Aim- and ASX-listed Sovereign Metals has successfully completed the mining trials stage of its pilot mining and land rehabilitation programme (pilot phase) at the Kasiya rutile/graphite project, in Malawi.

Hydraulic mining trials at Kasiya were successfully concluded as part of the Kasiya optimisation study.

Prior to the hydraulic mining trials, a dry mining trial successfully excavated a test pit to a depth of 20 m.

The mining trials confirm that the soft, friable Kasiya ore can be efficiently mined, Sovereign reports.

“I am pleased with the results of the mining trials at the test pit and now look forward to the rehabilitation demonstration stage, with backfilling of the pit already underway. Our findings from this pilot phase are constantly improving our understanding of Kasiya and how to optimise operations at this genuine Tier 1 project,” says CEO and MD Frank Eagar.

Following the conclusion of mining trials, land rehabilitation demonstrations are now under way, starting with the backfilling of the test pit.

The test pit, which was excavated using conventional dry mining techniques and a simple mobile excavator fleet, covered an area of 120 m by 110 m and was mined to a depth of 20 m through the weathered ore at Kasiya.

Mined material is being placed back into the pit and all areas will be graded.

The backfilling stage is expected to conclude in December.

As part of the pilot phase, the company has built small rehabilitation demonstration pits that will be used to demonstrate multiple rehabilitation processes.

Sovereign’s objective is to restore land after mining to conditions that achieve the same or better agricultural yields than prior to mining operations.

The pilot phase is expected to demonstrate to local communities the successful rehabilitation of land for agricultural use post-mining.

Results would also allow Sovereign to determine optimal approaches, providing critical information for Kasiya’s environmental- and social-impact assessment.

Sovereign says it remains focused on becoming a leading global supplier to the titanium and graphite industries.

The company points out that Kasiya is the world’s largest natural rutile deposit, and the world’s second-largest flake graphite deposit, which is a battery mineral key to the energy transition.