3D Leapfrog Structural Model Update of Altyntau-Kokshetau (Vasilkovsky) Mine for Geotechnical Design and Mineral Resource Estimation

Significant Au-deposits, including Kokshetau (Vasilkovskoy) and Rygorodok are hosted within the Late Ordovician, district-scale, monzo-gabbrodioritic and granodioritic Stepnyak and Zerendinsky/Zerenda Intrusive Complexes. These are encompassed by large, 1st-order tectonic blocks  or  terranes (e.g. ‘Ishim-Stepnyak’  and ‘Ishkeolmes’), forming part of a regional collage of subduction-accretionary and ensimatic terranes that constitute the Kazakhstan Collage System or Orocline.  The Kazakhstan Collage System, together with the Siberian-Mongolia Collage System constitute the greater Altaid Orogenic Belt (AOB).

Under the auspices of Kazzinc-Glencore, Tect were tasked with mapping, structural analysis and 3D geomodelling of major structures and orebodies.  A baseline geomodel constructed by Tect in 2002 was subsequently updated in 2025, resulting in a fully-constrained lithostructural geomodel for both Geotechnical and Mineral Resource Modelling Departments and resolving discrepancies amongst previous models and their databases. “Softer” data, such as gravity and magnetic survey data, surface geochemical data and mineralization trends were integrated with “harder” data and discrete faults, thereby more accurately resolving cross-cutting relationships, terminations and persistence for the entire fault system.

A series of representative form surfaces were constructed from mapping and downhole data, and subsequently considered individually (planar) and collectively (wedge), to determine potential effects on pit designs and pushbacks.  Structural and geotechnical domains were established for advanced geotechnical design and mine planning.