Copper Search zooms in on heavy mineral sands in South Australia

Copper Search (ASX:CUS) has identified a suite of targets for heavy mineral sands at its Peake project in South Australia through a recent external review, which highlighted zircon and titanium minerals – rutile, ilmenite and leucoxene – in particular.

Pan-concentrated grab samples were taken, yielding assays such as 35% zircon, 20% Ilmenite, 20% leucoxene, 5% Rutile; 25% zircon, 50% Ilmenite, 10% leucoxene, 5% Rutile; and 25% zircon, 55% Ilmenite, 5% leucoxene, 5% Rutile.

The project – located in SA’s Gawler Craton – is also noted as hosting terrain which could be potential “trap sites” for heavy minerals on the outcropping Peake and Denison ranges.

In the main, this includes heavy mineral sands target horizons – known to host HMS elsewhere – which are present in extensive thicknesses at Peake.

Copper Search is also looking at magnetic signatures, which have been picked up at a second tenement area – currently under application. These potentially indicate ilmenite-rich strand lines, which have provided a guide in regions such as the Murray Basin.

Managing director Duncan Chessell said it was important to consider the potential of this region outside of just copper.

“While investors familiar with the Peake Project know that our primary focus has been copper, the recent identification of heavy mineral sands (HMS) highlights the company’s rigorous assessment and commitment to identifying the best opportunities for our shareholders,” he said.

“Recent discoveries in the Eromanga Basin—such as Petratherm’s Rosewood Prospect –
underscore the region’s broader potential for significant HMS deposits. Prospective
sedimentary basins often host multiple HMS systems; the Eucla, Murray, and Perth basins are clear examples.

“While HMS may not be as well-known as other commodities, these deposits contain minerals critical to global supply chains. They are refined to produce titanium, zirconium, and rare earth elements—essential inputs across traditional industries and high-tech manufacturing.”

The company has also appointed mineral sands expert Ian Warland as principal consultant, hoping to build on his success in discovering the world-class Jacinth – East Eucla HMS
deposits (also in South Australia) and bringing them through to the production stage for Iluka Resources (ASX: ILU).

CUS has been selling at 2cps through Monday trade.

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