Fortuna Metals Limited has completed an initial 5,000-metre aircore drilling program at the Mkanda project in Malawi and expanded the scope to 8,500 metres to target high-grade rutile and graphite prospects at depth.

The previous program outline stood at 5,000 metres before the company elected to extend the drilling. The initial aircore holes achieved an average depth of 22 metres across high-priority rutile areas, confirming the potential to expand resources within the free-dig saprolite limit. That depth represents an increase over the company's earlier hand auger drilling, which averaged 8 metres depth and underpinned Fortuna Metals’ maiden Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 298 million tonnes grading 0.87% rutile and 1.19% total graphitic carbon delivered in July 2026.

“We're extremely pleased to provide an update that 5,000m of aircore drilling to an average depth of 22m across the high priority rutile prospects has been completed. The aircore program has now been expanded to over 8,500m to ensure the majority of the highest priority areas are tested this year both for high grade rutile and high grade graphite. The expanded drilling program is a result of reviewing the maiden inferred resource estimate and identifying further areas of high grade rutile and graphite that can allow for resource expansion.”

— Tom Langley, CEO

Alongside the rig expansion, the company has dispatched 86 samples to Perth for detailed QEMSCAN mineralogy review across various weathering horizons. Bulk sample metallurgical characterisation, feed preparation and gravity testwork are also underway to evaluate graphite flotation and flowsheet performance.

Priority aircore assay results from Mkanda are anticipated in November 2026.

Read the full announcement: Aircore Drilling Expanded