McLaren Minerals Reports 4% Heavy Minerals From 57 Drill Holes
Key Takeaways
- McLaren's 57 new holes averaged 4.00% HM over 20.1m with no cut-off applied, and every interval starts at surface.
- 93% of holes returned at least 15m of mineralisation and 28% pushed past 24m, pointing to laterally continuous ground.
- Ten holes carried one-metre assays above 10% HM, led by 17.99% in MAC583 and 15.60% in MAC599.
- The data feeds an updated resource built on the existing 529Mt base holding 23.7Mt of in-situ HM, with remaining assays, modelling and metallurgical work still to come.
- The completed Barossa acquisition adds a zircon-rich second platform in South Australia's Eucla Basin, though mine economics still depend on studies not yet delivered.
Broad mineralisation confirmed across 57 further McLaren holes
McLaren Minerals (ASX: MML) has reported further assay results from 57 complete holes, adding 1,146m of sampled interval to the 2026 Mineral Resource Upgrade and Expansion drilling program at its wholly owned McLaren Titanium Project in Western Australia.
With no heavy mineral (HM) cut-off applied, the holes return a length-weighted average of 4.00% HM over an average sampled thickness of 20.1m. Every reported interval starts at surface.
For you as an investor, the point is simple. These results keep building the geological coverage required for the forthcoming resource update, which is the step that turns drilling into a refreshed picture of the deposit.
Simon Finnis, Managing Director
“More of what we’ve come to expect from McLaren. Broad intervals, with good grades, all from surface.”
“…it is a very consistent deposit, and a very straightforward deposit, which will lead to ease of mining at scale, and a traditional processing flowsheet…”
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Thickness and grade consistency across the program
Consistency is what the market looks for in a mineral sands deposit. The latest holes give a useful read on how repeatable the thickness and grade are.
Width of mineralisation
Broad mineralisation is present across substantial widths:
- 53 holes (93%) returned at least 15m of complete sampled interval
- 46 holes (81%) extended for at least 18m
- 26 holes (46%) extended for at least 21m
- 16 holes (28%) extended for at least 24m
Most holes show thick intervals, which suggests the mineralisation is laterally continuous rather than confined to a few isolated spots.
Grade distribution
On grade, 28 holes (49%) averaged at least 4% HM, nine (16%) averaged at least 5% HM and one (2%) averaged at least 6% HM.
No HM cut-off was applied, so the averages reflect each hole’s complete sampled interval rather than selected higher-grade portions. That gives you a more direct view of the grade and thickness profile.
Nine holes combined an interval of at least 15m with an average grade of 5% HM or better:
| Hole ID | Interval from surface | Average grade (% HM) | Max 1m grade (% HM) | Depth of max grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAC625 | 15m | 6.88 | 11.82 | 13–14 m |
| MAC623 | 18m | 5.87 | 11.06 | 9–10 m |
| MAC599 | 20m | 5.69 | 15.60 | 18–19 m |
| MAC620 | 21m | 5.53 | 8.42 | 8–9 m |
| MAC600 | 20m | 5.47 | 9.60 | 4–5 m |
| MAC596 | 18m | 5.38 | 7.93 | 2–3 m |
| MAC624 | 18m | 5.33 | 9.04 | 10–11 m |
| MAC568 | 18m | 5.04 | 7.56 | 3–4 m |
| MAC583 | 18m | 5.00 | 17.99 | 17–18 m |
High-grade zones and what heavy mineral grades mean
High-grade zones within the profile
Higher-grade zones sit within the broader mineralised profile. Ten holes returned individual one-metre assays of at least 10% HM.
The top results were 17.99% HM in MAC583 (17–18m) and 15.60% HM in MAC599 (18–19m). The next highest one-metre assays were:
- MAC584: 12.66% HM (17–18m)
- MAC569: 12.30% HM (17–18m)
- MAC625: 11.82% HM (13–14m)
- MAC564: 11.64% HM (20–21m)
- MAC623: 11.06% HM (9–10m)
Finnis said the continuation of high-grade intersections “will give us flexibility in the mine plan to ensure we give the project the best possible start.”
What is HM and why does it matter?
Heavy mineral (HM) grade is the share of heavy minerals in the sand. In a mineral sands deposit, it is a key measure of how much valuable material the ground contains.
Thick intervals that start at surface matter because they point to material that is close to the top of the ground. Finnis linked the deposit’s consistency to “ease of mining at scale, and a traditional processing flowsheet,” and said these attributes give the company confidence it can mine and process McLaren “with modest operating cost inputs, as per the PFS.” The announcement provides no PFS figures, so those cost claims remain management’s view.
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Resource upgrade path and next steps
The 2026 program was designed to increase confidence in the company’s existing 529Mt Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource, support future Ore Reserve estimation and Bankable Feasibility Study activities, and assess opportunities for resource growth.
| JORC classification | Tonnes (Mt) | HM grade (%) | In-situ HM (Mt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicated | 249 | 4.70 | 11.8 |
| Inferred | 280 | 4.20 | 11.9 |
| Total | 529 | 4.50 | 23.7 |
The company lists three next steps:
- Receipt, validation and reporting of the remaining 2026 assay results
- Integration of the complete 2026 drilling dataset into the updated geological model and Mineral Resource estimate
- Progression of metallurgical test work and technical studies supporting future Ore Reserve estimation and Bankable Feasibility Study activities
McLaren has also completed the acquisition of the zircon-rich Barossa Project in South Australia, establishing a second mineral sands growth platform for the company in the Eucla Basin.
The Barossa Project adds a zircon-rich asset to the portfolio, giving McLaren exposure to a second mineral sands commodity mix alongside the titanium-focused McLaren deposit.
Keep the caveat in view. Any potential implications for mine design, production scheduling, process-feed planning or project economics remain subject to completion of the resource update, metallurgical test work and detailed mining and economic studies.
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