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ASX-listed Fortuna Metals, which is exploring for rutile at its Mkanda prospect in Mchinji, says latest exploration results have indicated multiple large coherent high-grade rutile mneralisation at the site.

Fortuna CEO Tom Langley explains that the latest shallow 0-3 metre results have helped outline several large coherent anomalies of high-grade, over 10% rutile mineralisation.

Langley says the footprint of the anomalous areas now extends over 25km2 and remain open in many areas with assays for 564 drill holes not received.

The Mkanda prospect is adjacent to the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project, being pursued by ASX-listed Sovereign Metals, and hosts the World’s largest rutile deposit..

Sovereign Metals initial 644 metric tonnes inferred resource covered more than 49 km2.

Langley says: “We look forward to receiving the remaining 534 shallow 0-2m assays to further delineate and expand the rutile mineralisation at surface ahead of further drilling in the second quarter of this year. The shallow assays provide a very cost-effective strategy as a first pass to identify the highest priority areas that fall within the high grade, over 10% rutile mineralisation.”

“We are grateful to Malawi’s Ministry of Energy and Mining for their support of our projects in Malawi by providing a letter clarifying that the Company is unaffected by the raw material export ban announced last October. Fortuna welcomes the government’s initiative to further support the local mining industry by value adding and beneficiating minerals in Malawi before being exported.”

He says the results continue to confirm the similarity across broader areas of the Mkanda Project to the geological setting seen at Kasiya, just 20km to the North.

Langley states that the 675 drill-holes completed in just three months last year is testament to the favourable project access and great commitment of in-country Malawi team.

He says: “Our focus is to undertake exploration with intent and speed to market as we aim to delineate a material rutile resource estimate next to Sovereign Metals’ world class Kasiya deposit. The 675 drill-holes are a first pass to identify the highest-grade areas of rutile that will then shape further resource drilling programmes in 2026. We are extremely catalyst rich as these results define the magnitude of rutile discovery made to date.”

“The Company has embarked on a busy first quarter, and look forward to updating the market with a consistent flow of rutile, graphite and rare earths drilling results.”

Natural rutile is a critical mineral used to make titanium metal needed for the forecast surging demand  for humanoids and robotics in the coming decade with Tesla recently announcing they would seize making two car models to instead focus on making the Optimus humanoid this year. Tesla are expecting over 1-million humanoids sold in 2027 and billions of humanoids by 2040.

“With over 10.4kg rutile projected to be used in each humanoid unit, there is potential for a severe supply shortfall. We aim to be able to fill that gap with supply of our own high-grade rutile to manufacture titanium metal in the coming years,” says Langley. 

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