A geochemical sampling program by Aranlee Resources (ARB-V) at the Agadyr exploration licence in central Kazakstan has identified three prospective areas of mineralization.
At the 640-sq.-km Zhekeduan property, reconnaissance geochemical sampling of outcrops and old trenches returned values ranging from nil to 14.4 grams gold and 42 grams silver per tonne. The samples were taken from altered stockworked granodiorite and quartz-sericite altered sediments and volcanics, found in the northwestern corner of the property.
Previous work at the Zhekeduan prospect was carried out by state geologists and included limited, wide-spaced shallow drilling in two separate areas spaced 400 metres apart. Results from this work ranged from 0.2% to 0.5% copper in a 32-metre silicified zone to 1 to 13.4 grams gold over intervals of between 1 and 2 metres.
Based on all the work completed, Aranlee says the overall area of alteration and mineralization measures 2.5 by 2.5 km. The company recently followed up its initial pass with more detailed mapping and rock sampling, results from which are still pending.
Roughly 50 km to the north, two prospects were identified on the 550-sq.-km Nura property. Near the northern border, several samples taken of fractured granodiorite over a 1-km by 300-metre area returned copper and gold values.
Samples were of outcrops and old trenches and ranged in values from nil to 1.2 grams gold, 100 grams silver and 10.5% copper.
Citing the presence of intense stockworks and visible copper mineralization on surface, Aranlee says the prospect, dubbed Almaly, may represent a classic copper-gold porphyry system. A sample of the same intrusive, 1.5 km to the northwest, returned values of 1.5 grams gold, 486 grams silver and 13.7% copper.
In the centre of the property, sampling of the Kuzhal prospect returned up to 2.3 grams gold and 10 grams silver. The program concentrated on a 1.2-km-long-by-200-metre-wide area containing altered and quartz-veined sediments at contact with a granitic intrusive.
The company is awaiting results from additional samples taken 500 metres to the west, which is reportedly similar in geology to the Kuzhal prospect.
In related news, the company is awaiting word from its application for the Balkhash exploration licence. The licence lies 30 km south of the Agadyr licence and is said to have potential for porphyry copper mineralization.
The Miedniy Kounrad copper mine, 12 km to the east, has produced more than 2.7 million tonnes of material grading 0.6% copper.
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