Arras Minerals Updates ON Strategic Alliance and Outlines Exploration Plan FOR 2026 in Kazakhstan
ARRAS MINERALS UPDATES ON STRATEGIC
ALLIANCE AND OUTLINES EXPLORATION
PLAN FOR 2026 IN KAZAKHSTAN
VANCOUVER, BC
,
Feb. 9, 2026
/CNW/ -
Arras Minerals Corp.
(TSXV: ARK) (OTCQB: ARRKF)
("Arras" or "Arras Minerals" or "the Company")
is pleased to provide an update on the Strategic
Alliance with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") and the exploration plan for 2026 across this license
package in Kazakhstan.
In
December 2023
, Teck and Arras Minerals entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement focusing
on exploration for copper across approximately 1,900 square kilometres ("sq km") of Arras'
strategically located license package in Pavlodar region, Kazakhstan. Under the agreement, Teck
has funded approximately
US$5 million
of exploration expenditure across the license package with
Arras acting as manager for the two-year generative exploration programs. At the completion of the
generative exploration phase, Teck retained an option to select up to four designated properties
totaling 120 sq km each where Teck would fund exploration expenditures up to
US$47.5 million
per
project to earn up to a 75% interest in each project. Teck has elected to terminate its option on the
Strategic Alliance. The staged option required Teck to select at least one designated project with
an exploration commitment of up to
US$47.5 million
to earn up to a 75% project interest.
Highlights of the two-year generative exploration program include:
Three new porphyry discoveries along a 54km long porphyry trend running parallel to
the Bozshakol Copper-Gold Mine Trend
Large hydrothermal system defined at Besshoky Project showing distal porphyry stylealteration
and mineralization
Geochemistry: 39,773 soil samples collected across the property
Geophysics:
Regional airborne air magnetic survey
3,641.71 line-kilometre Heli-EM survey conducted over Package A property and P39
Target (Akkuduk Property). o 181.4 sq km VIP survey conducted o 135.4 line-kilometre
Pole-Dipole (P-DP) Inducted Polarization survey completed
Drilling o 479 Top of Bedrock ("KGK") drill-holes totaling
12,555.2m
completed o 18 diamond
drill-holes, totalling
5,250.6m
drilled to date
Significant mineralized intercepts returned from 3 targets, including:
SHID_25_007 –
14.8m
grading 0.13% Cu and 0.02 g/t Au
BOZS_25_001 –
29.0m
grading 0.11% Cu and 0.02 g/t Au o TORT_25_003 –
34.0m
grading 0.25 g/t Au and 0.02% Cu
Stuart McCracken
, Vice-President, Exploration, Teck commented,
"We have been very
pleased with the quality and quantity of exploration work that has been achieved across the Arras-
Teck Strategic Alliance over the past two years which efficiently identified, prioritized and drilled
six targets across the alliance license package. While Teck has decided that the initial results do
not meet our threshold for moving forward at this time with the second phase of the agreement, we
remain very positive on
Kazakhstan
and remain a supportive shareholder of Arras as they continue
to advance the Elemes copper-gold project as well as other priority projects across their extensive
land package."
Tim Barry
, CEO of Arras commented,
"The Arras-Teck Strategic Alliance has been a mutually
beneficial partnership, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Teck as a supportive
and significant shareholder while we expand the scale of our Elemes Project."
He went on to add,
"The generative exploration work that was accomplished with Teck's financial support has
achieved the objective of taking a substantial 1,900 square kilometre land package and focusing us
on a much smaller, high-priority target list. We believe many of these targets warrant further
follow-up work in 2026 and have developed a plan to do this. Additionally, some of the precious
metals focused targets that were not advanced last year have the potential to move to drill-ready
status this year with successful follow-up fieldwork this spring."
Exploration Results – Overview & 2026 Plan
Through 2024-2025, the Strategic Alliance undertook a systematic approach to early-stage
generative exploration work across the license packages focusing on first-pass geophysics and
geochemistry and then transitioning to KGK drilling and diamond drilling where appropriate with a
primary focus on exploring for copper porphyry systems.
Across the license packages, there is very little to no outcrop with unconsolidated cover usually
ranging from a few metres to up to
40m
in thickness. Given this, and the sheer size of the combined
license packages of approximately 1,900 sq km, the objective of the Strategic Alliance was to
advance understanding to a point where targets could be identified for an initial phase of testdrilling.
A total of 18 holes were completed across six targets with a maximum depth of
400m
.
The generative program has successfully identified three new porphyry systems, under cover and on
a parallel trend to the operating Bozshakol copper-gold mine. The length of this trend is believed to
extend at least 54 km and thus the first phase of relatively shallow drilling here will be followed up in
2026. Additionally, at the Besshoky license, a large hydrothermal system was confirmed, with drilling
identifying mineralization and alteration peripheral to the core of a porphyry system.
