Erdene Expands New Gold Zone Under Younger Cover at Bayan Khundii; Results Include 41 Metres of 5.2 g/t Gold and 72 Metres of 4.0 g/t Gold
ERDENE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Erdene Expands New Gold Zone Under Younger Cover at Bayan Khundii;
Results Include 41 Metres of 5.2 g/t Gold and 72 Metres of 4.0 g/t Gold
Halifax, Nova Scotia – January 10, 2017 – Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD)
("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to announce results for nine diamond drill holes from the
Company’s step-out drilling program at its 100%-owned Bayan Khundii Gold Project (“Bayan
Khundii”) in southwest Mongolia.
Highlights (see attached plan maps and cross-sections for reference)
• Drilling expands new gold zone (Midfield) under younger cover, 200 metres northeast of the
main gold zone (Striker)
• Gold mineralization at Midfield includes s ome of the highest grades and the longest
mineralized intervals intersected to date including:
o 149 metres of 2.1 g/t gold from 23 metres depth, including 41 metres of 5.2 g/t gold and
15 metres of 6.5 g/t gold (BKD-90)
o 72 metres of 4.0 g/t gold from 108 metres depth (BKD-92)
o 16 metres of 3.9 g/t gold from 19 metres depth and 40 meters of 1.0 g/t gold from 106
metres depth (BKD-95)
• All step-out confirmation holes intersected gold mineralization with visible gold observed in
six of the eight holes, establishing lateral continuity of the new mineralized Midfield Zone in
all directions
• Geophysical surveys indicate alteration zones that host gold mineralization at Midfield extend
under cover along the 1.7 kilometre north-northeast trend
• 2017 exploration drill program now being designed to test additional target areas
“Today’s results indicate that significant gold mineralization lies under younger cover at Bayan
Khundii, greatly expanding the footprint of this high-grade, near-surface discovery, and support our
belief that this gold system has considerable size potential,” said Peter Akerley, Erdene’s President and
CEO. “In 2017, we will launch a resource drilling program, complimented by an extensive exploration
drilling program designed to expand the known areas of gold mineralization at Bayan Khundii as well as
our other targets in the district including Altan Nar.”
Table 1. Results summary for holes drilled at Midfield (see attached maps and sections)
Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) (1) Gold (g/t)
BKD-88 70 144.3 74.3 0.54
BKD-89 92 173.6 81.6 1.15
incl 128 141 13 2.02
BKD-90 23 171.8 148.8 2.11
incl 40 81 41 5.17
incl 50 56 6 9.75
and 66 81 15 6.51
and 108 115 7 4.58
BKD-91 154.9 167.8 12.9 0.50
BKD-92 108 180.3 72.3 (2) 3.96
incl 119 121 2 112.8
BKD-93 32.6 50 17.4 0.36
BKD-94 59 126 67 1.15
incl 68 69 1 30.7
and 111 120 9 2.10
BKD-95 19 35 16 3.93
and 106 146.3 40.3 1.03
BKD-96 102 149 47 0.65
incl 122 127 5 1.89
(1) Reported intervals are not true width. At this time, there is insufficient data with respect to the shape of the mineralized
system to calculate true orientations in space. They represent drill intersection widths from holes drilled at a dip of -45 to -60
and oriented to the northeast. The Bayan Khundii mineralization is interpreted to be moderately dipping (approximately 40 to
50 degrees to the southwest).
(2) BKD-92 includes two post-mineral dykes, from 128 m to 135.7 m depth and 144.15 m to 155.45 m depth. These dykes
have been incorporated into the drill results for hole BKD-92 as 0.00 g/t gold over the combined 19 metres.
Midfield Drill Program Q4-2016
The Company completed eight diamond drill holes, totaling 1,370 metres, in a new target area now
called the Midfield Zone, north of the original discovery area, and one hole, 125 metres deep, to the
west (BKD-93). As shown in the attached plan maps and cross-sections, the eight holes were drilled on
40-metre centers surrounding the successful step-out hole BKD-60, announced in October 2016, which
returned 68 metres of 2.0 g/t gold. Drill holes were orientated at either 45 degrees or 60 degrees
towards the north-northeast to intersect the mineralized zones approximately perpendicular to their
interpreted orientation (dipping approximately 45 degrees to the southwest). All holes intersected gold
mineralization with visible gold observed in six of the eight holes, establishing lateral continuity of this
new mineralized zone in all directions.
The drilling results for Midfield are significant in that they have extended the area of gold
mineralization under the younger cover while providing some of the highest grades and longest
mineralized intervals intersected to date. Midfield is located approximately 200 metres north of the
original discovery area that includes the Striker and Gold Hill zones where gold mineralization is
exposed at surface. The Striker and Gold Hill zones form the southwest portion of a 1.7 kilometre by
500 metre target area and have been the focus of the majority of the Company’s drill programs to date.
A second, exposed mineralized zone is located 700 metres to the northeast where limited exploration has
been completed (Northeast Zone), with the area between being covered by younger Cretaceous (post
mineralization) units.
