PTR Minerals (ASX:PTR) has drilled its way to heavy mineralisation at its Muckanippie Project, 75km northwest of Tarcoola in Far North South Australia.
Air core drilling contractor McLeod Drilling created at least 777 holes with a combined length of 18.9km at its Rosewood and other deposits. Conventional wet separation techniques have successfully recovered 91.3% of titanium-bearing heavy minerals to a “high-quality” heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) that contains 90.8% heavy minerals.
McLeod used a six-wheel Toyota LandCruiser mounted rig with face sampling blade bits that have a diameter of 85mm and an NQ diameter of 76mm. Other drill types used at the project include reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, core diameter, triple, and standard tube.
Preliminary mineral separation test work found magnetic and electrostatic separation is effective in upgrading the HMC to produce “high-grade titanium products with minimal impurities”.
Preliminary mineral separation test work and initial x-ray fluorescence assays have identified five product streams of between 55.4% and 84.2% titanium dioxide, with an average product yield of 67%.
A second 3-tonne composite sample from Rosewood East was being processed at the time of publication.
Batch four drilling assays separately show the presence of a “consistent, shallow blanket” of high‑grade heavy mineralisation in the northern Rosewood East area.
IHC Mining has been selected to conduct initial assays on the first 1‑tonne bulk sample from exploratory metallurgical test work. Mineralogical and metallurgical test work is being performed on drill samples.
Diamantina Laboratory is assaying samples through a series of dehydration and rotary splitting methods. A 100-gram subsample will be wet screened on a Sweco vibrating screen deck at a top aperture of 2mm and bottom screen of 38μm (SLIMES fraction).
“Preliminary mineral separation work has produced a number of high-grade titanium products which we anticipate will continue to improve in quality as further testing is undertaken,” PTR Chief Executive Officer Peter Reid says.
“In this respect Mineral Technologies have just started processing a second 3-tonne bulk sample to progress further metallurgical and processing evaluation activities.”
The company promises to deliver its maiden resource during the second quarter of 2026.
PTR fully owns the Rosewood East area while the Rosewood West area is a joint venture between PTR (70%) and Narryer Metals (ASX:NYM) which owns the rest.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: PTR Minerals
