Sarytogan Graphite has returned initial assay results from the first of three diamond drill holes at the Ilksan prospect within the Baynazar copper exploration project in central Kazakhstan, intersecting 229 metres grading 0.14% copper and 0.027 g/t gold from surface to the end of the hole.

Drill hole DDH-IL26002 included higher-grade intervals of 11.6 metres at 0.26% copper and 407 ppm molybdenum from 33.8 metres, and 16.2 metres at 0.36% copper, 0.12 g/t gold, and 1.4 g/t silver from 159.7 metres.

The mineralisation confirms a copper porphyry system. Logging identified a malachite zone from 32.1 to 48.0 metres, while deeper sections revealed disseminated and vein-controlled sulphides dominated by pyrite and chalcopyrite, alongside local bornite and tenorite. Strong potassic alteration, pervasive epidotization, chloritization, and increasing silicification with depth indicate the drilling has reached an optimal vertical position within the intrusion for copper deposit formation.

“The diamond drill core and assays at Ilksan demonstrate the presence of a fertile copper porphyry system. The strong potassic alteration indicate that we are at the optimum position in the intrusion for copper deposit formation. It has been an exciting time for the geologists on site logging the abundant copper minerals of malachite, azurite, tenorite, cuprite, chalcopyrite, and bornite. The assays from the other two drillholes are eagerly awaited to begin the process of quantifying the extent and grade of the mineralisation.”

— Sean Gregory, Managing Director

Sarytogan pegged the Baynazar project in 2024 to support its battery metals focus, drawing on its exploration team's knowledge of Kazakh permitting. Previous exploration across the project area included high-resolution air-magnetic surveys, soil sampling across the Ilksan, Aminbay, and Sanabi prospects, trenching, and shallow bedrock drilling.

Earlier trenching at Ilksan identified an intercept of 270 metres at 0.13% copper, including 92 metres at 0.20% copper. The new diamond hole was collared 10 metres south of a historical Soviet-era drill hole that had encountered weathered diorites mineralised with malachite from surface.

Assays from the remaining two diamond drill holes at the Ilksan prospect are anticipated over the coming weeks.

Read the full announcement: Copper Porphyry Mineralisation at Ilksan