Ilmenite confirmed as key titanium mineral at Empire Metals’ Pitfield Project

Highlights

• Pitfield represents a newly recognised type of stratabound sedimentary rock-hosted titanium deposit, unlike the more common beach sand and hard-rock types of titanium deposits found globally.
• Initial petrography work confirms the presence of ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, which is highly valued as a source for titanium oxide and which accounts for over 85% of the feedstock for the entire titanium industry.
• The dominance of ilmenite and hematite within the samples studied, along with only the minor presence of magnetite, is considered highly beneficial from an economic perspective.
• New 3D magnetics model demonstrates the extraordinary depth of the previously announced 40 km by 8 km magnetics anomaly, extending to at least 6 km below surface.
• Titanium minerals are regarded as a ‘critical’ resource and titanium is on the strategic critical minerals list in many countries including the United States, the European Union, Japan and Australia.
• Future drill programmes currently funded, including both diamond core and additional RC drilling, will be carried out along the entire length of the magnetics anomaly to confirm the scale of this giant, titanium-enriched mineral system.

Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said: “It is very exciting to see the results from our initial petrographic and mineralogical studies, confirming the presence of ilmenite within this exceptional titanium-rich mineral system. We have a magnetics anomaly covering 40 km by 8 km, whose core is 30 km long and extends to a depth of at least 6 km. This magnetics anomaly appears to be coincidental with the currently known extent of the ilmenite mineralisation. Our knowledge and understanding of this mineral system continues to grow at pace. Since announcing the titanium discovery on 30 May 2023 we have been able to demonstrate the scale of this mineral system and confirm that the host sedimentary rocks have been extensively replaced by titanium and iron minerals. This distinguishes Pitfield from the typical titanium deposits which are either much lower grade heavy mineral beach sand deposits or hard-rock igneous deposits which are difficult to beneficiate. We believe Pitfield is truly unique in its scale and character, and I am confident that with further exploration success and studies we can demonstrate that this is a world leading discovery of titanium rich mineralisation which will have globally significant economic value.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/11072023/ilmenite-confirmed-as-key-titanium-mineral-at-empire-metals-pitfield-project/