Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE) said four diamond drill holes at its Pitfield project in WA all showed high-grade titanium mineralisation from the surface to where the drilling stopped at depths of more than 200m.
A JORC-compliant exploration number for the two high-grade targets at Cosgrove and Thomas should be released shortly, Empire added.
Drilling was designed to test two known zones of extensive, thick, shallow sandstone-rich beds that host higher-grade TiO2 mineralisation.
“Analytical lab results, along with the core logging, for these drill holes has confirmed extensive, strong weathering of the uppermost 40m of mineralised bedded sandstones, coincident with high TiO2 grades, which extend the entire length of the drill holes,” Empire said in a statement.
Intercepts graded 6.8% in one hole and respectively 6.1% 6.3% and 4.9% in the others.
Shaun Bunn, managing director, said: "The excellent core recovery achieved from the near-surface, strongly weathered mineralised bedded sandstones has provided invaluable samples and geological data.
“Additional quantitative and qualitative mineralogical and metallurgical studies have been instigated to provide a clearer picture of the mineral assemblage in the uppermost 40m zone.
“In parallel with this work, preparation of the Company's JORC Exploration Target for the Cosgrove and Thomas mineral prospects, announced as part of Empire's Development Plan on 27 March 2024, continues under the guidance of mineral resource consultants Snowden Optiro, and we expect to release these results shortly."