Equinox Unveils High-Grade Titanium Riches at Mata da Corda, Testwork Accelerates
Equinox Resources’ maiden drilling at Mata da Corda reveals a rich titanium mineral assemblage, setting the stage for pilot-scale processing and resource definition. Ongoing metallurgical testwork aims to unlock multi-commodity potential including iron and rare earth elements.
- 49.2% titanium minerals in deslimed sand fraction from maiden RC drilling
- Dominant titanium–iron oxides (ilmenite, pseudorutile, titanomagnetite) at 35.5%
- Coarse particle size supports efficient gravity and magnetic separation
- Significant iron oxide and rare earth element potential identified
- Metallurgical testwork underway to optimise recovery and define product pathways
Initial Mineralogical Breakthrough
Equinox Resources Limited (ASX: EQN) has delivered promising early results from its Mata da Corda Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, confirming a high-grade titanium mineral assemblage from maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling. The initial QEMSCAN analysis of a composite sample reveals that nearly half (49.2%) of the deslimed sand fraction comprises titanium-bearing minerals, a strong indicator of the project's potential to yield valuable titanium products.
Key titanium minerals identified include ilmenite, pseudorutile, and titanomagnetite, which together form 35.5% of the deslimed fraction. These dense, magnetic minerals are well-suited for recovery through low- to medium-intensity magnetic separation, paving the way for a bulk iron-titanium concentrate amenable to downstream processing. Leucoxene, accounting for 12.3%, adds further value as a feedstock for chloride-route TiO₂ pigment production, while minor amounts of rutile, anatase, and perovskite offer niche recovery opportunities.
Processing Advantages and Multi-Commodity Upside
The coarse particle size of the deslimed sand (p80 of 478 microns) and titanium minerals (p80 of 125 microns) supports efficient gravity and magnetic separation with minimal grinding. This characteristic is crucial for reducing processing complexity and costs, enabling the application of modern fine mineral recovery technologies that are energy-efficient and high-recovery.
Beyond titanium, the project shows a significant iron oxide component, with hematite and magnetite comprising 25.7% of the deslimed sand fraction. This opens the possibility of developing a multi-product flowsheet that could enhance project economics by recovering both titanium and iron products.
Additionally, rare earth element (REE) potential has been identified within Crandallite Group minerals, including gorceixite and florencite, which host light REEs such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium. While REE recovery is not a core focus at this stage, it represents an attractive long-term upside through targeted downstream processing.
Ongoing Metallurgical Testwork and Next Steps
Equinox has submitted 80 kilograms of composite material from the maiden drilling to Mineral Technologies in Queensland for detailed mineralogical and metallurgical characterisation. The testwork program includes heavy liquid separation, magnetic separation, and flotation to optimise titanium, iron, and REE recoveries. Early results have validated the representativeness of the sample and the robustness of the processing approach.
Managing Director Zac Komur expressed confidence in the project’s trajectory, highlighting the rapid evolution from grassroots exploration to pilot-scale flowsheet development. The company plans to focus on defining product specifications, concentrate recoveries, and revenue stream options, with further drilling and assay results expected to refine the resource model.
These developments mark a significant milestone for Equinox, positioning Mata da Corda as a potentially important new source of titanium minerals with complementary iron and rare earth elements, aligning with global demand trends for strategic minerals.
Bottom Line?
As Equinox advances metallurgical testing and resource definition, Mata da Corda could emerge as a multi-commodity titanium hub with strategic market relevance.
Questions in the middle?
- What recovery rates and concentrate grades will the ongoing metallurgical testwork ultimately achieve?
- How will the identified rare earth elements factor into the project's economic and processing plans?
- What timeline is Equinox targeting for maiden Mineral Resource estimation and pilot-scale flowsheet completion?
