Kepken Prospect
The Kepken Prospect, according to Russian category and previously estimated unclassified resources, is a low grade gold deposit with the potential to host in excess of one million ounces. Previous exploration identified a zone of gold mineralisation 2.4km in length and up to 250m deep. Central Asia has confirmed 294,000 oz Au (Inferred) and 1,800m of mineralisation along strike. The prospect remains open at depth and to the north-west and east. Highlights of results have been included on the drill plan below.
Similar styles of mineralisation have also been identified to the east and north of the known primary Kepken Prospect structure, indicating that the mineralised envelope may either extend further along strike or be replicated in these areas.
The Kepken Prospect is located within the Sarytum metallogenic belt, which is characterised by volcano-sedimentary terrain. Gold mineralisation at the Prospect is hosted within an anticlinal fold structure consisting of a sequence of sediments and meta-sediments. Near surface and dispersed oxidised gold typically occurs from the surface down to between 20m and 30m below surface and is underlain by narrower more discrete zones within a broad stratabound envelope up to 100m wide. The primary gold mineralisation occurs in two forms, as stratabound mineralisation and as dominantly brittle shear zones hosting gold mineralised stockworks, and is related predominantly to pyrite.
Throughout 2008 Central Asia will focus on further exploration drilling prior to applying for a Kazakhstan Commercial Licence for the Prospect.
Photo: RC rig at Kepken
