Erdene Resource Development Corp. ("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Company's principal metals projects in Mongolia and a corporate review.
Highlights
Altan Nar Gold Base Metal Project
- Q2 drilling at the Discovery Zone resulted in highest grade gold interval intersected to date at Altan Nar; 17.7 g/t gold over 5 m, within 19 m of 5.8 g/t gold, 37 g/t silver and 2.6% combined lead and zinc within 60 m of surface
- Q2 drilling at Union North, 1.3 km northwest of the Discovery Zone, returned 22 m of 2.1 g/t gold and below that 12 m of 4.0 g/t gold, 10 g/t silver and 2.5% combined lead and zinc within 35 m of surface
- Twenty individual targets, all exhibiting gold and base metal mineralization at surface, have been established and prioritized for additional evaluation
- Trenching program to commence in September to better assess potential of new targets and increase confidence in areas planned for resource definition drilling
Khuvyn Khar Copper Porphyry Project
- Geochemical rock chip sampling, vein density mapping, and geophysical modeling completed during Q2 has resulted in the identification of new targets
- Trenching program, testing both the western targets as well as the main Khuvyn Khar copper prospect, commenced on August 18th as part of the Company's alliance with Teck Resources
Financial Results
- Corporate & administrative expenses continue to decrease as a percentage of exploration costs
Altan Nar Mineralized Trend
Altan Nar Gold Base Metal Project
Diamond drilling during the Company's Q2 2014 exploration program on the Altan Nar Gold Base Metal Project, located in southwest Mongolia, provided the widest zones of high-grade mineralization to date for the project's two most advanced mineralized zones; the Discovery Zone, with 19 m of 5.8 g/t gold, 37 g/t silver and 2.6% combined lead-zinc; and Union North, located 2.1 km northwest of the Discovery Zone, with 12 m of 4.0 g/t gold, 10 g/t silver and 2.5% combined lead-zinc (see attached maps). The exploration program also established lateral and vertical continuity of those zones, which remain open in all directions, and expanded the known size of the 5.6 km long Altan Nar trend.
The combination of detailed surface mapping, geochemical analysis of soil and rock samples, along with IP and magnetic geophysical surveys, has resulted in the identification of 20 highly prospective targets within the Altan Nar license, 18 of which are within the Altan Nar main trend (see attached map). With the exception of the Discovery Zone and Union North these targets remain relatively un-tested, and thus have the potential to significantly expand the areas of known gold and base metal mineralization at Altan Nar with further trenching and drilling.
The Company's near-term objective is to establish initial, independently reported, near surface, high-grade, open pitable resources at both the Discovery Zone and Union North in late 2014/early 2015. Simultaneously, the Company expects to complete additional evaluation of the remaining targets to assist in determining the highest priority areas and assessing potential additional near surface resources. Plans include trenching, commencing in September 2014, to evaluate new target areas, improve drill targeting and increase confidence for resource estimation at both the Discovery Zone and Union North. This program would be followed by resource definition drilling in Q4 2014. During these programs, trenching and reconnaissance drilling to further evaluate and prioritize remaining targets will be completed.
Teck Alliance
The Company continues to be active through the Teck Alliance in assessing the porphyry copper potential of the Khuvyn Khar Copper Project and assessing regional opportunities through the Alliance's area of interest, particularly now that the Mongolian licensing system is about to re-open.
During Q2 2014, work on the Khuvyn Khar Copper Project included field evaluation of seven porphyry copper drill targets identified during the 2013 program and geophysical characterization studies of drill core to provide further definition and confidence in the modelling of potential mineralization at Khuvyn Khar. This work has resulted in the identification of new, partially buried targets at Khuvyn Khar which are the subject of a large trenching program that commenced August 18, 2014. The ongoing exploration program continues to confirm the potential for copper porphyry style mineralization within the Khuvyn Khar target area.
Quarter Ended June 30, 2014 Financial Summary
Erdene's second quarter 2014 financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis were filed with regulatory authorities on August 15, 2014 and are available on the Company's website at www.erdene.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
For the three months ended June 30, 2014, exploration expenses totaled $660,767 compared to $480,324 for the same period in 2013. Corporate and administrative expenses amounted to $268,526 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 compared to $284,433 for the same period in 2013.
As outlined within the project update above, the Company carried out a drill program on the Altan Nar project in Q2 2014. Drilling, assaying and geophysical costs were in excess of $235,000. This is noteworthy when you consider exploration costs for the six months ended June 30, 2014 were only $42,000 higher than the prior year. The savings generated from continued expense rationalization paid for a significant portion of the Altan Nar program.
On April 21, 2014 and May 13, 2014 the Company closed two non-brokered private placements. The first for $350,000, from Teck Resources, represented funds dedicated to licence renewal and surface exploration programs. The second for $685,520 was primarily for the drill program on the Company's Altan Nar project (see Project Summary above).
Erdene reduced its corporate and administrative expenses in fiscal 2013 by 53% compared to the prior year, and expect to maintain or decrease overhead costs further in fiscal 2014. The Company's significant cost savings is evidence of management's continued focus on the reduction of overhead and administrative expenses.
About Erdene
Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. For further information on the Company, please visit www.erdene.com. Erdene has 75,833,470 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 89,253,051 common shares.