there have been millions spent exploring for manganese by a...

there have been millions spent exploring for manganese by a number of groups. several mine opened on promising data. Its all ended in tears. The MN tends to be very discontinuous and poddy in nature. There is nothing to support the assertion that there are billions of tonnes of Mn ore in West Timor.

have a look at this Bligh mining prospectus as an example. Lots of money was spent. No appreciable manganese deposits were found.