McLaren Minerals is steadily advancing its Prefeasibility Study (PFS) while finalizing its 2025 exploration program at the McLaren Titanium Project in Western Australia. As part of this effort, the company has initiated an aircore drilling program targeting infill drilling within a previously interpreted mineral sands strandline. This program is complemented by ongoing surface geological investigations, with onsite geologists confirming visible mineralization within the targeted sediment layers.

A key development in the project’s progress is the completion of metallurgical testwork at the IHC Mining laboratory in Queensland. The testwork has yielded highly promising results, producing ilmenite of a suitable grade to be classified as sulphate ilmenite, rutile with a high purity of 95.7% titanium oxide and 1.49% iron oxide, and zircon of standard zircon quality. These findings are instrumental in validating a flowsheet designed by IHC and will support follow-up tests aimed at developing a slimes management strategy for McLaren’s operations.

In a surprising yet potentially valuable discovery, pressurized water was encountered in three drill holes in the northwestern section of the deposit. This unexpected find has prompted further investigations to determine whether the water source is of sufficient volume and quality to support future mining operations. The presence of water could be a crucial factor in operational planning, potentially reducing the need for external water sourcing and improving overall project feasibility.

McLaren Minerals' Managing Director, Simon Finnis, expressed his optimism regarding the ongoing exploration and testwork. He emphasized the importance of encountering well-mineralized sediments during drilling, particularly in the northern area of the deposit. “Finding water was unexpected but a real bonus. Clearly, more work is needed, but for now, just knowing there is pressurized water around ticks one of the boxes for our PFS,” he said.

Additionally, the company has confirmed the presence of gypsum in the northwestern part of its tenement. Further exploration will be conducted to assess the extent and concentration of these accumulations. Finnis noted that gypsum could play a vital role in slimes management, and having a potential source within the tenement could provide significant operational cost benefits. “While we still need to confirm the quality and extent of the occurrence, its presence is an encouraging development,” he added.

Gypsum is an important sulfate mineral widely used in industrial applications. It serves as a fluxing agent, a key component in fertilizers, a filler in paper and textiles, and a retarder in Portland cement production.

The McLaren Titanium Project covers an extensive 333km² area on the western side of the Eucla Basin, near the Fraser Range in Western Australia. With ongoing drilling, metallurgical testwork, and geological investigations, McLaren Minerals is making steady progress toward completing its PFS, paving the way for the project’s potential development and long-term success.