Diatreme Resources Ltd. estimated a maiden resource for the Nob Point prospect, part of its Cape Bedford silica-heavy minerals project in North Queensland, Australia.

The prospect hosts 21.6 million tonnes at over 99% silica, and the resource covers about 1 square kilometer in the total tenement area of 542 square kilometers.

Diatreme CEO Neil McIntyre said the results showed potential for a new silica sand mine, and the company is "determined to advance the project as quickly as possible."

A commercial scoping study on the Cape Bedford project will target the potential export of 350,000 to 500,000 tonnes per annum of high-quality silica sand, comparable to the nearby Mitsubishi Corp.-owned Cape Flattery silica mines operation.

A definitive feasibility study on the project is estimated to be complete in the third quarter, according to the company's Aug. 13 release.