Equinox’s drilling finds the net with standout titanium intersections at Mata da Corda

Equinox Resources’ drilling returns strong titanium hits topping out at 61.2m grading 11.89% TiO2 at Mata da Corda in Brazil.

Drilling at Equinox’s Mata da Corda project has delivered exceptional titanium dioxide hits along with strong rare earths and niobium results. Pic: Getty Images

• Equinox Resources drilling returns exceptional titanium dioxide intersections topping out at 61.2m at 11.89% TiO2

• Drilling also returns strong rare earths and significant niobium results, highlighting potential for co-products

• Work underway to deliver maiden resource in H1 2025, inform design of titanium extraction flowsheet

Special Report: Drilling at Equinox Resources’ Mata da Corda project in Brazil has returned exceptional titanium dioxide results from surface along with potential for niobium and rare earths co-products.

Highlighting the prize at the project, 298 intercepts from 43 of the 63 drill holes returned a grade of more than 10% TiO2 across 504.8m with standout results of 61.2m grading 11.89% TiO2, 23.95m at 13.38% TiO2 and 12m at 15.32% TiO2.

Adding further interest for Equinox Resources (ASX:EQN), the drilling also returned strong total rare earth oxide intersections with valuable magnet rare earth oxide percentages averaging 23% as well as significant niobium pentoxide.

This was underlined by 106 intercepts totalling 178.3m with grades exceeding 3000 parts per million TREO from 35 holes with top hits of 37.3m at 2400ppm TREO with 23% magnet REO and 37m at 2590ppm TREO with 22% MREO.

Meanwhile, 70 drill holes returned 536 intercepts totalling 944m of mineralised drill intervals with grades of >500ppm Nb2O5 and standout hits of 12m at 932ppm Nb2O5 and 26.9m at 775ppm Nb2O5.

Most of the intercepts are concentrated within 10-15m from surface, indicating favourable potential development opportunities.

The results also suggest that higher titanium concentrations coincide with elevated REE grades.

Scatter plot of relationship between TiO2 and TREO, indicating that higher titanium concentrations often coincide with elevated rare earth oxide grades. Pic: Equinox Resources

Strong mineralisation continuity

“These high-grade titanium intercepts, averaging 10.23% TiO2 with a consistent grade profile and homogenous distribution, highlight the strong mineralisation continuity of the Mata da Corda project,” managing director Zac Komur said.

“Combined with the potential for niobium and rare earth co-product credits, this district-scale discovery, staked just a year ago, marks a pivotal achievement.

“These latest results advance us toward our target of delivering our maiden mineral resource estimate in H1 CY2025 and demonstrate the substantial value being built within our portfolio.”

Mata da Corda covers ~2200km2 in the Arco do Alto Paranaíba region.

It was selected based on a geological survey by the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s Geological Service of Brazil which found that it was significantly prospective for REE exploration.

Next steps

Exploration is continuing at the project with drilling aimed at defining high-grade mineralisation ahead of the upcoming maiden resource estimate.

Current activities systematically target priority zones to provide the data necessary for robust resource modelling and future development planning.

In parallel, EQN is also conducting mineral characterisation testwork on drill core, with an emphasis on the nature of titanium mineralisation.

This will inform the design of an optimal extraction flowsheet for titanium, while also facilitating the recovery of niobium and TREOs as co-products.

Further drilling is planned to refine the spatial extent and continuity of mineralisation, and concurrent metallurgical studies will assess recovery characteristics for titanium, niobium and rare earths.

This article was developed in collaboration with Equinox Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Equinox’s drilling finds the net with standout titanium intersections at Mata da Corda