Hi rosencrantz, before going any further, cards on the table - I am a very old prospector, i'm not a geologist - I have to employ geologists and mineralogist . I am familiar with the area BCN mines in, I have never been to TL. Graham has... I do more reading about mining than prospecting these days, and I enjoy spending hours of time researching companies, who runs them and their successor otherwise - but after all that, I know very well that the small cap mining sector is about as risky as investment gets. on the ASX.
On your understanding the above, I am happy to share what has captured my interest in BCN's long term commitment to become involved with the issuing of prospecting licenses in TL. Yes - as is widely found, there are different geological formations that carry similar mineral associations, but not always.
Cooper & gold.
Zinc, lead & silver,
Gold & Silver,
Copper, silver & nickel
Again, rather than my ignorance leading you astray, here is another link from a different source to TL's minerals, which is again interesting in regard to the previous article I gave the links to, if you wish to get a general overview of what BCN was awarded, note the last paragraph:-
Geology andmineral resources of Timor-Leste
Date
2003
Country/Region
TIMOR-LESTE
Series/JournalTitle
Atlas of Mineral Resources of the ESCAP Region
No. 17
UNBISTSubject
MINERAL RESOURCES/ ATLASES/ GEOLOGICAL MAPS/ GEOLOGY/ MINERAL INDUSTRY/ STRATIGRAPHIC SURVEYS/
Abstract
Following the ESCAP reforms process over the last two years and thedecisions on realigning the ESCAP work programme on the geoscience and mineralssector towards water resources, volume 17 of the ESCAP Mineral Atlas seriescompletes the work of the ESCAP secretariat in the evaluation of the geologicalprospects, mineral resource potential and mineral development policy of ESCAPmember countries. This publication is devoted to Timor-Leste, a new independentcountry since 20 May 2002, which was unanimously admitted to membership inESCAP during the first phase of the fifty-ninth session of the Commission, heldon 24 and 25 April 2003 at Bangkok.
Volume 17 consists of the present book and one accompanying atlas sheetcomprising geological map of Timor-Leste on the scale 1:500,000. The bookcontains an overview of background data and economic outlook for Timor-Leste,geology and tectonic setting, mineral and hydrocarbon resources and theirpotential, current status of the mining industry and petroleum exploration anddevelopment as well as the ESCAP recommendations to the Government and donorcommunity on policy, strategy, regulatory framework and capacity-building inthe development of the mineral and petroleum sectors of Timor-Leste. Thepublication also contains an extensive reference and bibliography on geology,tectonic evolution, petroleum geology and mineral resources to guideprofessional readers. The database and maps included with this report should beconsidered as a preliminary step in the building of a national mineral andhydrocarbon database. Locations of mineral deposits should be considered astentative until verified by more fieldwork.
;
The most significant conclusion arising from thepublication is that Timor-Leste does have mineral potential and that some ofthat potential will almost certainly attract foreign mining companies. The mostattractive potential of Timor-Leste is in base metals, mainly copper, andassociated gold and silver. This potential is in the proven occurrence of theso-called Cyprus type volcanogenic massive sulfides related to ophiolitesequences. Chromite and vein-type gold represent other exploration targets inwhich the private sector will be interested
END of quoted reading.
Again, TL is new territory, whereas people have been walking over the WA goldfields for 138 years.... DYOR and good punting.
(20min delay)