VMS Drilling Update
Results from Verkhuba Confirm Deep Mineralisation
East Star Resources Plc (LON: EST), the Kazakhstan-focused gold and base metals explorer, is pleased to provide an update on drilling activities which have been completed at the Verkhuba Copper Deposit (“Verkhuba”). Drilling aimed to test two important components of Verkhuba: deep resources defined by only historical drilling and shallow areas outside of the 2024 resource model.
Highlights
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· |
Deep intervals of Zn-Cu mineralisation intersected |
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Shallow extension of mineralisation to the north |
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Confirm area of study for 2026 in JV with Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services Limited (“Xinhai”) |
Alex Walker, East Star CEO, commented:
“This drill programme was designed to test large distances between drill holes in the deeper part of the resource and a potential northern extension to the shallower part of the resource in the southwest. We intersected mineralisation at depth and an additional shallower ore lens, while also finding a continuation of the shallow mineralisation to the north. These are important results for the future study work at Verkhuba and have helped us to confirm the area of study for 2026 with Xinhai, who are farming into the project. These advances at Verkhuba will refine the deposit model and continue moving it closer to development. Lenses and stringer veinlets of sulphides logged in the core provide further evidence of massive sulphides at Verkhuba and we plan to test this in 2026 along with drilling the shallower resources with Xinhai to inform the feasibility study and mining licence application.”
Deep Resource Confirmation
Three drill holes tested the deep resources (Figure 1). The holes intersected significant intervals of deeper Zn-Pb and Cu mineralisation. The mineralisation occurs within the major volcaniclastic unit as stringers and lenses of sulphide mineralisation (Figure 2). The drill holes infilled the drill spacing in the central deep ore body to ~120m (from ~200 – 250m spacing). Notably, additional shallow mineralisation was noted in drill hole VU_25_DD_009 at 75.5m. The drilling confirmed the thickness of the ore bodies in the central part of the ore body with VU_25_DD_009 containing 17.90m @ 0.66 % Zn and 0.10 % Cu from 307m.
The drilling also provided additional geological and structural information on the deposit. VU_25_DD_010 confirmed the presence of a fault cutting and displacing the ore body (Figure 3), demonstrating the requirement for more drilling into the parts of the resource with wider drill spacing.
|
Hole_ID |
From |
To |
Interval |
|
VU_25_DD_009 |
75.5 |
76.5 |
1.00m @ 0.81 % Cu and 0.03 % Zn |
|
VU_25_DD_009 |
293.7 |
294.8 |
1.10m @ 1.00 % Zn and 0.23 % Cu |
|
VU_25_DD_009 |
297 |
299 |
2.00m @ 0.96 % Zn and 0.05 % Cu |
|
VU_25_DD_009 |
307 |
324.9 |
17.90m @ 0.66 % Zn and 0.10 % Cu |
|
VU_25_DD_009 |
329.1 |
333.5 |
4.40m @ 0.86 % Zn and 0.03 % Cu |
|
VU_25_DD_011 |
74.5 |
76.5 |
2.00m @ 0.93 % Zn, 0.08 % Cu and 0.17 % Pb |
|
VU_25_DD_012 |
31.1 |
32.5 |
1.40m @ 1.00 % Cu and 0.04 % Zn |
|
VU_25_DD_012 |
110 |
112 |
2.00m @ 0.77 % Cu and 0.08 % Zn |
Figure 1: Plan view showing the Position of the holes drilled at Verkhuba during 2026
Figure 2: Lenses of disseminated sulphides in chlorite altered volcaniclastics, including sphalerite at 315 m
Figure 3: Section A-A’ Deep resource drill holes confirm mineralisation and demonstrate faulting not accounted for in historical sections (image shows EST’s interpretation, alternative geological explanations may apply)
Shallow Mineralisation
In addition to testing the deeper resources, East Star drilled four holes into the shallower resources. While disseminated sulphides were noted in these holes, only VU_25_DD_011 had significant mineralisation at 74.50 m containing 2.00m @ 0.93 % Zn, 0.08 % Cu and 0.17 % Pb. Additional geological information from drilling is required to understand the controls on the distribution of mineralisation in these shallow intervals.
Study Areas for 2026
The drilling completed in 2025 tested the possibility of extending the shallow resources and the continuity of the deeper resources. Drilling in 2026 will be part of the Joint Venture with Xinhai and will focus on the shallower resources. Additionally, East Star is planning a ground EM survey to test the potential for massive sulphides that have not yet been discovered.
East Star Resources Plc
Alex Walker, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7390 0234 (via Vigo Consulting)
