Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM) has received high-grade, broad and widespread rutile results from re-assaying of historical hand-auger holes at the Malingunde project in Malawi.
There were 125 shallow hand-auger drill holes selected for re-assay to assess the overall rutile potential across the Malingunde tenement area.
High-grade results
Results demonstrate that rutile mineralisation is likely to be present over vast areas and is hosted in soft, free-dig saprolite.
There were 26 holes, or 21%, with a weighted average grade of 2.34% titanium oxide and 96 holes, or 78%, with a weighted average grade of 1.89%.
Advancing rutile potential
Sovereign managing director Julian Stephens said: “Sovereign is focused on developing the world-class, low-cost flake graphite operation at Malingunde with the 50-tonne pilot plant work set to commence shortly as we ramp up DFS activities.
“This discovery of large areas of high-grade titanium oxide suggests the potential also for significant rutile deposits within Sovereign’s large ground holding.
“Given the currently strong fundamentals of the titanium feedstock market, the company intends to undertake further exploration and metallurgical studies to advance this potential rutile opportunity.”
Recovery work
The company’s initial sighter mineralogy and metallurgical program showed that grades of 0.86% titanium oxide recovered to concentrate were achieved at a recovery rate of 58% from an initial sample grading of 1.49% titanium oxide.
Concentrate produced during the test work ranged between 78% and 90% titanium oxide.
Work program to generate new targets
Mineralogical and metallurgical test work is required to ascertain mineralogy of regional samples and further optimise the flow sheet to improve rutile recoveries and concentrate grades.
A work program to further assess the scale, grade and rutile recoverability of prospects and to generate new targets across the company’s substantial ground position will begin shortly.
- Jessica Cummins