Empire Metals (AIM:EEE) is shifting its focus towards turning the Pitfield Titanium Project, located in Western Australia, into a commercial operation.
During H2 2026, the company will conduct mine planning, engineering, and economic studies that will underpin Pitfield’s ongoing development.
Detailed engineering studies based on the current flowsheet have begun, and continuous pilot-scale test work will validate the process design criteria ahead of Feasibility Studies, while producing bulk product samples.
Product development work targeting coated rutile pigments and titanium sponge metal feedstock also continues to advance.
Work is currently underway to support a further resource upgrade in mid-2027, focusing on converting the indicated resource to the measured category. This work will also support the process flowsheet and economic studies required to advance towards probable ore reserves.
Empire Metals says that together with the planned Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) dual listing, these workstreams will carry Pitfield into the feasibility phase with strong momentum.
Managing Director Shaun Bunn says the company is continuing to strengthen its belief in the Pitfield Project’s potential to deliver high-purity titanium products at a cost advantage.
“Pitfield is emerging as a unique, Western-aligned source of titanium oxide (TiO2) rutile pigment and titanium sponge metal feedstock, at a time when there is a growing strategic demand for the critical metal globally,” Bunn says.
“With the resource now significantly upgraded and a compelling processing route established, Pitfield is entering a new chapter in its development.”
H1 2026 activities
This news comes after Empire Metals conducted its largest drill program to date at Pitfield, comprising 712 drill holes for 34,844m of drilling.
The drill program led to the recently reported upgraded resource estimate, totalling 8.16 billion tonnes @ 4.3% TiO2 for 349 million tonnes of contained TiO2 — confirming Pitfield as the world’s largest titanium resource.
In H1 2026, Empire Metals also completed an integrated metallurgical processing flowsheet for the project, designed to produce high-purity TiO2 pigment and titanium sponge metal feedstock using conventional processing methods.
Bunn adds that this processing flowsheet represents a key component in Pitfield’s development and reinforces the distinct advantages of the project’s ore.
“Further test work across the key processing stages will continue to derisk the process, strengthening our belief in Pitfield’s potential to deliver high-purity titanium products at a cost advantage, for both the TiO2 pigment and titanium metal markets,” Bunn says.
“We are well-positioned to build on this momentum as we enter the next phase of growth and advance this world-class asset further along the path to commercialisation.”
As of 30 June 2026, Empire Metals had £12.4 million ($23.4 million) in cash.
Located in Western Australia’s Mid West region, Pitfield lies 313km north of Perth and 156km southeast of Geraldton.
Empire Metals is developing the Pitfield Project, a unique, district-scale ‘high-grade’ titanium deposit.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Empire Metals
