MRG Metals Maps 1.6 sq km REE Footprint With All 99 Holes Mineralised
Key Takeaways
- MRG Metals has established a 1.6 sq km mineralised footprint at Adriano Target Area 2 with a 100% hit rate across all 99 auger holes drilled at 20m and 200m spacings.
- Mineralisation remains open on the northern, western, and southern margins of the 200m grid, indicating the current footprint understates the deposit's true extent.
- Prior laboratory assays from Target Area 2 returned grades up to 6.94% THM over 3m, and visual estimates in the new holes are consistent with those high-grade results — though lab confirmation is still pending.
- A May 2026 bulk sample composite returned 32.2% total VHM from the heavy mineral concentrate, including 24.4% ilmenite and 1.9% monazite, confirming a diversified critical mineral suite.
- The combined Adriano and Fotinho licences cover a 13km strike target zone, of which the current 1.6 sq km footprint represents only a fraction of the ground yet to be systematically drilled.
MRG Metals outlines a 1.6 sq km mineralised footprint at Adriano REE project
MRG Metals (ASX: MRQ) has announced a significant progress update on grid auger drilling at Target Area 2 within its Adriano rare earth elements (REE) project in Mozambique. A 1.6 sq km mineralised footprint has been established across 99 auger holes drilled at spacings of 20m and 200m, with every hole returning mineralised to well-mineralised status. This systematic grid programme represents a meaningful step toward the company’s goal of generating a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at the project.
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Drilling programme builds on strong historical results
The current grid programme is the logical follow-up to earlier target generation drilling that produced compelling high-grade assay results at Adriano Target Area 2. Those prior laboratory results justified the systematic grid expansion now underway.
Previously reported Total Heavy Mineral (THM%) assay highlights from Target Area 2 include:
- AAG25015: 6.41% THM over 3.00m
- AAG25017: 5.71% THM over 3.50m
- AAG25021: 6.20% THM over 3.00m
- AAG25024: 6.94% THM over 3.00m
A subsequent pitting programme at Target Area 2, reported on 8 July 2026, confirmed mature, well-compacted, highly mineralised terrace gravel deposits to 3.7m depth, reinforcing the quality of the target.
The current 48-hole 20m grid (average depth 2m) and 51-hole 200m grid (average depth 1.8m) have now fully covered the 1.6 sq km area. Approximately 25% of holes did not reach subcrop due to the water table. Importantly, mineralisation remains open on the northern, western, and southern margins of the 200m grid, indicating substantial potential for further footprint expansion. Visual grade estimates in the new holes are consistent with the visually estimated grades observed in previous holes that later recorded high-grade HMS in laboratory assays. Laboratory confirmation for these new holes is pending and the visual estimates should not be treated as confirmed assay results.
What are heavy mineral sands and why do they matter to investors?
Heavy mineral sand (HMS) deposits are concentrations of dense minerals that accumulate naturally in river and drainage systems as flowing water sorts sediment by weight. Lighter sands wash away, leaving behind heavier mineral grains in the underlying gravels and terraces. These alluvial deposits can be extensive and are typically amenable to simple, low-cost processing methods.
At Adriano, the key minerals of interest are:
- Monazite: a phosphate mineral that carries rare earth elements (REEs), a group of metals in high demand for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defence applications
- Rutile and leucoxene: titanium-bearing minerals used in the production of titanium metal and titanium dioxide pigment
- Ilmenite: the most abundant titanium mineral, also a feedstock for the titanium pigment industry
- Zircon: used in ceramics, refractories, and nuclear applications
A composite bulk sample from four alluvial targets within Adriano, reported on 13 May 2026, produced the following Valuable Heavy Mineral (VHM) results from the Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC). Note this data comes from a prior bulk sample and is not from the current grid drilling programme’s unassayed holes.
| Mineral | Category | Content (% of HMC) | Key End Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monazite | Rare earth mineral | 1.9% | Rare earth elements (EVs, magnets, defence) |
| Rutile | Titanium mineral | 2.3% | Titanium metal and pigment |
| Zircon | Zirconium mineral | 1.90% | Ceramics, refractories, nuclear |
| Leucoxene | Titanium mineral | 1.8% | Titanium pigment feedstock |
| Ilmenite | Titanium mineral | 24.4% | Titanium dioxide pigment |
| Total VHM | Combined | 32.2% | Multiple critical mineral applications |
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What comes next for MRG Metals
The announcement outlines a clear pipeline of work ahead as the company advances toward resource definition. Planned next steps include:
- Laboratory assay analyses for all 99 new grid holes to be conducted at MAK Analytical in South Africa
- Mineralogical studies on a lithological basis from Pit 3 and grid drilling holes to validate bulk sample consistency
- Preliminary metallurgy work to validate concentrate processes and concentrate value
- Grid drilling to continue at additional targets within the Adriano and Fotinho licences, covering a combined 13km strike length target zone
Fotinho district-scale REE potential adds further weight to the 13km strike target zone, with the Fotinho licence sharing the same alluvial terrace geology that has produced high-grade THM results at Adriano.
Chairman Andrew Van Der Zwan commented on the progress:
Andrew Van Der Zwan, Chairman
“The step out work at Adriano has continued following our recent Capital Raise and recognises Adriano/Fontinho as a valuable critical mineral asset. Our low-cost exploration has enabled us to develop a sizeable footprint with further opportunity to grow to economic scale. The constituents of the valuable heavy minerals including critical minerals contained in the monazite and Titanium bearing sands makes a low-cost simple concentrate a likely development opportunity provided scale can be reached by further footprint expansion. Work will now focus on further assemblage analysis and preliminary metallurgy work to validate the concentrate processes and concentrate value.”
With mineralisation remaining open across three margins of the 200m grid and a 13km strike target zone still to be systematically drilled, the potential for substantial resource growth ahead of a formal JORC MRE remains considerable.
Beyond the Mozambique licences, MRG’s South African Garies project has returned 4.85% TREO grades at Garies, placing the company’s hard-rock rare earth asset among the higher-grade results reported by ASX-listed REE explorers in recent months.
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