Fortuna Metals Unveils High-Grade Rutile Soil Results Up to 2.32% at Malawi Projects
Fortuna Metals has reported exceptional rutile grades from initial soil sampling at its Mkanda and Kampini projects in Malawi, signaling promising early-stage exploration success near a world-class deposit.
- Phase 1 soil sampling yields rutile grades up to 2.32%
- Multiple large rutile anomalies identified with strike lengths over 2km
- Approximately 50% of samples exceed 1.0% rutile content
- Hand auger drilling underway with assays expected from mid-December
- Projects located adjacent to Sovereign Metals’ Kasiya rutile deposit
Exceptional Early Soil Sampling Results
Fortuna Metals Limited (ASX – FUN) has announced outstanding results from its initial phase of soil sampling at the Mkanda and Kampini rutile and graphite projects in Malawi. The reconnaissance program, completed in September, returned rutile grades reaching as high as 2.32% in situ, with half of the samples exceeding 1.0% rutile content. These results are notable for a first-pass exploration effort, highlighting broad areas of high-grade mineralisation across multiple anomalies.
Large-Scale Rutile Anomalies Identified
The soil sampling delineated several coherent high-tenor rutile anomalies, each extending over 2 kilometers in strike, with the largest anomaly covering an area of approximately 4 by 3 kilometers and remaining open to the south. This spatial extent suggests the potential for significant rutile mineralisation across Fortuna’s 658 square kilometer tenure. The anomalies correlate strongly with the rutile-graphite bearing gneiss rock type mapped by the Malawian Geological Survey, reinforcing the geological prospectivity of the region.
Advancing Drilling Programs and Next Steps
Building on these encouraging soil results, Fortuna has expanded its field team to conduct systematic shallow hand auger drilling across high-priority zones on an 800m and 400m grid. These hand auger holes average around 8.5 meters in depth, limited by the perched water table. Assay results from the first batch of hand auger samples are expected from mid-December, with ongoing results anticipated through the first quarter of 2026. Looking ahead, the company plans to deploy Aircore drilling in the next dry season to penetrate deeper saprock boundaries at 20-30 meters, a critical step to better define resource potential and improve project economics.
Strategic Location Near World-Class Deposit
Fortuna’s projects lie immediately south of Sovereign Metals Limited’s Kasiya rutile deposit, the largest rutile and second-largest flake graphite deposit globally. The geological setting is similar, with rutile mineralisation formed through tropical weathering processes concentrating heavy minerals in residual placer deposits. Proximity to established infrastructure, including rail access, power lines, and the capital city Lilongwe, adds to the projects’ attractiveness for future development.
Outlook and Market Implications
CEO Tom Langley expressed confidence in the potential for a major rutile discovery, noting that only a quarter of the soil samples have been processed so far. The ongoing drilling and forthcoming assay results will be pivotal in confirming the scale and grade continuity of the mineralisation. Given the growing demand for rutile in industrial applications, Fortuna’s progress in Malawi positions it well to capitalize on this market opportunity, provided subsequent exploration phases continue to deliver positive outcomes.
Bottom Line?
Fortuna Metals’ early results hint at a significant rutile discovery in Malawi, but deeper drilling and further assays will be critical to unlock its full potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will deeper Aircore drilling confirm resource continuity and economic viability?
- How will Fortuna’s rutile grades and deposit size compare to the adjacent Kasiya project?
- What timeline can investors expect for a maiden resource estimate and feasibility studies?
