TIDMEST
RNS Number : 6466P
East Star Resources PLC
13 February 2023
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13 February 2023
East Star Resources Plc
("East Star" or the "Company")
Apmintas Licence Drilling Results, Kazakhstan
Greater than 10 km of strike potential with demonstrated broad
mineralised
intervals and high-grade intersections
East Star Resources Plc (LSE:EST), the Kazakhstan-focused
mineral explorer, is pleased to provide results from diamond
drilling on the Apmintas Licence of the Chu-Ili Orogenic Gold Belt
in Kazakhstan. Results show anomalous gold mineralisation in all
three target areas with potential economic grades in the Eshkilitau
II and Southern Shabdar targets.
Highlights:
-- Anomalous gold confirmed across all targets
-- Potential economic grade in the Eshkilitau II and Southern Shabdar targets
-- Eshkilitau II shows potential for a mineralised system with a
strike of >1 km along a fault zone
-- Untested >10 km of strike potential along the fault controlled Eshkilitau trend
-- Best gold intersections include:
-- Southern Shabdar
o AP_061 - 3 m @ 1.43 g/t from 48.9m and 1 m @ 32.15 g/t from
94.5 m
o AP_062 - 4 m @ 1.57 g/t from 72 m
o AP_067 - 3 m @ 2.11 g/t from 186 m
-- Eshkilitau II
o AP_071 - 31 m @ 1.0 g/t from 61 m (including 6 m @ 1.83 g/t
from 72 m and 7 m @ 1.52 g/t from 85 m)
o AP_072 - 4 m @ 2.35 g/t from 59 m
o AP_073 - 31m @ 1.27 g/t from 24 m (including 1 m @ 14.01 g/t
from 24 m and 5 m @ 2.46 g/t from 43 m )
-- Detailed structural logging underway with analysis to
determine next steps to progress exploration
Alex Walker, East Star CEO, commented:
"The results of the drilling demonstrate gold bearing systems in
all three target areas. Eshkilitau II shows potential for an
extensive mineralised system with a strike of more than 1 km along
a fault zone. High-grade intersections at Southern Shabdar (32.15
g/t Au) and Eshkilitau (14.01 g/t Au) demonstrate the existence of
high-grade zones within the mineralised systems while gold
occurrences mapped over 10 km of the Eshkilitau trend demonstrate
the exploration upside within the region.
The Company has commenced detailed structural logging over
mineralised sections of oriented core to better understand
structural controls and timing of mineralisation. This will expand
our knowledge of the mineralisation system for the planning of
subsequent exploration."
Figure 1 Over 10km of potential strike along the Eshkilitau
trend
Eshkilitau II
The Eshkilitau group of occurrences are testing a possible
orogenic gold system, bound to the Ergenektin fault zone, related
to quartz veins in sedimentary rocks and form a northwest striking
trend with Altynsai gold deposit to the southeast. The total length
of the trend is about 10 km historically explored by 77 trenches
and seven prospecting shafts, over three Eshkilitau group
occurrences. The gold grades in trench samples range from 0.1
(below detection limits) to 2.0 g/t Au with two samples at
Eshkilitau II returning 168.0 and 200.8 g/t Au. Gold grades from
drilling often reported above 2 g/t Au and some intersections
demonstrated mineralised intervals greater than 5 m (Figure 2).
Future exploration aims to further confirm these results as only
historical reports document the results (no historical material was
available to validate).
Figure 2 : Eshkilitau II demonstrating potential economic grades
over 1 km of strike
The Eshkilitau II target was drill tested with AP_071, AP_072
AP_073, AP_074, AP_075, and AP_076, totalling 632.4 m to a maximum
depth of 125.6 m. The drilling intersected very coarse grained
polymictic metaconglomerate with lesser medium to coarse grained
sandstones. The metasediments are weathered to a depth of 50 m
depth and are strongly altered by intervals of alternating chlorite
and hematite (Figure 3).
Figure 3 : Alternating alteration and deformed lithology in
AP_071
The entire metasedimentary package is cut by several generations
of cross-cutting quartz veins with altered selvages. The structural
deformation of these lithologies is notably more complex with
generations of cross cutting veins, faults, joints, and a seemingly
more ductile deformation regime than the other target areas -
Southern Shabdar and Novoe in the Apmintas licence. The samples
show that several intervals carry grade including:
-- AP_071 - 31 m @ 1.0 g/t from 61 m (including 6 m @ 1.83 g/t
from 72 m and 7 m @ 1.52 g/t from 85 m)
-- AP_072 - 4 m @ 2.35 g/t from 59 m
-- AP_073 - 31m @ 1.27 g/t from 24 m (including 1 m @ 14.01 g/t
from 24 m and 5 m @ 2.46 g/t from 43 m)
Currently, East Star is undertaking an analysis of the genesis
of the mineralisation, including the lithological and structural
controls on mineralisation. The outcomes of this analysis will
determine the next steps in the 2023 exploration programme.
Southern Shabdar
The Southern Shabdar target is based over a historical drill
target. A total of 77 drill holes drilled as fences to an average
depth of 90 m with a maximum depth of 300.5 m were previously
drilled. The historical drill holes reported gold values of 1 -
38.6 g/t over 2 m sample intervals. In 2022, Southern Shabdar was
drill tested with AP_061, AP_062, AP_063, AP_064, AP_066, AP_067,
and AP_068, totalling 1,572.7 m.
