Altyn Tor Gold Project – Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan
Deccan Golds investment into Avelum Partners, developer and operator of the Altyn Tor Gold Project, marks the first investment by an Indian mining and exploration company in Kyrgyzstan and is expected to enhance economic ties between the two countries.
A feasibility study completed in 2023 demonstrated the viability of adding a leaching circuit to the existing gravity separation plant to further increase gold recovery. Drilling activities also demonstrated extensions to the known mineralization zones which could feasibly support cutbacks to the existing pit.
The Altyn Tor deposit is located in the highly mineralized Soltan Sary gold mineralization zone, which extends over 300km length and is part of the major Tien Shen Shear Zone. Gold mineralization is hosted in quartz, quartz-carbonate veins and stockworks. The project has free milling type gold with historically recovery of approximately 60% through gravity circuits.
Mineral Resources at the Project are estimated at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade of 4.65 Mt grading 1.21 g/t Au for 180 koz with potential to add at least another 20 koz with limited drilling. Included in the resources is 1.4 Mt (51 koz) of tailings and low-grade stockpile material.
Upgrade to the Process Plant
The current state of the Process Plant upgrade and expansion is as follows:
- Conveyors: 11 units have been commissioned (Figure 1). The new ball mill feed and tailing feed conveyors are in transit to site.
- Crushing: Jaw and cone crushers have completed successful trial runs. The bunker conveyor replacement is underway.
- The ball mill installation (Figure 2) is ongoing with the target completion date being late August to early September 2025. Erection of a shed to cover the facility is expected to take another month following installation of the ball mill.
- Gravity Concent rat or and early gold recovery equipment is at site. The Company is aiming to begin commercial production from the gravity circuit mid- to late-October.
- Leaching System: All tanks have been fabricated and ainted. Agitators are currently being transported to site and full erection of the tanks is expected by mid- to late-October.
- Civil works on the foundation for the thickeners and filter press is in progress and expected to be completed by the time the equipment arrivals on site around mid-September.
- Elution and Smelting equipment are expected on site mid-September with erection targeted for mid-November 2025.
- A new laboratory and reagent storage facilities are expected for delivery by late-September.
Electrical and high-tension powerline.
- A 2500 kVA diesel generator set with transformer and 10 kV panels has been ordered with delivery expected during October 2025. The generator will power the ball mill during commissioning.
- The contract to install the high-tension lines has been awarded to a local contractor with a target completion of late-November to early-December.
- Substation equipment procurement is underway and cable racks fabrication is in progress.
Tailings Storage Facility (TSF)
- Excavation of the new tailings dam has commenced and scheduled to be completed during October 2025.
- Geomembrane lining is planned for November and December subject to weather conditions.
Mining
- Waste stripping to expose ore ready for plant commissioning is also in progress.
- To date approximately 30,000 m3 of waste have been removed and 100,000 m3 is targeted in the next 2 to 3 months.
Resource Development
- Approximately 2000m of our 2500m planned drilling programme to test extensions of the mineralisation zones has been completed.
- Whilst assay results are pending, logging of drill holes has identified multiple zones of mineralisation, including visible gold (Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6).
Outlook
Cold weather from mid-November may impact timelines and the Company has begun putting in place contingency measures to minimise any impact of an early winter. Key focus items for the Company are:
- Monitoring shipments and ensuring completion of civil works align with equipment deliveries.
- Erecting sheds to protect critical equipment.
- Commencing Dore bar production from the gravity circuit in October.
- Completing the high-tension power line and substation works in November to ensure reliable power supply.
