DY6 Expands Central Rutile Project Landholding to 5,901 km² with New Licences
DY6 Metals has expanded its Central Rutile Project in Cameroon by securing three additional exploration licences, boosting its landholding to nearly 6,000 square kilometres in a promising rutile province.
- Three new licences added – Biyan, Nlong, and Ayene
- Total landholding increased to 5,901 km²
- New licences strategically adjacent to existing permits and high-grade mineralisation
- Expansion of systematic soil sampling programme to new areas
- Project located in a globally significant rutile province in Central Cameroon
Strategic Expansion in Central Cameroon
DY6 Metals Ltd (ASX – DY6) has taken a decisive step to bolster its presence in the emerging rutile-rich region of Central Cameroon by securing three additional exploration licences; Biyan, Nlong, and Ayene. This move increases the company's Central Rutile Project landholding from 4,974 km² to 5,901 km², reinforcing its position in what is rapidly gaining recognition as a globally significant rutile province.
The newly acquired licences are not random additions but carefully targeted parcels of land. The Biyan licence borders the Nganda and Bounde permits, where DY6 recently reported visible heavy mineral sands and notably large rutile nuggets within residual regolith samples. Meanwhile, the Nlong licence lies immediately west of the Alamba and Nsimbo permits, areas currently under active soil and auger drilling programs and adjacent to Peak Minerals’ high-grade Afanloum licence. The Ayene licence sits to the south-west of the recently acquired Weaver group of licences, completing a strategic expansion footprint.
Geological Foundations and Exploration Potential
Underlying these licences are geological formations considered highly prospective for rutile mineralisation. Both the Biyan and Nlong licences are underlain by garnet-kyanite paragneiss, while the Ayene licence features garnet-mica schist. These bedrock units are interpreted as the primary sources of rutile in the region. The exploration model hinges on the weathering of these rocks, which liberates rutile that accumulates in the overlying saprolite layer, forming in-situ eluvial deposits. This model is analogous to the Tier 1 Kasiya deposit in Malawi, the world’s largest primary rutile deposit.
Historical data further underscores the region’s potential, with artisanal mining between 1935 and 1955 producing approximately 15,000 tons of high-purity rutile from alluvial deposits near Nanga-Eboko. Adjacent projects, such as Peak Minerals’ Minta Rutile Project, have reported heavy mineral assemblages with rutile concentrations reaching nearly 70%, alongside valuable minerals like monazite and zircon.
Next Steps and Market Implications
DY6’s CEO, Cliff Fitzhenry, emphasized the company’s swift action in securing these licences, highlighting the strategic importance of expanding the footprint in a province with the right geological ingredients for rutile deposits. The company plans to extend its systematic soil sampling programme to cover the new licences, aiming to build on recent encouraging results and further delineate prospective zones.
This expansion not only enhances DY6’s resource potential but also positions it competitively within a region attracting increasing exploration interest. As global demand for rutile; used primarily in pigments and titanium metal; continues to grow, securing a dominant land position in a promising province could prove pivotal for DY6’s future development and valuation.
Bottom Line?
DY6’s expanded footprint sets the stage for accelerated exploration in a rising global rutile hotspot.
Questions in the middle?
- What initial soil sampling results will emerge from the new licences?
- How will DY6’s exploration progress compare with neighbouring projects like Peak Minerals?
- What timelines does DY6 envision for advancing from exploration to resource definition?
