Estrella Resources has obtained approval from Autoridade Nacional dos Minerais Timor-Leste (ANM) to begin its first drilling campaign at the Laleno Dome in Timor-Leste.
The company announced that preparation of the drill sites and access tracks will begin immediately, with drilling operations expected to start early next week.
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The maiden drilling programme will assess targets considered prospective for porphyry-style copper-gold mineralisation.
These targets have been identified through results from a Mobile MTd geophysical survey and copper sampling around the Dome.
The drilling will focus on high-conductivity anomalies including “plumes” detected on the flank of the Laleno Dome.
Shallow conductivity targets and a shallow-dipping conductive anomaly, interpreted as a potential manganese-bearing horizon and a near-surface porphyry outcrop, are also due to be tested in the initial phase.
The planned activity follows recent petrographic results that support the interpretation of a porphyry-style copper system, with copper observed at nine locations around the Dome.
Estrella Resources managing director Robert Mencel said: “This is a significant moment for Estrella. Laleno Dome is a large structure that has never been tested and we are now approved to put the first holes into this extensive prospect.
“The evidence received to date supports the potential for the Dome to host porphyry-style copper-gold mineralisation, but we need to drill this target to truly understand its significance.
“Through our geophysics campaign we have defined some conductive plume targets which represent strong walk-up targets that are supported by encouraging boots-on-the-ground sampling work.”
Estrella Resources holds exploration projects and mineral rights in Western Australia but is currently prioritising exploration in its Timor-Leste portfolio.
To date, the company has discovered manganese mineralisation at several sites in Timor-Leste, including the Ira Miri deposit, where a bulk sample of approximately 27,000t has been extracted for market appraisal.
Exploration for both manganese and copper is ongoing, with the company continuing to pursue further copper and gold occurrences in the region.
