural pozzolan were “increasing”, as fly ash shortages continued.

Closure of the Navajo generating station would take 500,000 tons per year of fly ash from the western US market.

At the NewPerl Perlite Project in Nevada, the company said positive perlite expansion testwork had been completed on samples collected from NewPerl and Jackson Wash.

It said a notice level permit application had been submitted for drilling and bulk sampling.

Finally, at the County Line Diatomite Project - also in Nevada - the board reported an approach from a potential diatomite customer, with samples collected and submitted for manufacturing tests.

“I am pleased to provide this detailed update on our progress with permitting and market development testwork as we continue to prove the value of our natural pozzolan and perlite with future customers,” said chairman Patrick Cheetham.

“Gaining market acceptance is a long process for industrial minerals such as perlite and pozzolan but I am pleased with our progress and market developments mean both products are increasingly in demand.

“I am also pleased to be reporting positive developments on our NewPerl Perlite and new interest in our County Line Diatomite Project.”