en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chilwa Minerals Ltd (ASX:CHW) has increased the Mineral Resource Estimate for the Mpyupyu heavy mineral sand deposit in southern Malawi to 109.6 million tonnes, more than doubling the previous figure and making it the company's largest deposit and a potential first development frontier within the broader Chilwa critical minerals project.

The updated resource, calculated at a 1.0% total heavy mineral (THM) cut-off grade, comprises 24.5 million tonnes in the Measured category, 73.6 million tonnes in the Indicated category, and 11.6 million tonnes in the Inferred category, with approximately 89% of the resource classified as Measured and Indicated.

Contained heavy mineral concentrate increased from 2.23 million tonnes to 3.61 million tonnes. Additionally, a higher-grade core zone delineated at a 3.0% THM cut-off grade contains 50.6 million tonnes at a THM grade of 4.65%.

The resource upgrade is based on infill sonic drilling, XRF analysis, and QEMSCAN mineralogical analysis. Chilwa stated that these efforts have improved geological confidence, providing a more robust foundation for mine planning and the ongoing scoping study.

The average THM grade decreased from 4.36% to 3.28%, reflecting the addition of lower-grade material, but total tonnage increased by 114% and contained THM increased by 61%.

Chilwa Managing Director Cadell Buss stated that this update represents a "decisive step" in the company's transition from explorer to potential developer. Buss noted that with a single update, Mpyupyu has become the company's largest deposit and a natural starting point for developing the Chilwa critical minerals project. No mining decision has been made, but the company now has a deposit around which it can plan.

Mpyupyu is part of the Chilwa critical minerals project, which comprises 10 heavy mineral sand deposits near Lake Chilwa in southern Malawi. The deposit is located near Chilwa's Nakombe niobium-rare earth element target, and the company highlighted the potential for shared infrastructure across its heavy mineral sand, niobium, rare earth, and ionic clay rare earth projects in the future.

QEMSCAN analysis confirmed the widespread presence of monazite in the Mpyupyu deposit, providing a basis for Chilwa to assess the potential economics of rare earth by-products alongside primary products ilmenite, zircon, and rutile. The company stated that sonic drilling is also underway at the newly identified Mpyupyu West target, where mapped heavy mineral sand mineralisation covers approximately 5 square kilometres.

Chilwa is conducting a scoping study for Mpyupyu, expected to be released in the third quarter of 2026. Any development decision remains subject to the completion of the study, further technical and economic evaluations, financing, and regulatory approvals.

Chilwa Minerals is a critical mineral exploration company focused on southern Malawi, advancing a portfolio of heavy mineral sand, niobium-rare earth, carbonatite-hosted rare earth, and ionic clay rare earth projects within a single contiguous licence area. Its strategy is to bring heavy mineral sand into production first, with potential cash flow and infrastructure supporting the broader critical minerals project portfolio.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com