Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE) has said the titanium discovery made at its Pitfield project in Western Australia represents a new type of strata-bound sedimentary rock-hosted deposit, unlike more common beach sand and hard-rock deposits found globally.
In a statement, Empire said petrography work confirmed the presence of ilmenite, one of the main sources of titanium oxide (TiO2) a metal deemed “critical” by the US.
Additionally, the dominance of ilmenite and hematite within the samples studied, along with only the minor presence of magnetite, is also considered economically highly beneficial.
A new 3D magnetics model shows that as well as the previously announced 40 kilometre (km) by 8 km anomaly area, it extends at least 6 km below the surface.
Shaun Bunn, Empire Metals' managing director, said the results were “very exciting”.
He added: “This magnetic anomaly appears to be coincidental with the currently known extent of the ilmenite mineralisation."
Pitfield’s structure also differentiates it from other typical titanium deposits, Bunn said, which are either much lower grade heavy mineral beach sand deposits or hard-rock igneous deposits which are difficult to beneficiate.
“We believe Pitfield is truly unique in its scale and character," he concluded.