Horse Creek silica mine near Golden on the drawing board

The proposed mine would be located just north of Horse Creek, situated on a 60 acres parcel near Highway 95.

Photo of one of Hi-Test Sand's sand quarries. — Photo courtesy Hi-Test Sand Inc.

If plans go right the Golden area may soon be home to a new year-round silica mine operation being proposed by Hi-Test Sand Inc., a company based in Edmonton. Silica is currently produced by Heemskirk Canada Limited at the Moberly Silica operation, northwest of Golden.

At the Horse Creek Silica mine, Hi-Test Sand Inc. currently operates a seasonal quarry in Mount Wilson orthoquartzites for a variety of industrial use and aggregate products. The quarry is in an area where the formation is more consolidated than at Moberly, however, the company originally evaluated the deposit for the production of frac sand.

The Golden Star newspaper is reporting that Hi-Test is looking beyond frac sand production to the establishment of a silica sand facility based on the high-quality of the silica sand discovered.

The company has stated that the silica would primarily go to the production of solar panels.  The mine development could generate some 150 direct jobs and up to another 500 jobs in spin-off employment, if the mine moves to full, year-around production.

The proposed mine would be located just north of Horse Creek, situated on a 60 acres parcel near Highway 95.  It is projected that the operation could produce 50,000 tons of silica a year.  Current market conditions see silicon metal running at $2,700 (US) per ton.

Silicon metal is used in the production of many products in the growing “green” technology industries including the making of aluminum, the production of solar panels and computer chips and components.  Silicon metal is made from the reaction of silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2) and carbon materials like coke, coal and wood chips.

Source: Golden Star and BC Ministry of Energy and Mines