Open-Ended Mineralisation at Ira Miri Raises Development Questions
Estrella Resources has reported substantial high-grade supergene manganese intersections at its Ira Miri project in Timor-Leste, highlighting promising mineralisation near key infrastructure. Assay results are pending, but early visual estimates suggest significant resource potential.
- Multiple drill holes intersect thick zones of up to 80% manganese oxides
- Mineralisation remains open along strike, indicating potential for expansion
- Project located less than 25km from Port of Com and near sealed road
- Assay results expected within 6-8 weeks to confirm visual estimates
- Advancing geological modelling and targeting a large inferred resource
Exploration Success at Ira Miri
Estrella Resources Limited has announced encouraging results from its recent diamond drilling campaign at the Ira Miri manganese project in Timor-Leste. The company’s exploration team has intersected notably thick zones of supergene manganese mineralisation, with visual estimates indicating manganese oxide grades as high as 80% over intervals exceeding 12 metres in some holes.
These intersections, including a standout 12.87 metres in drill hole EMDD033, represent a significant step forward in understanding the mineral potential of the largely underexplored Ira Miri area. The mineralisation is hosted within the Noni Formation, where primary manganese cherts have undergone secondary enrichment through weathering processes, enhancing both grade and thickness of the deposit.
Strategic Location and Infrastructure Advantage
The Ira Miri project benefits from a strategic location less than 25 kilometres from the Port of Com and within 2 kilometres of a sealed road, factors that could materially reduce future development costs and timelines. The mineralisation is near surface, which, combined with the high-grade nature of the manganese oxides, positions the project favourably for potential rapid advancement.
Managing Director Chris Daws highlighted the significance of these results, noting that each drill hole is refining the geological model and enhancing confidence in the project’s scale and grade continuity. The company is optimistic about the potential to delineate a substantial inferred mineral resource, which could underpin future development plans.
Next Steps and Market Implications
While the current results are based on visual estimates, laboratory assays are underway with results expected within 6 to 8 weeks. These will provide critical validation of the manganese grades and help quantify the resource potential more precisely. Estrella is also progressing permitting and exploration activities at its Werumata calcite project, demonstrating a diversified approach to resource development in Timor-Leste.
The ongoing drilling program aims to extend mineralisation along strike and at depth, with the mineralised zone remaining open to both the northwest and southeast. This suggests that the Ira Miri project could host a larger deposit than currently understood, which would be a positive development for Estrella and its investors.
Overall, Estrella’s latest drilling results reinforce the emerging significance of Timor-Leste as a manganese exploration frontier and underscore the company’s growing footprint in the region.
Bottom Line?
With assays pending, Estrella’s Ira Miri project is poised to reshape manganese prospects in Timor-Leste.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results confirm the high-grade visual estimates reported?
- How extensive is the mineralisation along strike and at depth beyond current drill holes?
- What are the timelines and hurdles for advancing Ira Miri towards resource definition and development?
