Empire Metals (AIM:EEE) has upgraded the Pitfield Project’s mineral resource estimate (MRE), confirming it as the world’s largest titanium resource.
Pitfield’s MRE contains 8.16 billion tonnes @ 4.3% titanium dioxide (TiO₂) for 349 million tonnes (Mt) of contained TiO₂, across the Thomas and Cosgrove deposits.
In the measured category, the resource totals 374Mt @ 5.8% TiO₂ for 21.6Mt, while the indicated category contains 3.65 billion tonnes (Bt) @ 4.3% TiO₂ for 154.7Mt. Meanwhile, in the inferred category, the resource totals 4.2Bt @ 4.1% TiO₂ for 173Mt.
Managing Director Shaun Bunn says the upgraded MRE is a ‘landmark’ moment for the company, underlining the sheer scale of the discovery.
“This milestone comes just weeks after we demonstrated an integrated flowsheet based on conventional processing steps, producing titanium dioxide at better than 99% purity, targeting both pigment and titanium metal feedstocks,” Bunn says.
“The high-grade weathered zone sits at surface and lends itself to simple, efficient mining methods. We now have both halves of the equation: a titanium resource of exceptional scale, and an integrated processing route designed to produce high-value products.
“Pitfield has the hallmarks of a tier one titanium project: scale, grade, simple mining methods, processing route based on conventional processing steps, and direct access to global markets, in a strategically important mining-friendly jurisdiction.”
The MRE consists of two distinct near-surface in situ weathered bedrock zones, the Thomas and Cosgrove deposits, which are defined by an area of 25.5km2 and 39.8km2 respectively, for a total MRE area of 65.3km2.
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
