East Star Resources Plc (LSE:EST), which is exploring for copper and gold in Kazakhstan, is pleased to announce that it has begun the digitisation process of historical data from the Rulikha Deposit, reported as 14.3Mt @ 1.2% Cu, 3.5% Zn, 0.28 g/t Au, and 13.5 g/t Ag.
The historical reports demonstrate outstanding grades, including an 81.2m ore grade interval, within East Star’s currently awarded licence area and proximal to a distinct electromagnetic anomaly and three Induced Polarisation (“IP”) anomalies to the north and northeast of these intersections.
Highlights
- DH_353 64.3m @ 2.7% Cu from 22.9m and 16.9m @ 1.25% Cu from 87.2m (for an 81.2m interval)
- DH_356 12.1m @ 12.1m at 10.5% Zn and 4.9% Cu, 0.44g/t Au and 17.2g/t Ag from 34.3m
- DH_319 12.3m @ 6.1% Zn and 0.4% Cu from 112.1m
- DH_34A 7.0m @ 6.1% Zn from 475.8m
CEO Alex Walker’s Comments
“These outstanding results showing thick, high-grade intervals, bode well for these high impact Rulikha targets and I am very much looking forward to getting the drill rig turning on these targets this summer. Our team’s incredible efforts over the winter break, finding and digitising this historical data to prepare for our 2025 geophysics and drilling programme, has been remarkable.”
“We have also developed an exceptional relationship with the District of Shemonaikha, the municipality where Rulikha and Verkhuba are situated, over the last four years and are very excited to continue to grow that relationship and find more resources to prolong the regional mining operations which have been going since 1749. I could not be prouder of our team and more excited about the opportunities in front of us in 2025 and the geological opportunities like this which Kazakhstan has to offer.”
Geophysical Anomalies and Infill IP Survey
Figure 1 Location of drill holes on East Star’s awarded exploration licence showing the IP and EM anomalies. The geological knowledge gained from the digitisation process continues to reinforce the geophysical anomalies, discussed in the announcement dated 24 April 2025.
An infill IP survey is currently underway over these target areas with the Talovskoye survey complete and initial interpretation underway, and the survey over the eastern extension of the Rulikha prospect expected to finish by next week.
The results of these surveys will inform the priority of the drilling programme in 2025 and East Star plans to drill test these geophysical anomalies this year.
History of the Rulikha Deposit
The Rulikha Deposit and geophysical targets are situated about 33km northwest from East Star’s 100% owned Verkhuba Deposit (JORC MRE of 20.3Mt @ 1.16% copper, 1.54% zinc and 0.27% lead). Located within the Rulikhinsko-Vydrikhinskoe ore field in the Shemonaikha district of East Kazakhstan, is a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) polymetallic deposit primarily explored for zinc, copper and lead.
The deposit was part of a broader geological exploration effort in the region, conducted by the East Kazakhstan Geological Exploration Expedition under the Ministry of Geology of the USSR and later the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Exploration of the Rulikha Deposit began in the mid-20th century, with significant archival references to work conducted from the 1940s to the 1980s, followed by detailed prospecting from 1989-1992:
- 1940 – 1950s: Early prospecting by the Shemonaikha Party of the Altai identified polymetallic mineralisation. A consolidated report in 1957 (Utrobin et al.) calculated reserves for the Rulikhinskoye (Rulikha) deposit.
- 1960s-1970s: Geological and geophysical work by the Shemonaikha Geological Reconnaissance Party (GRP) and Priirtyshskaya Party refined the geological structure and mineral potential. The 1979 report by Abdulmenov and Golubtsov focused on the Buzanikhinsky area, adjacent to Rulikha.
- 1978-1983: Detailed prospecting by the Minsk and Ubin GRPs of the Shemonaikha GRE targeted the Rulikhinsko-Vydrikhinsky and Talovsko-Rulevsky areas, further delineating mineralisation.
- 1989-1992: The focus of the provided report, conducted under Geological Task No. 1, involved deep drilling to assess the ore-bearing potential of deep horizons (up to 1000-1200 m). Work was halted in January 1991 due to overlapping exploration by the Altai Geological-Geophysical Expedition but resumed for report preparation in 1992.
About East Star Resources Plc
East Star Resources is focused on the discovery and development of copper and gold in Kazakhstan. East Star’s management are based permanently on the ground, supported by local expertise.
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