Another breakthrough in Malawi’s rutile corridor
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Another breakthrough in Malawi’s rutile corridor
Malawi is becoming a significant player in the rutile and graphite space.
ASX listed Fortuna Metals’ exploration results at the Mkanda Project near Lilongwe in Malawi proves that Malawi has the potential to become a major player in the world’s rutile and graphite market.
The Mkanda Project is just south of Sovereign Metal’s Kasiya project, claimed to be one of the world’s largest rutile and graphite finds.
WhyAfrica visited the Kasiya project in Malawi last year as part of the 2024 WhyAfrica Road Trip and it stood out as one of the most exciting projects of that trip during which we visited more than 18 mining projects across southern Africa.
The case for Mkanda
The latest drill results at Mkanda reveal near-surface grades, including a peak assay of 2.21% rutile and several 10m intercepts exceeding 1% rutile from surface.
Malawi has good road infrastructure, a high-quality rail line connecting to the deep-water port of Nacala on the Indian Ocean and hydro-sourced grid power.
Rutile as feedstock for defence applications
Rutile is the purest, highest-grade form of naturally occurring titanium feedstock for high-end titanium metal used in robotics, aerospace and defence applications.
Titanium has superior material properties that are prized across advanced industries.
Rutile has a far higher strength to weight ratio than aluminium and magnesium alloys and is 45% lighter than steel.
Titanium metals can be up to 3-5 times stronger than stainless steel, and has superior corrosion resistance, making durable long-life products.
Continuing exploration at Mkanda
According to Fortuna CEO Tom Langley the company will start Aircore and push tube drilling early in 2026.
“This will allow us to determine the rutile’s mineralisation continuity to about 20m which is in line with the Kasiya deposit that averages about 20m to 30m depth to saprock and significantly increases the resource potential and overall project economics,” says Langley.
“We continue to progress our exploration drilling at a rapid pace having now completed 544 drill holes at Mkanda and will continue to drill until the end of the year,” Langley says.
In picture is the WhyAfrica Road Trip team with members Sovereign Metal’s project manager and top geologists during WhyAfrica visit to the Kasiya project close to Lilingwe in 2024. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica
Another breakthrough in Malawi’s rutile corridor
