High Purity Silica/Quartz (HPS/HPQ)

Project goal:

Accelerate the development of Australia’s silicon industry by advancing the knowledge of mineral systems and enabling high-value processing by developing technology, facilities and know-how required to produce HPQ in Australia for supply to high-tech global markets.

Challenge / Opportunity:

  • Silicon is used in many high-tech applications like electronics, solar panels and electric vehicles. HPQ, the purest and most valuable form, is used in the manufacture of semi-conductors and other high-tech and defence industries and is essential for the production of fused glass crucibles, an essential component in making polycrystalline wafers for solar cells.
  • The International Energy Agency expects demand for silicon to increase from 816.2 kt in 2022 to 2,200.5 kt by 2050, driven by solar PV and electric vehicles, which presents a significant opportunity for Australia.
  • While silica is an abundant mineral, it is challenging to find high purity resources needed for the production of silicon using available geological data and techniques.
    Detailed mineral studies are required to enable commercial exploration, discovery and development of HPS production in Australia.
  • HPQ must be 99.997% pure, containing few impurities. Purification of quartz to this level requires extensive processing including exposing the mineral to chlorine gas at >1000º C. There are few facilities available outside Germany and China that can complete this processing step.

Project status:

  • Geoscience Australia is developing a mineral systems model which will predict and identify deposits that have the greatest economic potential to supply high grade silicon.
  • This project is investing in a high temperature chlorination processing facility which will allow processing and testing of Australian quartz samples to temperatures between 300-1200º C.
  • This infrastructure is located at ANSTO at Lucas Heights and will enable Australian companies to test samples, verify purity levels and supply their material to lucrative
    high-tech markets. The facility, analytical services and know-how developed under this project will be available to project proponents, giving Australia a competitive edge in this market.

To request a transcript please contact us.