The prospectivity of the covered area is now strengthened by today’s results and by geophysical
anomalism, characterized by strong induced polarization resistivity response that reflects the intense
alteration. The gold mineralized units at Midfield have been intersected over vertical sequences up to
100 metres thick and within the Bayan Khundii target area at depths exceeding 200 metres. Drill holes
at Bayan Khundii commonly end in mineralization (approximately 30% of drill holes) and in altered or
unaltered lithologies and, as in the case at Midfield, are intruded locally by un-mineralized and, rarely,
by mineralized felsic intrusions at depth. The vertical depth of Cretaceous cover, from the nine holes
completed to date at Midfield (includes BKD-60) ranges from 8 to 110 metres (average of 48 metres).
Geophysical data suggests that the thickness of the younger Cretaceous lithologies is variable but thins
out to expose mineralization in the Northeast Zone.
These results support extensive future testing beneath the younger Cretaceous units throughout this
trend with drilling scheduled to resume at Bayan Khundii early in the second quarter. The Company
will continue with its dual objective of increasing confidence in areas with established resource potential
and expanding the perimeter and testing new areas within the larger 1.7 kilometre trend in order to
establish potential extensions and boundaries to the gold system.
Bayan Khundii Gold Project Overview
In Q2-2015, Erdene conducted an initial exploration program on the southern portion of the Company’s
100%-owned Bayan Khundii exploration license in southwest Mongolia. An early rock-chip sampling
program revealed multiple, very high-grade surface quartz veins that returned highly anomalous gold
values (over 20% of samples returned values in excess of 3.0 g/t gold, and up to 4,380 g/t gold), leading
to a comprehensive exploration program that has included: geological mapping; soil geochemical
surveys; additional surface rock chip sampling; a ground magnetic survey; gradient array and dipole-
dipole induced polarization surveys; and the completion of 11,340 meters of drilling in 96 drill holes. In
addition to this work, a series of detailed follow-up studies have also been completed, mostly on drill
core and minor surface outcrop, including: petrographic and mineralogical analyses; a fluid inclusion
study; SEM gold composition analysis; Short-Wave Infra-Red Analysis (SWIR); structural analysis; and
overall petrogenetic analysis. Drilling has revealed the presence of very high gold grades, including 112
g/t gold over 2 metres in hole BKD-92 (Midfield Zone), within broad mineralized envelopes, including
65 metres of 6.3 g/t gold in hole BKD-77. Detailed studies indicate the mineralized zones can be
characterized as low-sulphidation, quartz-sericite (illite)-adularia type mineralization that was formed in
a back-arc extensional environment.
In Q1-2016, the Company concluded preliminary metallurgical test work at Bayan Khundii, indicating
that gravity concentration and cyanidation of the gravity tails yielded very good overall gold recoveries
for both high-grade and low-grade composites: 99% gold recovery from the high-grade composite (24.9
g/t gold), and 92% gold recovery from the low-grade composite (0.7 g/t gold).
The Bayan Khundii license has a 2% net smelter returns royalty (“NSR Royalty”) in favour of
Sandstorm Gold Ltd. with a buy-back option to reduce the NSR Royalty to 1%.
Qualified Person and Sample Protocol
Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Director of Exploration for Erdene, is the Qualified Person
as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical
information contained in this news release. All samples have been assayed at SGS Laboratory in
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In addition to internal checks by SGS Laboratory, the Company incorporates a
QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards and blanks.
Erdene’s sampling protocol for drill core consisted of collection of samples over 1 m etre or 2 metre
intervals (depending on the lithology and style of mineralization) over the entire length of the drill hole,
excluding minor post-mineral lithologies and un-mineralized granitoids. Sample intervals were based on
meterage, not geological controls or mineralization. All drill core was cut in half with a diamond saw,
with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at
Erdene’s Bayan Khundii exploration camp. All samples were organized into batches of 20 samples
including a commercially prepared standard and blank. Sample batches were periodically shipped
directly to SGS in Ulaanbaatar via Erdene’s logistical contractor, Monrud Co. Ltd.
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 pros pective
Mongolia. In addition to Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, the Company has two other exploration licenses
and a mining license in southwest Mongolia. Other deposits and prospects within these licenses include:
Khuvyn Khar – an early-stage, copper-silver porphyry project with multiple drill targets and significant
copper intersections; Nomin Tal – a narrow, high grade copper-gold discovery; Zuun Mod – a large
molybdenum-copper porphyry deposit; and Altan Arrow – an early-stage, high-grade, gold-silver
project. In addition to the above properties, the Company has an Alliance with Teck Resources Limited
on regional copper-gold exploration in the prospective Trans Altai region of southwest Mongolia. For
further information on the Company, please visit www.erdene.com. Erdene has 126,810,031 issued and
outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 134,431,281 common shares.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward -looking statements
within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates,
plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements
of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene
cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its
control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward -looking statements
include market prices, exploitation and explor ation results, continued availability of capital and
financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward -looking statements are
expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is
stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the
obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under
applicable securities laws.
NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS
RELEASE
Erdene Contact Information
Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO
or
Ken W. MacDonald, Vice President and CFO
Phone: (902) 423-6419
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.erdene.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErdeneRes