Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE) said it recorded more significant intersections at Pitfield that confirm it is a world-class, district-scale titanium mineral system.
Assays from two holes drilled to a depth of 350 metres (m) included 297m of TiO2 (titanium dioxide) at an average grade of 6.1% in one hole and 173m at 5.76% in the other.
The first hole in the current programme returned 276m at 4.57%.
“All three diamond drill holes completed to date have intersected strong, sediment-hosted titanium mineralisation throughout the length of each hole, including thick, higher grade, bedded intervals, with the bottom of each hole stopped in mineralisation,” said Empire’s statement.
The two holes were drilled 12km apart towards the southern end and central portion of the giant 40km long by 8km wide by 5km deep Pitfield mineral system
Shaun Bunn, managing director, said the results were exceptional.
"The results clearly point to strong and extensive titanium mineralisation with thick, high-grade bedded intervals, close to surface, the grades of which are particularly impressive.
"We are now seeing TiO2 values in excess of 7% over greater than 50m thick, bedded intervals within a host sedimentary succession that has been entirely altered and mineralised.
"The next phase of RC drilling has commenced and is running smoothly. Comprising 40 RC drill holes, for a total drilled length of 6,000m, this programme doubles that drilled in our maiden RC campaign.
"The plan is to carry out an additional, similarly sized RC drilling programme in early 2024, targeting the shallower areas of high-grade TiO2 beds," Bunn said.