Tusker Unveils High-Grade Near-Surface HMS Potential at Cameroon’s Douala Basin

Strategic Location and Historical Drilling Confirm Mineral Potential

Tusker Minerals (ASX:TSK) has revealed compelling high-grade, near-surface heavy mineral sands (HMS) potential at its 2,580km² Douala Basin project on Cameroon's coast. Situated just 50km from the deep-water port of Douala, the project benefits from exceptional logistics, a critical advantage for future development and export.

Historical sonic drilling conducted by French miner Eramet, the previous project holder, intersected thick sequences of HMS mineralisation starting from surface. Notable intercepts include 10m at 5.0% total heavy minerals (THM) with 0.34% rutile, and 18m at 3.7% THM including 0.4% rutile, underscoring the project's high-grade credentials. These results indicate a potential for low strip ratios and cost-effective mining operations.

Chief Executive Officer Cliff Fitzhenry emphasised the significance of these findings, noting the "clear high-grade, near-surface mineralisation" and the proximity to port infrastructure as key factors that make Douala a compelling second-front opportunity within Tusker's Cameroon portfolio. The project’s palaeo-placer dune system hosts a valuable mineral assemblage including rutile, zircon, ilmenite, and possibly monazite, which are essential for industrial and decarbonisation applications.

JORC Exploration Target and Planned Infill Drilling

Tusker has engaged Mineral Technologies, a specialist in mineral sands, to compile a JORC (2012) Exploration Target based on the historical data. This will provide a quantified initial assessment of the scale and grade potential of the Douala Basin HMS zones, a critical step in de-risking and advancing the project.

Parallel to this, the company is preparing targeted infill drilling scheduled for Q3 2026 to validate and extend the high-grade mineralisation identified by Eramet’s drilling. This program will be supported by Tusker’s in-house Heavy Mineral Sands laboratory in Yaoundé, facilitating rapid and consistent analysis.

The Douala Basin project complements Tusker’s flagship Central Rutile Project, reinforcing the company’s strategic focus on critical minerals in Cameroon. This expansion of their portfolio aligns with the rising global demand for minerals vital to decarbonisation and industrial growth, echoing recent developments in their Malawi projects where high-grade rutile and gallium discoveries have been reported.

Positioning for Critical Minerals Supply Chain

Douala Basin’s location near established port, road, and power infrastructure positions Tusker favourably within the global HMS supply chain. This logistical advantage could translate into lower capital and operating costs compared to more remote projects, an important consideration given the capital-intensive nature of mineral sands mining.

This announcement follows Tusker’s recent high-grade rutile discovery at Mzimba in Malawi, underscoring the company’s growing footprint in critical mineral assets across Africa. It also comes amid a period of corporate transformation and exploration acceleration highlighted by expanded tenements and new mineralisation zones in both Cameroon and Malawi, as reported earlier this year.

With the TSKO securities suspension still unresolved, Tusker’s focus on delivering tangible exploration milestones like the JORC Exploration Target and infill drilling results will be pivotal for investor confidence and unlocking the value of its African critical minerals portfolio.