The geology intersected is generally grey medium grained
diorites, granodiorites, and lesser dark grey andesites. The host
rocks are weathered to a depth of 70 m depth. The diorites and
andesites are generally unaltered except for intervals cut by
veinlets and stockworks. Several intervals of quartz veining are
noted with chlorite-epidote-sericite alteration associated with the
veinlets as selvages in the narrowly constrained lamina. The
diorites are frequently cut by a later fine grained ultramafic
intrusive that displaces the diorites with quartz veining.
2022 drilling demonstrated intervals carrying significant grade
including:
-- AP_061 returned 3 m @ 1.43 g/t from 48.9 m and 1 m @ 32.15 g/t from 94.5 m
-- AP_062 returned 4 m @ 1.57 g/t from 71 m
-- AP_067 returned 3 m @ 2.11 g/t from 182 m (including 1 m @ 5.17 g/t)
The alteration and mineralisation are similar to other
structurally controlled gold deposits in the region, and so
structural analysis on the portions of the core that are orientated
requires evaluation against the local and regional structures,
geophysics, and geochemistry to understand if the area has
potential for significant mineralisation.
Novoe
The Novoe target has several pits dug by artisanal workers
targeting NE-SW striking veins and veinlets dipping at 70 SE.
AP_052, AP_0521, AP_053, and AP_054 were drilled, totalling 882 m
to a maximum depth of 331 m.
The geology intersected is generally pale medium grained
sandstones, weathered to a depth of 50 m, intruded by a medium
grained granodiorite. The sandstones are generally unaltered except
for intervals cut by veinlets and stockworks. Several small
intervals of quartz veining are noted. These portions tend to have
chlorite-epidote-sericite alteration associated with the veinlets
in intervals up to 15 m in width.
Most of the core with veining was sent for assay by initial
spectral analysis followed by fire assay confirmation of high-grade
gold results. The assay results show broad zones of low-grade
mineralisation but only a few small intervals that carry
significant grades. These intervals are associated with increased
density of alteration, veinlets/veinlets in stockworks, and
sulphide minerals associated with veining.
AP_052 and AP_0521 targeted the veins mined by artisanal workers
at depth. These veins were seemingly intersected by the Company's
RC drilling in 2021 where AP_08 intersected 19 m @ 14.36 g/t Au.
However, these near-surface veins were not intersected by AP_052
and AP_0521, demonstrating significant variability within the vein
system. AP_052 did intersect a small quartz vein stockwork interval
at 70 - 74 m depth which did not return significant grade.
Given the apparent structural complexity of the Novoe target,
the Company intends to undertake structural analysis on the
portions of the core that are orientated and evaluate against the
local and regional structures, geophysics, and geochemistry to
understand if the area has potential for significant mineralisation
that has been previously missed.
Laboratory and Assay Methodology
The analyses were conducted at Tsentre Geoanalit in Karaganda,
Central Kazakhstan. This laboratory is accredited by the State
Standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The accreditation
certificate was registered in the State Register of the State
Certification System of the Republic of Kazakhstan on June 14, 2005
(No. Z 7100000.06.10.00373). The laboratory is not accredited by
the international ISO17025 standard. A number of flame atomic
absorption spectrometers of various generations are in operation
(PerkinElmer AAnalyst200, PerkinElmer Aanalyst400 and PerkinElmer
PinAAcle 900F) linked to Winlab32 AA Flame - Manual Analysis
Control software. The Apmintas samples were dissolved in aqua regia
and subject to initial spectrograph analysis followed by analysis
of gold using AAS (using one of several PerkinElmer PinAAcle 900F
units). Samples were prepared at the Tsentrgeolsmyemka facility
near Karaganda. Sample preparation comprises weighing of the
sample, drying, crushing to -1 mm, splitting of 300 g of sample by
cone and quarter, and
milling using one of several rod mills. A sieve is available to
check the crushing quality. Milling takes approximately 5 hours and
the quality of milling is determined by tactile test. Half of the
milled sample is placed in a hand labelled paper envelope and
dispatched to the analytical facility and the other half is kept
on-site. The reject material is kept for five years. Cores are kept
in a shed at a different site in Karaganda.
A QA/QC programme was used to evaluate the quality of the 2804
total assay results. In total 137 QA/QC samples (or 5%) were
inserted into the sample stream including - 45 CRMs, 46 duplicates
and 46 blanks. The QA/QC samples returned satisfactory results
demonstrating that the data are acceptable for early stage
exploration. It should be noted that the assays are likely to be
under reporting gold concentrations as the aqua regia solution is
unlikely to completely dissolve the gold in the samples. This is
supported by the generally slightly lower than expected gold
concentrations seen in the CRM analyses.
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 / 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 square kilometres in three
mineral rich districts, East Star is undertaking an intensive
exploration programme, applying modern geophysics and
out-of-the-box geological concepts to discover minerals under cover
and at depths 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.
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The person who arranged for the release of this announcement was
Alex Walker, CEO of the Company.
Competent Person's Statement
Scientific or technical information in this disclosure related
to exploration was reviewed by Dr Tremain Woods, a full-time
employee of MSA Minerals Consulting Ltd. Dr Woods is a member in
good standing with the Geological Society of South Africa. He has
sufficient experience that is relevant to the commodity, style of
mineralization or type of deposit under consideration and activity
which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person under the
JORC code (2012 Edition).
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