{"id":126400,"title":"Empire Metals Reports Breakthrough Titanium Recoveries at Pitfield Project","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2025-08-28T10:42:00+00:00","modified":"2025-08-28T10:42:00+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/empire-metals-reports-breakthrough-titanium-recoveries-at-pitfield-project/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/empire-metals-reports-breakthrough-titanium-recoveries-at-pitfield-project.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/empire-metals-reports-breakthrough-titanium-recoveries-at-pitfield-project.json","category":"Mining","categories":["Mining"],"tags":["Bolnisi","COPPER","EEE","Empire Metals","Georgia","Gold","Greg Kuenzel","Kalgoorlie","Mike Struthers","Neil O'Brien","Nugget Patch","Share Talk","Shaun Bunn","Teglio","Western Australia"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EEE-6TH-JUNE-2025.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"[Empire Metals Limited](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/empire-metals-limited-npv-di---eee/breakthrough-in-process-development/9076537) has announced a major milestone in process development at its **Pitfield Project**, with testwork delivering **exceptional titanium recoveries** and a **high-purity final product**.\n\nFlotation trials returned **77% recoveries in the rougher stage** and **90% in the cleaning stage** from fine, weathered ore samples. Further processing using **direct acid bake and hot-water leach** achieved an impressive **98% titanium dissolution**.\n\nOverall, the testwork indicates **titanium recoveries of around 67%** from flotation feed to final product, with the company confident that recoveries can be improved through additional optimisation. The resulting product achieved a **TiO₂ grade of 99.25%**, with **negligible impurities**.\n\nEmpire Metals said the results highlight the **amenability of Pitfield ore to standard mineral separation techniques**, paving the way for a **simplified development pathway**.\n\n**Highlights**\n\n·    Exceptional flotation performance: Recoveries of 77% (rougher stage) and 90% (cleaning stage) from fine, weathered ore samples.\n\n·    Outstanding leach results: Direct acid bake and hot-water leach achieved 98% titanium dissolution, leaving inert quartz residues.\n\n·    High recoveries: Overall titanium recovery from flotation feed to final product is circa 67% and expected to improve with further optimisation of the mineral separation stages.\n\n·    High-purity final product: TiO₂ grading 99.25% with negligible impurities, suitable for titanium sponge metal or pigment production.\n\n·    Cost and environmental advantages: Low Fe₂O₃ (~5%) reduces acid consumption, minimises waste, and supports higher recoveries over typical ilmenite feedstock processing.\n\n·    Simplified, expedited development pathway: Amenability to standard mineral separation eliminates the need for a costly bespoke demonstration plant, enabling a lower-cost continuous pilot programme using accredited commercial laboratories.\n\n**Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said:**\n\n“These results mark a step change in Pitfield’s development. We now have clear evidence that the ore is ideally suited to conventional mineral separation and refining, producing a high-purity titanium product with strong recoveries. This sets Pitfield apart from ilmenite-based projects, which typically face lower recoveries, higher costs, and significant environmental challenges.\n\n“Pitfield already stands out for its exceptional scale, continuity of high-grade near-surface mineralisation, and Tier 1 location with access to infrastructure. With this breakthrough in process development, we can now demonstrate a highly efficient and environmentally responsible route to producing multiple high-value titanium products.”"}