TIDMEST

RNS Number : 6561X

East Star Resources PLC

31 August 2022

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION 2014/596/EU WHICH IS PART OF DOMESTIC UK LAW PURSUANT TO THE MARKET ABUSE (AMMENT) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS (SI 2019/310) ("UK MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION (AS DEFINED IN UK MAR) IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

31 August 2022

East Star Resources Plc

("East Star" or the "Company")

Rock Chip Results, Rudny Altai, Kazakhstan

East Star Resources Plc (LSE:EST), the Kazakhstan-focused gold, rare earths and copper explorer, is pleased to announce the results of analysis of rock chips collected across the Company's five volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) Rudny Altai belt licences from geological reconnaissance conducted in June 2022 .

Highlights:

-- Exceptionally high grades of 17.3% Cu, >10% Pb, 0.4% Zn, 0.37g/t Au and 121.5g/t Ag in rock chips from Talovskaya - an historic mine which operated in 1775, 1782-1783 and 1892-1896

-- 4.8% Cu and 29.2 g/t Ag in rock chips from Verkhubinskoye - a deposit which reported non-compliant resources with contained metals of 136,500 t Cu, 24,810t Pb and 173,500 t Zn

-- 0.82% Cu, 1.35% Pb and 5.7 g/t Ag in rock chips from Rulyevskoye - an historic gold mine with quartz vein and tourmaline-quartz vein mineralisation which operated in 1938-1940

Alex Walker, East Star CEO, commented:

"Our rock chip analyses verify and provide additional geological context to historical data, confirming the rich nature of these targets. The Talovskaya target for example was originally mined in 1775 with the last mining taking place in 1896 and the last exploration in 1992. The rock chips collected equate to more than 22% CuEq and although it's difficult to know what remains at this target, it is similar to the historical run-of-mine grade and is a further indication of its potential to host un-depleted ore bodies.

The sheer number of now verified targets confirm what we have been hoping to deliver to East Star shareholders: significant optionality on a number of potential company-making discoveries.

We intend to conduct further work focussed on the highest ranked targets in September. We have ordered additional historical reports and continue to process the electromagnetic data for final targeting before drilling, expected to be in H1 2023."

Figure 1 Selected rock chip results in purple showing mineralisation in a number of potential exploration areas

Sample Types and Locations

In June 2022, the Company's geological team conducted reconnaissance visits to historical mines and occurrences within the Company's five licences on the Rudny Altai belt. Rock chip samples were taken and analysed by ICP-MS (see table 1). Samples were collected from surface with specific sampling strategies determined by the nature and extent of outcrop, with some mineralised targets showing poor outcrop.

Amongst many anomalous results, very high base metal concentrations were recorded in samples from Talovskaya and Verkhubinskoe. These targets will be prioritised for further follow-up based on electromagnetic data and geological mapping to eventually produce drill targets.

Table 1: Highlights from June 2022 reconnaissance mapping and rock chip sampling on East Star's licences in Rudny Altai and ICP-MS assay data

 
      Name             Description based on            Sample Description          Cu      Pb      Zn     Au      Ag 
                        historical report 
                          and site visit 
----------------  -----------------------------  ------------------------------ 
                                                                                    %       %       %     g/t     g/t 
----------------  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  ----- 
                   Found in 1775 as a group of 
                    small lenses 
                    of Cu-pyrite and Cu-Zn 
                    ores. It was                  Basalt sill with malachite 
                    mined in 1775, 1782-1783       vugs and veinlets from 
 Talovskaya         and 1892-1896.                 a pit.                         17.35   >10.0   0.4    0.37    121.5 
                  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----          ------ 
                   Found in 1966. Zn is 
                    0.05-3.3%, Cu 
                    is 0.05-3.76%, Pb is 
                    0.05-1.14% in                 Rhyodacitic tuff or granite 
                    sedimentary rock and acid      porphyry with weak phyllic 
                    volcanics.                     alteration and secondary 
                    There are 6 lenses (1-58m      pyrite and chalcopyrite 
 Solonovskoye       thick) up                      alteration taken from 
  occurrence        to 760m length.                outcrop.                       0.04    0.16    0.10   <0.10    <1 
                  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
                   Found in 1955 in phyllic 
                    altered sedimentary 
                    rocks and acid volcanics 
                    along their 
                    contact. There are 2 zones: 
                    1 zone 
                    is 10-14m thick with a 
                    strike length 
                    up to 80m. Zn is up to 5%, 
                    Cu is up 
                    to 15%, Pb is up to 0.1% 
                    (borehole 
                    1); Second zone is 6m x 
                    150m. Zn is 
                    up to 5%, Cu is up to 0.2%, 
                    Pb is up 
                    to 1%. There are many small 
                    zones 1-4m 
                    thick: Zn is up to 1.37%, 
                    Cu is up 
                    to 1%, Pb is up to 0.57% 
 Teplushinskoye     (borehole                     Oxidised quartz-pyrite 
  occurrence        339)                           vein taken from subcrop.       0.14    0.08    0.12   0.34    16.1 
                  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
                   Found in 1949 (vein type) 
                    and 1988 
                    (skarn type). Total length 
                    is up to 
                    1,500m. There are all 
                    combinations 
                    of pyrite, chalcopyrite, 
                    galena and 
                    sphalerite. Historically 
                    described 
                    "Proved reserves" are 
                    136,500t of Cu, 
                    24,810t of Pb and 173,500t 
                    of Zn.                        Tuffaceous siltstone 
                    Northern zone: Cu              and sandstone with 
                    2.5-17.5%; Pb 1.25-14.34%;     brecciation 
 Verkhubinskoye     Southern zone: Cu 0.2-1.8%;    and malachite veinlets 
    (Pb-Zn-Cu)      Pb 3.36%.                      taken from a mining shaft.     4.82    0.02    0.03   <0.10   29.2 
----------------  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
   Tuffaceous siltstone 
    and sandstone with pyrite-quartz 
    veins and oxidation taken 
    from an open pit.                                                             0.16    0.04    0.0    <0.10    <1 
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
                   Quartz veins and 
                    tourmaline-quartz 
                    veins with gold. Mined in 
 Rulyevskoye        1938-1940. 
  occurrence        Gold grade is less than       Waste rock with quartz 
  67                that at Polevayevskoye.        remnants.                      0.01    0.01    0.0    <0.10    <1 
----------------  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
   Quartz block with Fe 
    oxides in a trench.                                                           0.82    1.35    0.02   <0.10    5.7 
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
   Sericite-quartz slates 
    with quartz veinlets 
    and schistosity in a 
    pit.                                                                          0.01    0.01    0.0    <0.10    <1 
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
                   Found in 1862. A vein type 
                    of sulphide 
                    and quartz-sulphide ore 
                    body, located 
                    inside geological formation 
                    of massive 
                    sulphide ores. Disseminated 
                    sulphides 
                    have been redeposited and 
                    later enriched 
                    during intrusive and 
                    tectonic activity. 
                    All ore bodies are 
                    controlled by faults 
                    perpendicular to the strike 
                    of bedding. 
                    Zn is up to 2.92%. Cu is 
                    1.55-14.61%.                  Rhyodacitic lapilli tuff 
                    Pb is up to 0.33%. Au 0.5      with strong phyllic 
                    g/t. Mining                    alteration 
 Chudak             stopped in 1890.               in outcrop.                    0.02    0.01    0.05   <0.10    <1 
----------------  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
   Rhyodacitic lapilli tuff 
    with strong phyllic alteration 
    in outcrop.                                                                   0.24    0.32    0.09   <0.10    1.8 
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
                   Mineralisation is related to 
                    local 
                    epidote and limonite 
                    alterations in                Magnetite skarn with 
 Mineralisation     plagioclase porphyry. Zn is    malachite veinlets taken 
  point 33          0.12-0.32%.                    from a trench.                 0.02    0.07    0.85   <0.10    <1 
----------------  -----------------------------  ------------------------------  ------  ------  -----  ------  ------ 
 

