Aurora Minerals Group
Aurora Minerals Group is a Kazakhstan-based mining-services company providing exploration, geophysical surveying, drilling, and related technical services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Aurora Minerals Group is a Kazakhstan-based mining-services and exploration company headquartered in Astana. Established in 2015 by Kaisar Kozhamuratov and Said Sultanov, the company was formed by two professionals with backgrounds in Kazakhstan’s state geological and mining institutions. Rather than operating primarily as a mine owner or mineral producer, Aurora Minerals Group presents itself as a technical services and consultancy provider for the mining industry, supporting exploration and development programs through geophysical surveys, remote sensing, drilling, and associated field and analytical work. The founders brought experience from KazGeoInform, the Republican Centre for Geological Information, and KazGeology, Kazakhstan’s national exploration company. Kozhamuratov previously served as deputy head of KazGeoInform and later as managing director of KazGeology. Sultanov also held senior roles at KazGeoInform and KazGeology. Their public-sector and geological backgrounds helped shape the company’s focus on exploration infrastructure and technical services within Kazakhstan’s mineral sector. Aurora expanded its technical capabilities through partnerships and specialized subsidiaries. In 2017, it entered a three-year agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for remote-sensing services, adding satellite and earth-observation capabilities to its exploration offering. Its group companies include Nova Drilling, which focuses on vertical and horizontal well core drilling; Aurora Quest Services Ltd., which provides diamond-core, reverse-circulation, geothermal, and water-well drilling; and Aurora Geophysics Ltd., which conducts ground and airborne geophysical surveys at different scales. The company also sought visibility in international mining circles. In 2018, it was described as the only Kazakh company representing the mining industry at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto. In March 2023, Aurora Minerals Group partnered with MSALABS, a geochemical laboratory, to establish an analytical facility in Kazakhstan. The initiative was intended to strengthen domestic sample analysis and complement the group’s exploration and drilling services. In December 2023, the company received the Isker Prize from the President of Kazakhstan in recognition of its stated commitment to quality. Aurora Minerals Group has also been the subject of allegations concerning investor funds and political influence. Reports cited by the company’s encyclopedia coverage alleged that its founders diverted investor funds and used government influence to pressure investors to leave Kazakhstan. Other reporting purportedly linked the business to Russian investors, a claim the company denied when approached by Newsweek. The Daily Express reportedly characterized the company as an unlicensed mining operator, while the company’s described business model is that of a mining-services and consultancy provider rather than a licensed mine operator. These allegations remain important to the public record but should be distinguished from verified corporate facts and formal findings. Overall, Aurora Minerals Group is best understood as a privately held Kazakhstan-focused exploration-services platform whose activities span geophysics, remote sensing, drilling, and geological analytics.
History
Aurora Minerals Group was founded in Kazakhstan in 2015 by Kaisar Kozhamuratov and Said Sultanov. Both founders had previously worked in state-linked geological and exploration organizations. Kozhamuratov served as deputy head of KazGeoInform, the Republican Centre for Geological Information under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, and later became managing director of KazGeology, a national exploration company. Sultanov held senior positions at both KazGeoInform and KazGeology. Their experience placed the new company within Kazakhstan’s institutional mining and geological network from its formation. The company developed as an exploration-services provider rather than a conventional mining producer. Its work covers technical activities required to identify and evaluate mineral resources, including geophysical surveying, remote sensing, drilling, and related consulting. In 2017, Aurora signed a three-year contract with Airbus Defence and Space for remote-sensing services. This agreement broadened its access to satellite and earth-observation capabilities and connected its Kazakhstan-focused operations with an international aerospace and geospatial-services provider. Aurora pursued international industry visibility in 2018, when it represented Kazakhstan’s mining industry at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto. It was described as the only Kazakh company at the event representing that sector. The company’s operating structure included several specialized businesses. Nova Drilling focuses on vertical and horizontal well core drilling. Aurora Quest Services Ltd. provides diamond-core, reverse-circulation, geothermal, and water-well drilling. Aurora Geophysics Ltd. performs ground and airborne surveys across projects of varying scales. In March 2023, Aurora entered a partnership with MSALABS to establish a geochemical analytical facility in Kazakhstan. The planned facility complemented the company’s field services by adding domestic analytical capacity for geological samples. Later that year, in December, Aurora received the Isker Prize from the President of Kazakhstan in recognition of its commitment to quality. The company’s public record also includes allegations about its financing and relationships with investors. Reports cited in reference material alleged that the founders were involved in diverting investor funds and using government influence to pressure investors to leave Kazakhstan. Separate reporting purportedly described the company as being controlled by Russian investors; Aurora denied those allegations in comments to Newsweek. The Daily Express reportedly stated that Aurora was not licensed as a mining operator, instead characterizing it as a mining-services and consultancy provider. These matters have been discussed in the broader context of governance, transparency, and regulatory efficiency in Kazakhstan’s junior mining sector. The available reference material does not establish final legal findings or provide enough information to quantify any alleged financial impact. Aurora Minerals Group is therefore most accurately described as a Kazakhstan-based exploration-services group with capabilities in geophysics, drilling, remote sensing, and geological analysis.
