DILI, 29 June 2025 (TATOLI) – Tivan Limited has launched a comprehensive fieldwork program at its Turiscai Project in Timor-Leste, focusing on copper-gold exploration. The exploration project is located in a highly prospective geological setting in Manufahi Municipality, Timor-Leste.
Tivan Limited, a critical and diversified mineral company based in Darwin, Australia announced the commencement of the copper-gold exploration during a Cultural Ceremony held in Turiscai, Manufahi, on 26 June 2025.
The commencement of works follows several months of logistical planning and local engagement.
“Tivan’s geology team has commenced an extensive program of fieldwork this week, staging from the town of Same, located in the Manufahi district. The team spent two days inspecting terrain, access routes and river systems, in preparation for roster-based deployments from next week,” Tivan Limited said in a statement.
The fieldwork program is systematic in nature and has been designed to assess the copper-gold potential of the Turiscai Project area. It prioritises stream sediment sampling across multiple phases, targeting key catchments to identify potential sources of alluvial gold and associated copper mineralisation. This is supported by an extensive soil sampling program on a 250-metre grid, to be undertaken in two stages. Stage 1 will focus on easily accessible areas, and Stage 2 targeting more remote and challenging terrain.
“The program aims to trace copper-gold occurrences to their source and define geochemical anomalies to inform the development of future exploration targets,” the company said.
The program will be supported by the Company’s expanded geology team, located in Darwin and Dili.
Jeremy Simpson, the Company’s HSEC Manager, accompanied the geology team to further the implementation of Tivan’s health and safety protocols for the Turiscai Project.
Works are scheduled to proceed over the next four months, with assays results from an initial sampling program expected from September, in support of determining targets for drill testing.
The addition of local staff has brought forward Tivan’s project schedule this year, with the commencement of drilling targeted for Q2 2026.
Tivan Executive Chairman, Grant Wilson said: “We are making great progress in Timor-Leste, with sincere thanks due to ANM and community leaders in Turiscai. The addition of local team members, with previous experience in the Turiscai region, is a step-change in Tivan’s capabilities and has enabled us to bring forward our project schedule this year. We are excited to start our systematic program of fieldwork next week.”
Speaking at the Cultural Ceremony held in Turiscai on 26 June 2025, Tivan Limited’s Chief Geologist, Stephen Walsh, said: “Our project in Turiscai is at an early stage, known as mineral exploration and evaluation. Using scientific methods, our team will be conducting a careful study of the land, analyzing its natural composition, so we can understand the potential for future development activities.”
“We wish to emphasise that there is no guarantee of success. We know that gold prospecting occurred here over 100 years ago. And we know there are significant mineral occurrences of copper. But we do not know what we will discover in the period ahead, or whether we will be successful in defining a resources project,” said Walsh.
To support project implementation, Tivan Limited stated that over the past two months it has been strengthening its local presence and operational capacity in Timor-Leste. Key developments include:
- The appointment of Francisco da Silva Mendonça as Country Representative
- The opening of a satellite office in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste;
- The hiring of two Timorese geologists with direct experience in exploration in the Turiscai region;
- And the establishment of financial, IT, commercial, and legal administrative support services in Dili.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
