Halo Minerals launches bio-accessibility study at Playa Verde to advance environmental compliance

The company has appointed specialist environmental consultancy MSTECH to carry out a bio-accessibility and human health risk assessment at its Playa Verde project in Chañaral, Chile, as part of the environmental conditions tied to the project’s approval.

Halo Minerals has launched a comprehensive bio-accessibility and human health risk assessment study at its Playa Verde Project in Chañaral, Chile, marking a new step in the project’s environmental and technical development.

To carry out the work, the company appointed specialist environmental consultancy MSTECH, which will assess total and bio-accessible concentrations of selected heavy metals and metalloids present in the mineralized sands at Playa Verde beach and the adjacent urban airport sector in the commune of Chañaral.

According to Halo Minerals, the main objective of the study is to support and confirm that the planned development and future operation of the project will not create exposure levels that pose a risk to the health of the local population, in line with the project’s environmental approval requirements.

Playa Verde study begins with fieldwork phase

The first phase of the study is already underway and focuses on field activities. This stage includes the collection of soil samples, in-situ geochemical characterization, and the preparation of granulometric curves, along with a quantitative mineral evaluation using scanning electron microscopy.

Once this initial stage is completed, the project will move into a second phase involving laboratory analysis of total and bio-accessible concentrations of the six target analytes using the unified bio-accessibility method.

This work is expected to play a key role in validating the environmental basis for the project and in supporting the company’s next development steps in Chile.

Halo Minerals highlights responsible development strategy

Halo Minerals said the study is essential to meeting the environmental conditions established by Chilean authorities and reflects the company’s approach to responsible project development.

CEO Andrew Dennan described the appointment of the consultant and the launch of the study as a milestone for Playa Verde.

“This work is essential to satisfying the environmental conditions set by the Chilean authorities and demonstrates Halo’s commitment and strategy to the responsible development of its projects,” Dennan said.

Project also reviews power and infrastructure requirements

In parallel with the environmental study, Halo Minerals has also engaged an energy and infrastructure consultant to review, optimize and define power requirements and access for the project’s future mining and processing operations.

The parallel work on environmental assessment and infrastructure planning suggests the company is advancing multiple fronts as it seeks to move Playa Verde toward the next stage of execution.

Halo Minerals is focused on producing strategic and battery minerals through the reprocessing of low-risk, metal-rich, surface accumulated legacy mining waste projects, with a particular emphasis on copper.