Auger And Soil Sampling Programme At Mchinji
Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSXV:MKA) has commenced an extensive hand-auger drilling and soil sampling programme to identify rutile prospects within its 869 square kilometre Mchinji licence in Malawi.
The drill programme is following up on reconnaissance work, which resulted in the discovery of rutile during a shallow soil sampling and auger programme completed in September.
The initial exploration work was limited by the equipment available in Malawi during the COVID pandemic but the company was encouraged that the highest TiO2 grades were returned by nine consecutive samples in a single auger hole (A6), drilled to a depth of 8.9m, that contain between 4.10% and 9.01% total heavy minerals (specific gravity > 2.95) and grade between 3.17% and 4.09% TiO2
Mkango’s Chief Geologist, Dr Paul Armitage, said these early-stage results show geological similarities to saprolite-hosted rutile mineralisation recently discovered on the adjoining Sovereign Metals Ltd licence to the east.
According to Dr Armitage this suggests potential for discovering high-grade rutile deposits within Mkango’s large licence area, which is adjacent to an area that Sovereign Metals believes could potentially be a new province of rutile mineralisation.
“This drilling programme and soil sampling will help us to target saprolite-hosted mineralisation,” Dr Armitage said.
“It will test the extent of the rutile and ilmenite mineralisation over a large part of our licence area and aims to confirm the potential for discovering high-grade rutile deposits in the licence.
“Given that rutile is in high demand and that there is a shortage of supply, confirmation of rutile prospects on the Mchinji licence could prove to be highly significant for the company. We look forward to updating the market in the coming weeks as we receive the results from the laboratory.”
The exploration programme will be funded from the Company’s existing working capital.
Finely powdered rutile is a brilliant white pigment and is used in paints, plastics, paper, foods, and other applications that call for a bright white colour. It has also been widely used in the production of glass, porcelain, and ceramics, as it is a valuable colouring agent. It can also be used to add colour to steels and copper alloys.
Titanium also has specialty uses including in welding, aerospace and military applications.
The rutile market fundamentals are robust with current and forecast pricing remaining strong.
