Altyn Ken Group LLP has unveiled a geological exploration programme for hard minerals at the Mazhera site in the Ulan district of East Kazakhstan Region, where gold is expected to be identified across three blocks.
The company plans to carry out topographic surveying and drill 20 exploration wells with depths ranging from 100 to 200 metres, totalling 3,000 linear metres. Additional geological exploration activities will also be undertaken.
According to the company’s environmental notification, geochemical work will include lithogeochemical surveying across 80% of the site, with up to 1,000 samples taken at depths of 15–20 cm and analysed for gold using fire assay methods. The objective is to study geological conditions and rock composition, assess peat and sand thickness, determine gold grades in grams per cubic metre, and evaluate the material composition and processing properties of ores and sands in order to select appropriate beneficiation methods. Resource estimates will be calculated in accordance with KazRC standards.
Altyn Ken Group received its exploration licence from the Ministry of Industry and Construction on 26 December 2025. The company notes that the Mazhera site lies outside the state forest fund, and, according to the National Geological Service, there are no groundwater deposits within the area. The nearest settlement, the village of Zhanuzak, is located 8.4 km east of the site boundary.
Exploration operations will utilise diesel-powered equipment, including a front-end loader, drilling rig, diesel generator unit, fuel tanker, excavator, water truck, bulldozer, two shift minibuses and a Toyota Hilux SUV. The drilling rig is expected to achieve between 500 and 800 linear metres per month. A team of 16 specialists will work on a rotational basis, either 15/15 or 30/30 days.
The total area of the Mazhera geological allotment covers 6.48 square kilometres. Exploration is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and conclude in the first quarter of 2031.
The final output of the project will consist of geological data, including core samples, primary documentation, geological maps and a final report with gold and polymetallic resource estimates under categories C2 and P1 for inclusion in the state balance.
Altyn Ken Group is jointly owned by Xingwang Engineering Kazakhstan Co., Ltd and Inzhu Caspian Gold LLP. The company was registered on 13 November 2025, with Zeng Qi listed as its head. Xingwang Engineering Kazakhstan is fully owned by Guizhou Xingwang Engineering Co., Ltd, while Inzhu Caspian Gold is wholly owned by Aruzhan Sanaeva.
Earlier, Qazba reported that Shakhtostroy-Gold LLP plans to begin gold exploration in 2026 in the Ulken Naryn district of East Kazakhstan Region.
