Mining
HIGH GRADE RUTILE MINERALIZATION IDENTIFIED IN MZIMBA
March 20, 2026 / Marcel Chimwala
ASX-listed Tusker Minerals has identified high-grade titanium mineralisation dominated by rutile across its Mzimba exploration licences in northern Malawi following early-stage reconnaissance sampling.
The results come from a review of the Company’s initial reconnaissance soil and rock chip sampling program, supported by geochemical analysis and mineralogical testing using advanced technologies, and represent an important early validation of the project’s prospectivity.
CEO Cliff Fitzhenry commented: “We are very encouraged by these early-stage results from the Mzimba Project. Initial reconnaissance sampling has returned strong TiO? values across a relatively small portion of the licence area, with nearly half of the soil samples exceeding 1% TiO? and peak assays reaching 1.88%.”
“Importantly, XRD mineralogical analysis confirms that the titanium is hosted predominantly in rutile and, to a lesser extent, anatase, with no ilmenite identified in the analysed samples.
The project area is underlain by rutile-bearing high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Irumide Belt, similar to those that host major residual rutile systems elsewhere in Malawi.
With more than 700 km² of largely unexplored tenure, Fitzhenry said Tusker sees significant potential to expand these results as it advances follow-up sampling and auger drilling programs.
He said: “Alongside exploration progress at our Central Rutile Project in Cameroon, Mzimba forms part of Tusker’s growing portfolio of highly prospective rutile exploration assets in Africa.”
“As global titanium demand accelerates in green technologies and high-performance industries, these assets strengthen our portfolio and offer substantial long-term value for shareholders. These early results provide strong encouragement for further exploration, and we look forward to systematically evaluating the scale potential of the Mzimba Project.”
Initial reconnaissance sampling returned encouraging titanium results, with 27% (11/41) of soil and rock-chip samples assaying above 1% TiO2 (increasing to 47%, 8/17, when considering only the soil samples). XRD mineralogical analysis on nine samples confirmed the titanium is hosted predominately in rutile, the highest-value naturally occurring titanium dioxide mineral, with minor anatase also present - both forms of high-purity TiO2. Importantly, no ilmenite was detected in the analysed samples, indicating that the titanium mineralisation is largely composed of high-purity TiO? minerals dominated by rutile and anatase.
While assays measure total chemical TiO? and XRD analysis identifies the titanium-bearing mineral phases present - the combination of results highlight the strong prospectivity of the Mzimba project and its geological similarities to world-class residual rutile systems such as the Kasiya deposit in Lilongwe. With only 7% of the 710 km² licenses explored, Fitzhenry reported that follow-up programs will aim to define resources and assess recovery.
The Mzimba licences are situated within a highly prospective geological setting for rutile mineralisation, underlain by mica schists and paragneiss of the Irumide Belt. These high-grade metamorphic rocks are favourable source rocks for rutile and are comparable to the metamorphic protoliths that host the Kasiya deposit 200km to the south. This favourable regional geological framework enhances the prospectivity of the Mzimba licences for large-scale, near-surface residual rutile mineralisation.
Rutile is the highest value naturally occurring form of titanium dioxide and is a critical mineral used in pigments, aerospace alloys, welding electrodes, and increasingly in advanced lightweight composites and emerging renewable technologies.
The initial 50 km² survey area represents only a small portion of the total licence area, leaving significant exploration upside across the broader project. Tusker plans to immediately mobilise its Malawian exploration team to commence an expanded follow-up programme aimed at rapidly advancing the project. The next phase of work will include:
• Additional wide-spaced and infill soil sampling to expand and refine the geochemical footprint
• Auger drilling to test the depth, distribution and continuity of rutile mineralisation
• Review and interpretation of available geophysical datasets (including magnetic and radiometric surveys) to refine priority target areas
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