Arizona Sonoran and Nuton™, a Rio Tinto Venture, Move to Exclusive Metallurgical Testing Program
Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (ASCU) has entered a one-year exclusivity period with Nuton™, a venture by Rio Tinto, following successful metallurgical modeling of ore samples from the Cactus and Parks/Salyer projects, achieving copper recoveries exceeding 72%. The ongoing testing will explore heap-leach technology on primary sulphide ores. The Cactus Project has indicated resources of 77.9 million tons at 0.35% CuT, while Parks/Salyer has potential resources of 8-35 million tons at 0.85-1.05% TCu, enhancing ASCU's prospects for becoming a mid-tier copper producer.
- Secured one-year exclusivity with Nuton™, tapping into Rio Tinto's technology.
- Achieved metallurgical recoveries of over 72% from Cactus and Parks/Salyer ore samples.
- Indicated copper resource at Cactus Project stands at 77.9 million tons at 0.35% CuT, with inferred resources of 111.2 million tons.
- Initial testing of chalcopyrite recoverability is still in early stages, indicating potential uncertainty in future recoveries.
- Sulphide potential not included in the 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment could imply undiscovered resource value.
Highlights:
- Preliminary characterization successfully completed with ongoing detailed test work
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Encouraging modelled metallurgical recoveries in excess of
72% in relation to primary mineralization, including chalcopyrite- Initial computational fluid dynamic (“CFD”) modelling demonstrates the preliminary established recovery threshold as contemplated by the parties
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Sulphide potential is not included in the 2021 Cactus Preliminary Economic Assessment (FIGURE 1)
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Current Cactus Project primary sulphide mineral resource:
Indicated 77.9M st @0.35% CuT; Inferred 111.2M st @0.35% CuT - Opportunity to extend the current Cactus West primary sulphide resource towards the basement fault
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Parks/Salyer primary sulphide potential within the Exploration Target (
FEB 10, 2022 ) has the potential to add between 8-35Mst @ 0.85-1.05% TCu
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Metallurgical Program and Next Steps
The preliminary metallurgical testing program covered ore sample selection, preparation and mineralogical characterization to produce CFD modelling results providing early-stage indicative recoveries in respect of various ore types and specifically the chalcopyrite ore at Cactus. Further test work underway covers test column leaching and scoping out capital and operating costs and design parameters.
About Nuton™
Nuton™ is an innovative new venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto’s copper business. At the core of Nuton™ is a portfolio of proprietary copper leach related technologies and capability – a product of almost 30 years of research and development. The Nuton™ technologies offer the potential to economically unlock known low-grade copper sulphide resources, copper bearing waste and tailings, and achieve higher copper recoveries on oxide and transitional material, allowing for a significantly increased copper production outcome. One of the key differentiators of Nuton™ is the potential to deliver leading environmental performance, including more efficient water usage, lower carbon emissions, and the ability to reclaim mine sites by reprocessing mine waste.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a mining and metals company operating in 35 countries around the world that produces the materials essential to human progress. It aims to help pioneer a more sustainable future, from partnering in the development of technology that can make the aluminum smelting process entirely free of direct GHG emissions, to providing the world with the materials it needs – such as copper and titanium – to build a new low-carbon economy and products like electric vehicles and smartphones.
Links from the Press Release
FIGURE 1: https://arizonasonoran.com/projects/cactus-mine-project/press-release-images/
Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed and verified by
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About
ASCU’s objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs, develop the
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ASCU to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals.
Although ASCU has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and ASCU disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
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FAQ
What recent development occurred with Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (ASCU) and Nuton™?
What metallurgical recovery rates were achieved in ASCU's recent tests?
What is the current status of the Cactus Project's copper resources?
What is the potential resource estimate for the Parks/Salyer project?