Rudny Altai Region

East Star's VMS licences (the "Licences") are located in the Rudny Altai region of Eastern Kazakhstan. Administratively, the Licences are within the Shemonaikha district and are extraordinarily well connected to infrastructure. The regional centre of Ust-Kamenogorsk is located 45 km, and its international airport is located 35 km, southeast of the Licences. The railway connecting Ridder and Tomsk cities crosses the Licences from the south to the northwest with two railway stations located on the territory of the Licences. There is a network of dirt roads within the Licences that are suitable for driving all year round. A hard-surfaced road from Ust-Kamenogorsk to Shemonaikha crosses the western part of the Licences.

The area is characterised by moderately hilly terrain with elevations ranging between 270m and 630m above the mean sea level.

The Rudny Altai region is one of the largest VMS provinces in the world, part of Central Asian Orogenic belt. According to a mineral map, published in the 1960s, the Licences contain more than 20 mineral occurrences (including Cu, Pb, Zn, Au, W) and a significant amount of soil and stream sediment anomalies.

Table 2: Summary of tonnages and grade for some of the known deposits around the Company's licences in Rudny Altai.

 
 Name                    (Mt)   Cu     Pb     Zn     Au       Ag 
                                 (%)    (%)    (%)    (g/t)    (g/t) 
 Tishinskoye             60     0.5    0.9    5.3    0.9      15 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Grekhovka               59     0.4    1.4    2.8    0.1      20 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Novo-Leninogorsk        53.4   0.16   1.43   4.04   1.54     32.8 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Artemyevsky             51.3   1.88   1.97   6.39   1.17     115 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Maleevsky               50     2.3    1.3    7.5    0.75     75 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Orlovskoye              48     4.7    0.9    3.2    0.8      47 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Novo-Zolutushinskoye    48     4.7    0.9    3.2    0.8      47 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Nikolayevskoye          40.3   2.4    0.43   3.24   1.13     48.3 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Irtysky                 30     2.16   0.71   5.12   0.37     82.1 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Belousovskoye           30     1.1    1.15   4.74   0.38     51.3 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Korbalikha              25     1.46   2.01   9.81 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Dolinnoye               22     0.43   0.5    1      2.67     13.7 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Kamyshinskoye           15     2.64   1.05   2.77 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 Rulikha                 14.3   1.18   0.44   3.58   0.28     13.5 
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -------  ------- 
 

For further information visit the Company's website at www.eaststarplc.com , or contact:

East Star Resources Plc

Alex Walker, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +44 (0)20 7390 0234 (via Vigo Consulting)

Peterhouse Capital Limited (Corporate Broker and Placing Agent)

Duncan Vasey / Lucy Williams

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0930

Vigo Consulting (Investor Relations)

Ben Simons / Tara Benniman / Peter Jacob

Tel: +44 (0)20 7390 0234

About East Star Resources Plc

East Star Resources is focused on the discovery and development of gold, rare earth, and copper deposits in Kazakhstan. With an initial nine licences covering 1,687 sq km in three mineral rich districts, East Star is undertaking an intensive exploration programme, applying modern geophysics to discover minerals in levels that were not previously explored. The Company also intends to further expand its licence portfolio in Kazakhstan. East Star's management are based permanently on the ground, supported by local expertise, and joint ventures with the state mining company.

Follow us on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-star-resources/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EastStar_PLC

Subscribe to our email alert service to be notified whenever East Star releases news: www.eaststarplc.com/newsalerts

The person who arranged for the release of this announcement was Alex Walker, CEO of the Company.

Competent Persons Statement

Information and data presented within this announcement has been compiled by Mr Azamat Bizhanov, a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists ("MAIG"). Mr Bizhanov is the Exploration Manager for East Star Resources Plc and has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation, deposit type and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the "JORC" Code). This includes 10 years of Mining, Resource Estimation and Exploration relevant to the style of mineralisation.

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