SAGA Metals (TSX-V:SAGA) says stage one metallurgical testing has further demonstrated the commercial potential of its flagship Radar Titanium-Vanadium-Iron Project in Labrador, Canada, with positive results paving the way for process optimisation and future pilot-scale testing.
The validation program used Temas Resources’ proprietary regenerative chloride leaching (RCL) technology to test titanium-vanadium-iron mineralisation from the project.
Temas evaluated three representative feed materials supplied by SAGA, including run-of-mine (ROM) massive oxide material, vanadium-titanium magnetite concentrate, and ilmenite concentrate. The program included feed characterisation, primary and secondary leaching tests, solution and residue analyses, material balance calculations, and recovery determinations.
According to SAGA, the testing demonstrated increasing titanium recoveries as feed quality improved while maintaining consistently high recoveries of vanadium and iron. The ilmenite concentrate achieved the highest titanium extraction at 90.8%, while vanadium recoveries reached 97.4% and iron recoveries reached 91.5% under the test conditions.
The results also support earlier Hawkeye Davis tube analytical work, which indicated the non-magnetic ilmenite fraction typically contains 86–92% of the project’s titanium dioxide (TiO₂).
“Achieving these recoveries, particularly the strong titanium, iron, and vanadium extractions at this early stage, without the benefit of detailed mineralogical analysis or process optimisation, is significant,” SAGA CEO Mike Stier says.
“These results provide a clear and encouraging path forward as we advance the stages of development, with the goal of further maximising recoveries and unlocking the full potential of the Radar Titanium-Vanadium-Iron Project.”
Stage two optimisation next
Following an independent technical review, the company concluded that all stage one objectives have been met, and the project will advance into stage two bench optimisation. The next phase will focus on optimising process conditions, improving reagent efficiency, and generating engineering data to support future scale-up.
“The successful completion of SAGA’s stage one validation program and recommendation to advance into stage two optimisation moves this opportunity another step closer to potential commercial deployment,” Temas CEO Tim Fernback says.
Upon completion of stage two, SAGA and Temas will assess whether to proceed to pilot-scale testing to generate additional engineering data for future commercial design.
The company believes the latest metallurgical results, together with ongoing mineral resource drilling, further strengthen Radar’s development potential. To date, SAGA has defined a 29km² oxide corridor across three mineralised zones containing vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) and ilmenite with strong titanium and vanadium grades.
Current drilling and bench-scale extraction test work are expected to support an initial mineral resource estimate in Q4 2026, followed by a preliminary economic assessment in early 2027.
SAGA Metals is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of a diversified suite of critical minerals.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Image: SAGA Metals
