Robust discovers high grade manganese on Romang Island

By Demas Simbolon

Australian-listed metal exploration firm Robust Resources Limited announced that many drill-holes have intersected high-grade zones of manganese (Mn) at the company?s 77.5%-owned Lakuwahi Project on Romang Island.

It said that a total of 38 intersections of manganese varying in down hole thickness from 1 meter to 33 meters were encountered during the current exploration program

?Given these very encouraging intersections, the company is fast-tracking an expanded exploration program to specifically explore for additional manganese mineralisation. Metallurgical test work is also underway,? the company said in the statement.

Robust Managing Director, Gary Lewis said that ?These solid drill results are a major value boost to the Romang Island project, and they potentially enhance the project economics for this unique mineralized system. Whilst no manganese resource has been estimated at this stage, the potential would appear to be considerable, given the extent of limestone coverage at Lakuwahi. The manganese occurs within the limestone whilst the gold, silver and base metal deposits are in the underlying volcanic rocks.

?Robust continues to be very active on Romang Island . Five rigs are currently drilling for gold, silver and base metals at Lakuwahi with the view to expanding our maiden JORC mineralS resource estimate, a sixth rig is testing for a potential porphyry system at North Romang, and two Winkle rigs drilling for further manganese mineralization at Lakuwahi.

?In addition to our exploration efforts, a scoping study is being prepared on a low-CAPEX heap leach option for the Lakuwahi Gold-Silver Oxide project. Metallurgical investigations into the polymetallic sulphides and manganese are also underway.?

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora