East Star Resources Plc (LSE: EST), a company focused on copper exploration in Kazakhstan, has shared promising updates from its exploration strategy at the Snowy licence. The project, located on the Paleozoic Balkash-Ili volcanic arc, received initial funding through a US$500,000 BHP Xplor grant.
Recent soil sampling efforts have revealed two significant anomalies. The first is a 5 km by 1 km gold anomaly aligned with the alteration patterns observed in multispectral imagery and situated near an artisanal gold mine. The second anomaly spans 2 km by 2 km and exhibits strong molybdenum (Mo) and bismuth (Bi) signals, exceeding thresholds by over 10 times for Mo and 100 times for Bi, indicative of potential porphyry systems.
Chris van Wijk, East Star’s Technical Director, remarked, “The geochemical results align with regions known for hydrothermal activity, strengthening the case for further exploration. These findings showcase the value of integrating multispectral imaging and soil geochemistry in mineral exploration.”
The next steps include field verification and geological mapping to identify mineralisation characteristics. If supportive data is obtained, the company plans to proceed with Induced Polarity (IP) surveys to target disseminated sulphides.
During the 2024 field season, East Star collected 1,469 soil samples, revealing two targets, the Central Target and East Target. The Central Target displayed anomalies in Mo and Bi, consistent with porphyry systems. The East Target showed elevated gold and silver levels, aligning with epithermal vein systems observed in nearby artisanal operations.
Systematic soil geochemistry, combined with multispectral analysis using ASTER data, has been pivotal in refining exploration areas. The analysis highlighted silica lithocaps with distinct geochemical signatures, further substantiating their potential.
East Star’s strategy underscores its commitment to leveraging advanced techniques in uncovering mineral resources in Kazakhstan, paving the way for future exploration milestones.
