Western Manganese Limited (ASX:WMN) Update on Manganese Surface Sampling Results from West Timor

Perth, Sep 20, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Western Manganese Limited (ASX:WMN) is pleased to announce results from surface sampling conducted over a number of manganese tenements in West Timor, Indonesia, predominately from the Company's Nusalontar tenement. Nine other tenements were also sampled to gain an understanding of the regional geology.

Of the fifty six samples collected from the ten tenements visited, thirty one samples were from Nusalontar. Of the ten tenements visited only Nusalontar is held by Western Manganese.

Geology

At least three styles of manganese mineralization are experienced in West Timor. WMN is concentrating its exploration efforts on assessing the potential of the sedimentary style of mineralization. This style of mineralization has strike and downdip continuity, which makes this style of mineralization a more attractive exploration target to WMN than the massive style of mineralization that occurs as lenses.

The sedimentary manganese of West Timor occurs in the Bobonara Formation. This formation is middle Miocene to late Pliocene in age. The Bobonara Formation has also been described as a gravity-slide deposit that has been plastered over most of the island of Timor. Manganese occurs as thin beds within rhythmically bedded ferruginous calcareous siltstone. The manganese beds make up <50% of the mineralized succession.

Sample Types

Grab or selective chip samples were taken at all the ten tenements visited. In operating pits, in situ manganese veins exposed in the pit, were selectively chip sampled. At abandoned pits two types of samples were taken. If there was any stockpiled material at the abandoned pit, composite grab samples were taken from the stockpiles. If there was not stockpiled material at the abandoned pit, manganiferous material was collected from the waste rock dumps and bagged. Chip samples were also taken from a few manganese outcrops.

Sampling Results

Nusalontar Tenement

A total of 25 samples were taken over 9 other tenements over which WMN currently has no rights.

Summary and Conclusion

Ten tenements were visited and sampled, of which only Nusalontar is held by WMN. The style of mineralization is consistent over all the tenements visited. This indicates that the sedimentary manganese of West Timor is widely distributed. The sample results have confirmed that the sedimentary manganese beds are high grade. Twenty seven samples taken from working pits returned grades averaging 50.57% Mn.

Some of the other tenements visited appear to hold above average exploration potential. WMN has commenced discussions to secure some of these tenements.

Background

Western Manganese Limited (WMN) is an Australian based, Indonesian focused exploration company. The company's primary focus and objective is to identify and secure quality manganese projects throughout Indonesia.

WMN currently hold the rights to two manganese exploration tenements near Atambua in West Timor, an area regarded as an emerging manganese province.

Manganese was discovered in West Timor during 2008. There has been no systematic exploration carried out over any of the known manganese deposits. From field work conducted during the last 6 months WMN believes that West Timor holds above average exploration potential. A regional office has been established in Atambua. Through our permanent presence in the area WMN is well positioned to secure additional quality tenements in West Timor.

WMN is also assessing the potential of manganese tenements on offer from throughout Indonesia. Site visits have been undertaken to at least four other islands within Indonesian archipelago.

Three of the company's directors are based in Jakarta. Due to our Indonesian presence strong alliances are being forged with local exploration and mining companies. Members of the board are regularly introduced to iron ore, coal, base metals and gold projects. WMN is aggressively pursuing all projects that may have economic potential.

For the complete Western Manganese Limited announcement including figures and tables, please view the following link:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-WMN-557872.pdf

Contact

Colin K Locke Executive Chairman Email: locke@westernmanganese.com Allen Lyons Technical Director Email: lyons@westernmanganese.com