Erdene Intersects 30 Metres of 1.25% Copper in Khuvyn Khar Porphyry System
High-Grade Copper Intercepts Transform Molybdenum Resource into Large-Scale Porphyry Prospect as Gold Production Ramps
The news release dated January 14, 2026, reports drill results from the Khuvyn Khar porphyry copper-silver prospect, part of the larger Zuun Mod project. Key results include hole ZMD-162, which intersected 65 metres of 0.63% Cu and 2.9 g/t Ag, including a higher-grade zone of 30 metres averaging 1.25% Cu and 6.1 g/t Ag. This drilling was part of a 3,362-metre program consisting of 24 holes. Management indicates these results confirm a substantial copper component to the system, which was previously characterized primarily by molybdenum. The company plans aggressive exploration in 2026 to test the system at depth and expects to deliver a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the nearby Zuun Mod molybdenum-copper deposit by mid-2026.
- Resource Expansion Potential: The discovery of high-grade copper (1.25%) within a large porphyry system (16km circumference) is materially positive. It shifts the Zuun Mod project's narrative from a pure molybdenum play to a potential multi-commodity copper-molybdenum-silver deposit.
- Proximity and Infrastructure: The project is located 35km from the company’s newly producing Bayan Khundii gold mine and only 200km from China. The infrastructure established for the gold mine (power lines, roads) significantly derisks the development of Zuun Mod/Khuvyn Khar.
- Transition to Producer Status: The news highlights that the Bayan Khundii gold mine is now in production (first pour Sept 2025) and ramping to nameplate capacity. This provides a fundamental valuation floor that exploration-only juniors lack.
- Strategic Synergy: The partnership with Mongolian Mining Corporation (MMC) provides local operational expertise and financial backing, essential for the scale of porphyry development.
Erdene is a developer/producer focused on the Khundii Minerals District in Mongolia. Its flagship is the Bayan Khundii (BK) gold mine, which poured its first gold in September 2025. BK is a high-grade, open-pit mine with reserves of 513,700 oz Au at 4.0 g/t. The company also holds 100% of the Zuun Mod molybdenum-copper project, which has one of the largest undeveloped molybdenum resources in Asia. Erdene operates a strategic alliance with Mongolian Mining Corporation, which owns 50% of the gold assets through Erdene Mongol LLC.