Mari Minerals Discovers Copper-Gold Near Reko Diq

Mari Minerals (Private) Limited has announced a new porphyry copper-gold discovery at East Siah Diq (ESD-1) in Balochistan, approximately 50 kilometres east of the Reko Diq mining project.

The discovery could strengthen Pakistan’s mineral exploration prospects, particularly in Chagai district, which hosts significant copper and gold deposits.

Mari Energies Limited announced the exploration results through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mari Minerals (Private) Limited. The company said drilling has confirmed porphyry-style copper mineralisation at the ESD-1 exploration target in the Koh-i-Sultan area.

Copper-Gold Discovery Near Reko Diq

The East Siah Diq (ESD-1) target is located approximately 50 kilometres east of the Reko Diq copper-gold project and 25 kilometres northwest of Nokkundi in Balochistan.

Mari Minerals holds multiple mineral exploration licences in Chagai district, a region with considerable potential for copper and other mineral resources.

According to the company, the discovery represents a new porphyry copper mineralised system based on exploration drilling completed so far.

Mari Minerals Completes 25,000 Metres of Drilling

Mari Minerals has completed approximately 25,000 metres of exploration drilling at the ESD-1 target under two phases, Phase 1A and Phase 1B.

The company said all drill holes were vertical and reached depths of approximately 500 metres.

Geochemical assay testing for Phase 1A drill holes has been completed. The company reported the entire length of intersected bedrock without applying a cut-off grade.

For laboratory testing, Mari Minerals collected bedrock samples systematically at two-metre intervals. The samples were subsequently split and pulverised before analysis.

SGS Pakistan Conducts Copper Assay Testing

SGS Pakistan carried out sample preparation and assay testing for the exploration programme.

Meanwhile, Mari Minerals implemented an industry-standard quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) programme to ensure the reliability of the results.

The programme included certified reference materials supplied by OREAS, Australia, along with duplicate samples and blanks to monitor laboratory accuracy and maintain testing standards.

Porphyry Copper Mineralisation Identified

Drilling at the ESD-1 target identified porphyry-style copper mineralisation beneath approximately 100 metres of unconsolidated overburden sediments.

The mineralised system covers an estimated area of approximately 1.4 square kilometres.

Mari Minerals said copper mineralisation is mainly associated with disseminated and vein-hosted chalcopyrite, commonly accompanied by pyrite. The company also identified bornite in the drilled sections.

In addition, selected drill holes showed molybdenum mineralisation associated with molybdenite. Green and blue copper oxide minerals were also observed locally beneath the overburden.

The mineralisation occurs within porphyritic diorite intrusions. The company identified early, intermediate and late intrusive phases, while widespread hydrothermal alteration was predominantly sericite-chlorite in character.

Deeper Drilling Planned at East Siah Diq

Mari Energies said the next phase of exploration would include additional step-out drilling and deeper drilling at the ESD-1 target.

The company plans to extend drilling from the existing 500-metre depth to potentially 1,000 metres. This will help assess the mineralisation system, which remains open below 500 metres.

Furthermore, Mari Minerals plans to develop an initial geological model and resource estimate based on the Phase 1A and Phase 1B drilling results.

However, further drilling, geological interpretation, metallurgical testing, resource estimation and technical studies will be necessary to establish the scale, grade continuity and economic significance of the discovery.

Phase 1B Assay Results Expected in 2027

Mari Minerals said assay testing of Phase 1B drill holes is currently underway and is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2027.

The results are expected to provide additional information about the extent and characteristics of copper-gold mineralisation at East Siah Diq.

The company clarified that the exploration results relate exclusively to the ESD-1 target. It also cautioned that further technical studies will be required before determining the development potential of the mineralised system.

The technical information in the announcement was reviewed and approved by John Mortimer, PhD, of JM Geoscience Pty Ltd. He has more than 40 years of relevant experience, including porphyry copper exploration, and meets the Qualified Person requirements under National Instrument 43-101.

Mari Energies said it would continue evaluating the ESD-1 mineralised system and provide further updates on exploration progress, assay results and technical interpretation.

The company emphasised that the reported exploration results do not yet represent a Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve.

The discovery marks another development in Pakistan’s efforts to explore the mineral wealth of Balochistan, although the commercial and economic potential of the East Siah Diq project will depend on further exploration and technical assessments.