Tusker Minerals (ASX:TSK) has revealed a JORC exploration target of 2.1–2.6 billion tonnes at 2.1–2.3% total heavy minerals for its Douala Basin Project in Cameroon.
This also includes indicative grades of 0.03–0.05% rutile and 0.06–0.07 zircon, establishing Doula as a ‘significant’ rutile-bearing mineral sands system.
According to Tusker, the target contains an estimated 48–55 million tonnes (Mt) of heavy minerals, including approximately 7Mt to 8Mt of rutile and 1.4Mt to 1.7Mt of zircon, based on the modelled mineral assemblage.
Covering approximately 152km2 within the Diwong South deposit, the target represents 6% of the company’s broader 2,580km2 project tenure.
CEO Cliff Fitzhenry says the target establishes ‘genuine’ multibillion-tonne scale within a shallow, infrastructure-advantaged rutile-zircon system.
“What makes Douala particularly compelling is the scale of the upside,” Fitzhenry says.
“The current target covers only a portion of one licence within our broader 2,580km2 project area, while initial reconnaissance drilling is already identifying materially higher-grade near-surface zones, including 3.2 metres at 0.76% rutile from surface,” Fitzhenry says.
Other key intercepts from reconnaissance auger drilling returned 4.2m @ 0.53% rutile (TiO2) and 0.08% zircon (ZrSiO4) from surface, peaking at 1m @ 0.86% TiO2 and 0.12 ZrSiO4.
The modelled mineral assemblage comprises approximately 15% rutile and 3% zircon of total heavy minerals, with kyanite comprising approximately 70% of the assemblage as a potential co-product.
Executive Chairman Daniel Smith says the Douala basin has the potential to be a ‘company-maker’ for Tusker.
“This exploration target delivers multibillion-tonne scale at an early stage, combined with a high-quality rutile-rich titanium mineral suite and one of the best infrastructure positions of any large African mineral sands project,” Smith says.
The project is located approximately 10km from the Port of Douala, with extensive licence areas within 25–50km of established roads, grid power, and deep-water export infrastructure.
Tusker plans to pursue a targeted pathway toward a maiden mineral resource estimate within six to nine months, subject to drilling outcomes.
Priority work includes infill drilling on upper aeolian plateau areas and testing extensions below the historical 18–24m depth limit, as well as expanded mineralogical and metallurgical testwork and updated geological and block modelling incorporating new data.
Tuskan Metals is an Africa-focused explorer with a portfolio of titanium and critical mineral assets across Cameroon and Malawi.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Tusker Minerals
