Petratherm Unveils Major Expansion at Rosewood Titanium Discovery
Petratherm Limited has significantly expanded its Rosewood Titanium Discovery at the Muckanippie Project through Phase 2 drilling, revealing high-grade mineralisation over a 20km² area that remains open to the north. The company also completed Phase 3 drilling and strengthened its leadership with a key executive appointment.
- Phase 2 drilling completed with 128 holes totaling 4,486 metres
- Rosewood mineralised footprint expanded beyond 20 square kilometres
- High-grade heavy mineral sands with thick, shallow intersections confirmed
- Phase 3 drilling of 110 holes completed; assay results pending
- Petratherm earns 51% interest in EL 6715, elects to increase to 70%
Expanding the Titanium Frontier
Petratherm Limited (ASX – PTR) has reported a substantial advancement in its Muckanippie Project in South Australia, with Phase 2 drilling at the Rosewood Titanium Discovery delivering impressive results. The recent program, comprising 128 drill holes and over 4,400 metres of drilling, has extended the high-grade heavy mineral sands (HMS) mineralisation footprint to more than 20 square kilometres, a significant increase that remains open, particularly to the north.
The assay results from 73 holes at Rosewood have confirmed thick, shallow, and high-grade intersections, with standout intercepts such as 26 metres grading 17.2% heavy minerals from just 7 metres depth, including a 6-metre section at 36.4%. These findings reinforce the potential of Rosewood as a tier-one titanium project, with two distinct north-south trending mineralised zones interpreted as ancient strandlines emerging at Rosewood East and West.
Phase 3 Drilling and Metallurgical Progress
Following the reporting period, Petratherm completed Phase 3 drilling, adding 110 holes for over 3,200 metres targeting extensions of the Rosewood Prospect and other regional targets. While assay results from this phase are awaited, the expanded drilling footprint and ongoing metallurgical test work, including a 1-tonne bulk sample from Rosewood East, aim to refine mineral recovery processes and product specifications.
These metallurgical studies are critical to understanding the processing pathways for the titanium-rich heavy minerals, which include valuable leucoxene and rutile components. The coarse grain size and amenability to conventional gravity spiral processing techniques bode well for future development economics.
Strategic Corporate Moves
On the corporate front, Petratherm has earned a 51% beneficial interest in tenement EL 6715 under a farm-in agreement with Narryer Metals and has elected to increase its stake to 70% by committing further expenditure. This move consolidates Petratherm’s control over a key portion of the Muckanippie Project.
Additionally, the appointment of Rob Sennitt as Executive Director brings over three decades of executive and financial markets experience in mineral sands, including leadership roles in major titanium operations. This strategic hire strengthens the company’s leadership as it advances towards resource definition and potential development.
Financial Position and Outlook
At the end of the quarter, Petratherm held $8.4 million in cash, providing a solid financial foundation to support ongoing exploration, metallurgical testing, and corporate activities. The company’s CEO, Peter Reid, highlighted the focus on advancing metallurgical test work and resource drilling later in the year, underscoring the project’s growing significance in the critical minerals sector.
With titanium increasingly recognised as a critical mineral by governments worldwide due to its applications in electric vehicles, battery storage, and advanced alloys, Petratherm’s expanding discovery at Rosewood positions it well within this strategic commodity landscape.
Bottom Line?
As Petratherm awaits Phase 3 assay results and advances metallurgical testing, the Muckanippie Project’s potential as a major titanium resource is coming sharply into focus.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Phase 3 assay results influence the overall resource estimate at Rosewood?
- What are the expected outcomes and timelines for metallurgical test work and bulk sample processing?
- How might Rob Sennitt’s appointment accelerate project development and investor confidence?
