Empire Metals managing director Shaun Bunn talked with Proactive about the company's recent metallurgical breakthrough at the Pitfield Project in Western Australia.
The latest results confirm that weathered ore at Pitfield is amenable to conventional mineral separation and refining techniques, enabling high recoveries and production of a high-purity titanium dioxide (TiO₂) product.
Bunn explained that flotation tests yielded recoveries of up to 90% in the cleaning stage, and acid bake followed by hot-water leach achieved 98% titanium dissolution. He said, “We now have clear evidence that the ore is ideally suited to conventional mineral separation and refining, producing a high-purity titanium product with strong recoveries.”
The testwork delivered a TiO₂ product grading 99.25% with minimal impurities, suitable for pigment or titanium sponge metal production. The company noted the simplified process route eliminates the need for a bespoke demonstration plant, reducing both costs and environmental impact.
Empire Metals is now advancing towards continuous pilot-scale testing using commercial laboratories. The company aims to complete large-scale testwork by Q1 2026, a step expected to define the optimal flowsheet for Pitfield’s development.
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