McLaren Minerals is set to begin a six-week drilling campaign at its McLaren Titanium Project in Western Australia, aiming to boost resource confidence and explore deposit extensions.
- Drilling to start 12 February 2025, lasting approximately six weeks
- 6,000m air core drilling targeting metallurgical sampling, infill, and extensional exploration
- Focus on increasing Indicated resource category beyond current 79Mt at 6% heavy minerals
- Tenements E69/2386 and E69/2388 extended for two years to September 2026
- Metallurgical test work to validate processing flow sheet and refine slimes removal
McLaren Minerals Advances McLaren Titanium Project
McLaren Minerals Limited (ASX: MML) has announced the imminent commencement of a pivotal drilling program at its flagship McLaren Titanium Project, located in the western Eucla Basin of Western Australia. Scheduled to begin on 12 February 2025, the six-week campaign is designed to underpin the next phase of project development by enhancing resource confidence and exploring potential expansions of the deposit.
The McLaren deposit currently boasts a substantial resource of 280 million tonnes at 4.8% heavy minerals (HM), with 79 million tonnes classified in the Indicated category at a higher grade of 6% HM. The upcoming drilling program aims to significantly increase this Indicated resource base, a critical step toward advancing the project’s economic viability and attracting further investment.
Three-Pronged Drilling Strategy
Designed by ERM Australia Consultants, the approximately 6,000 metres of air core drilling will be executed in three distinct phases. The first phase focuses on collecting around five tonnes of samples for metallurgical test work at IHC Mining’s Queensland laboratory. This testing is essential to validate the current processing flow sheet and refine the operational strategy for slimes removal, a key factor in optimizing mineral recovery.
The second phase involves infill drilling to bolster the confidence level of the existing resource estimate. By upgrading more of the resource into the Indicated category, McLaren Minerals aims to strengthen the foundation for future feasibility studies and potential mine planning.
Finally, extensional drilling will target potential deposit expansions to the south, east, north, and west of the known resource. This exploration component could unlock additional mineralisation, extending the project’s life and enhancing its overall value proposition.
Securing Tenure and Strategic Outlook
In tandem with the drilling announcement, McLaren Minerals confirmed the successful extension of key tenements E69/2386 and E69/2388 for an additional two years, now valid until 19 September 2026. These tenements form the core of the McLaren Titanium Project and securing their tenure provides operational certainty as the company progresses its exploration and development activities.
Managing Director Simon Finnis emphasised the significance of the program, stating it represents an "exciting step forward" for the project. The data generated will not only support metallurgical validation but also provide critical insights into resource expansion potential, aligning with McLaren’s strategic objective to develop a high-value titanium asset.
Titanium’s status as a critical mineral, essential for aerospace, defence, and energy technologies, adds a layer of strategic importance to the McLaren project. As global demand for titanium intensifies, McLaren Minerals’ focused efforts to advance its resource could position it favourably within this growing market.
Bottom Line?
As drilling kicks off, McLaren Minerals sets the stage for resource growth and metallurgical breakthroughs that could reshape its project’s trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the metallurgical test results confirm the efficiency of the current flow sheet and slimes removal strategy?
- How much can the Indicated resource category realistically increase following the infill drilling phase?
- Could extensional drilling reveal significant new mineralisation beyond current resource boundaries?