Tivan Limited’s maiden drilling at the Sandover Fluorite Project has delivered ultra high-grade fluorite assays, confirming a robust mineralised system with promising metallurgical qualities. The company is gearing up for a significant follow-up drilling campaign to expand resource definition.
- Maiden diamond drilling confirms ultra high-grade fluorite mineralisation
- Wider and continuous fluorite veins intersected at depth across multiple reefs
- Absence of deleterious elements supports potential acidgrade fluorspar production
- Stage Two drilling of 58 reverse circulation holes planned for April 2026
- Strategic partnership with Sumitomo Corporation and government co-funding
Maiden Drilling Validates Sandover’s Potential
Tivan Limited (ASX – TVN) has announced compelling assay results from its maiden diamond drilling program at the Sandover Fluorite Project in the Northern Territory. Completed in late 2025, the seven-hole campaign totaling 518 metres targeted five priority fluorite reefs previously identified through historic data and surface mapping. The results reveal ultra high-grade fluorite mineralisation with exceptional continuity and thickness, particularly at depth.
Noteworthy intercepts include 20.3 metres grading 18.9% calcium fluoride (CaF2) from 24 metres, with a standout 6.2-metre section at 37.7% CaF2, and a remarkable 3.4 metres at 71.7% CaF2 from 36.8 metres. These grades significantly exceed typical industry benchmarks and confirm the presence of a robust mineralised system that extends well below surface expressions.
Geological Insights and Metallurgical Promise
The drilling campaign has not only validated geological models but also revealed that fluorite veins are materially wider at depth than previously interpreted. This finding suggests a potential increase in tonnage and resource scale, a critical factor for future mine planning. Importantly, assays indicate a consistent absence of deleterious elements such as arsenic, barium, and iron, which bodes well for producing premium acidgrade fluorspar with CaF2 content exceeding 97%.
Early metallurgical testwork, co-funded by the Northern Territory Government, supports the orebody’s amenability to acidgrade fluorspar production. Planned follow-up testwork will include mineral liberation studies, flotation optimisation, and ore sorting assessments to refine processing pathways and product quality.
Strategic Next Steps and Partnerships
Building on these encouraging results, Tivan is preparing for a substantial Stage Two drilling program scheduled to commence in April 2026. This phase will deploy 58 reverse circulation holes over approximately 6,825 metres, targeting extensions of the mineralised system and untested reefs. The staged approach aims to systematically expand the resource footprint and support a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate.
The Sandover Project benefits from a strategic joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company and Tivan’s partner at the Speewah Fluorite Project in Western Australia. This partnership underscores the project’s potential significance in global critical minerals supply chains, particularly for Asia’s industrial markets.
Positioning for a Critical Minerals Hub
Tivan’s Executive Chairman, Grant Wilson, emphasised the project’s strategic importance – "Sandover is emerging as a world-class fluorite resource with the potential to produce high-quality acidgrade fluorspar. This complements our near-term focus on the Molyhil Tungsten Project and aligns with our vision to establish a critical minerals precinct in central Australia."
With regulatory approvals and Indigenous land agreements in place, Tivan is well-positioned to advance exploration and development activities. The company’s methodical approach, combining geological rigour with metallurgical validation and strategic partnerships, sets a strong foundation for future growth.
Bottom Line?
Tivan’s Sandover Project is poised to become a cornerstone fluorite resource, but upcoming drilling and metallurgical results will be crucial to confirming its commercial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Stage Two drilling refine the size and grade of the Sandover resource?
- What are the timelines and milestones for advancing metallurgical testwork to production readiness?
- How might the partnership with Sumitomo influence project financing and market access?