Homerun releases Santa Maria Eterna testing results

Executive Summary

• Homerun Resources Inc. announced exceptional metallurgical testing results from Dorfner Anzaplan GmbH for its Santa Maria Eterna High-Purity Silica Sand Project in Belmonte, Bahia, Brazil.
• The testing validated multiple non-hydrofluoric acid (non-HF) purification routes, confirming the deposit's suitability for high-value industrial applications including solar glass, optical glass, and silicon carbide.
• The project holds a NI 43-101 compliant preliminary resource of 25.56 million tonnes (measured) and 38.35 million tonnes (inferred) of high-purity silica sand (>99.6% SiO2).

Key Details

• Testing Laboratory: Dorfner Anzaplan GmbH, a leading independent silica sand testing laboratory in Germany.
• Resource Estimate: Preliminary resource of 25.56 million tonnes measured and 38.35 million tonnes inferred of high-purity silica sand (>99.6% SiO2) from one of three assets in the district.
• Purification Methods Tested:
  • Caustic baking (high-temperature sodium hydroxide treatment).
  • Phosphoric acid baking (thermal treatment with phosphoric acid).
  • Caustic leaching (pressurized alkaline dissolution).
  • Calcination combined with the above methods.
• Best Performance: The combination of calcination at 1,400°C with caustic baking achieved the best overall performance.
• Impurity Reduction Results:
  • Iron: Reduced from 6.1 ppm to as low as 0.34 ppm (94% reduction).
  • Titanium: Reduced from 33 ppm to as low as 0.87 ppm (97% reduction).
  • Aluminum: Remained at industry-leading low levels throughout processing.
• Environmental Advantage: Successful purification achieved without hydrofluoric acid (HF), avoiding associated environmental risks, safety hazards, and regulatory challenges.
• Validated Market Applications:
  • Solar Glass: Achieved iron levels of 0.34 to 1.4 ppm, exceeding the <70 ppm requirement by more than 50 times.
  • Optical Glass (Type I): Met stringent specifications including Fe <1 ppm, Cr <0.05 ppm, Mn <0.05 ppm, and Cu <0.05 ppm.
  • Silicon Carbide: Exceeds >99% SiO2 purity requirements.
  • Fused Silica: Qualified for >99.5% SiO2 and <0.02% Fe2O3 specifications.
  • Engineered Stone: Qualified for >99.5% SiO2 with uniform color.
  • Sodium/Potassium Silicate: Qualified for >99% SiO2 and <0.02% Fe2O3.
  • Frac Sand: Qualified for >99% SiO2.
  • Foundry Sand: Meets high-temperature mold and core production requirements.
• Qualified Person: Dr. Roque Yuri Tandel, FAusIMM 3154429, reviewed and approved the technical content under National Instrument 43-101.

Notable Quotes

• Brian Leeners, CEO: "These results from Dorfner Anzaplan... validate what we've believed about our Belmonte project; we have a world-class silica sand deposit with truly exceptional starting quality. The fact that we can achieve premium use-case specifications without hydrofluoric acid is a game changer for project economics and environmental permitting."
• Armando Farhate, COO: "The successful demonstration of non-HF purification routes represents a significant competitive advantage... These results demonstrate Homerun's ability to deliver high-purity silica products to premium markets while maintaining industry-leading environmental and safety standards."