HIGHLIGHTS
- Primary heavy mineral layer from drill hole SOR-02, located 1.7km from AV-01 and AV-01bis, confirms scale potential in Zone 1
- Assay highlights include:
- 1.2m* at 9.65% TiO2†, 3.00% ZrO2, 635ppm HfO2, 0.591% TREO‡ (0.158 MREO§) from 373.35m,
- incl. 0.9m at 11.60% TiO2, 3.69% ZrO2, 783ppm HfO2, 0.729% TREO (0.195% MREO) from 373.65m,
- incl. 0.6m at 14.60% TiO2, 4.56% ZrO2, 970ppm HfO2, 0.863% TREO (0.231% MREO) from 373.65m.
- 0.3m at 4.43% TiO2, 1.25% ZrO2, 258ppm HfO2, 0.285% TREO (0.076% MREO) from 380.5m. - Indicative heavy mineral grades** of:
- 1.2m at 9.5% rutile, 3.6% ilmenite, 5.2% zircon and 0.9% monazite from 373.35m,
- incl. 0.9m at 11.4% rutile, 4.4% ilmenite, 6.4% zircon, 1.1% monazite from 373.65m,
- incl. 0.6m at 14.4% rutile, 5.5% ilmenite, 7.9% zircon, 1.3% monazite from 37 3.65m.
- 0.3m at 4.4% rutile, 1.7% ilmenite, 2.2% zircon and 0.4% monazite from 380.5m. - Additional high-grade assay results from channel samples received for Zone 1
- Focus remains ~10.67km2 area in Zone 1 expected to drive compelling Scoping Study metrics
- Seven drill holes, for 1,990.2m, completed with assays pending.
____________________
Osmond Resources Limited (ASX: OSM) (Osmond or the Company) is pleased to announce positive assay results from step-out drilling in Zone 1 at the Orión EU Critical Minerals Project (Orión or the Project). As previously announced on 19 November 2025 and 24 November 2025, drill holes AV-01 and AV-01bis intersected world-class grades of quartzite-hosted, critical heavy minerals, including:
- 1.5m at 15.92% TiO2 (15.7% rutile, 6.0% ilmenite), 5.67% ZrO2 (9.8% zircon), 1,225ppm HfO2, 1.15% TREO, 0.3% MREO (1.7% monazite) from 108.75m in drill hole AV-01; and
- 1.8m at 19.07% TiO2 (18.8% rutile, 7.2% ilmenite), 6.84% ZrO2 (11.9% zircon), 1,517ppm HfO2, 1.29% TREO, 0.35% MREO (2.0% monazite) from 105.75m in drill hole AV-01bis.
Assays from the third drill hole SOR-02, located approximately 1.7km WSW from AV-01, has confirmed outstanding grades and scale potential in Zone 1 by intersecting significant titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr) and rare earth element (REE) heavy mineral mineralisation (Table 1; Figure 1; Appendix A, B, C and D).
SOR-02 Drill Hole Summary
Drill hole SOR-02 spudded in the overlying Rio Black Slates and subsequently intersected the prospective Pochico Formation at 284.25m. The greater depth to the top of the Pochico Formation relative to drill holes AV-01 and AV-01 bis is due to SOR-02 being located south, and on the downthrown side, of an ESE-WNW trending fault that transects Zone 1. The main prospective heavy mineral-rich quartzite layer was intersected at 373.35m (Figures 2, 3 and 4; Appendix B and D). Assays highlights include††:
- 1.2m at 9.65% TiO2, 3.0% ZrO2, 635ppm HfO2, 0.591% TREO (0.158% MREO) from 373.35m,
- incl. 0.9m at 11.60% TiO2, 3.69% ZrO2, 783ppm HfO2, 0.729% TREO (0.195% MREO) from 373.65m,
- including 0.6m at 14.60% TiO2, 4.56% ZrO2, 970ppm HfO2, 0.863% TREO (0.231% MREO) from 373.65m.
