The Lakuwahi Project hosts a large 6Km by 4Km zone of Magnetite Destruction Zone (MDZ), where to date, Robust has focused on three prospects found within it: Batu Mas, Batu Hitam, and Batu Jagung. In September 2010 Robust reported significant progress on the delineation of the Batu Mas and Batu Hitam discoveries on Romang Island, Indonesia. Initial results from a major 3D IP-Resistivity survey over the flagship Lakuwahi target, as well as new drilling results, significantly extends the discovery target zones and therefore the gold and base metal resource potential and that technical work on Romang Island had reached a crucial stage with the completion of the initial 3D IP-Resistivity survey only days away.

Drilling

At the end of September 2010 Robust had completed over 100 drill holes at the Batu Mas, Batu Hitam and Batu Jagung prospects since the Company commenced its initial drill program in November 2008. To date Robust has achieved a +90% success rates with drill holes intersecting precious and/or base metal mineralisation. Given total drilling is still less than 1% of the MDZ, the potential scope for Lakuwahi to host a major new gold resource is very high. The Company is currently undertaking a +27,000 m drill program.

3D IP Resistivity Survey

Robust is continuing with its 3D IP Resistivity Survey which defined in July 2010 the continuity of a 2km strike between key prospects Batu Mas and Batu Hitam and identified a well defined geophysical anomaly area that remains open and is approximately 20 times larger than the current defined Batu Mas prospect.

These initial results have greatly enhanced Robust’s understanding of the mineralisation controls at Lakuwahi and have not only defined new drill targets, which the Company’s four owner operated rigs are currently working on, but has massively extended the discovery target zones and therefore, the gold and base metal potential.

Lakuwahi IP-Resistivity survey

Metallurgic Test Work

Robust is continuing with its 3D IP Resistivity Survey which defined in July 2010 the continuity of a 2km strike between key prospects Batu Mas and Batu Hitam and identified a well defined geophysical anomaly area that remains open and is approximately 20 times larger than the current defined Batu Mas prospect.

These initial results have greatly enhanced Robust’s understanding of the mineralisation controls at Lakuwahi and have not only defined new drill targets, which the Company’s four owner operated rigs are currently working on, but has massively extended the discovery target zones and therefore, the gold and base metal potential.

Metallurgical test works at both the Batu Hitam and Batu Mas Prospects have detailed that:
• Average Gold recovery = 94% (range 88%-98%)
• Average Silver recovery = 95% (range 90%-100%)

Detailed Results of Lakuwahi Metallurgical Test work

Metallurgical tests are the first in a series of tests that will lead to the selection of the optimum process flow sheet for the Lakuwahi ore. The results are positive in that they clearly indicate that the near-surface Lakuwahi ore is free milling and that it will not require expensive treatment options such as a floatation and pressure oxidation process. It should be noted that the ores treated at Billiton's gold mines on nearby Wetar Island (Kali Kuning and Lerokis - now mined out) were also free milling and achieved very high gold and silver recoveries with a very simple and relatively inexpensive plant. Based on the Lakuwahi results to date, there is reason to expect that treatment of Lakuwahi ores will be low-cost, allowing the profitable mining and treatment of low grades.

Historic Exploration

Recognising geological similarities to their gold-barite mines on Wetar Island, Billiton explored and drilled the Lakuwahi prospect in the late 90s. Despite clear indications of a very large mineralising system and an 80 percent hit-rate in scout drilling, historic low metal prices and a corporate move away from gold found Billiton discontinuing the exploration programme.

Timeline of Romang Exploration

1989: Ashton Mining Recognised Lakuwahi as a follow up target but no further work undertaken
1998-99: Billiton heli-magnetometer / Radiometer, Soil Geochemistry, Geological Mapping
1998-99: Billiton; 14 scout holes for 2,424 metres. All holes intersected alteration / mineralisation
2000: Billiton pulled out of gold exploration and Indonesia low commodity prices & political turmoil
2006: PT GBU Granted five General Survey KPs
2008- 2010: ongoing: Robust Resources extensive drilling program with four rigs operational at July 2010
2009-2011: Geological Mapping, Induced Polarisation (IP) Resistivity, Ground Magnetometer, Bulk Sampling.

Content is Currently Being Updated Please Come Back Soon.