Key points

  • Mari Energies Limited announced a copper-gold discovery at the East Siah Diq target in Balochistan's Chagai district.
  • The discovery was detailed in a notification submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Friday.
  • Exploration drilling at the site spanned approximately 25,000 metres across two phases, according to company statements.

According to ARY News and The Express Tribune, Mari Energies Limited announced a significant copper-gold discovery on Friday at its East Siah Diq exploration target in Balochistan’s Chagai district through its subsidiary, Mari Minerals (Private) Limited.

Key Details

The discovery site is situated approximately 50 kilometres east of the Reko Diq copper-gold mine development project and about 25 kilometres northwest of Nokkundi in the Koh-i-Sultan area, adjacent to the Siah Diq Project, as reported by ARY News and The Express Tribune. The reports noted that Mari Minerals completed around 25,000 metres of exploration drilling in phases designated as Phase 1A and Phase 1B, with vertical drill holes reaching depths of approximately 500 metres.

Data and samples from the drilling were prepared and analysed by SGS Pakistan, alongside quality control procedures that utilised certified reference materials from OREAS in Australia. ARY News and The Express Tribune stated that the drilling identified porphyry-style copper mineralisation beneath roughly 100 metres of unconsolidated overburden sediments across an area spanning about 1.4 square kilometres. The Express Tribune further noted that mineralisation is primarily associated with chalcopyrite, alongside pyrite, bornite, molybdenum, and green and blue copper oxide minerals in select areas.

Context and Impact

Both ARY News and The Express Tribune reported that assaying of samples from Phase 1B is currently underway and anticipated to finish in the first quarter of 2027. The technical information was reviewed and approved by Dr John Mortimer of JM Geoscience Pty Ltd, who possesses over 40 years of mineral exploration experience. However, the company cautioned that the find cannot yet be classified as a formal mineral resource or an economically mineable reserve, as its actual size, grade, and economic potential require further drilling and technical evaluations. The announcement follows earlier developments in Pakistan's mineral sector, including an MoU signed between Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines and Mari Energies on the sidelines of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026.

Summary and What Next

Additional drilling, metallurgical testing, and resource assessments will be necessary to determine the commercial viability and definitive scale of the East Siah Diq deposit. Further updates regarding laboratory results and technical assessments are expected to be shared through subsequent corporate disclosures.