• Resouro Strategic Metals has completed infill drilling for mine planning at its Tiros titanium and rare earths project which has a maiden resource of 1.7 billion tonnes for 7% of the project
  • Results include four metres at high grade 22.5% titanium dioxide (TiO2) and 7,117ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO)
  • Data from the program will be used for future estimation of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and a maiden ore reserve

 

Special Report: Infill drilling at Resouro Strategic Metals’ Tiros titanium and rare earths project is now complete, with the first assays boosting confidence in consistency of its shallow, high-grade mineralisation.

The maiden resource at Tiros currently stands at 1.7 billion tonnes for only 7% of the project.

Among the three diamond drill holes returned are:

  • 49m at 13.7% TiO2 and 4,222ppm TREO, with 873ppm high-value magnet metals neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) from only 5m.
  • That intercept includes 4m at 22.5% TiO2 and 7,117ppm TREO, with 1,260ppm NdPr, from just 13 metres downhole.
  • Another is 50m at 12.9% TiO2 and 3,969ppm TREO (818 ppm NdPr) from 45m.
  • The third is 55m at 9.9% TiO2 and 3,486ppm TREO (836ppm NdPr) from 31m.

Resouro (ASX:RAU) will incorporate data from the 46-hole, 2,922m infill program into an updated MRE and a maiden ore reserve for the Tiros Central Block.

The project, in Brazil, is already one of the world’s largest JORC combined rare earths and titanium deposits and Resouro is also aggressing advancing engineering studies.

Resouro’s CEO, Alistair Stephens said: “Completing our infill drilling program brings us one step closer to achieving our development objectives and enhances our understanding of the resource’s continuity and quality.

“We believe the data collected will provide valuable insights that support our future planning and decision-making as we advance towards a comprehensive evaluation. We look forward to sharing detailed results once they are fully analysed.”

 

Central focus

There’s plenty of potential for resource growth within the current Central Block MRE area, which remains open laterally. In other words, Resouro is still not sure how far the current resource extends despite 4766m of verification drilling so far.

Encouragingly, it has yielded consistently high-grade mineralisation from close to surface and includes an ultra high-grade domain of 120 million tonnes at 9000ppm TREO, 2400ppm MREO and 23% TiO2.

Additionally, the current JORC Resource is from only 7% of the total tenements comprising the total Tiros area of approximately 50,000 hectares.

Confidence in the mineralisation extending beyond the current MRE area was raised by step out drilling finding results consistent with the Central Block’s shallow and homogenous high grades 18km to the north and 35km to the south of that area.

 

Next steps

As it looks to its next phase of growth, Resouro plans to undertake surveys over areas where stripping ratios are optimal for bulk mining trials and which have potential to deliver material within the quickest timeframe.

This work includes further metallurgical test work programs to optimise REE leaching recovery and TiO2 extraction conditions. Test work on Tiros ore with partner Alitilium has so far delivered world-leading extraction rates.

Resouro also plans downstream studies and product testing to align the metallurgical flow sheet with potential offtake partners.

Alongside that will be continued engagement with regulatory authorities in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais to progress the Mining Concession application for the Central Block of Tiros.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Resouro Strategic Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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