Osmond Resources Confirms High-Grade Rutile and Zircon in Spain Ahead of Drilling

• Positive assays confirm up to 8.2% rutile and 4.0% zircon in Zone 2 samples
• Maiden 15-hole drilling program planned to verify mineral continuity and grade
• Orion Project spans 86.4 km² in Jaén Province, targeting critical minerals for EU markets
• Exploration highlights stratabound mineralisation with predictable layering
• Development activities aimed for completion in 2025, leveraging EU regulatory support

Strong Assay Results Bolster Orion Project Prospects

Osmond Resources Limited (ASX – OSM) has delivered encouraging assay results from its Orion EU Critical Minerals Project in Southern Spain, confirming the presence of high-grade rutile and zircon mineralisation within Zone 2. Samples from outcrops returned rutile grades as high as 8.2% and zircon up to 4.0%, underscoring the project's potential to supply critical minerals essential for the European Union's strategic needs.

The Orion Project, covering approximately 86.4 square kilometres in Jaén Province, Andalucía, is a siliciclastic geological system rich in titanium, zirconium, hafnium, and rare earth elements. The recent assays complement previous findings from Zones 1 and 3, collectively confirming heavy mineral-rich layers across the permit area. These layers are stratabound and relatively flat-lying, which suggests a predictable geological framework that could facilitate resource delineation.

Drilling Program to Validate Continuity and Grade

With positive surface sampling results in hand, Osmond is shifting focus to a maiden 15-hole drilling campaign designed to confirm the continuity and grade of the mineralised seams. This step is critical to advancing the project towards a Mineral Resource Estimate and subsequent scoping studies planned for completion within the calendar year. The drilling will provide the necessary data to underpin development decisions and attract further investment.

CEO Anthony Hall emphasised the significance of these findings, stating that confirming mineralised outcrops in Zone 2 demonstrates the potential for significant scale. He highlighted the drilling program as a priority to substantiate the promising surface results and to unlock the project's full value.

Strategic Positioning Amid EU Critical Minerals Push

The Orion Project aligns with the European Union's strategic imperative to secure domestic sources of critical minerals, reducing reliance on imports. Osmond's approach to fast-track development activities, including resource estimation, scoping studies, and metallurgical test work, is designed to capitalise on strong regulatory support and market demand for these materials.

Beyond Orion, Osmond holds interests in other projects such as the Iberian One Project in central Spain, targeting kaolinite and alunite mineralisation, and the Yumbarra Project in South Australia, prospective for uranium and base metals. However, the Orion Project remains the company's flagship asset, with recent assay results reinforcing its potential as a significant supplier of rutile and zircon.

Next Steps and Market Implications

As Osmond awaits the final assay result from sample Z2_07 and the granting of the Investigation Permit, the market will be watching closely for drilling outcomes that could validate the project's scale and grade. The company's ability to deliver a robust resource estimate and progress through scoping studies will be pivotal in attracting further capital and positioning Osmond as a key player in the EU critical minerals supply chain.

Bottom Line?

Osmond’s upcoming drilling results will be crucial in transforming promising surface assays into a viable critical minerals resource for Europe.

Questions in the middle?

• Will the maiden drilling confirm the continuity and grade suggested by surface samples?
• How soon will the Investigation Permit be granted, and could delays impact project timelines?
• What are the potential challenges in scaling up extraction and processing within the protected conservation area?