Anglo Asian Mining has updated its drilling program in Azerbaijan, as reported by FinFly, citing a company press release.
"The company plans to implement a 90,000-meter drilling program in 2026–2027. It includes approximately 55,000 meters of exploration drilling and about 35,000 meters of feasibility study drilling. Core drilling has already begun at the Xarxar deposit using two drilling rigs. Work at Garadag is expected to start in the third quarter of 2026," the statement said.
Exploration work will focus on expanding mineral zones at the Xarxar and Garadag sites, as well as adjacent areas, including subsequent drilling in the Gedabek contract area and expansion of the Demirli mine and the South Demirli site.
The company stated that underground drilling has also begun at the Gilar deposit, aimed at exploring upper horizons and potentially expanding deeper levels of the deposits.
"Feasibility study drilling includes infill drilling to update mineral resource estimates, as well as geotechnical, hydrogeological, metallurgical, and control work: about 10,000 meters at Xarxar and about 25,000 meters at Garadag," Anglo Asian Mining noted.
The Xarxar deposit is located 1.5 km from the northern border of the Gedabek contract area. In 2023, extensive exploration work was carried out there, including core drilling from the surface and underground horizons. An exploration portal was also built and an underground working was driven. Historical data obtained in 2022 from the previous owner of the deposit was analyzed. Based on the results, a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate was published, according to which copper reserves amount to 119,100 tons.
The Garadag deposit adjoins the northern border of Xarxar and includes the eponymous ore site. In 2024, an initial JORC-compliant resource estimate was published, confirming the presence of about 900,000 tons of copper.