East Star Resources Plc, a company focused on copper exploration and resource development in Kazakhstan, has secured its first copper porphyry exploration license under a new strategy, funded in part by a US$500,000 grant from the BHP Xplor program.
Partnering with BHP, East Star aims to generate regional targets for copper porphyry deposits, primarily in the Balkash-Ili magmatic arc, which hosts significant deposits like Kounrad and Aktogai-Aidarly. Utilizing modern mineral systems concepts and advanced analytical techniques, East Star plans to secure additional exploration licenses and conduct fieldwork in the region.
The BHP Xplor grant will cover license costs, field programs, desktop evaluations, and administrative expenses. The program, managed by East Star with guidance from BHP and experts, aims to advance prospects identified through satellite imagery and geological mapping.
Alex Walker, CEO of East Star, expressed satisfaction with obtaining the first license under the new strategy, highlighting the identification of hydrothermal alteration associated with a silica lithocap during an initial site visit. The license is located in the Balkash-Ili volcanic arc, known for hosting copper and gold-rich porphyry and skarn deposits.
The Aktogai cluster, located nearby, contains significant copper and gold reserves. The historical data on the license indicates anomalous gold and secondary quartzites, characteristic of porphyry intrusions, further confirming its prospectivity.
The license benefits from existing infrastructure, including a railway and a gravel road, facilitating access to the site. Initial work will include geological mapping and soil sampling to assess the prospectivity of the area based on metal zonation patterns and clay species analysis.
