Empire Metals Limited has announced the results from the diamond drilling programme at the Pitfield Project in Western Australia. The programme, which consisted of four diamond core drillholes, tested two known zones of extensive, thick, shallow sandstone-rich beds that host higher grade TiO2 mineralisation. The analytical lab results confirmed extensive, strong weathering of the uppermost 40m of mineralised bedded sandstones, coincident with high TiO2 grades, which extend the entire length of the drillholes. The excellent core recovery achieved from all four diamond core drillholes has provided invaluable samples and geological data, and additional quantitative and qualitative mineralogical and metallurgical studies have now been instigated to provide a clearer picture of the mineral assemblage in the uppermost 40m zone.
Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, stated, "The excellent core recovery achieved from the near surface, strongly weathered mineralised bedded sandstones has provided invaluable samples and geological data, and additional quantitative and qualitative mineralogical and metallurgical studies have now been instigated to provide a clearer picture of the mineral assemblage in the uppermost 40m zone." The Company is also preparing its JORC Exploration Target for the Cosgrove and Thomas mineral prospects, with the expectation of releasing the results shortly.
The Pitfield Project, located within the Mid-West region of Western Australia, has existing connections to port, HV power substations, and is nearby to natural gas pipelines as well as a green energy hydrogen fuel hub. The diamond core drilling programme at Pitfield was completed in late March and consisted of four diamond core drillholes totaling 807m. The diamond drill core, particularly the near-surface core, provided important samples for ongoing metallurgical and mineralogical studies. The Company has completed a total of 107 drillholes for 17,003m since commencing its maiden drill campaign in March 2023.
The drilling shows a high-grade (>5% TiO2), more than 1km wide central core running on a N-S trend through both mineral prospects, which could join between the two prospects, representing a potential total strike length of more than 20km. The recent diamond core drillholes were far more successful in recovering core from the weathered zone, providing valuable data for the Company's ongoing mineral resource development work.