Finally, with focus on copper porphyry systems, the Strategic Alliance did not advance on initial
targets identified to be more precious metals oriented. Arras plans to include these targets in their
2026 Exploration Plans.
Package A – Bozshakol Group
On Package A, in 2024 a Heli-EM survey was completed over the entire property which was
designed to discover subsurface electrical conductivity contrasts that could be indicative of mineral
deposits and geological structures to prioritize targets for follow-up exploration.
In the western part of the license package, where cover was minimal, a 26,731-soil sampling
program was completed. In the eastern part of the license package, where soil cover was thicker, a
systematic grid of KGK drilling totaling 479 holes (
12,555.2m
) was undertaken to identify any
mineralization beneath cover and to learn more about the subsurface geology in these areas.
Figure 1: Soil (small points) and KGK (large points) Copper values with principal exploration targets.
(CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
In early 2025, Vector IP and Pole-dipole IP programs were completed over the most prospective
targets and diamond drilling across select targets commenced in H2 2025.
Figure 2: Package A concessions with principal exploration targets, historic chargeability anomalies
and completed IP and VIP surveys. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Shirderty Target
The KGK drilling outlined a large Cu-Au-Mo-Bi-Te anomaly in a NE-SW striking structural corridor,
coincident with a 4km x 3.2km chargeability anomaly identified by the VIP survey.
Figure 3: Shirderty Target showing completed drill-holes overlain on VIP chargeability anomaly and
KGK Copper values. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Diamond drilling (8 holes, totaling
2,159.4m
) intersected several phases of intrusive rocks and
several syn-mineral porphyry dikes hosted in mafic volcaniclastic rocks with extensive hydrothermal
alteration with porphyry-style mineralization. Alteration and mineralization were characterized by a
core of phyllic alteration with 3-5% disseminated pyrite, with D- and B-Type veins that zone out into
an extensive propylitic event characterized by quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite-albite-chlorite veins. The
results are indicative of the peripheral part of a porphyry system, and the 2025 drilling only tested a
small part of the target.
Table 1: Selected drill results, Shirderty Target
Hole_ID
mFrom
mTo
Interval
Au g/t
Ag g/t
Cu pct
Mo ppm
SHID_25_001
40.00
50.00
10.00
0.03
0.3
0.10
16.7
SHID_25_006
103.70
107.20
3.50
0.03
0.5
0.10
1.6
SHID_25_007
9.00
23.80
14.80
0.02
0.1
0.13
9.3
The Company is planning to conduct an MT and Gravity survey over the Shirderty target, with follow-
up diamond drilling to explore for the source of porphyry alteration and mineralization and to explore
several additional chargeability and KGK geochemical anomalies.
Bozshakol South ("Boz S") Target
The Boz S target is defined by a 3x2km wide chargeability anomaly in Soviet-era data centered on a
small gold-barite mineral occurrence that was historically thought to be a volcanogenic massive
sulphide deposit. The area was tested with a single IP line that confirmed the size and scale of the
historic chargeability anomaly, and sampling identified large soil Cu, As, Mo anomalies coincident
with high chargeability zone.
Figure 4: Bozshakol South Target showing completed drill-holes, completed IP lines and historic
chargeability anomalies, overlain on soil pXRF copper values. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
This target was only explored by two wide-spaced drill-holes that intersected an intrusive complex
with phyllic and propylitic alteration indicative of the distal part of a porphyry system. Mineralization
consisted of disseminated pyrite, with minor magnetite patches with zones of quartz-pyrite-
chalcopyrite veins and C-type veins, again supporting the theory that there is a porphyry system in
the area.
Table 2: Selected drill results, Boz S Target
Hole_ID
mFrom
mTo
Interval
Au g/t
Ag g/t
Cu pct
Mo ppm
BOZS_25_001
188.00
217.00
29.00
0.02
0.2
0.11
16.7
BOZS_25_001
249.00
267.00
18.00
0.07
0.3
0.11
21.1
BOZS_25_002
251.35
270.00
18.65
0.03
0.2
0.10
2.1
The target was only partly tested with two holes (593.8 metres) to a depth of
300m
. The
geophysical and geochemical anomaly is untested to the southwest along a multi-kilometre soil
copper anomaly, IP chargeability high and magnetic low, that may represent the magnetite
destructive zone that hosts Cu-Au mineralization at other projects in the area. The Company is
planning on following up with a gravity and MT survey over the Soviet-era IP anomaly, with follow-up
diamond drilling.
Tort Kuduk Target
The Tort Kuduk target is a 1 x 1 km sized Mo-Cu soil anomaly. Follow-up mapping identified several
outcropping silicified intrusions with high density stockwork quartz veining and strong potassic
alteration.
Figure 5: Tort Kuduk target with completed drill-holes overlain on soil pXRF Cu data and historic
chargeability anomalies (contours). (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
The target was drilled with three wide-spaced drill-holes totaling
893.8m
to a maximum depth of
300m
, that intersected a porphyritic monzonite hosted in andesites with zones of stockwork A- and
B-type veins with k-feldspar halos. Drill-hole TORT25003 intersected a wide zone of silicification and
brecciation that returned
34.0m
grading 0.25 g/t Au and 113.0 ppm Mo.
Table 3: Selected results from Tort Kuduk Drilling
Hole_ID
mFrom
mTo
Interval
Au g/t
Ag g/t
Cu pct
Mo ppm
TORT_25_003
171.00
205.00
34.00
0.25
0.4
0.02
113.8
Arras is planning on conducting a ground magnetic survey over the Tort Kuduk target and the large
copper geochemical anomaly to the southwest to better define targets for follow-up drilling.
Undrilled Targets
Bozshakol Extension
Arras controls an approximate 1.2km extension of the operating Bozshakol copper-gold mine trend
which covers a discrete magnetic high surrounded by a large, demagnetized zone, with a coincident
historic chargeability anomaly. KGK drilling returned porphyry pathfinder signatures, and magnetic
data identified a subtle magnetic high in a large, demagnetized zone, that could be related to the
potassic core of a porphyry deposit. An initial drill program with two holes is planned to test this area
for porphyry mineralization.
Figure 6: Location of the Bozshakol Extension Target related to historic chargeability anomalies and
Bozshakol Mine. Arras License areas in shaded grey blocks. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Package B – Akkuduk Group
Exploration in the Package B group of concessions focused primarily on the Besshoky license. A
small (145.73 line-kilometre) Heli-EM survey was also conducted over the P39 Nickel target on the
Nogurbek license.
Figure 7: Akkuduk licenses with principal targets overlain on interpreted geology. (CNW Group/Arras
Minerals Corp.)
Besshoky Target
The Besshoky target is a broad hydrothermal system covering >35 sq km with a core of silicification
and pyrophyllite-white mica, sericite-quartz-pyrite and grading to chlorite-epidote-magnetite
alteration towards the edges of the system.
Soil sampling defined a large Cu-Mo-Bi geochemical anomaly centred on this lithocap. Follow-up IP
surveys, totalling 47.5 line-kilometres, identified several large chargeability anomalies beneath and
adjacent to it.
In 2025, three wide-spaced holes were drilled in the lithocap. The holes intersected a package of
andesitic volcanic breccias and andesite flows with strong sericite-quartz-pyrite alteration with an
increase in potassic alteration with depth, suggesting that the core of the system is located towards
the south-east part of the lithocap, and was not fully drill tested.
Figure 8: Besshoky Target with completed drill-holes, showing chargeability and geochemical
anomalies overline on airborne magnetic data (reduced to pole). (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
The drilling only partially tested the IP chargeability and geochemistry anomalies. The Company is
planning a Magnetotellurics (MT) and Gravity survey over the Besshoky Target to help identify deep
targets for follow-up vectoring and drill-testing.
Figure 9: Besshoky Target with planned MT and gravity stations and completed drill-holes. (CNW
Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Undrilled Targets
Akkuduk-Nogurbek
The Akkuduk-Nogurbek target received minimal attention in 2025, with work restricted to surface
mapping. The Company also surveyed several Soviet era drill-collars in the field and was able to
obtain summary reports and sections listing some results from these holes. The historic data
indicates that there were significant gold intercepts hosted in diorites, including:
30.5 m
grading 1.65 g/t Au
30.2 m
grading 1.07 g/t Au
19.8 m
grading 1.2 g/t Au
The Akkuduk Target is also highlighted by a minor Cu-Mo soil anomaly with a coincident significant
Ni-Mn depletion zone.
10: Nogurbek License showing historic drill-holes and principal targets overlain on pXRF Nickel soil
data. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
Figure 11: Section through Akkuduk Target, showing historic gold intercepts. Exact locations of
these drill-holes are unknown. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)
This data suggests that there is good potential for this target to host significant gold mineralization.
In 2026 the company will conduct IP surveys over the areas with historic drilling to help identify
mineralization and will also follow-up with a drill program focusing on confirming the historic drill data
and determine the size potential of this target.
P39
The Company believes that the P39 target may host an orthomagmatic nickel sulphide deposit. Soil
sampling in 2023 defined a 14-kilometre-long Ni-Cr-Co anomaly (figure 10) and a small EM survey
conducted in 2024 identified a series of subtle EM anomalies coincident with the core of the Ni-Cr
zone and may represent sulphide mineralization.
In 2026, the company is planning on conducting a detailed mapping and sampling program, with a
focused IP survey over the soil anomalies and EM targets, as well as VIP surveys of the Akkuduk
and Nogurbek targets. If the results are positive, this will be followed up with a small drill program.
Figure 12: Plan map showing historic drill collars located in the field by Arras geologists and planned
geophysics surveys. (CNW Group/Arras Minerals Corp.)