Estrella hits huge copper numbers in Timor-Leste

Estrella Resources’ exploration program in the southeast nation of Timor-Leste has unearthed two super high-grade samples of copper at its Sica prospect, grading 60.34 per cent and 50.8 per cent respectively.

The two head-turning rock chip grades follow recent high-grade manganese rock chip samples assaying up to 55.7 per cent at the prospect, in addition to 57.8 per cent manganese rock samples also discovered at the company’s Leuro prospect.

Estrella’s latest field reconnaissance campaign appears to have nailed a winning quadrella at Sica, with samples returning high-grade copper and manganese, further bolstered by compelling finds of silver grading 182 grams per tonne (g/t) and nickel clocking in at 0.75 per cent.

Adding further icing to the cake was a copper-silver discovery at the nearby Daudere prospect, five kilometres southwest of Sica. Fieldwork revealed oxidised samples hosted within the Noni Formation - a geological unit characterised by carbonates, cherts and mudstones - which returned 12.4 per cent copper and 77g/t silver. 

As if the copper and silver weren't enough, Daudere piled on the excitement by delivering eight manganese rock-chip samples averaging a chunky 51.7 per cent manganese, underlining some remarkable consistency.

Management believes the swag of super-grade samples is potentially related to a 10-kilometre-wide geological feature, with copper found at Sica and Daudere appearing to straddle a large, untested dome. Estrella says quantitative XRD analysis further supports a common hydrothermal origin linking the two prospects to the structure.

Both discoveries at Sica and Daudere were part of an extensive mapping and sampling program across the large-scale Laleno Dome, with mapping on the dome's flank revealing the copper and manganese mineralisation.

An initial inspection of Daudere highlighted significant boulders containing manganese oxides strewn across the northern flank. The company has now completed its early-stage program, producing a detailed map of the geological structure.

Estrella Resources managing director Robert Mencel said: “Our latest results have not only encountered multiple instances of high-grade copper but have also interpreted a potential relationship between these two discoveries via a large geological dome.”

Mencel says the Laleno Dome, at nearly 700m in height and roughly 10km in width, dominates the landscape and sits in the middle of Estrella’s Timorese land concessions portfolio.

At the company’s Ira Miri deposit, meanwhile, a trial bulk parcel of 4984 tonnes of material grading a stellar 49.38 per cent manganese was recently compiled for market appraisal purposes.

The trial bulk parcel has attracted nine interested parties expressing interest in purchasing all or part of the bulk sample.

Estrella has also recently completed a preliminary magneto-telluric-drone survey at Ira Miri with encouraging results. The promising findings have prompted the company to press ahead with advanced 3D inversion processing, using sophisticated computer modelling to convert geophysical data into a detailed three-dimensional map of the underlying rocks, sharpening its search for concealed mineral deposits.

The company also plans to fire up an induced polarisation (IP) survey shortly at Ira Miri, with further surveys slated for its Leuro and Sica prospects.

Much further work needs to be completed across the plethora of prospective targets. However, if Estrella can prove up sufficient mineralisation across any of the metals it is getting initial whiffs of, things could become very interesting for the junior Southeast Asian explorer.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au