In line with the Kazakh President’s tasks to expand geological study of the country using modern exploration methods, the Government is set to launch a new stage of subsurface research at a more detailed scale.
Last year, 20 projects were developed to conduct geological mapping at a 1:50,000 scale over an area of 100,000 sq. km, with plans to cover 30,000 sq. km annually in the most promising regions. For comparison, Soviet-era mapping was carried out at a 1:200,000 scale.
Over the next three years, 240 billion tenge, or nearly $500 million, will be channeled for implementing these projects, seismic surveys in underexplored sedimentary basins, and building modern geological infrastructure, against $469 million invested in geological exploration over the past 15 years.
When selecting sites, factors such as resource depletion, lack or minimal presence of subsoil users, and potential for priority minerals were considered. As a result, areas with high potential for deposits of copper, gold, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, barite, and bauxite were identified.
It is planned to conduct seismic surveys in the underexplored oil and gas basins such as North Torgai, Shu-Sarysu, and Syrdarya. Additional plans include the modernization of laboratory and analytical facilities and the digitization of geological data. (Qazinform)