Arras Minerals Fuels Kazakh Copper-Gold Hunt with Massive Drill Program

VANCOUVER, BC – February 20, 2026 – By Sarah Hughes

Arras Minerals Corp. has signaled a major escalation in its search for a world-class copper and gold deposit in northeastern Kazakhstan, announcing the recommencement of drilling at its highly prospective Elemes Project. The Canadian exploration company is launching its most ambitious program to date, aiming to complete up to 30,000 meters of drilling this year in a bold move to define the scale of what it believes could be a significant mineral district.

Two diamond drill rigs are already turning at the Berezski East target, with two more scheduled to arrive in March to accelerate activity across the sprawling 531-square-kilometer property. This four-rig program represents a material ramp-up for Arras, reflecting a surge of confidence following promising results from nearly 10,000 meters of drilling completed in 2025.

"The 2026 program at Elemes is off to a very strong start," commented Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals. "This represents our most ambitious program to date and reflects our growing confidence in the scale potential emerging at Elemes. We believe 2026 will be a transformative year for Arras as we continue to demonstrate the scale and continuity of this emerging copper-gold district."

Unlocking a Porphyry Powerhouse

The focus of this intensive campaign is to unlock the potential of a large-scale porphyry system—a type of geological formation responsible for many of the world's largest copper and gold mines. These systems are prized for their immense size and long-life potential, making them critical targets for miners looking to meet the surging global demand for copper, a metal essential for the green energy transition.

The initial drilling phase is targeting Berezski East, where previous work returned remarkable intercepts, including one hole that cut 457.5 meters grading 0.61 g/t gold and 0.10% copper, starting directly from the surface. The drills will then move to Berezski North, 4.5 kilometers away, to follow up on similarly impressive results, such as 246.2 meters grading 0.75 g/t gold and 0.24% copper.

By March, two additional rigs will begin work at Berezski Central, where the company has already defined a substantial zone of mineralization measuring approximately 600 by 500 meters and extending to a depth of 550 meters. Critically, this zone remains open for expansion, and the company's objective is to rapidly advance and connect these distinct discovery areas across the vast, 10-kilometer Berezski Trend.

Kazakhstan's Strategic Role in the Global Copper Race

Arras Minerals' aggressive push at Elemes is not happening in a vacuum. It comes as the world faces a looming copper supply deficit, driven by the explosive growth of electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and grid modernization. Porphyry deposits like the one potentially hosted at Elemes are seen as essential to closing this future supply gap. Kazakhstan, with its vast and underexplored mineral wealth, is increasingly viewed as a key jurisdiction to help meet this demand.

The country has actively worked to attract foreign investment into its mining sector by updating its Subsoil Use Code to align with international best practices, creating a more transparent and stable environment for explorers. The Elemes project is situated in the prolific Bozshakol-Chingiz metallogenic belt, a region that already hosts world-class operations. KAZ Minerals' massive Bozshakol copper-gold mine, a low-cost producer, lies just 60 kilometers to the northwest, providing a powerful regional precedent and a benchmark for success.

The project's location is also a major strategic advantage. It benefits from exceptional existing infrastructure, including a paved highway, high-voltage power lines, and heavy rail access all within a 15-kilometer radius. This significantly reduces the potential capital costs and logistical hurdles that often challenge remote mining projects, shortening the timeline from discovery to potential production.

A Strategy Guided by Science

The company's confidence is not based on drilling alone. Arras has employed a systematic, science-driven exploration strategy to de-risk the project and refine its targets. This includes property-wide airborne magnetic surveys, extensive soil sampling programs that defined the key Berezski and Aimandai trends, and sophisticated geophysical surveys.

CEO Tim Barry noted that final Magneto-telluric and gravity survey results received in December have been pivotal. "The final... survey results received in December have sharpened our targeting and provided greater conviction in the structural controls and scale of the system," he stated. This multi-layered approach allows geologists to 'see' beneath the surface and drill with greater precision, increasing the odds of success and making the most of every exploration dollar.

This methodical approach has attracted the attention of industry heavyweights. Arras holds one of the largest land packages prospective for copper and gold in Kazakhstan and has a strategic alliance with major Canadian miner Teck Resources, which is funding a separate generative exploration program on a portion of Arras's licenses. While this alliance is separate from the Elemes project, it serves as a powerful third-party validation of the region's prospectivity and Arras's strategic position within it.

As the drill rigs continue to turn through 2026, the market will be watching closely for assay results that could confirm the existence of a new, large-scale copper-gold district. With a robust treasury, a clear scientific strategy, and a highly prospective address, Arras Minerals is well-positioned to determine if the ground beneath the Kazakh steppe holds the next major mineral discovery the world needs.