 |
Erdene’s metal project acquisition and discovery efforts are focused in regions that provide investors with maximum exposure to high growth markets, such as China and in areas capable of hosting "World Class" ore bodies.
 |
Erdene controls a very prospective land package within a major copper porphyry district in northern Mongolia. Erdene's 72-square-kilometre Erdenet property surrounds the Erdenet Mining Corporation (“EMC”) copper/molybdenum mine. The EMC mine is the second largest porphyry copper deposit in Central Asia and one of the largest in the world. In 2007, the mine processed 25.6 million tonnes of ore to produce 286 million pounds of copper and 4.4 million pounds of molybdenum in concentrate. The mine is located on rail with connections to China and Russia.
The project goal at Erdenet is to discover high-grade near-surface extensions of porphyry-style copper/molybdenum mineralization on the Company’s exploration licenses that surround EMC’s open pit copper/molybdenum mining operation.
 |
Erdene has carried out a staged exploration program for extensions of the copper-molybdenum mineralization on its Erdenet properties since acquiring the property in 2005. Geological mapping, geochemical sampling, magnetic and gradient IP surveys and diamond drilling have all been effective tools in determining the geology and mineralization surrounding the EMC mine.
The drilling results to date have indicated the extension of both near surface oxide and deeper sulfide porphyry copper mineralization onto the Corporation’s adjoining property to the southeast as well as immediately northwest of the EMC open pit mine. These results include 34 metres of 0.24% Cu and demonstrate the potential for the discovery of additional economic concentrations of copper mineralization.
Erdene has recently concentrated its exploration efforts in the Tsagaan Chuluut area of the property located 4 kilometres northwest of the EMC open pit. This area is located along a major northwest-trending structure that hosts the EMC deposit and within an area of surface alteration and geophysical anomalies. The first of two planned drill holes has been completed with the second drill hole anticipated in 2008. Results of the first drill hole are pending.
 |
The Bayan Kharaat copper porphyry property consists of a single exploration license covering 3,523 hectares and is located approximately 200 kilometres north north-west of Ulaanbaatar in Selenge province. Bayan Kharaat lies within the Ervana Arc Terrane which hosts numerous porphyry deposits, including Erdenet, Shand, Oyuut, and others. Extensive geophysical surveys (magnetic and IP) with follow-up geochemical and geological mapping surveys identified new copper-molybdenum porphyry targets in the central part of the property in 2006. Rock and grab samples from these areas have returned values up to 0.22% copper. In late 2007 Erdene carried out a 9.6 kilometre, 300 metre spaced, 4 line, dipole-dipole survey over the two target areas outlined in the central part of the property. Results of the survey are pending
 |
The Tsenker Gol property is located approximately 180 kilometres east of Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. The exploration target is an intrusive-hosted disseminated gold prospect located in the South Khentii gold belt, similar to Centerra Gold’s Boroo Mine. High grade gold veins and lower gold values associated with disseminated sulphides in altered granite have been outlined over a target area of kilometric scale. Drilling on four target areas, one to four kilometres apart, all returned anomalous gold intersections (greater than 0.2g/t gold) commonly over significant thicknesses (up to 68 metres) including 10 metres of 1.2g/t gold and 2 metres of 6.6g/t gold.
 |
The Virgin property and Temuujin prospect are located in southeastern Mongolia which lies within the South Gobi porphyry belt that hosts known deposits including the world-class Oyu Tolgoi deposit. Drilling at Temuujin has confirmed porphyry related copper-gold mineralization and alteration interpreted to represent the distal portion of a zoned porphyry system. A large portion of the 62,000 hectare Virgin property remains untested.
 |
The Mogoit property was optioned from Xstrata/Falconbridge in early 2007 for back-in right considerations. The property is located in south central Mongolia and covers an area of approximately 924 square kilometres. A number of significant gold anomalies were identified during a reconnaissance geological mapping and stream sediment survey in 2007 and require follow-up field evaluation in 2008.
 |
The Biger project is an alkalic porphyry system with potential to host significant copper-gold-platinum mineralization. Biger is an early stage exploration project located in a highly prospective area for copper and gold in southwestern Mongolia. Previous work documented over 30 copper occurrences in the area of the property. Initial property examination and rock sampling identified copper values up to 2.8%, accompanied by elevated palladium (1.37 g/t), gold (0.5 g/t), and platinum (0.29 g/t). Scout drill testing has identified several copper mineralized intercepts including 24 metres of 0.5% copper. Erdene is currently evaluating options for the continued exploration of this property.