RE: Previous experience with Aussie companies12 Mar 2025 13:14
I have the same concerns but one of the things people seem to be forgetting is that there are 2 sets of eyes on the results, Empire Metals and CSIRO. It doesn't guarantee anything, but we're not only relying on an over enthusiastic BOD. I asked GROK about how involved they are and got the following.
Empire Metals engaged CSIRO, Australiaās national science agency, to conduct detailed mineralogical and metallurgical studies on samples from the Pitfield project. This collaboration began as part of Empireās efforts to understand the nature of the titanium-rich mineral system and to develop an efficient processing pathway for producing high-value titanium dioxide (TiOā) products. The work complements efforts with other institutions like Curtin University and focuses on both the mineral composition and potential extraction methods.
Specific Research Activities
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA):
CSIRO was tasked with performing EPMA on rock chip samples from reverse circulation (RC) drill holes. This technique provides precise chemical analysis of minerals at a microscopic level, helping to identify the titanium-bearing minerals and their distribution within the host rocks.
The analysis confirmed the dominance of titanite (calcium titanium silicate) as the primary titanium-bearing mineral, accounting for approximately 67% of the TiOā content in the deposit. This finding was significant because titaniteās non-refractory nature allows for simpler, low-temperature processing compared to more common titanium minerals like ilmenite.
Mineralogical Studies:
Alongside EPMA, CSIRO conducted broader mineralogical assessments to characterize both the fresh and weathered titanium minerals, as well as associated gangue minerals (e.g., quartz, kaolinite). These studies provided insights into the geological origins of the mineralization and its unique sedimentary-hosted nature.
In the weathered āsaproliteā cap, CSIROās work helped identify high-purity anatase (a TiOā polymorph) with up to 98.5% TiOā content, a critical discovery for producing high-value feedstock with minimal impurities.
Metallurgical Support:
While CSIROās primary role has been mineral characterization, their findings directly inform metallurgical testwork. For instance, the identification of titanite and anatase as key minerals guided subsequent leaching tests, which achieved near-complete titanium extraction using low-temperature acid processes. Although these leaching tests were conducted by Empireās metallurgical team, CSIROās data laid the groundwork for optimizing these processes.
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