Ivanhoe Mines Expands Copper Resources at Western Forelands
News related to:Ivanhoe Mines · 2 min read
Ivanhoe Mines has significantly expanded the copper resources at its Western Forelands project, marking the company’s latest achievement in what it claims is the world’s largest and highest-grade copper discovery of the past decade.
According to the press release, the company has increased the Indicated Mineral Resources at the Makoko District within the Western Forelands project by 30%, bringing the total to 34 million tonnes at 2.66% copper. Additionally, the Inferred Mineral Resources have grown to 612 million tonnes at 1.80% copper, significantly boosting the overall copper potential in the area.
The expansion of the Makoko District is part of a larger exploration program that has been ongoing since 2018. The drilling program, which has added approximately 64,000 metres of new data, has driven the growth of the project. Ivanhoe Mines plans to further intensify its efforts by upsizing the infill and step-out drilling program in the coming quarter, aiming to incorporate results from additional metres of drilling that were not included in the current Mineral Resource estimate.
The company’s track record in discovering high-grade copper is highlighted as one of the best in the industry, with a discovery rate of 100 million pounds of contained copper for every 1,000 metres drilled. This translates to a cost of discovery of less than $0.01 per pound of copper, a figure that underscores the efficiency and economic viability of the project.
The Western Forelands project, covering 2,426 square kilometres, is over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. Within this extensive area, the Makoko District stands out as a series of interconnected copper discoveries. The district’s mineralization remains open in multiple directions, offering potential for further resource expansion.
Ivanhoe Mines is optimistic about the future of the Makoko District, with plans to commence a scoping study in the first quarter of 2027. The study will focus on mining some of the highest-grade, open-pit copper mines in the world, driven by the project’s expected multiple shallow open pits. This approach is anticipated to lower capital expenditures and accelerate the development process.
The rapid development of the Western Forelands project is expected to benefit from the prior success of the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, which has been developed at a rapid pace. The company is confident that the Western Forelands will continue to rank as the world’s largest and highest-grade copper discovery of the past decade, providing a significant source of copper in an era where new sources are increasingly scarce.
The latest Mineral Resource estimate for the Makoko District is part of an ongoing exploration program, with further updates expected as the company continues to drill and analyze new data. Ivanhoe Mines plans to host an investor webinar on September 8, 2026, to discuss the updated Mineral Resource Estimate, providing an opportunity for investors to learn more about the company’s latest findings and plans for the future.