Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE, OTCQX:EPMLF) provided an update on development work at its Pitfield titanium project in Western Australia, where multiple workstreams are advancing the project rapidly.
The company today said flotation testing has confirmed selective recovery of titanium minerals while rejecting high levels of gangue, and that whole-of-ore flotation delivered concentrate grades above 34% TiO2 with recoveries around 70% while simplifying the separation flowsheet.
It also reported positive results from atmospheric sulphuric acid leaching of flotation concentrates, which it said requires lower temperatures and simpler equipment than the acid bake-water leach route tested previously.
"The ongoing achievements of our metallurgical and environmental teams continue to impress. We are greatly encouraged by the pace and quality of work being delivered, advancing multiple workstreams in parallel, and accelerating the Project's development pathway," said managing director Shaun Bunn.
“Metallurgical programmes are progressing rapidly toward a defined process flowsheet, with flotation performance and atmospheric low temperature leaching options having the potential to materially enhance project economics."
Bunn added that engineering, mining and marketing studies are underway to support a scoping study later in 2026.
Empire said it expects the mineral separation flowsheet to reach a stage by early February that allows larger-scale batch tests, with a preferred process flowsheet targeted by end of Q1 2026 before continuous pilot-scale testing starts.
The firm also said it has signed a non-binding cooperation agreement with the Mid West Ports Authority to enable discussions on future port access and noted Pitfield is near Three Springs, about 313 kilometres north of Perth.
"These milestones strengthen Pitfield's position as a globally significant titanium development project with multiple downstream product pathways, including pigment and titanium metal feedstock," Bunn added.