Empire Metals Limited (EEE) has released results from the four diamond core drillholes it recently completed at the Pitfield project in Western Australia.
These drillholes were completed at the Cosgrove and Thomas targets and provide important geological information ahead of finalising the company's JORC exploration target.
800 metres of diamond core drilling tested two known zones of extensive, thick, shallow sandstone-rich beds that host higher grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) mineralisation.
Analytical lab results and the corresponding core logging for these drillholes has 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.
Excellent core recovery was achieved from all four diamond core drillholes, with every drillhole returning significant intercepts.
The four holes returned, respectively, 201.8m at 6.32% TiO2 from surface to end of hole, 201.8m at 6.14% TiO2 from surface to end of hole, 201.8m at 4.95% TiO2 from surface to end of hole, and 181.9m at 6.83% TiO2 from 19.9m to end of hole, the top 19.9m being sand cover.
"The excellent core recovery achieved from the near surface, strongly weathered mineralised bedded sandstones has provided invaluable samples and geological data,” said Shaun Bunn, managing director of Empire Metals.
“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. In parallel with this work, preparation of the company's JORC exploration target for the Cosgrove and Thomas mineral prospects, announced as part of Empire's development plan on 27 March 2024, continues under the guidance of mineral resource consultants Snowden Optiro, and we expect to release these results shortly."
View from Vox
The Pitfield project continues to look extremely promising. The mineralisation is strong, and the location is optimal, 156km south of Geraldton, one of Western Australia’s major ports. Pitfield has existing connections to port (both road & rail), HV power substations, and is nearby to natural gas pipelines as well as a green energy hydrogen fuel hub, which at the planning and development stage.
It will be interesting to see what the JORC exploration target looks like, because at that point some back-of-the-envelope economic calculations might materialise. Cosgrove and Thomas each run across seven kilometres of strike, but in turn only account for around a fifth of the surface area of the project. It’s still relatively early days, but there’s a lot to play for.