Empire Metals’ vision is to produce a high-value titanium metal or pigment-quality product from the Pitfield project.
The Pitfield project, located in a region with robust infrastructure, benefits from access to port facilities, power, gas pipelines, and proximity to a planned green energy hydrogen fuel hub. The project features a large-scale gravity and magnetics anomaly, with consistent grades in its mineralized beds, enhancing its potential for TiO₂ production. In 2024, Empire Metals identified a substantial exploration target, indicating significant TiO₂-rich mineralization.
To advance commercialization, Empire Metals has sent bulk samples from Pitfield’s weathered cap to a metallurgical laboratory for further testing. These samples, collected in February 2025, will be used to produce various finished product samples for marketing to potential buyers. The company aims to accelerate the economic development of the Pitfield project to maximize its value.
Shaun Bunn, managing director of Empire Metals, stated: “We have achieved an extraordinary outcome from our most recent product development test work, which has delivered an exceptional high-grade, high-purity TiO₂ product that should be ideal for either titanium sponge metal or high-quality TiO₂ pigment production. It is remarkable that our technical team has so rapidly produced a high-purity TiO₂ product. We believe this not only highlights the effectiveness of our processing approach but also underscores the potential value of our product.”
Ongoing metallurgical testing and process optimization, supported by 70 tonnes of bulk samples, will enable Empire Metals to scale up production and engage with prospective end-users. The company’s goal is to establish Pitfield as a source of high-value titanium metal or pigment-grade products. In addition to Pitfield, Empire Metals manages other exploration projects in Australia and precious metals initiatives in Austria, further diversifying its portfolio.
