Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE) told investors it has now completed two of three planned diamond drill holes at the Pitfield site, in Western Australia, where it is driving a major exploration push.
Its first hole, positioned near ‘Mt Scratch’, identified titanium mineralisation throughout the entire length of hole.
This confirms that the mineralisation seen previously in maiden reverse circulation drilling extends to depth. Here, mineralisation remains completely open at depth and along strike, the company added.
In the second hole, the company said that upon visual inspection there appears to be similarly extensive titanium mineralisation ‘hosted by a coarser succession of sedimentary host rocks, largely conglomerates and sandstones’.
Detailed assay results are pending, and, the company said it expects to release information about key parameters such as mineralogy, grades, and geological controls in the coming weeks.
"The diamond core drilling is the first phase of a major exploration push aimed at understanding the grade, mineralogy, thickness and magnitude of this giant titanium-rich mineral system," managing director Shaun Bunn said in a statement.
“Samples of the core collected have been shipped for assay and mineralogical studies.
Drilling is underway on our second #EEE diamond drill hole at Pitfield pic.twitter.com/RLQ1ARcG91
— Empire Metals (@Empiremetalsltd) October 11, 2023
“Further samples are being prepared for metallurgical testwork, which will help define the nature and potential economic value of this giant, titanium-enriched mineral system."
Empire highlighted that its next phase of drilling (which will be reverse circulation) will begin later in the fourth quarter.
This will be a much larger programme comprising around 40 drill holes, for a planned total of 6,000 metres.
At the same time, field activities are continuing in parallel including geological mapping, rock chip sampling, and airborne surveying.