On this basis, indicative heavy mineral grades include‡‡:
- 1.2m at 9.5% rutile, 3.6% ilmenite, 5.2% zircon, 0.9% monazite from 373.35m,
- incl. 0.9m at 11.4% rutile, 4.4% ilmenite, 6.4% zircon, 1.1% monazite from 373.65m,
- including 0.6m at 14.4% rutile, 5.5% ilmenite, 7.9% zircon, 1.3% monazite from 373.65m.
In conjunction with assay results from the main prospective quartzite layer in AV-01 and AV-01bis, which are located ~1.7km ENE, the assay results from SOR-02 confirm the potential for globally significant Ti-Zr-REE mineralisation in Zone 1 at the Orión Project (Figure 2). The Company’s preliminary interpretation is the heavy mineral depocenter, containing the greatest thickness and highest grades of heavy mineral mineralisation, is located in the vicinity of drill hole AV-01.
Figure 1 – Map showing location of completed, in progress and planned drill holes at the Orión EU Critical Minerals Project.
Table 1 – Drill hole SOR-02 assay results summary*
* Refer to footnotes on page 1 of ASX release 15 December 2025
Figure 2 – Map showing location of drill hole SOR-02. Location of cross section A – A’ (Figure 3) highlighted. Assays from AV-01 and AV-01bis previously reported.
Figure 3 – Cross-section A – A’ showing SOR-02 drill hole trace and assay highlights.
Figure 4 – SOR-02 diamond drill core photos showing individual sample assays and weighted average assay highlights.
Additional assay results
Assay results have been received from channel samples (samples AV-08 to AV-12) taken along the heavy mineral-rich quartzite layers where it outcrops in Zone 1 (Figure 5; Appendix E). These additional samples have recorded high-grade Ti, Zr and REE assay results, adding further confidence to the continuity of thickness and grade of the main prospective heavy mineral-rich quartzite in Zone 1.
The Company has identified a total area of ~10.67km2 in Zone 1 (Northern, Central, Avellanar and Southern Blocks in Figure 3) where it will target the main 1.2m to 3.0m thick heavy mineral rich layer (average density 2.9g/cm3), containing 30-40% total heavy minerals (THM), for mineral resource definition. Scoping study activities will be focused in this region given likely grade and scale potential.
Drilling Update
Six drill holes, for a total of 1,990.2m, have been completed at Orión with two additional drill holes in progress. All drill holes have intersected the prospective Pochico Formation quartzites. The Company makes no representation regarding the assay grades of the identified layers.
Samples from the main prospective quartzite layers have been submitted to an independent laboratory with results being fast-tracked. Results are anticipated to be received every 2-3 weeks.
Figure 5 – Plan view of Zone 1 showing area being targeted for mineral resource definition. Indicative heavy mineral grades of drill holes, bulk samples and channel samples highlighted§§.
Link to ASX release: https://bit.ly/3Yx0fWQ
-Ends-
notes:
* True thickness is estimated to be 95-100% of downhole thickness.
† Primary cut-off: 2% TiO2, max. 0.9m internal dilution; Secondary cut-off: 5% TiO2, max. 0.6m internal dilution; Ternary cut-off: 8% TiO2, max. 0.3m internal dilution.
‡ TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxides): La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, Y2O3.
§ MREO (Magnetic Rare Earth Oxides): Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3.
** Indicative rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite grades estimated from bulk sampling. Refer to Appendix C and Osmond’s ASX release dated 6 September 2024. The TIMA-X analysis is limited to the location of the bulk sampling and may not reflect the heavy mineral composition across the full breadth of the Orión Project. Detailed quantitative mineralogical studies are ongoing.
†† Refer to footnotes on page 1.
‡‡ Refer to footnotes on page 1 and Appendix C.
Contact details:
Anthony Hall
Managing Director and CEO
[email protected]
+61 417 466 039
Elvis Jurcevic
Investor Relations
[email protected]
+61 408 268 271