Empire Metals - Globally Significant Titanium Discovery in Western Australia

• Empire Metals is exploring the large, high-grade Pitfield titanium project in Western Australia.
• Recent drilling has confirmed extensive near-surface mineralization across the project.
• Empire has raised $3 million to fund ongoing exploration and early development studies.
• The company is building a technical team to test processing options and accelerate commercialization.
• Next steps are further drilling, mineralogy studies, and piloting processing methods.

About Empire Metals

The recent discovery of extensive high-grade titanium mineralization at Empire Metal's Pitfield project in Western Australia has put the company on investors' radars. Initial drilling indicates a large resource that could be amenable to simple and low-cost processing, offering strong profit margins compared to traditional titanium mines.

As Managing Director Shaun Bunn explained at a recent conference, "We're not a low-grade sand mineral operation or a complex hard rock mine. I think we can define a fairly simple processing route now."

With broad intercepts near surface and grades exceeding those of most operating titanium mines, Empire is now moving to quantify the resource and optimize metallurgical recovery. An accelerated development timeline could see first production within the next few years.

Interview with Managing Director, Shaun Bunn

Quantifying the Resource

Last December's 5,718m, 40-hole drilling campaign traced high-grade mineralization. It has shown that the shallow sandstone-rich beds, and the associated higher-grade TiO₂ mineralisation, are continuous with the deeper high-grade diamond drillhole intersections. Notably, "every hole from top to bottom [was] in titanium mineral," said Bunn.

Further drilling this year will aim to define shallow resources amenable to low-cost mining.

Optimizing Recovery

With the geology confirmed, efforts have shifted to metallurgical testing and flowsheet development. Empire is building a technical team under Process Development Manager Narelle Marriott to test various beneficiation options.

"The minerals we have have a high natural density that separates them from the rest of the sandstone," Bunn explained. Gravity and magnetic separation are seen as promising low-cost recovery methods before final hydrometallurgical upgrading.

The Company has also appointed two new senior titanium industry experts, Dr. Trevor Nicholson and Mr. Eugene Dardengo, who have over 72 years of combined experience across these metallurgical processes. They will work over the next 6-12 months to devise an optimal flowsheet using laboratory and pilot-scale testing.

Accelerated Development

Given the scale and grade at Pitfield, Bunn believes a relatively simple processing route can produce high-value titanium products. The goal is to have a demonstration plant operating on site within the next 18-24 months.

"Let's not try and drill this thing out...and have a JORC resource because that doesn't answer the fundamental question – how do we get the titanium out and what do you make once you understand that?" said Bunn.

With processing unlocked, Bunn sees a quick path to completing permitting and project development. The recent $3 million raise provides a runway through these studies, with further funding options kept open.

The Pitfield project's unique geology and potential for simple, low-cost processing tick the boxes for developers and end-users alike. With metals critical to the green energy transition in short supply, the titanium market is calling out for new sources of supply. Savvy investors may want to pay close attention as Pitfield moves down the development track at speed.

Titanium Critical to the Green Energy Transition

"We're not a low-grade sand mineral operation...I think we can define a fairly simple processing route now."

As the global push for decarbonization accelerates, metals like titanium will be in huge demand for green energy infrastructure and electric vehicles. With supply constraints looming, economically viable titanium projects could attract intense interest from developers and end-users. Pitfield's scale, grade, and processing potential checks all the right boxes.

The Investment Thesis for Empire Metals

• Recent high-grade titanium discovery provides transformational growth potential
• Plan to move quickly from studies to on-site demonstration plant within 18-24 months
• Processing amenability key; metallurgy studies underway to optimize flowsheet
• Strong financial position funds acceleration; $3M raised, further options open
• Development timeline faster than typical resources projects