Marmota extends Muckanippie strike with discovery of titanium-rich leucoxene
Marmota (ASX: MEU) has extended its Muckanippie discovery in South Australia with the identification of leucoxene in heavy mineral samples collected from the project area.
The company discovered the fine-grained, titanium-rich material in historical work by Flinders Mines (now Red Hawk Mining, ASX: RHK) on tenement EL6679, immediately west of the project’s EL6166.
Marmota now owns both EL6679 and EL6166.
Historical work
The analysis was carried out in 2009 by Diatech Heavy Mineral Services Laboratory on behalf of Flinders Mines as part of a program searching for micro-diamonds in kimberlites in the Gawler Craton.
Flinders did not find the micro-diamonds it was searching for and did not publish the results of the test work.
However, it did file the heavy mineral assemblage results and Diatech’s laboratory work with the Department of Mining.
Ease of observation
This analysis prepared the material in a manner that isolated the heavy minerals from any diamond content in the smallest concentrate possible for ease of visual observation.
Two sample intervals were tested – 15 metres to 19m and 27m to 30m – spaced 277m apart.
Both holes were located within Marmota’s interpreted titanium-bearing palaeochannel and returned 100% leucoxene in all observed samples.
Marmota believes this has extended the potential strike of the Muckanippie titanium-heavy mineral sands discovery to 9 kilometres.
Strong results
Chair Dr Colin Rose said maiden exploration at Muckanippie continued to deliver strong results.
“In January, we reported heavy mineral assays and bonanza grades in every hole, which confirmed Muckanippie as a highly significant heavy mineral sands discovery,” he said.
“We are delighted with this new extension to the west—the two holes tested by Flinders were sampled at different depths and both showed high-value leucoxene in all observed heavy mineral concentrate samples.”
Alteration product
Leucoxene is a term applied to a fine, granular alteration product made up of titanium minerals and containing a titanium dioxide content of between 70% and 93%.
It is formed through the natural weathering of ilmenite over an extensive period of time, which removes the iron content and increases its titanium content.
Leucoxene is used as a feedstock in titanium pigment plants and as a fluxing agent to provide improved strength in welding electrodes used within the shipbuilding and civil engineering industries.
Australia is currently the world’s leading producer of leucoxene.