Canadian Mining Giant Begins Exploration of Major Kazakh Copper Deposit

Ivanhoe Mines, a major Canadian company, has initiated geological exploration in Kazakhstan's Shu-Sarysu basin, reports Orda.kz.

According to Mining Review, the exploration could reveal significant sedimentary copper deposits in Central Kazakhstan.

The Shu-Sarysu basin is the world's third-largest sedimentary copper deposit, following the Central African Copper Belt and Europe's Kupferschiefer.

The region spans 16,000 square kilometers and potentially holds 27 million tons of copper reserves, with approximately 25 million tons still unexplored.

The exploration will be conducted through a joint venture with British Pallas Resources, with Ivanhoe Mines investing $18.7 million over two years.

The Canadian company has completed the first phase, analyzing and digitizing Soviet-era data to identify potential test well sites.

Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian mining company valued at $2.5 billion, primarily operates African projects, including the Kamoa-Kakula copper deposit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Platreef polymetallic ore deposit in South Africa.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny