Blair 2025 Silica Sand Resource Estimates

Blair 2023 Silica Sand Resource Estimates — Processing Operations

Executive Summary

Section 17 details the recovery methods for the Blair Mine, a standalone mining operation producing frac sand for hydraulic fracturing. The processing workflow involves washing, drying, and sorting ROM sandstone to remove contaminants and achieve specific mesh sizes. The operation consists of a crushing plant, a wet-processing plant with a nameplate capacity of 350 short tons per hour, and a dry-processing plant with a capacity of 200 tons per hour. Material is transported between plants via the Blair Facility Slurry Line.

Production data from June 2017 to December 2023 indicates significant output, with a total of 6.49 million short tons of Wet Plant work-in-progress and 5.28 million short tons of finished frac sand products. The wet-processing plant operates seasonally from March to November, while the dry-processing plant operates year-round. Quality control measures are implemented throughout the process, and the equipment is deemed suitable for its intended purpose.

Production History

The mine has produced approximately 5.28 million short tons of finished product since 2017. In 2023 alone, the dry plant processed 1,303,000 short tons of feed to yield 938,000 short tons of finished product.

Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/production

Report Date: 2023

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Blair 2022 Silica Sand Resource Estimates

Executive Summary

This technical report details the recovery methods and production data for the Blair Mine, a standalone mining operation focused on the production of frac sand. The processing facility washes, dries, and sorts ROM sandstone to yield products suitable for hydraulic fracturing. The operation is divided into crushing, wet-processing, and dry-processing stages, utilizing specific equipment such as jaw crushers, attrition cells, and fluid bed dryers to achieve the required mesh sizes (20/40, 30/50, 40/70, and 100 mesh).

Production data from June 2017 through December 2022 indicates a total of 4.34 million short tons of finished product were produced. The wet-processing plant operates seasonally from March to November with a capacity of 350 short tons per hour, while the dry-processing plant operates year-round with a capacity of 200 short tons per hour. The combined operation employs approximately 60 people and utilizes a slurry line to transport work-in-progress material between the west and east sides of the highway.

Quality control measures including laboratory sampling are implemented throughout the process. Based on site visit observations, the processing operations and equipment are deemed suitable for their intended purpose. The report provides detailed yield percentages for both wet and dry plants across the operational years, demonstrating consistent production efficiency.

Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/production

Report Date: 2022

Region: Trempealeau River, Wisconsin, USA

Project Status: Operating

Commodity: Silica Sand

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Blair 2021 Silica Sand Resource Estimates

Executive Summary

This section of the 2021 Silica Sand Resource Estimates details the recovery methods employed at the Blair Mine. The operation focuses on washing, drying, and sorting ROM sand to produce frac sand suitable for hydraulic fracturing. The processing flow involves crushing, wet-processing, slurry transport, and dry-processing stages.

The Blair Mine is a standalone operation with a crushing plant, wet-processing plant, and dry-processing plant. The wet-processing plant has a capacity of 350 short tons per hour, while the dry-processing plant operates at 200 tons per hour. Production data from 2017 to 2021 indicates a total of 3.39 million short tons of finished frac sand product, with the 2021 dry plant production reaching 770,000 short tons. The operation runs year-round for the dry plant and seasonally (March-November) for the wet plant due to weather dependencies.

Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/production

Report Date: 2021

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Blair 2020 Silica Sand Resource Estimates

Executive Summary

This technical report details the processing operations and resource estimates for the Blair Mine, operated by Source Energy Services Ltd. The facility is designed to wash, dry, and sort ROM sandstone to produce frac sand suitable for hydraulic fracturing. The operation commenced in June 2017 and has since produced approximately 2.62 million short tons of finished frac sand product.

The processing circuit consists of a crushing plant, a wet-processing plant, and a dry-processing plant. The wet plant has a nameplate capacity of 350 short tons per hour, utilizing jaw crushers, density separators, and attrition cells. The dry plant operates year-round with a capacity of 200 tph, employing fluid bed dryers and screeners to produce various mesh sizes including 20/40, 30/50, and 40/70.

Quality control measures are implemented throughout the wet and dry processing stages. The combined operation employs approximately 60 people and utilizes a slurry line to transport work-in-progress material between the wet and dry facilities.

Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/production

Report Date: 2020

Region: Wisconsin, USA

Project Status: Operating

Commodity: Silica Sand

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Blair Mine — 2019 Technical Report

Executive Summary

The 2019 Technical Report details the recovery methods and operational status of the Blair Mine, a standalone mining operation owned by Source Energy Services Ltd. The facility is located adjacent to the Trempealeau River and U.S. Highway 53 in Wisconsin, USA. The mine focuses on the extraction and processing of silica sand for use in hydraulic fracturing (frac sand). The operation commenced in June 2017 and is currently in the operating phase.

Processing operations involve washing, drying, and sorting ROM sandstone to produce frac sand products. The process includes crushing ROM sandstone, wet-processing to separate material by size, shape, and density, and dry-processing to produce final mesh sizes. The combined processing operation employs approximately 60 people and operates 24 hours a day during respective seasons.

Since start-up in June 2017, the Blair processing operation has produced approximately 2.80 million short tons of Wet Plant work-in-progress product and 2.26 million short tons of finished frac sand products (20/40, 30/50, 40/70, and 100 Mesh). Quality control measures, including laboratory sampling, are implemented throughout the wet- and dry-processing operations. The processing equipment is deemed suitable for its intended purpose.

Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/production

Report Date: 2019

Region: Wisconsin, USA

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Commodity: Silica Sand

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Blair Mine — 2017 Technical Report

Executive Summary

This section details the recovery methods employed at the Blair Mine, a standalone mining operation focused on producing frac sand. The processing workflow involves washing, drying, and sorting ROM sandstone to achieve specific product sizes suitable for hydraulic fracturing. The operation is divided into crushing, wet-processing, and dry-processing stages, with material trucked between the wet and dry facilities located on opposite sides of U.S. Highway 53.

The wet-processing plant has a nameplate capacity of 350 short tons per hour and utilizes equipment such as jaw crushers, density separators, and attrition cells to remove contaminants and separate material by size and density. The dry-processing plant, with a capacity of 200 tph, employs fluid bed dryers and Rotex screeners to produce final products ranging from 20/40 to 100 Mesh. Operations are weather-dependent for the wet plant (March to November) but the dry plant runs year-round.

Quality control measures including laboratory sampling are implemented throughout the process. Based on site observations, the current processing operations and equipment are deemed suitable for their intended purpose. The combined operation employs approximately 60 people.

Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/production

Report Date: 31 December 2017

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Blair Silica Sand Mine: Frac Sand Recovery Methods & Yield

Source: Source Energy Services Ltd (2026)
Website: https://www.sourceenergyservices.com/news-releases/source-energy-services-ltd-files-updated-ni-43-101-technical-reports-for-its-mineral-projects-in-wisconsin-united-states

Critical Data

Overview

Source Energy Services Ltd. operates the Blair Silica Sand Mine in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, a premier facility for producing high-quality hydraulic fracturing sand (frac sand). Established in 2016-2017, the mine employs a multi-stage recovery method that includes crushing, wet processing, slurry transport, and dry sorting to yield mesh products such as 20/40, 30/50, 40/70, and 100 (70/140). The crushing plant prepares run-of-mine (ROM) sandstone using a jaw crusher and vibratory feeder, feeding a 350 short tons per hour (tph) wet-processing plant where density separators, attrition cells, and dewatering screens remove contaminants and produce work-in-process (WIP) material. This WIP is then transported via the Blair Facility Slurry Line (BFSL) to the 200 tph dry-processing plant, featuring a Starkeaire fluid bed dryer and four Rotex screeners for final sizing. The facility’s strategic location on both sides of U.S. Highway 53 and the Trempealeau River allows efficient logistics, with the wet plant operating from March to November and the dry plant running year-round, 24 hours a day. Historical production from 2017 to 2025 totaled 7.30 million short tons of finished product, with 2025 achieving a wet plant yield of 62% and dry plant yield of 75%. Quality control through laboratory sampling ensures product consistency for the oil and gas industry.

