Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE, OTCQX:EPMLF) has upgraded the mineral resource at its Pitfield project in Western Australia to 8.16 billion tonnes grading 4.3% titanium dioxide, containing 349 million tonnes of TiO₂, which the company said confirms Pitfield as the world’s largest titanium resource.
The JORC-compliant estimate includes Pitfield’s first Measured Resource of 374 million tonnes at 5.8% TiO₂, containing 21.6 million tonnes of TiO₂. A further 3.65 billion tonnes is classified as Indicated and 4.2 billion tonnes as Inferred.
Empire highlighted a 4.39 billion-tonne near-surface weathered zone grading 4.4% TiO₂, where soft, friable material occurs from surface with minimal overburden. High-grade zones averaging above 6% TiO₂ extend for around 5km at the Thomas deposit and 4km at Cosgrove, providing targets for early-stage mine planning.
Managing director Shaun Bunn said the first Measured Resource, combined with the substantial Indicated component, provides “the platform for mine planning and the economic studies that will underpin Pitfield's development”.
Empire is planning further drilling, metallurgical work and engineering studies ahead of another MRE upgrade targeted for mid-2027, with work focused on increasing confidence categories and supporting progression towards Probable Ore Reserves.
