Hello all, it appears one really can learn something new everyday.
I was doing some research regarding: (a) Western Australian lithium deposits; and (b) also considering some of the recent commentary regarding WA Kaolin Ltd (and as such the existence or otherwise of halloysite in WA) and came across the following:
1. The famous Greenbushes lithium-tantalum mine in Western Australia (which I understand to be the highest grade operating hard-rock mine in the world) is or has also been a source of some halloysite, the occurrence of which appears to be associated with pegmatites:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/rfa/regions/wa/resources/wa_res_rfa.pdf2. Similarly, in this WA Department of Mines booklet of 1980 regarding mineral resources in the state:
https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/static/FullTextFiles/007648.pdf3. In this academic journal article regarding soil kaolins of South Western Australia, halloysite is noted as being present in kaolin located at Wungong Dam in Western Australia:
http://www.clays.org/journal/archive/volume%2040/40-3-341.pdf4. As an addendum to (1) above and when I was considering the Greenbushes halloysite matter, I noticed that Lithium Australia indicated in its June 2020 activities report that it may be poking around in relation to potential kaolin and halloysite associated with pegmatites at the Dudley Project, Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20200731/pdf/44l1v6mcbt37hz.pdfHaving seen some prior references here and there to small commercial volumes of halloysite allegedly coming from Australia, I had wondered the sources (as it is not easy to find much evidence to support any present / active halloysite-kaolin mining in Australia at all) - and so it may be that modest amounts have in fact been exported from Western Australia historically.
From my perspective the above serves only to reinforce and support: (a) James Marsh’s assertions in effect as to the rarity and limited actual production of halloysite-kaolin; and (b) the sheer magnitude and significance of the Great White halloysite-kaolin resource in South Australia (not to mention the other deposits in respect of which ADN holds tenement interests) and the correspondingly unique commercial opportunity that goes with it.
This has all been provided as a matter of general interest to ADN’s shareholders and any opinions given should be relied on for investment decisions. Best wishes to all.
(20min delay)