A new gold-copper discovery could reshape the future of Bulgaria’s Chelopech district

In an era when high-quality discoveries are becoming increasingly rare, DPM Metals has announced what could prove to be one of the most significant gold-copper exploration results reported in Europe in recent years. The company has identified a new high-grade porphyry system at the Brevene South Porphyry (BSP) target, located immediately adjacent to the Chelopech mine in Bulgaria. Initial drilling has intersected an extraordinary 713 metres grading 2.52 g/t gold equivalent, including 398 metres grading 3.00 g/t gold equivalent, confirming both scale and grade within a mineralized system that remains open in multiple directions.

DPM Metals Delivers Another Major Exploration Success

Located approximately 1km from existing Mineral Reserves and directly adjacent to operating infrastructure at Chelopech, the target sits within a hydrothermal system extending more than 1,000 by 1,500 metres. Early drilling suggests a vertically extensive mineralized system with significant room for expansion. The headline intercept alone 713 metres averaging 1.31 g/t gold and 1.16% copper, would attract industry attention anywhere in the world. The fact that it occurs within an established mining district with existing infrastructure makes the discovery particularly compelling.

A fourth major discovery since 2023

For DPM Metals, this is fourth significant discovery since 2023, following Čoka Rakita, Dumitru Potok and the Wedge Zone, reinforcing the geological prospectivity of the Western Tethyan Belt and highlighting the effectiveness of the company’s exploration strategy. DPM President and CEO David Rae summarized the significance of the results: „The Brevene South Porphyry target is emerging as a significant gold-copper discovery. These results demonstrate both the grade and scale of the target, with over 713 metres grading 2.52 grams per tonne gold equivalent over a broad, continuous interval of mineralization.”

From discovery to district growth

The company has already committed five high-capacity drill rigs to the BSP target, with up to 15,000 m of additional drilling planned before the end of 2026. Meanwhile, exploration continues across multiple targets within the broader Brevene licence area, where more than 40,000 m of drilling have been completed since August 2025.

The proximity of BSP to existing Chelopech infrastructure could ultimately prove as important as the grades themselves. If future drilling confirms continuity and scale, the discovery may offer a pathway to extend the life of one of Europe’s most important gold-copper mining districts while leveraging existing operational infrastructure.

The bigger picture

As global demand for copper accelerates through electrification, renewable energy deployment, and grid expansion, the mining industry is searching for new discoveries capable of supplying future metal demand. The BSP discovery arrives at a time when investors increasingly reward projects that combine resource quality, infrastructure advantages, and jurisdictional stability.

Whether Brevene South ultimately evolves into a standalone development or a future extension of the Chelopech mining complex remains to be seen. What is already clear is that one of the most closely watched exploration stories in Europe has just become even more interesting.