Robust Resources confirms manganese horizon on Romang Island

THE DRILL SERGEANT: Robust Resources (ASX: ROL) has received assay results from eight drill holes completed at the company’s Manganese Valley prospect on Romang Island, Indonesia.

Robust said the drilling had confirmed mineralisation at the Manganese Valley prospect forms a continuous horizon of manganese mineralisation over 350 metres.

 

Manganese Valley prospect cross section showing a 350+ metre zone of
near-surface manganese mineralisation that remains open to the south.
Source: Company announcement

 

The results have provided Robust with the impetus to accelerate feasibility and commercialisation studies, which it has now commenced.

The company foresees a low-CAPEX start-up operation may be able to fund the future development of its gold-silver and polymetallic deposits.

These latest results include a number of high-grade intersections including:

–    9.1 metres at 32.6 per cent manganese from surface, including: 4.8 metres at 47.1 per cent manganese from 3.7 metres;

–    25.4m at 23 per cent manganese from surface, including 6m at 42.1 per cent manganese from surface and 5.4m at 35 per cent manganese from 20m;

–    7.3m at 41.5 per cent manganese from surface;

–    5.4m at 50.1 per cent manganese from surface; and

–    4.7m at 41.9 per cent manganese from 1.3m.

“This is a significant development for the company, as further success in our manganese drilling program is a catalyst for Robust to accelerate commercialisation of a low CAPEX manganese mining operation, which may in turn provide a cash-flow to fund development of our other mineral discoveries on Romang,” Robust Resources managing director Gary Lewis said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Conceptually, the development of Romang could commence with a very low capital manganese mine which should provide capital funding for the construction of the oxide gold silver heap leach operation followed by a larger polymetallic mine.

“At each stage there is an opportunity to re-use infrastructure, thereby engendering substantial capital savings, high efficiency and a large mitigation of risk.

“As well as progressing ore beneficiation and marketing studies, further drilling of the manganese mineralisation is now the key priority for the company.”

Robust Resources said drilling of the manganese targets is an ongoing high-priority for the company in order to determine the size and quality of the project’s emerging manganese resource.