Estrella Resources has reported promising results from its Lautém manganese project in Timor-Leste. The company confirmed that all seven of its latest diamond drill holes at the Ira Miri prospect have intersected substantial zones of supergene manganese. Notably, one hole revealed an impressive intercept of 12.87 metres with a visual estimate of 80 per cent manganese oxides starting from a depth of 5.13 metres.
Another drill hole achieved a solid 11.65 metres depth, with 8.3 metres averaging approximately 60 per cent manganese oxides. Additional drilling results showed a third hole intersecting 5.74 metres at up to 70 per cent oxides, while a fourth recorded 2.1 metres at 50 per cent manganese oxide from 13.8 metres. A fifth hole yielded 8.5 metres at 30 per cent primary oxides in chert.
Exploration and Future Prospects
The company is currently conducting step-out drilling to assess the extent and continuity of the mineralisation between two outcrops located 450 metres apart. Core samples from these drill holes will be sent for laboratory analysis, with results anticipated within the next six to eight weeks. These manganese intercepts will undergo analysis to confirm grades and account for potential natural contaminants.
The intercepts, situated approximately 65 metres northwest of the discovery outcrop, trace a supergene horizon enriched through weathering within the stratigraphy of the Noni Formation. The natural secondary enrichment has resulted in elevated manganese grades, expanding the mineralised zone, which remains open to both the northwest and southeast.
Estrella’s mapping indicates consistent bedding and strong stratigraphic control, with the manganese oxides likely deposited on an ancient seafloor. As demand for manganese surges, primarily due to steel production—which constitutes about 90 per cent of manganese usage—Timor-Leste’s manganese potential is drawing significant attention. Current prices hold steady at around US$4.50 (approximately A$6.80) per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) for ore grading 44 per cent manganese.
Strategic Positioning in a Growing Market
Estrella Resources has owned the project outright since its 2022 earn-in, in a region known for its history of small-scale mining but lacking in modern exploration. The chert-hosted manganese within the Noni Formation, characterized by a mixture of light cherts and darker oxides, presents a clear target for expansion.
With the global manganese market projected to grow by 5 per cent annually through 2030, Estrella’s focus on near-surface supergene zones could enable the company to expedite resource definition and potentially initiate early mining operations if the results prove favorable. As drilling continues, the findings from the Ira Miri prospect may solidify its significance within Estrella’s broader portfolio, which also includes nickel and copper assets in Western Australia.
The company is strategically positioned to capitalize on the rising importance of manganese as a critical component in both battery and steel production, suggesting that the latest drill results may herald the beginning of a much larger story in Timor-Leste’s mining landscape.
