Resouro set to sparkle with full program for Tiros development
Resouro has released a full schedule of activities for the year ahead, aimed at transforming its world scale Tiros titanium and rare earths project in Brazil into a low-cost critical minerals mine.
- Resouro Strategic Metals has a full work program underway at its Tiros Titanium and Rare Earths Project, with staged outcomes scheduled throughout 2025
- Key milestones include an update to the current 1.7 billion tonne mineral resource estimate and scoping study for a full-scale plant at Tiros Central Block
- Ultimate aim to transform the world class critical minerals project into a low-cost producer in Brazil’s mining friendly state of Minas Gerais
With a current mineral resource estimate of 1.7 billion tonnes, Tiros is one of the largest JORC combined rare earths and titanium deposits globally, containing 198 million tonnes of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and 6.6 million tonnes of total rare earth oxides.
The release of the work schedule follows Resouro’s (ASX:RAU) appointment of Progesys as technical study managers and Sete Meio Ambiente for environmental studies earlier this month.
MRE update to scoping studies
First up are assay results from 49 new diamond drill holes encompassing 2500 samples drilled in 2024.
The targeted drilling program was aimed at both resource growth at the project where the current MRE covers only 7% of the 497km2 project, and boosting understanding of the shallow and consistently high-grade mineralisation.
The drill samples are currently being processed and initial assay results are expected imminently, with the remaining samples scheduled for completion within the next six weeks.
An updated MRE will follow about four weeks after Resouro receives all remaining assay results and is scheduled to be published late in the first quarter of 2025 or early in Q2.
Demonstration plant
Looking ahead to mine development, Resouro has started an application process for trial mining licences to complement a demonstration plant scoping study in the Tiros Northern Block. The approval process for a trial mining licence is typically shorter than that of a full mining concession.
The demonstration plant scoping study will build on current metallurgical test work and the development of an optimised metallurgical flowsheet, which will feed into prefeasibility and definitive feasibility studies.
The Northern Block offers high-grade resources from surface, cost-effective ‘free-dig’ mining potential, affordable power, sealed roads, water availability and minimal environmental impact, while the area is free from agricultural activities.
Resouro is looking to the Northern Block’s beneficiation potential and high metallurgical recoveries to deliver substantial production volumes of rare earth oxides, TiO2 and valuable by-products. These have potential to deliver early cash flow from a relatively low capex operation before the transition to full-scale production.
It’s anticipated that the demonstration plant scoping study will start in Q2 of CY2025.