Estrella Resources (ASX:ESR) is modifying its drilling program at the Ira Miri prospect in Timor-Leste to optimize manganese extraction. Initially, a man-portable diamond drill was chosen for its accessibility, but it proved insufficient for drilling the friable manganese at greater depths. To address this, Estrella and CoreSearch will replace the current rig with a more powerful diamond drill capable of meeting the required torque and recovery demands. The new rig will be mobilized within two weeks, allowing time for geological analysis and preparation of additional drill sites.
This adjustment follows the intersection of 6.45m of massive manganese oxides in the company’s first drillhole, representing the first modern metallic minerals exploration in Timor-Leste. Drillhole EMDD001 encountered mineralization at 1.35m, ending in manganese oxides at 7.8m depth. Manganese, traditionally used in steelmaking, is emerging as a battery metal. The global manganese ore supply in 2023 reached 60 million tonnes, a 2% increase from 2022, containing 21.24Mt of manganese at an average grade of 35.4%.
