Annuncio • 5h
Tusker Minerals Announces JORC Exploration Target For Diwong South Deposit Within Douala Basin Project
Tusker Minerals Ltd. announced a JORC (2012) Exploration Target of 2.1–2.6 billion tonnes at 2.1–2.3% THM for the Diwong South Deposit within its Douala Basin Project, including indicative in situ grades of 0.3–0.35% rutile and approximately 0.06–0.07% zircon. The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource, and it remains uncertain whether further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. The Exploration Target was prepared and reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012 Edition). Based on the modelled mineral assemblage, the Exploration Target contains an estimated 48–55 million tonnes of heavy minerals, including approximately 7–8 million tonnes of rutile and 1.4–1.7 million tonnes of zircon. The target covers only a portion of one licence within Tusker’s broader 2,580 km² Douala Basin Project and multiple additional targets remain outside the current model, while reconnaissance drilling has identified higher-grade near-surface rutile-zircon mineralisation elsewhere in the basin. The Exploration Target was developed using a domain-constrained block model of the interpreted mineralised sand package. Cut-off grades of 0.5% and 1.5% THM were used to define an Exploration Target of 2.1–2.6 billion tonnes at 2.1–2.3% THM containing an estimated 48–55 million tonnes of heavy minerals. The model comprises two coherent mineralised domains, the upper aeolian plateaus and lower colluvial valleys. The Exploration Target is based on Zone 1 and Zone 2 and was interpolated using Inverse Distance Weighting cubed (ID3). The estimate assumes an in-situ bulk density of 1.7 t/m³ and interpreted vertical limits to mineralisation. Key limitations include incomplete historic assay support, absence of project-specific density data, conceptual vertical model constraints and limited metallurgical testwork. Mineral assemblage values are modelled percentages of THM and provide an indicative view of concentrate composition. Because assemblage data are available for only a subset of drill holes and were interpolated using nearest neighbour, these values should be regarded as conceptual indicators and do not carry equivalent confidence to the THM-based Exploration Target. The Exploration Target was prepared by Mineral Technologies in accordance with the JORC Code (2012 Edition). The Douala Basin Exploration Target marks the emergence of a potentially major new rutile-bearing heavy mineral province in Central Africa. Large-scale natural rutile systems are rare globally and Douala is differentiated by multi-billion-tonne scale, a rutile-rich titanium mineral suite, significant kyanite co-product potential, shallow mineralisation and proximity to established port and infrastructure. The current Exploration Target is confined to the modelled approximately 152 km² Diwong South area, representing only around 6% of the broader 2,580 km² project area. The target is vertically constrained by an interpreted basement surface, while historical drilling commonly terminated at approximately 18–24 metres with mineralisation remaining open at end of hole in numerous areas, indicating potential for additional scale at depth. Initial reconnaissance auger drilling across additional targets identified materially higher-grade near-surface rutile-zircon mineralisation beyond the current Exploration Target. Multiple holes returned continuous mineralisation from surface at rutile grades exceeding the current Exploration Target range. Reconnaissance drilling on the Edéa-Sud permit intersected strong heavy mineral concentration, including 2.6m at 12.5% HM from surface in RHRAU0002 including 2.6m at 0.37% rutile. RHRAU0035 returned 3.2m at 0.76% rutile and 0.08% zircon from surface, approximately twice the upper end of the current Exploration Target rutile grade range, while RHRAU0033 returned a peak internal interval of 1.0m at 0.86% rutile and 0.12% zircon. The scale of the independently defined Douala Exploration Target ranks favourably among selected large-scale global rutile-bearing and heavy mineral sands projects. At 2.1–2.6 billion tonnes, with an estimated 48–55 million tonnes of contained heavy minerals, including approximately 7–8 million tonnes of rutile and 1.4–1.7 million tonnes of zircon, Douala demonstrates globally significant scale and a substantial indicative inventory of titanium and zircon minerals. The current Exploration Target covers only a portion of the Diwong Licence and excludes multiple additional targets across Tusker’s broader Douala Basin landholding. Mineral Technologies’ work indicates that Douala Basin hosts a distinctive titanium mineral suite in which rutile materially exceeds ilmenite, together with meaningful zircon credits and an unusually high proportion of kyanite. Rutile is the premium natural titanium feedstock because of its high TiO2 content and lower downstream processing requirements relative to ilmenite. The modelled grand-total mineral assemblage comprises approximately 15% rutile and 3% zircon of THM, implying approximately 7–8 million tonnes of rutile and 1.4–1.7 million tonnes of zircon. Douala also hosts an exceptionally kyanite-rich heavy mineral assemblage, with kyanite comprising approximately 70% of the modelled grand-total THM assemblage, including about 69% in the upper aeolian plateau domain and 73% in the lower colluvial valley domain. No economic value has been attributed to kyanite at this stage, however successful recovery and qualification of a saleable kyanite or calcined mullite product could provide an additional revenue stream and improve heavy mineral utilisation. The project is located approximately 40 km from the Port of Douala and benefits from existing road access, proximity to power, telecommunications and skilled labour, access to industrial services within the Douala economic corridor and materially shorter logistics chains than many remote inland African projects. Mineral Technologies established a program of exploration activities designed to test and potentially advance the Exploration Target. Tusker intends to undertake priority infill and step-out drilling on higher-confidence portions of the target, deeper drilling below the historical 18–24m depth limit where mineralisation remains open, expanded mineralogical and metallurgical testwork focused on rutile, zircon and kyanite recovery, and updated geological and block modelling incorporating new drilling and technical data. These activities are targeted for completion within approximately 6–9 months, subject to drilling outcomes, permitting and assay turnaround, while broader growth drilling will test additional prospective target areas outside the current footprint. Successful outcomes may support estimation of a maiden JORC Mineral Resource on priority zones and test the district-scale upside beyond the current Exploration Target area.