Sarytogan Graphite Hits 318m Copper Zone With Deeper Third Hole Assays Due
Key Takeaways
- DDH-IL26001A returned 318m at 0.14% Cu from surface — matching the bulk grade of the first hole but extending the copper porphyry system over a greater depth interval of 318.2m versus 229.3m.
- The best higher-grade zone in DDH-IL26001A — 15.2m at 0.40% Cu from 163.4m — edges out the equivalent zone in DDH-IL26002 (0.36% Cu), with the improvement occurring at depth consistent with a porphyry model pointing toward a higher-grade core.
- B-veins, potassic alteration, and bornite throughout DDH-IL26001A are recognised geological indicators of proximity to the core of a porphyry system, where grades typically peak.
- The third and deepest hole, DDH-IL26003, was drilled to 452.5m — significantly deeper than both completed holes — with samples already at the laboratory and assays expected within weeks, making it the critical near-term catalyst for the program.
- Kazakhstan hosts 4 of the 5 lowest-cost copper mines in the world, providing a structural cost advantage that could materially improve the economics of any deposit ultimately developed at Baynazar.
Copper mineralisation extended at Ilksan as second drill hole returns 318m intercept
Sarytogan Graphite Limited (ASX: SGA) has released assay results from the second of three diamond drill holes at its Ilksan prospect within the Baynazar Copper Exploration Project in central Kazakhstan. Hole DDH-IL26001A returned 318m @ 0.14% Cu, 0.027ppm Au from surface to end of hole, extending the copper porphyry mineralisation first confirmed in DDH-IL26002 (reported 12 August 2026). This is hole 2 of a 3-hole program, with the deeper third hole’s assays still pending.
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DDH-IL26001A results in detail
Headline intercept and higher-grade zones
The bulk intercept of 318m @ 0.14% Cu covers the full length of the hole with no grade cuts applied. Within that, three higher-grade zones were identified at a 0.2% Cu cutoff:
- 18.9m @ 0.29% Cu, 0.093ppm Au from 5.0m
- 8.6m @ 0.25% Cu, 0.081ppm Au from 41.2m
- 15.2m @ 0.40% Cu, 0.082ppm Au, 1.8ppm Ag from 163.4m
The deepest of the three zones, beginning at 163.4m, is the highest-grade interval. It occurs within altered diorite containing disseminated and vein-controlled sulphides, a setting that carries geological significance for understanding how close the drill holes are getting to the heart of the system.
How DDH-IL26001A compares to DDH-IL26002
| Hole ID | Total Length | Bulk Intercept | Best Higher-Grade Zone | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDH-IL26002 | 229.3m | 229m @ 0.14% Cu, 0.027ppm Au from surface | 16.2m @ 0.36% Cu, 0.12ppm Au, 1.4ppm Ag from 159.7m | Results reported 12 Aug 2026 |
| DDH-IL26001A | 318.2m | 318m @ 0.14% Cu, 0.027ppm Au from surface | 15.2m @ 0.40% Cu, 0.082ppm Au, 1.8ppm Ag from 163.4m | Results reported 15 Sep 2026 |
| DDH-IL26003 | 452.5m drilled | Assays pending | Assays pending | Results anticipated next few weeks |
Both completed holes have returned an identical bulk grade of 0.14% Cu from surface, while the peak higher-grade zone from DDH-IL26001A (0.40% Cu) edges out the equivalent zone in DDH-IL26002 (0.36% Cu). The third hole, at 452.5m, is significantly deeper than both.
The first confirmed copper porphyry mineralisation at Ilksan, reported in DDH-IL26002, established the same bulk grade of 0.14% Cu from surface and set the baseline against which DDH-IL26001A is now being measured.
What the geology is telling us
The geological character of DDH-IL26001A gives exploration geologists reason for optimism. Below the weathered upper zone, copper mineralisation in the hole is dominated by chalcopyrite, pyrite, and locally bornite, occurring as disseminations, along fractures, and within so-called B-veins (quartz-biotite-magnetite-potassium feldspar-chalcopyrite). B-veins are a recognised indicator of proximity to the core of a porphyry system, where grades typically peak. Potassic alteration, characterised by K-feldspar with secondary biotite and locally magnetite, is widespread throughout much of the hole. The presence of bornite alongside chalcopyrite in the deeper zone is noted in the announcement.
Taken together, the geological indicators in DDH-IL26001A point inward toward a potentially higher-grade centre. That makes the result from the deeper third hole, DDH-IL26003, the pivotal data point for this program.
Sean Gregory, Managing Director
“The diamond drill core and assays at Ilksan demonstrate the presence of a fertile copper porphyry system. The elevated copper grades, potassic alteration and presence of B-veins indicate that we are close to the core of the system. The results of the deeper 3rd hole are eagerly anticipated.”
Understanding copper porphyry systems — and why scale matters
Copper porphyry deposits are the world’s largest source of copper. They are typically characterised by large, lower-grade bulk tonnage mineralisation with higher-grade zones concentrated toward the centre of the system. A key feature of the porphyry model is spatial zoning: copper tends to concentrate in the central parts of the deposit, while lead and zinc form outer geochemical halos at the periphery. The multi-element anomaly pattern at Ilksan is consistent with this model, as noted in the announcement.
Kazakhstan adds a meaningful cost dimension to the investment case. According to a miningvisuals.com infographic (October 2024), 4 of the 5 lowest-cost copper mines in the world are located in Kazakhstan, driven by low power, diesel, and skilled labour costs. That cost context matters when evaluating the economics of any deposit that might ultimately be developed in the region.
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Third hole drilled deeper — assays the market is now watching
DDH-IL26003 goes deeper and further
DDH-IL26003 was drilled 150m further north along the section line, angled at 70 degrees toward the south and terminating at 452.5m depth, directly below DDH-IL26001A. Samples were submitted to the analytical laboratory on 12 August, with assays expected in the coming weeks. This is the deepest hole of the three-hole program, positioned to test whether grades improve with depth, consistent with a porphyry model where the highest-grade mineralisation typically concentrates toward the core.
Baynazar project and the broader SGA story
The Baynazar Copper Exploration Project was pegged by SGA in 2024 and is located 25km south-west of the Sarytogan Graphite Deposit. The copper exploration program draws on the same established Kazakh exploration team and permitting expertise that underpins the graphite project, though the two are distinct assets with separate exploration objectives.
The graphite project itself holds a 225Mt @ 29.2% TGC mineral resource estimate and carries designation as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. The copper program represents a complementary pursuit within the same Kazakhstan jurisdiction, leveraging existing in-country capability.
EBRD funding for the graphite project DFS reflects the institutional validation underpinning SGA’s primary Kazakhstan asset, which holds a 225Mt at 29.2% TGC resource and its EU Critical Raw Materials Act Strategic Project designation.
With DDH-IL26003 samples already at the laboratory, the next material catalyst for SGA’s copper exploration story is the assay result from that third and deepest hole.
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