PTR Minerals Reports High-Grade 463Mt Maiden Resource at Rosewood Titanium Project

Maiden Resource Establishes Rosewood as a Global Heavy Mineral Deposit

PTR Minerals Limited (ASX:PTR) has delivered a milestone maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Rosewood Titanium Project in South Australia’s northern Gawler Craton, reporting 463 million tonnes grading 8.8% heavy minerals (HM) containing 40.6 million tonnes of HM. This positions Rosewood as one of the world’s premier heavy mineral sand deposits, thanks to its high-grade, shallow, and thick mineralisation.

The standout component is the Rosewood East Deposit, comprising 294 million tonnes at 9.7% HM, with 89% classified as Indicated Resources. This portion alone contains 28.5 million tonnes of HM and is expected to be the initial mining focus, benefiting from its exceptional grade and mineralogy.

Shallow, Thick Mineralisation Supports Open Pit Mining Potential

Drilling results from Rosewood East confirmed consistent high-grade intercepts starting from shallow depths, such as 9 metres at 18.2% HM from just 8 metres down, and 21 metres at 8.7% HM from 3 metres. The deposit extends over approximately 40 square kilometres with ore thicknesses ranging from 5 to 30 metres, suggesting amenability to conventional open pit mining methods.

Australian Mining Consultants have been engaged to progress pit optimisation and mine scheduling studies, aiming to prioritise the high-grade zones early in the mine sequence. This approach is designed to maximise early cash flow and shorten capital payback periods, a critical factor for project economics.

High-Quality Mineralogy Enhances Project Value

The mineralogical profile of the Rosewood resource is dominated by very high-value heavy minerals (VHM), with an average VHM content of 93% within the overall resource and 95% in Rosewood East. The deposit’s coarse grain size distribution (median particle size around 276 microns) supports efficient mineral separation and strong recoveries, as confirmed by metallurgical test work.

Tests by industry leaders Metso Australia Laboratories and IHC Mining indicate the ore responds well to conventional processing, including screening, scrubbing, and gravity separation, producing a high-quality leucoxene-rich concentrate with minimal impurities. Such metallurgical robustness enhances the project’s commercial attractiveness.

Exploration Upside and New Copper-Gold Tenement Acquisition

While the Rosewood MRE anchors the company’s immediate development focus, PTR Minerals continues to see significant exploration potential within the wider Muckanippie Project area. The company also expanded its footprint in South Australia’s Olympic Copper-Gold Province by acquiring a new 828 square kilometre tenement (EL7121) adjacent to its Mabel Creek Project.

Planned regional gravity surveys over this new tenement aim to identify Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) style mineralisation, potentially adding another valuable asset to PTR’s portfolio.

Strategic Appointments Support Next Phase of Development

PTR Minerals strengthened its team with two key hires: Victor Bruinsma, former Principal Metallurgist at Iluka Resources, now overseeing metallurgical development, and Neil Patten-Williams, a seasoned mineral sands marketing executive tasked with advancing customer engagement and product marketing strategies.

CEO Peter Reid highlighted these appointments as pivotal in optimising Rosewood’s development and realising its value. Meanwhile, the company held $13.6 million in cash and term deposits at quarter-end, underpinning ongoing exploration and development activities.