Estrella Resources (ASX: ESR) and the national Timor-Leste mining JV partner Murak Rai Timor have obtained wock chip samples of between 46% and 57% manganese (Table 1) received from wide spaced sampling programme at the Sica and Lalena prospects.
“With a constant stream of high-grade manganese results flowing from our Timor-Leste tenure, Estrella and our partners Murak Rai Timor continue to make fantastic progress unlocking mineralisation in this unexplored region,” Managing Director, Chris Daws, said.
“These results from Sica and Lalena add further weight to our rock chip discoveries, with a number of these samples first reported as containing anomalous manganese in pXRF results earlier this year.
“With our understanding of the relationship between the geological host Noni Formation and the observed manganese-bearing supergene blankets growing, Estrella is now pushing ahead with applications for ground-disturbing work and geophysical surveying.
“Estrella is entering a very exciting stage where our exploration focus will increasingly intensify on targeting the source of these early-stage rock chip discoveries and hopefully lead to the drill definition of high-grade manganese resources that can be developed.”
The Sica and Lalena Prospects were discovered by mapping the prospective Noni Formation where primary manganese mineralisation is associated with a chert sequence towards the top of the formation. The manganese in these cherts has subsequently undergone supergene enrichment, forming a manganese- rich blanket above the weathered surface of the chert.
The company has employed an additional two technical staff to complement the existing in-country team. The new members strengthen the company’s stratigraphic mapping and geophysical skillset and will assist in meeting Estrella’s aggressive exploration timetable.
Estrella is developing the means to conduct geophysical surveys over areas it believes, through mapping, that the supergene blanket remains preserved below surficial scree and overlying limestones.
The equipment required already exists in the country and has been used mainly to locate water for communities.
Estrella will look to negotiate the use of this equipment and repurpose it for manganese exploration.