Sarytogan Graphite (ASX: SGA) has identified its third copper prospect only a year after the company pegged an extensive tract of ground on the western flanks of the Baynazar Caldera in east Kazakhstan.
Initial exploration of the 51.5-kilometre north-south axis of tenure last year involved flying a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey, followed by a 6000 sample multi-element soil geochemical program across selected magnetic anomalies.
Several distinct aeromagnetic anomalies were defined along the entire tenement block, with a northernmost 14.5km-long belt of magnetic anomalism running along the southwest margin of the main 26km-diameter Baynazar Caldera.
A more diffuse 6km-long magnetic trend links the northern zone with a further 20km- north-south belt of circular anomalies associated with at least five small calderas up to about 10km in diameter.
Soil geochemical sampling within the overall magnetic corridor along the tenement area focussed on magnetic anomalies interpreted as calderas. The work produced a plethora of anomalous signatures of gold, copper, molybdenum and tungsten along almost all the tenement block.
Two of the most significant of these were previously accorded “target” status. The Ilkin target is in the extreme north of the landholding and a second target at Aminabay is sandwiched between the small Seltey caldera and the Zhangeldy granitoid intrusive, 16.4km north of the southern end of the tenement suite.
Sarytogan has now defined a separate magnetic and geochemical anomaly target at Sanabi, 11km further south in the extreme south of the tenement block.
The new Sanabi target lies in the southwestern extremity of the tenement and is characterised by coincident geochemical anomalism along a 3.5km-long north-east/southwest trend about 0.8km wide that sits directly on top of a distinct elongate magnetic anomaly of similar dimensions.
The geochemistry comprises continuous copper above 53 parts per million (ppm), intermittent lead grading better than 41ppm, continuous zinc above 140ppm and almost continuous arsenic above 31ppm.
The major contours are accompanied by prominent but discontinuous antimony contours above 3.5ppm, slightly northward-displaced central silver to 0.37ppm and a modest tungsten contour above 4.4ppm. Scattered gold is also associated with the coincident copper-zinc contours.
Sarytogan’s initial interpretation is that the metallic and overall multi-element suite points to a hydrothermally-sourced polymetallic occurrence.
The company’s geological mapping identifies Silurian-age country rocks – about 443.8 million to 419.2 million-years-old - comprising flysch-type sediments and felsic alteration styles influenced by their contact with an adjacent eastern granitoid porphyry intrusive.
Flysch-type sediments are characterised by rhythmic alternating layers of shale and sandstone, typically deposited in deep-water environments during periods of tectonic activity and mountain building.
They typically accumulate along early continental margins, where tectonic forces such as converging plates lead to the formation of proto-trenches or basins.
Sarytogan is continuing to acquire and collate additional data across three other priority prospects in the Baynazar trend, which will be interpreted with the object of defining additional anomalies.
The company has recently received funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development directed to its Sarytogan Graphite on the eastern side of the giant Baynazar Caldera.
It will now need to source additional funding to progress its drilling plans for its burgeoning portfolio of intriguing new polymetallic targets along the east Bayanazar tenement suite.
Sarytogan has had only one exploration field season in the new Kazakh tenement area. As snow starts to thaw on the Kazakh steppe, the company is preparing to head into its 2025 field season with three interesting prospects that warrant further exploration.
Already, the regional structural environment, magnetics, geochemistry and hydrothermal influences combine to tell a compelling story.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: office@bullsnbears.com.au