East Star Resources starts exploring Verkhuba copper deposit in Kazakhstan

ALMATY. Nov 6 (Interfax) - East Star Resources plc, which carries out copper exploration in Kazakhstan, has started the next phase of drilling at the Verkhuba deposit in the East Kazakhstan region, the company said.

"East Star Resources is pleased to announce the commencement of the next phase of drilling at the Verkhuba copper deposit in the eastern region of Kazakhstan," it said.

CEO Alex Walker said preparations for drilling began several months ago. The company intends to carry out the work during the winter period.

At least 4,000 meters is expected to be drilled this year, with the remainder of the program to be completed as early as possible in 2025, subject to weather conditions, the press release said.

East Star Resources was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in the UK.

According to the company's website, drilling in Q4 2023 confirmed high grade copper and zinc mineralization.

East Star Resources is focused on the discovery and development of copper and other minerals. It holds eight licenses covering more than 1,000 square km in three mineral rich districts of Kazakhstan. East Star is undertaking an intensive exploration program, applying modern geophysics to discover minerals in levels that were not previously explored. East Star's most advanced project is the Verkhuba copper deposit on the Rudny Altai VMS Belt where the company delivered a JORC compliant inferred resource of 20.3Mt at 1.16% copper, 1.54% zinc and 0.27% lead close to infrastructure,

According to open source information, mineral exploration in the area of the village of Verkh-Uba in the Eastern Kazakhstan region was carried out in the second half of the 20th century. An open pit was later closed.