Following the initial Ilkin discovery, further exploration subsequently defined three new anomalies at the companyโs Aminaby target next to the Zhangeldy Granite, about 10km southwest of the Bayanzar caldera margins and 34km south of Ilkin.
The Aminaby target also exhibits textbook metal zonation and structures defined in aeromagnetic features consistent with a possible porphyry intrusive body.
The occurrence shows mineralisation can exist a significant distance from the margins of the main caldera, associated with other considerably smaller volcanic structures and intrusive bodies.
Sarytoganโs managing director Sean Gregory said: โThe Ilkin prospect at Baynazar is now considered drill ready. This level of copper anomalism in highly weathered rock is unusually high and may indicate higher copper grades at depth. The prospect is now supported by a coincident circular aeromagnetic feature, multi-element anomalism from high-quality soil samples, historical drilling and now copper in trenching.โ
The 140m-long trench at Ilkin was excavated to a depth of 2m on a north-northeast to south-southwest orientation, parallel to other historical shallow trenches and next to a historical exploration drill hole.
The old diamond hole cored out 22m of oxidised diorite exhibiting malachite, a distinctive pale blue-green copper-carbonate hydroxide mineral, from surface.
With increasing depth, the hole also encountered fresh diorite, chalcopyrite and molybdenite, with quartz-chalcopyrite veinlets noted down the hole.
The hole turned out to be entirely mineralised, with copper grades reported between 0.02 per cent and 0.1 per cent copper.
Channel samples were cut from the trench walls and composited every 2m along the length of the entire trench. Following preliminary preparation, sample analysis was undertaken in the companyโs preferred accredited laboratory in Kyrgyzstan.
The trench exposed completely weathered diorite, typically a coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock, with a composition between granite and gabbro.
Given the trench result of 140m averaging 0.09 per cent copper, including 86m at 0.1 per cent copper and 4m at 0.2 per cent copper, the old diamond drill hole proved a heaven-sent pointer to an optimal location for trench sampling. And proof that old data is always worth reviewing.
Sarytogan says its preferred reconnaissance of the anomalous zone would be to undertake KGK drilling across the zone. The method utilises water coring to pierce transported cover and weathered rocks to intercept fresh bedrock and is similar to air core drilling commonly used in shallow scout drilling in Australia.
The company proposes using the KGK samples to map the bottom-hole geology, determine bedrock anomalism and establish drill targets for diamond drilling.
The go-ahead for progressing the proposed drilling remains subject to funding for the companyโs ongoing copper exploration, as a recent European Bank for Reconstruction and Development investment is directed towards developing the companyโs massive Sarytogan graphite project.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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