Sunrise Resources enters pozzolan testing arrangement

Sunrise Resources announced the start of a collaborative arrangement with an existing processor of natural pozzolan for mining and test grinding of a bulk sample of its Hazen natural pozzolan deposit in northern Nevada on Wednesday.

The AIM-traded firm said the collaboration followed successful laboratory testing of the Hazen pozzolan by both parties, with the test programme set to provide further information on the mining characteristics and grinding behaviour of the Hazen natural pozzolan on a commercial scale.

About 250 tons of natural pozzolan would be extracted and processed, at no cost to Sunrise.

Mining equipment was being mobilised, and the bulk sample was scheduled to be mined and delivered to the process plant this week for processing as soon as possible.

The owner of the process plant was already involved in the processing and marketing of natural pozzolan.

“Whilst there is currently no obligation on either party to enter into a further agreement at this stage, this is an important collaboration,” said executive chairman Patrick Cheetham.

“The other party has the processing facilities and marketing network in those regions targeted by the Hazen Project to commercialise the Hazen deposit in the future and the deposit is well located close to rail.”

Cheetham said the company’s progress at the Hazen Project did not detract from its focus on the “more advanced” CS Pozzolan-Perlite Project in Nevada, as the two projects targeted different regional areas of cement and concrete demand served by a range of different cement and ready-mix companies.

“We look forward to advancing the Hazen Pozzolan Project alongside the CS Project, and to providing further news from our Pioche Sepiolite Project in Nevada where Tolsa, the world's largest producer of sepiolite, recently applied for a permit to carry out a large trenching programme.”

At 0947 BST, shares in Sunrise Resources were up 0.91% at 0.11p.

Reporting by Josh White at Sharecast.com.