East Star Resources Plc and Endeavour Mining plc have progressed their Kazakhstan gold exploration joint venture into systematic fieldwork, the companies said on September 10.
Endeavour, a FTSE 100 constituent that operates gold mining assets across West Africa, has entered a Stage 1 earn-in period as of May 15, 2026. Under the arrangement, Endeavour must fund $5 million in exploration expenditure over two years to earn a 51% interest in the partnership.
The JV operates across two Areas of Interest in northern Kazakhstan spanning more than 300,000 square kilometers. Several exploration license applications covering more than 930 square kilometers have been submitted in the northern Area of Interest.
Progress so far includes the compilation and review of historical and modern geological datasets, collection of 1:50,000-scale geological, mineralogical and geophysical maps, review of Soviet-era exploration reports, and a large-scale assessment of the geotectonic setting of mineral provinces within the Areas of Interest. Field visits and geological reconnaissance have been completed at 15 priority targets.
The joint venture has established an in-country technical team comprising two senior geologists and four junior geologists. With license applications underway, the partnership is now progressing into field exploration activities including geological mapping and soil and geochemical sampling.
"The joint venture has been fully established and is moving into systematic exploration," Alex Walker, CEO of East Star Resources, said in a statement. "With several license applications submitted in the northern Area of Interest, our focus is increasingly shifting towards field exploration and systematic testing of the most prospective gold targets."
The venture focuses on Intrusion Related Gold systems in northern Kazakhstan. East Star Resources, listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker EST, describes itself as a Kazakhstan-focused gold and copper exploration and development company. The joint venture agreement was initially announced on November 13, 2025.
