Estrella Resources has reported exceptional manganese assay results from its Lautém Project in Timor-Leste, revealing grades up to 58.6% Mn and paving the way for imminent drilling activities.
- Rock chip assays up to 58.6% manganese at Ira Miri prospect
- Sica Prospect in-situ manganese assays between 46% and 49.3% Mn
- Detrital manganese on Sica valley floor averages 40.1% Mn
- Environmental surveys completed; drilling permit applications underway
- Exploration model validated, expanding prospective areas in Lautém
High-Grade Manganese Discoveries at Lautém
Estrella Resources Limited (ASX: ESR) has announced compelling assay results from its Lautém Manganese Project in Timor-Leste, highlighting new in-situ supergene manganese discoveries at the Ira Miri and Sica prospects. Rock chip samples from Ira Miri returned manganese grades as high as 58.6%, while the Sica prospect yielded assays between 46% and 49.3% manganese. These findings underscore the project's significant mineral potential and validate Estrella's predictive exploration model.
The Ira Miri discovery features a supergene manganese blanket within the Noni Formation, with mineralisation traceable over a 4-kilometre strike length. Despite limited outcrop exposure, the presence of manganese oxide clasts in scree suggests substantial secondary enrichment just beneath the surface soil. Five samples exported to Australia for laboratory analysis confirmed high manganese content with minimal deleterious elements such as boron, phosphorus, and silica, enhancing the ore's marketability.
Sica Prospect and Detrital Manganese Accumulations
At the Sica prospect, systematic sampling of in-situ secondary manganese revealed grades averaging around 47%, while 48 large grab samples from the valley floor's detrital manganese deposits averaged 40.1% manganese. The detrital material's grade distribution indicates natural sorting by water flow, concentrating higher-grade nodules towards the southern valley, a promising indicator for locating economic mineralisation zones.
Notably, the manganese ores exhibit low levels of boron and arsenic, critical for steel production quality. This positions Timor-Leste manganese as a potentially attractive feedstock for steelmakers seeking high-grade, low-impurity inputs to enhance hardness, weldability, and wear resistance in specialty steels.
Advancing Towards Drilling and Development
Estrella has completed environmental surveys for planned drill sites across Ira Miri, Sica, and Lalena prospects and is in the process of submitting drilling permit applications to Timor-Leste's regulatory authorities. The company has also imported drilling equipment, including a track-mounted carrier and reverse circulation (RC) sampling system, with full drilling capability expected by the end of the wet season in March-April 2025.
Managing Director Chris Daws expressed optimism about the project's trajectory, emphasizing the success of Estrella's exploration model and the strategic importance of these discoveries. The company plans to continue systematic mapping and sampling to refine targets and expand the understanding of manganese mineralisation across the region.
Strategic Implications and Regional Potential
The confirmation of high-grade manganese mineralisation in previously underexplored areas of the Lautém region opens new avenues for resource development in Timor-Leste. The duplication of the Noni Formation into areas formerly considered barren enhances the project's prospectivity and could position Estrella as a key player in the manganese market, particularly given the growing demand for manganese in steelmaking and battery technologies.
While these early-stage results are promising, further drilling and resource definition will be critical to establishing commercial viability. The company's methodical approach, combining geological modelling with rigorous sampling and environmental compliance, sets a solid foundation for advancing the Lautém Manganese Project towards production.
Bottom Line?
Estrella's high-grade manganese assays mark a pivotal step, but the market awaits drilling results to confirm the project's commercial promise.
Questions in the middle?
- What is the estimated size and tonnage of the manganese deposits at Ira Miri and Sica?
- How will Estrella navigate regulatory and environmental approvals in Timor-Leste for mining development?
- What are the projected timelines and capital requirements for advancing from exploration to production?