Key Process Stages

• Stage 1: Crushing – ROM sandstone is fed from a 70,000 short ton stockpile via vibratory feeder into a jaw crusher. The crushing process reduces rock to manageable sizes without damaging individual sand grains, preparing the material for wet processing.
• Stage 2: Wet Processing – The crushed material enters the wet-processing plant (350 tph nameplate capacity) where Diester scalping screens remove oversize, McLanahan density separators sort by specific gravity, Liberator attrition cells scrub surfaces, and McLanahan dewatering screens and plate press recover water. An ultra fines recovery circuit captures fine particles. This stage produces 8/50 and 20/70 sized WIP material.
• Stage 3: Slurry Transport – WIP material is slurried and pumped through the Blair Facility Slurry Line (BFSL) to the dry-processing plant located across the highway and river. This eliminates trucking, improves efficiency, and enables year-round dry plant operation.
• Stage 4: Dry Processing – The dry-processing plant (200 tph nameplate capacity) receives WIP from a 400,000 short ton stockpile. A Starkeaire fluid bed dryer removes moisture, followed by four Rotex screeners that sort the sand into 20/40, 30/50, 40/70, and 100 mesh products.
• Stage 5: Quality Control & Loading – Throughout the process, laboratory sampling tests product quality. The finished frac sand is loaded onto railcars adjacent to the dry plant for shipment. The integrated system ensures consistent mesh sizing and purity for hydraulic fracturing applications.

Additional Interesting Data and Summary

The Blair Silica Sand Mine’s recovery methods have proven highly effective, with cumulative finished production of 7.30 million short tons (6.63 million metric tonnes) from mid-2017 through 2025. In 2025 alone, the operation processed 1,979,000 short tons of ROM feed through the wet plant, yielding 1,227,000 short tons of WIP (62% yield), and the dry plant produced 982,000 short tons of finished product (75% yield from dry plant feed). The facility employs approximately 60 people, contributing significantly to the local economy in Trempealeau County. A key innovation is the Blair Facility Slurry Line (BFSL), which replaced trucking of WIP material between the wet and dry plants, reducing road traffic, emissions, and operational costs. This slurry system allows the dry-processing plant to operate year-round, maximizing throughput. Environmental considerations include water management through the McLanahan plate press and ultra fines recovery circuit, which reclaim process water and reduce freshwater demand. Although specific water and energy consumption metrics are not disclosed in the recovery methods section, the presence of dewatering and fines recovery equipment indicates a focus on sustainability. Quality control measures, including laboratory sampling at multiple stages, ensure that products meet API specifications for hydraulic fracturing sand. Looking ahead, Source Energy Services continues to optimize the Blair Mine’s processing to maintain consistent supply to North American oil and gas markets. The facility’s robust design, with separate wet and dry plants and a 400,000 short ton WIP stockpile, provides operational flexibility to handle market fluctuations. Future developments may include further efficiency improvements in the crushing circuit and enhanced fines recovery to boost overall yield. The Blair Silica Sand Mine remains a strategic asset in the frac sand supply chain, combining innovative slurry transport, proven processing equipment, and a dedicated workforce to deliver high-quality proppant to the energy industry.

Key Processes: Crushing

Target Commodities: N/A

Overview

The Blair Mine processing facility transforms raw sandstone into high-quality frac sand through a comprehensive wet and dry processing circuit. Located on the Blair Property, the operation produces multiple sand grades suitable for hydraulic fracturing applications, with separate crushing/wet-processing and dry-processing plants connected by a slurry line.

Key Process Stages

• Crushing: ROM sandstone is reduced to manageable sizes using a jaw crusher and vibratory feeder while preserving grain integrity
• Wet Processing: Material is separated by size, shape, and density through Diester scalping screens, McLanahan density separators, and Liberator attrition cells to produce 8/50 and 20/70 WIP material
• Slurry Transport: WIP material is pumped to dry-processing facilities via the Blair Facility Slurry Line (BFSL)
• Dry Processing: Material undergoes final drying (Starkeaire fluid bed dryer) and sorting (four Rotex screeners) to produce 20/40, 30/50, 40/70 and 100 mesh products

Critical Data

Plant Configuration

The crushing/wet-processing plant operates seasonally (March-November) on the west side of U.S. Highway 53, while the year-round dry-processing plant is located east of the highway adjacent to rail infrastructure. Quality control is maintained through laboratory sampling at multiple process stages.

Based on filing data from 2024-2025.