Our Deposit
Silica Earth Resources (SER) Radiolarite amorphous silica deposit is located in Western Australia and has an inferred resource of around 2.2Mt of high grade amorphous silica (85 – 90% SiO2) within a granted Mining Lease. Geological mapping within the immediately vicinity of our current resource indicates that the high grade deposit extends for a further 5,000 ha (potential resource of 500Mt of SiO2) making it one of the largest amorphous silica deposits in Australia.
Our deposit occurs entirely above the watertable and is outcropping over most of its area allowing for easy and low-cost mining and processing. Given the nature of the deposit, all we need to do is crush and screen the mined ore to produce a saleable product and this ensures a very low carbon footprint compared to similar soil ameliorants used in the past.
Our Executive Team
L to R: Bruce Scarterfield, Julian Ford , Mona Esapournoori , Nick Clayton and Murray Loxton
Julian Ford – Managing Director
Julian is an experienced mining executive and chemical engineer with more than 35 years in the global resources industry. He has held senior roles with major resource companies including Alcoa, British Gas and Western Metals, co-founded Zambezi Resources and previously served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sumatra Copper & Gold. His experience spans mineral exploration, feasibility studies, project development, processing, operations, marketing and corporate strategy across Australia and international markets.
During his tenure with Vytas Resources, Julian served as Project Manager and later Chief Technology Officer, working on the development and commercialisation of advanced silica-based technologies. This included high-purity silica processing, synthetic precipitated silica—an amorphous form of silicon dioxide—and the conversion of silica into nanoporous silicon for on-demand green-hydrogen production. This work provided Julian with direct technical and commercial experience across silica characterisation, processing, value-adding technologies and the development of higher-value markets for silica-derived materials. Julian holds qualifications in Chemical Engineering, Commerce and Business Management and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. As Managing Director, he combines his international mining leadership with specialist silica experience to guide the responsible development of Silica Earth Resources’ natural amorphous silica deposit, expand its commercial applications and progress the business toward sustainable, large-scale production.
Murray Loxton – Mining , Logistics and Production Director
Murray has worked in the Mining and Civil construction industry for over 30 years as a Builder through his association with Pinnacle Builders Pty Ltd of which he remains as a Director and Shareholder. Murray’s role was varied but mostly as a project manager- supervisor on a variety of projects up to several million dollars.
Additionally, Murray has held multiple mining operations including a successful Gold mine and Industrial Mineral operation. He is very familiar with the mining and the processing of our target material in the mine site location.
Nick Clayton – Sales and Marketing Director
Nick has been involved with the mining, agricultural and horticultural sectors for 40 years. His career includes being an AFL Grounds Construction Manager , a Golf Course Superintendent and senior management in both a national grounds maintenance company and a state based landscape construction company.
Nick has a very hands on approach and is very technically attuned to the practical applications of amorphous silica and has overseen many trials and accreditation of the mineral. Nick has also established a national distribution network via Mineral Magic to both support and supply the mineral across Australia , New Zealand and now internationally.
Bruce Scarterfield – Commercial Director
Beginning his career in 1978, Bruce has spent his entire career in the irrigation and horticultural market managing industry leaders such as Total Eden and now, the Newground Group. Acquisitions of related companies such as RGD Corporation , Statewide Turf Services, Gecko Contracting and GD Watermark sees the coverage of the national horticultural, mining and agricultural distribution networks expand and this offers a complete offering to commercial customers.
Bruce has been involved in everything from backyard irrigation to complex large-scale irrigation projects, and developed water management strategies and technical design for irrigation systems all across Australia. His work has helped develop the water services industry and its technologies to what it is today, and he is well respected amongst his peers, colleagues and by industry professionals.
Mona Esapournoori – Site Senior Executive and Compliance Manager
Mona is an experienced legal, corporate governance and compliance professional with responsibility for site management and regulatory compliance at Silica Earth Resources. Her background includes company secretarial and governance roles within Australian public and resource companies, providing practical experience in statutory reporting, corporate administration, regulatory obligations and board-level compliance.
Through her work with an established Western Australian industrial-minerals company, Mona has gained direct experience with mining operations involving attapulgite clay and diatomaceous earth—a naturally occurring mineral containing approximately 80–90% amorphous silica. This has provided valuable familiarity with the governance, regulatory and commercial requirements associated with amorphous-silica-rich deposits and their development into agricultural, horticultural, filtration and industrial products.
Mona holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business and Commerce in Marketing from Western Sydney University and is admitted as a solicitor with the Law Society of New South Wales. At Silica Earth Resources, she applies her legal, governance and industrial-minerals experience to support the safe, compliant and accountable development of the company’s amorphous silica operations, including site documentation, statutory reporting, mining compliance and operational governance.