McLaren Minerals (ASX:MML) has received results from a phase one drilling program from the McLaren Titanium Project in Western Australia, which supports the geological model and raises confidence in a resource upgrade.
The resource update, which includes the final round of assays, is nearing completion and will underpin the Prefeasibility Study (PFS). The PFS is now in its final stages.
McLaren says together, these programs are anticipated to confirm the scale and development potential of its namesake project.
Some of the latest results include 27m @ 8% heavy mineral (HM) from surface, including 6m @ 24.7% HM from 21m and 1.5m @ 29.43% HM from 25.5m.
The company says these assays not only validate the geological model but also reveal unrecognised high-grade horizons within sequences once considered barren – unlocking new opportunities across the deposit.
Managing Director Simon Finnis says this mineralisation, and those reported before from this program, occur in a mineralised sequence that was previously not assayed.
“We’ve been reviewing the historical database, and what’s becoming clear is the presence of an older, higher grade strand beneath the more recent deposition,” Finnis says.
“It also appears that around 60% of previous holes either didn’t reach sufficient depth or, in some cases, were drilled but assayed. All of the really high-grade we’ve seen occurs in this deeper strand which is within highly weathered material below the traditional marine sediment target.
“It is very exciting to have defined this higher grade mineralisation over such a wide area and to the depth extensions observed.”
As previously reported, the phase one program comprised 192 holes for 4,067m of drilling, which generated 2,161 samples targeting resource and extension zones.
McLaren Minerals is an explorer focused on developing its namesake titanium project in the Eucla Basin of Western Australia.
Titanium is recognised as a critical mineral for aerospace, defence and energy sectors, due to its high strength, low weight, and corrosion resistance.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: McLaren Minerals
