Empire Metals reports solid testwork results from Pitfield
By Josh White
Date: Monday 09 Dec 2024
(Sharecast News) - Empire Metals has solid exceptional results from metallurgical testwork on titanium-rich heavy mineral concentrates from its Pitfield Project in Western Australia on Monday.
The AIM-traded firm said the acid leaching process achieved nearly complete titanium extraction from anatase, a titanium-bearing mineral, marking a significant milestone in the company's goal of producing high-value titanium dioxide products.
It noted that titanium dioxide is used extensively in pigments and specialty applications, with market prices ranging from $2,400 to over $4,000 per tonne for pigments and between $8,000 to $12,000 per tonne for titanium sponge.
Empire said its ability to achieve a 95% recovery rate from anatase using a straightforward combination of gravity, flotation and acid leaching techniques positioned the project as a major player in the titanium supply chain.
The weathered cap at Pitfield was particularly rich in anatase, the company said, providing a strategic advantage for the project.
Empire said it was continuing to refine its processing flowsheet with input from industry experts, ensuring optimal recoveries and efficiency.
The company's fully-funded metallurgical testwork programme aimed to deliver a consistent, high-purity titanium dioxide product exceeding 95% titanium dioxide content.
Global demand for titanium products was projected to grow, with supply constraints exacerbated by geopolitical factors, such as Russia's proposed restrictions on titanium exports and tariffs imposed by the EU and US on Chinese production.
The UK recently added titanium to its critical minerals list, joining the US, Australia and the European Union, further underscoring its strategic importance.
Empire said it was planning to provide regular updates as it advanced its testwork programme, and continued to unlock the potential of the Pitfield Project.
"I am extremely pleased to report that the initial 'diagnostic' leach tests on the titanium-rich heavy mineral concentrates from gravity testwork, using an industry standard acid bake - water wash leaching process, resulted in 95% dissolution of the contained anatase, an exceptional result," said managing director Shaun Bunn.
"The combination of gravity and flotation mineral separation techniques shows significant promise as a simple and conventional processing route for producing a clean anatase rich mineral concentrate which can then undergo further beneficiation via an acid leach to recover the titanium dioxide into a high-grade, high-purity concentrate."
Bunn said the company was "excited" by the results, adding that they aligned with its goal to produce a high-grade, high purity titanium dioxide product for which there was strong demand and tightening supply due to market dynamics and increasing geopolitical tensions globally.
"We look forward to updating the market on additional testwork currently being carried out as we continue to rapidly advance our project."
At 1133 GMT, shares in Empire Metals were up 7.62% at 6.78p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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