Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE) said it has identified more high-grade titanium targets at its Pitfield project in Western Australia along the central and southern high-density core of the "giant mineral system".
Analysis of three new diamond drill holes also showed titanium (TiO2) throughout the entire length, confirming the mineralisation intersected in earlier holes extends down to more than 350 metres (m) vertically from the surface and remains open at this depth.
Assays from the three holes to confirm grades are due in the next few weeks, Empire said.
Geological mapping and rock chip sampling carried out across the large magnetics anomaly already identified at Pitfield meanwhile identified two new high-grade TiO2 drill targets covering 3sq km and 6sq km respectively.
Rock-chip samples from these areas contained high-grade TiO2 values, Emp[ire added, with "many" above 10% and one greater than 21%.
Reverse circulation drilling of these areas begins this month, with approximately 40 holes totalling 6,000m currently planned.
Shaun Bunn, Empire’s managing director, said: "Our most recent round of work at Pitfield has generated some extraordinary results, with many rock chip samples exceeding 10% TiO2, and one value of an exceptional 21.49% TiO2.
“In addition, the diamond drilling that we undertook in tandem with this surface sampling demonstrates that strata bound titanium-rich mineralisation remains completely open at depth at 350m, and along strike, once again reinforcing our view that we have discovered a primary titanium asset of perhaps unparalleled size and scale.
“While titanium mineralisation is very widespread, virtually across kilometres of altered rock, we are also finding higher grade mineralised areas and rock types which will greatly help us focus our future drilling.”