East Star Resources (LSE:EST), the Kazakhstan-focused gold and copper exploration and development company, said exploration at its Piket licence has identified a large lithocap-hosted target that could represent a concealed copper-gold porphyry or epithermal system.
Geological mapping and hyperspectral interpretation delineated an advanced argillic alteration corridor approximately 8km by 3km and soil sampling outlined a coherent 2km by 2km multi‑element anomaly at Symbyl 2 with pathfinder Au‑Mo‑Bi‑Sn‑W and gold values up to 0.2g/t, while molybdenum anomalism exceeds 5ppm in parts of the lithocap.
"The positive results from this work are a strong demonstration that our strategy for porphyry target generation in Kazakhstan is working well," said Alex Walker, Chief Executive Officer.
The company identified intense quartz‑pyrophyllite‑alunite alteration at Symbyl 2 with hematite‑dusted feldspars, ex‑sulphide textures and minor porphyry‑style quartz "A" veins, which it interprets as evidence of telescoping between porphyry and epithermal environments.
Field mapping also located low‑sulphidation epithermal Au‑Ag veins approximately 5km east of the main corridor, which East Star says confirm district‑scale fertility even if the vein field itself is not considered economic.
East Star said the Judzha licence is being relinquished after initial mapping and a small soil programme concluded the system's fertility did not warrant further exploration.
The company plans detailed mapping, systematic sampling of historic trench material and additional rock‑chip sampling to advance Symbyl 2 to drill‑ready status.
