Co-investing in junior mining projects
Terra GeoCube originates, de-risks and co-invests in early-stage mineral exploration projects, from target generation to reserves ready for the next stage of development.
Value in mining is created earliest, where capital is scarcest
Headquartered in Kazakhstan and registered at the Astana International Financial Centre, the holding is built on Terra Exploration's field geology and the proprietary GeoCube data and AI platform.
Critical minerals gap
Energy transition, electrification and defence supply chains need new copper, gold, rare earth, lithium and uranium discoveries within the next decade.
Discovery deficit
Major discoveries are fewer and deeper. Majors have cut grassroots budgets and increasingly acquire projects rather than find them, creating a buyers' market for de-risked early-stage assets.
Data-rich, under-explored
Kazakhstan and Central Asia hold some of the world's deepest geological archives, largely undigitised, with modern exploration coverage far below Australia or Canada.
Why early-stage, and why with us
Highest value creation per dollar
The steepest part of the mining value curve lies between target generation and proven reserves. Entry costs are a fraction of development capital.
Risk is managed before drilling
Our in-house data archive, remote sensing and AI-supported screening narrow the field of candidates before any capital goes into the ground.
Portfolio, not a single bet
Co-investors gain exposure to a pipeline of verified assets across commodities and jurisdictions, with staged capital and defined exit windows.
Operator alongside you
The holding invests its own capital, technology and field teams in every project, aligned with co-investors from day one.
Co-investment in early-stage mining projects
Project-level partnerships where the holding originates and operates, and investors share the upside.
We originate
Targets generated from archives, satellite data and AI models; licences secured by the holding.
We de-risk
Field surveys, sampling and early geophysics verify the target before major investment.
You co-invest
Investors enter at the project SPV level, funding the drilling and reserve-definition programme.
We exit together
Sale to a mid-tier or major, farm-out, listing or retained royalty at a pre-agreed stage.
What co-investors receive
Direct equity in licensed project SPVs
Access to a screened, proprietary target pipeline
Staged capital calls tied to technical milestones
Defined exit windows along the value curve
Proprietary tools, used in-house
GeoCube and Terra Exploration are not products for sale. They are the internal engine behind every project we originate.
GeoCube data & AI platform
- Digitised Soviet-era and post-Soviet geological archives: drilling, geophysics, geochemistry across Eurasia
- Multispectral, hyperspectral and radar satellite analytics (Maxar, Airbus, SpaceWill)
- AI/ML prospectivity models trained on data-rich Kazakhstan, transferable to regions without historical geological data
- Human-in-the-loop review by senior geologists before any target is secured
Terra Exploration field operations
- Geological mapping, sampling and on-site verification of AI-generated targets
- Geophysical and geochemical surveys, UAS aeromagnetics, shallow and deep drilling
- Core handling, QA/QC, 3D modelling and resource estimation
- Feasibility studies, geotechnical and hydrogeological work for the exit stage
The result: lower cost per screened target, faster decisions and a higher probability of discovery than conventional field-first exploration.
How projects enter the portfolio
A disciplined funnel: broad screening, narrow commitment.
30–50 areas per campaign screened with archives, satellite data and AI models
Prospectivity maps reviewed by senior geologists; top targets shortlisted
Mapping, sampling and surveys confirm mineralisation signatures on site
Exploration licences secured through the holding's project SPVs
Drilling and reserve-definition programme financed together with partners
Where we enter and where you can exit
The mining value curve (Lassonde curve) and the exit options built into every co-investment. Select an exit to see it on the curve.
Exit stage, structure and minimum return hurdles are agreed with co-investors at the project SPV level before capital is committed.
Portfolio and regional pipeline
Kazakhstan is the anchor. Screening is completed or under way in five further jurisdictions.
Kazakhstan
- 16 exploration licences
- Secured on GeoCube-generated targets; a JV for drilling and resource definition launches in 2026.
- GeoCube Kazakhstan regional partnership
- Signed in 2025; initial investment secured.
- Core AI training region
- One of Eurasia's most explored and data-rich territories, and the base for scaling to new regions.
Saudi Arabia
Copper, gold: satellite and archive screening completed
Uzbekistan
Satellite-based target generation for exploration
Kyrgyzstan
Satellite-based target generation for exploration
Zambia
Gold: GeoCube site selection completed
Kamchatka (Russia)
High-resolution imagery delivered for exploration
Next
Central Asia, Gulf countries, Africa
27 years of exploration and data work behind the holding
- 1999
Terra Exploration registered; first contracts with Tengizchevroil and Agip KCO
- 2002–14
Projects for KPO, Kazzinc, Rio Tinto, ERG, Kazakhmys, Barrick, CAML; interactive subsoil-use map of Kazakhstan
- 2015
Technical partnership with Maxar (DigitalGlobe); 2017 Grand Prix for imagery interpretation
- 2017
GeoCube project launched; partnership with Airbus Defence & Space
- 2022
First licences prepared on GeoCube-generated targets
- 2023
Two exploration joint ventures established
- 2025
6 licences obtained; GeoCube Kazakhstan partnership; initial investment secured
- 2026
Repositioned as a mining investment holding. 10 licences added to the portfolio. Partnerships with Alcor and the National Geological Service of Kazakhstan. First contracts signed.
The people behind the holding
Dastan Kozhabekov, MBA
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Terra Exploration
Executive MBA, MIT Sloan (Innovation & Global Leadership). 25+ years in innovation, R&D, construction and engineering in oil & gas and mining. Leads strategy, capital raising and partnerships of the holding.
Boris Geldyev, PhD
Founder, Terra Exploration · Author of the GeoCube concept
25+ years in remote sensing, GIS and geological data interpretation. Chief architect of the GeoCube platform. Grand Prix winner, DigitalGlobe (Maxar) 2017, for satellite imagery interpretation.
Alibek Tazhibayev
Head of Business Development
25+ years in innovation, BIM, engineering, business development and entrepreneurship. Founder of Alcor. Record of successful exits in various industries.
Let's find the next deposit together
We invite co-investors into a screened pipeline of early-stage mining projects, originated with proprietary data and AI, operated by our own field teams, with exit options defined at every stage of the value curve.
- Portfolio deep-diveProject data rooms and technical reports for qualified investors
- Terms discussionParticipation terms tailored to your mandate
- Site visitKazakhstan licence areas and field operations