Empire Metals Discovers Titanium Dioxide Mineral Deposit at Pitfield

Empire Metals Limited has made a significant discovery of a high purity anatase deposit within the Pitfield Project in Western Australia. The new deposit is located within the near-surface saprolite cap, a weathered layer atop the extensive titanium-rich mineral. This discovery confirms that the ore at Pitfield exhibits low impurities and high TiO2 grades, making it a promising feedstock for high-value products like chloride TiO2 pigment and titanium metal. This milestone marks a crucial step towards unlocking the commercial potential of the Pitfield Project.

The recent mineralogical assessment of heavily weathered sandstones has revealed an abundance of high-quality anatase, a variant of rutile, with up to 98.5% TiO2 content. This anatase accounts for over 5% of the mass in the near-surface weathered bedrock, which is four to five times higher in TiO2 concentration than what is typically found in mineral sand deposits. As global rutile-rich resources decline, anatase is emerging as a crucial feedstock for the titanium chloride pigment and titanium metal markets. The key to producing high-value TiO2 products lies in the purity and TiO2 content of the feedstock, regardless of whether it’s rutile or anatase.

Pitfield represents a unique and previously unrecognized type of sandstone-hosted titanium deposit, distinguished by the absence of harmful elements commonly found in carbonatite-hosted titanium deposits. This makes Pitfield a source of exceptionally high-quality anatase, ideal for producing valuable TiO2 feedstock. The titanium in the soft, friable, weathered sandstone bedrock is primarily contained within easily extractable, naturally heavy anatase. Due to its distinct properties, anatase separates effectively from the main gangue minerals, kaolinite, and quartz, likely requiring minimal beneficiation to produce a high-quality TiO2 concentrate.

Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, emphasized the significant potential created by the discovery of a concentrated zone of high-quality anatase in Pitfield's weathered cap. This find enables the company to fast-track its plans to develop a fully integrated "mine to high-quality TiO2 product" operation. The anatase’s high TiO2 content and lack of impurities make it an ideal feedstock for producing TiO2 pigment. Additionally, the anatase can be processed similarly to rutile to produce titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), a key precursor for TiO2 pigment and titanium metal. The weathered cap's soft and friable nature allows for low-cost strip mining, while conventional processing techniques can easily separate the gangue minerals, offering a clear pathway to producing high-grade TiO2 concentrates. This discovery is expected to have a substantial and immediate positive impact on the project’s economics.

Gerry Colamarino, Managing Director of TiPMC Consulting, expressed optimism about the recent findings related to the weathered cap at Empire Metals' Pitfield Project. He noted that the anatase mineral's crystal formation within the ore does not affect the final TiO2 pigment's crystal structure, making anatase a promising alternative feedstock for TiO2 pigment production. He explained that during both the chloride and sulphate pigment processes, the feedstock is transformed into intermediate products (TiCl4 or TiSO4), with the final rutile crystal structure of the TiO2 pigment being formed downstream, independent of the feedstock's initial crystal structure. This makes anatase a viable and innovative feedstock option for producing high-quality TiO2 pigments.