Metallica Minerals Limited announced that a sampling program completed in the last quarter 2019 at its 100%-owned Cape Flattery Silica Sands project (CFSS) in Far North Queensland has confirmed the presence of high-purity silica sands. High purity silica sands are becoming more sought after globally, with growth being driven by silica sand's applications across a broad range of industries including glass-making, foundry casting, water filtration, chemicals and metals, along with the hydraulic fracturing process and an increasing amount of hi-tech products including solar panels. The exploration program consisted of hand-augering eight (8) holes to an average depth of 4.75m on the eastern target area of the tenement, which is located adjacent to Mitsubishi's large and established Cape Flattery Silica Sands mine. The majority of the eight (8) auger holes returned 1m samples intervals of >99% silica oxide (SiO2), with the drill intercepts averaging between 96.1% and 99.1% SiO2. These results are comparable with known deposits in the region. Seven (7) of the eight (8) holes ended in high-purity silica sand. The aim of the 2019 auger sampling program was to: Establish access to the sand dune target area, Confirm interpretations of the extent and potential thickness of the targeted sand dune, Conduct low-impact sampling using a hand-held sand auger, Confirm that sand quality is similar and comparable to the known Cape Flattery sand quality that is currently in the market. Auger sampling was completed at an approximate 400-metre spacing - along existing tracks, with priority drill sites targeting the sand dunes near established and or potential export infrastructure areas. The auger sampling was completed with a 50-millimetre shell auger up to a depth of 5m, which was the limit of practical manual augering at that time. The holes were sampled at 1-metre intervals and the data collected is sufficient for resource estimation. The results indicate that the sand quality is of similar quality to the identified silica sand resources at Cape Flattery and Cape Bedford. Next steps include: Plan a further exploration program to establish a maiden silica sand resource, Conduct preliminary sized sand recovery test work, Progress the concept work currently underway on an infrastructure solution to load ocean-going vessels. Background to the Cape Flattery Silica Sands project (CFSS) The CFSS project is located on the coast near Cape Flattery in Far North Queensland and is adjacent to Mitsubishi's Cape Flattery Silica Sands mine. The current CFSS sampling program focussed on the eastern most target area (approximately 1.5 km to the coastline). The previous sampling announced in April 2018 was based on reconnaissance sampling of three target areas which were previously identified with silica oxide (SiO2) percentages of greater than 99%. These target areas form the basis for the Exploration Target 1 developed by Metallica of 20-100 million tonnes of high purity silica sand. High-purity silica sands are becoming more sought after, with the global market growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 6% between 2010 and 2017, according to industry research firm IMARC Group. In 2017, a total of 188 Mt of silica sand was produced globally. This growth has been driven by silica sand's applications across a broad range of industries including glass-making, foundry casting, water filtration, chemicals and metals, along with the hydraulic fracturing process and an increasing amount of hi-tech products including solar panels. For example, the global glass-making industry, one of the major consumers of high-purity silica, has experienced significant growth recently as a result of demand from the construction and automotive industries. IMARC forecasts have demand for silica sands increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2% through to 2022, with annual revenues reaching USD 9.6 billion. Metallica has the advantage that the Cape Flattery silica sands have long been established in the market and are a known product amongst silica sand consumers. The Cape Flattery dune field is extensive, covering in excess of 100 km2. The dune field occupies a low coastal plain, with older sandstones of the Laura Basin and Hodgkinson Basin bounding its western edge and forming prominent inliers and headlands. The dune field consists predominantly of white, active, transgressive parabolic and elongate parabolic dunes, and rounded degraded dunes stabilised by vegetation, within a low-lying inter-dune sandplain interspersed with dune lakes and swamps. The elongate parabolic dunes have a nose that may reach 90m high, with trailing arms/ridges parallel to the prevailing south-easterly winds. The dunes represent a source of high-quality silica sand, as deep leaching of the sand masses has formed a podzolic soil profile with a thick A2 horizon of white silica sand up to 40m thick. The sand has been well sorted by aeolian processes.