Mari Energies discovers copper-gold deposits 50km from Reko Diq in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Mari Energies Limited has announced a significant copper-gold discovery in Balochistan’s Chagai district, around 50 kilometres east of the Reko Diq mining project, marking a fresh development in the country’s efforts to expand mineral exploration.

The discovery was made by the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Mari Minerals (Private) Limited, at the East Siah Diq (ESD-1) exploration target in the Koh-i-Sultan area.

According to a disclosure submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday, Mari Minerals has completed approximately 25,000 metres of exploration drilling in two phases at the site.

The drilling identified porphyry-style copper mineralisation extending across an area of approximately 1.4 square kilometres, beneath around 100 metres of unconsolidated overburden.

The company said all drill holes were 500 metres deep, with copper mineralisation encountered at depths of up to 500 metres.

Mari Energies said the discovery was based on drilling results from two exploration phases, Phase 1A and Phase 1B, with all drill holes systematically sampled and tested.

The company said geochemical assay results from Phase 1A drilling had been compiled, while laboratory testing of samples from Phase 1B was under way and expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

Further drilling planned to assess mineral potential

Mari Energies said copper mineralisation at the site was primarily associated with disseminated and vein-hosted chalcopyrite, commonly accompanied by pyrite. Bornite and molybdenum mineralisation were also identified in some drill holes.

The company said the mineralisation was hosted in porphyritic diorite intrusive rocks, with green and blue copper oxide minerals also found in some areas immediately beneath the overburden.

The next phase of exploration will include additional drilling to investigate mineralisation at depths of up to 1,000 metres, as the company said the mineralised system remained open below the 500-metre level.

Mari Minerals will also develop an initial geological model and resource estimate using the results from the Phase 1A and Phase 1B drilling programmes.

However, the company cautioned that further drilling, geological interpretation, metallurgical testing, resource estimation and technical studies would be required to establish the scale, grade continuity and economic viability of the discovery.

It stressed that the reported exploration results did not yet constitute a mineral resource or reserve.

The technical information in the announcement was reviewed and approved by John Mortimer of JM Geoscience Pty Ltd, who has more than 40 years of experience in mineral exploration, including porphyry copper deposits.

Mari Energies said it would provide further updates on exploration progress, assay results and technical assessments as work at the site continued.