Two included 4m intercepts averaged titanium dioxide grades of 10.8 per cent and 10.3 per cent.
The mineralisation appears at this stage to be open in depth and laterally.
Marmota expects the upcoming 89-hole follow-up drilling program will better resolve the heavy mineral distribution around the initial discovery area and more fully at depth.
The company has already submitted samples for its first rounds of metallurgical testwork to specialist laboratories to establish the properties of the heavy mineral content in the discovery holes.
Its vast exploration licence coverage over a big chunk of the Gawler Craton, mostly east of Lake Anthony, is better known for its amazingly successful Aurora Tank gold discovery near the northeastern extremity of the block, 50km north of Muckanippie.
The latest heavy mineral sands discovery at Muckanippie adjoins the western end of Petrathermโs Rosewood heavy mineral sands project, which includes part of the same palaeochannel Marmota is exploring.
Petratherm, a fellow South Australian-based explorer, also jagged good titanium-rich heavy mineral sands mineralisation in early December, confirming what it calls โbonanza concentrations and thicknesses over a 2km trendโ at its Rosewood titanium-rich heavy mineral sands prospect.
Petratherm says the available results from the two north-south lines of drilling across part of the palaeochannel confirm a major heavy mineral sands discovery at Rosewood.
Out of five encouraging holes, Petratherm reported a best result of 22m at 19.1 per cent heavy minerals from 8m depth including 4m at 27.9 per cent from 9m and 1m at 39.7 per cent heavy minerals from 11m.
It is waiting on results from a comprehensive suite of holes from six more parallel upstream and downstream fences on either side of its two short discovery lines.
Titanium is on the national critical mineral lists for many developed countries, including Australia and its major trading partners including the United States, the European Union, India, Japan and South Korea. This is due, in part, to its use in electric vehicles, wind technology, battery storage and in national security technologies.
Titanium possesses a vast range of uses โ in household items through to the esoteric โ including in the scientific, automotive, electronic, surgical implants, paints and pigments, metal alloying, aeronautical and military sectors.
The global market for titanium is estimated to be valued at more than US$22 billion (A$35.5b).
Marmotaโs titanium discovery is close to transport infrastructure and adjacent to both the Adelaide to Darwin and Adelaide to Perth railway lines.
Results from the companyโs upcoming drilling program will be keenly awaited to see if Marmota can add another commodity arrow to its quiver from its intriguing South Australian ground.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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