Estrella Resources Set to Test Market Appeal of Timor-Leste Manganese with Ira Miri Sample
Estrella Resources (ASX: ESR) is aiming to gain an understanding of the commercial appeal of its new Timor-Leste manganese discovery.
The company has attracted significant investor interest on the back of a string promising manganese hits over the past 12 months and is now seeking approval from Timor-Lester regulatory authorities to take a bulk sample of manganese oxides for market appraisal purposes.
Estrella hopes to ship a sample of as much as 30,000 tonnes from its Ira Miri discovery for testing to potential clients in destinations such as India, Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia, Europe, USA, and Africa.
Ira Miri Drilling
Meanwhile, Estrella is planning to utilise a specialist CoreSearch reverse circulation / diamond drilling rig in its next stage of drilling at Ira Miri, which the company will begin with angled holes targeting identified primary mineralisation.
Estrella recently announced a 6.45-metre intersection of massive manganese oxides in its maiden Ira Miri drill hole—the first modern metallic minerals exploration in Timor-Leste’s history, which also encountered mineralisation 1.35m down hole, and ended in manganese oxides at 7.8m depth.
Estrella has continued trenching at Ira Miri and has successfully identified in-situ primary manganese bedding, with the company now planning further trenching to enable accurate drill targeting of the mineralisation.
Manganese Mineralisation
“We are very encouraged by the latest results from Ira Miri, where trenching has confirmed primary manganese mineralisation within the Noni Formation and highlighted significant secondary enrichment,” managing director Chris Daws said.
“Mapping of the strike length is providing us with a clear framework for the next phase of work, and our recently completed first-pass drilling has already defined the formation’s orientation and weathering profile.”
Along with joint venture partner Murak Rai Timor, Estrella recently hosted various authorities and delegates for a site visit to Ira Miri and the company’s Werumata Limestone Project in Baucau, as part of finalising the necessary drilling permits.
Estrella has been working closely with the local community to identify sacred and cultural locations that it needs to preserve, with only two of minimal impact so far encountered on the southern border of the intended resource.