Tivan (ASX: TVN) has received highly anomalous copper-gold results from regional stream sediment sampling at its Turiscai project in Timor-Leste, strengthening its exploration model for porphyry-style mineralisation.
The program returned grades of up to 434 parts per million copper and 0.801ppm gold from a Stage 1 surface sampling campaign completed by Tivan’s in-country geology team.
Anomalous results for silver, bismuth, and selenium—elements regarded as key pathfinders commonly associated with porphyry-style deposits—were also returned, providing additional support for the company’s exploration model.
The results will help guide Stage 2 prospect-scale exploration as Tivan works to define copper-gold targets for a maiden drilling campaign.
Turiscai is located about 40 kilometres south of Timor-Leste’s capital Dili and is considered prospective for copper-gold mineralisation.
Regional Sampling Program
Tivan collected 304 stream sediment samples across the project, with 207 samples assayed so far.
Stream sediment sampling provides an early-stage regional exploration tool by identifying geochemical signatures from mineralised rocks upstream.
A peak gold result of 0.801ppm was described as highly anomalous for a regional reconnaissance stream sediment program and encouraging for the possible presence of a significant upstream gold mineralised system.
The sampling also returned grades of up to 0.20ppm silver, 0.62ppm bismuth, and 2.60ppm selenium.
The results build on previously reported rock chip sampling that returned grades of up to 9.65% copper and 7.19 grams per tonne gold.
Rock-Chip Assays
Tivan has also received further rock-chip assays from the latter part of Stage 1 sampling and early Stage 2 field work.
The latest rock-chip results returned grades of up to 23.1% copper and 0.019g/t gold from sampling focused on the Ailalek area, with additional anomalous results including grades of up to 35.7ppm silver, 1.86ppm bismuth, and 281ppm selenium.
Stage 2 exploration has begun across priority target areas defined during the first regional program.
Current work includes further targeted stream sediment sampling, additional rock-chip sampling and surface programs, with field activities expected to increase as wet-season conditions allow.
Tivan plans to expand the program to include systematic mapping, soil geochemistry, and geophysical surveys where appropriate, and is also assessing suitable geophysical survey methods and program options to support drill targeting.
Geophysical Datasets
Tivan recently engaged Southern Geoscience Consultants to undertake desktop geophysical reprocessing and interpretation work across its Timor-Leste tenure, including the Baucau, Ossu, and Turiscai projects.
Collaboration with the Autoridade Nacional dos Minerais and Murak Rai Timor has also provided access to airborne geophysical datasetsthat include heliborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey data collected under the Timor-Leste Integrated Airborne Geophysical Survey Project.
Tivan expects integration and reinterpretation of the data to improve regional geological understanding and accelerate targeting of prospective mineralised systems.
“As for the results, Tivan is greatly encouraged—particularly with the consistency of the early findings of copper and gold, and the presence of pathfinder elements at anomalous grades,” executive chair Grant Wilson said.
“We will continue with our systematic approach at Turiscai, whilst pursuing a fast-track for maiden drilling at the Ossu Project in Q4.”
Tivan believes the work represents a foundational step in developing Timor-Leste’s mineral resources sector with support from the local community and government.