- 2023
MSALABS analytical-facility partnership
[1]Aurora partnered with MSALABS to establish a geochemical analytical facility in Kazakhstan.
- 2023
Isker Prize recognition
[1]Aurora received the Isker Prize from the President of Kazakhstan for its commitment to quality.
- 2018
Participation at PDAC
[1]The company represented Kazakhstan’s mining industry at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto.
- 2017
Airbus remote-sensing contract
[1]Aurora entered a three-year agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for remote-sensing services.
- 2015
Company founded in Kazakhstan
[1]Kaisar Kozhamuratov and Said Sultanov established Aurora Minerals Group as a mining-exploration services company.
Products and positioning
A Kazakhstan-based technical partner for mineral exploration, combining geological knowledge, geophysics, remote sensing, drilling, and analytical services rather than operating chiefly as a mineral producer.
Geophysical surveying
Aurora Geophysics Ltd.
A group subsidiary conducting ground-based and airborne geophysical surveys for mineral-exploration projects. Its stated work covers surveys of different scales, allowing clients to collect subsurface and regional geological information before or alongside drilling and other evaluation activities.
Core drilling
Nova Drilling
A drilling subsidiary specializing in vertical and horizontal well core drilling. The service supports geological investigation by obtaining subsurface material for logging, sampling, resource evaluation, and technical assessment during exploration programs.
Specialized drilling
Aurora Quest Services Ltd.
A subsidiary providing several forms of drilling and borehole services, including diamond-core drilling, reverse-circulation drilling, geothermal drilling, and water-well drilling. Its range allows the group to support mineral exploration as well as selected water and geothermal projects.
Exploration technology · 2017
Remote-sensing services
Aurora’s remote-sensing offering was developed in connection with its three-year agreement with Airbus Defence and Space. The service uses earth-observation capabilities to assist geological interpretation, regional prospecting, and the prioritization of areas for further exploration.
Controversies
Allegations concerning investor funds and ownership
Reports cited in the company’s public reference material alleged that Aurora’s founders diverted investor funds and used government influence to pressure investors to leave Kazakhstan. Other reporting purportedly linked the company to Russian investors, which Aurora denied in comments to Newsweek. The available material does not establish a final legal determination or quantify losses.
Brand decisions
2023
Develop domestic geochemical analysis capacityStrategyBackground
The group sought to complement its exploration, geophysics, and drilling activities with laboratory capabilities in Kazakhstan.
Action taken
Aurora partnered with MSALABS to establish an analytical facility in Kazakhstan.
Aftermath
The partnership was intended to strengthen the group’s integrated exploration-services offering, although operating and financial results for the facility are not provided.
2017
Add international remote-sensing capabilityStrategyBackground
Aurora sought to expand its exploration toolkit beyond conventional field services.
Action taken
The company signed a three-year remote-sensing services contract with Airbus Defence and Space.
Aftermath
The agreement connected Aurora’s mining-services platform with an international provider of satellite and geospatial capabilities.
Sources1 sources
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