Arizona Sonoran Initiates Pre-Feasibility Study; Appoints M3 Engineering and Begins PFS Workstreams
Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) has appointed M3 Engineering to lead the Cactus Project Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. The study will focus on upgrading the Parks/Salyer deposit to PFS level, following its rescoping as an open pit mine in the August 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
Upcoming workstreams include exploration and infill drilling, mine design and scheduling, and technical studies. The company will continue working with Nuton Technologies to develop an integrated PFS. Trade-off studies for optimization include in-pit crushing and conveying, adjusting the Parks/Salyer open pit location, primary sulphide extraction scenarios, and options to smooth cathode production over the mine's life.
L'Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) ha nominato M3 Engineering per guidare lo Studio di Prefattibilità del Progetto Cactus (PFS), che si prevede sarà completato nella seconda metà del 2025. Lo studio si concentrerà sull'aggiornamento del deposito Parks/Salyer al livello PFS, dopo la sua ristrutturazione come miniera a cielo aperto nell'Analisi Economica Preliminare (PEA) di agosto 2024.
Le prossime attività includono esplorazione e perforazione di riempimento, progettazione e programmazione della miniera, e studi tecnici. La società continuerà a collaborare con Nuton Technologies per sviluppare un PFS integrato. Gli studi di trade-off per l'ottimizzazione includono la frantumazione e il trasporto in miniera, l'aggiustamento della posizione della miniera a cielo aperto Parks/Salyer, scenari di estrazione di solfuri primari e opzioni per uniformare la produzione di catodi durante la vita della miniera.
La Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) ha nombrado a M3 Engineering para liderar el Estudio de Prefactibilidad del Proyecto Cactus (PFS), que se espera esté completado en la segunda mitad de 2025. El estudio se centrará en la actualización del depósito Parks/Salyer al nivel PFS, tras su reestructuración como mina a cielo abierto en la Evaluación Económica Preliminar (PEA) de agosto de 2024.
Los próximos flujos de trabajo incluyen exploración y perforación de relleno, diseño y programación de la mina, y estudios técnicos. La empresa continuará trabajando con Nuton Technologies para desarrollar un PFS integrado. Los estudios de alternativas para la optimización incluyen la trituración y el transporte dentro de la mina, ajustar la ubicación de la mina a cielo abierto Parks/Salyer, escenarios de extracción de sulfuros primarios y opciones para suavizar la producción de cátodos a lo largo de la vida útil de la mina.
아리조나 소노란 구리 회사 (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF)는 M3 Engineering를 카투스 프로젝트의 사전 타당성 조사 (PFS)를 이끌어갈 주체로 임명했으며, 이는 2025년 하반기에 완료될 예정이다. 이 연구는 2024년 8월의 예비 경제 평가 (PEA)에서 개방채광광산으로 재구성된 Parks/Salyer 광상을 PFS 수준으로 업그레이드하는 데 초점을 맞출 것이다.
향후 작업 흐름에는 탐사 및 보충 시추, 광산 설계 및 일정 수립, 기술 연구가 포함된다. 회사는 Nuton Technologies와 협력하여 통합 PFS를 개발하는 작업을 계속 진행할 것이다. 최적화를 위한 대안 연구에는 채굴 구역 내 파쇄 및 운반, Parks/Salyer 개방채광광산 위치 조정, 주요 황화물 추출 시나리오 및 광산의 생애에 걸쳐 양극 생산을 평준화하는 옵션이 포함된다.
La Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) a nommé M3 Engineering pour diriger l'Étude de Pré-Faisabilité du Projet Cactus (PFS), qui devrait être achevée dans la deuxième moitié de 2025. L'étude se concentrera sur la mise à niveau du gisement Parks/Salyer au niveau PFS, suite à sa restructuration en tant que mine à ciel ouvert dans l'Évaluation Économique Préliminaire (PEA) d'août 2024.
Les prochaines tâches comprennent l'exploration et le forage de remplissage, la conception et la planification de la mine, ainsi que des études techniques. L'entreprise continuera de travailler avec Nuton Technologies pour développer un PFS intégré. Les études d'évaluation pour l'optimisation incluent le concassage et le transport in-pit, l'ajustement de la localisation de la mine à ciel ouvert Parks/Salyer, des scénarios d'extraction des sulfures primaires et des options pour lisser la production de cathodes tout au long de la vie de la mine.
Die Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU | OTCQX:ASCUF) hat M3 Engineering beauftragt, die Machbarkeitsstudie für das Cactus-Projekt (PFS) zu leiten, die voraussichtlich in der zweiten Hälfte von 2025 abgeschlossen sein wird. Die Studie wird sich darauf konzentrieren, das Parks/Salyer-Vorkommen auf PFS-Niveau zu bringen, nachdem es in der vorläufigen Wirtschaftlichkeitsbewertung (PEA) von August 2024 als Tagebau umgestaltet wurde.
Zukünftige Arbeitsströme umfassen Exploration und Infill-Bohrungen, Bergbauplanung und -terminierung sowie technische Studien. Das Unternehmen wird weiterhin mit Nuton Technologies zusammenarbeiten, um eine integrierte PFS zu entwickeln. Die Abwägungsstudien zur Optimierung umfassen das Brechen und Fördern im Tagebau, die Anpassung des Standorts des Parks/Salyer-Tagebaus, Szenarien zur primären Sulfit-Extraktion und Optionen zur Glättung der Kathodenproduktion über die gesamte Lebensdauer der Mine.
- Appointment of experienced M3 Engineering to lead the Pre-Feasibility Study
- Incorporation of MainSpring Property's mineralized material into the mine plan
- Identification of significant inferred copper mineral resource at MainSpring
- Rescoping of Parks/Salyer as an open pit mine, potentially improving project economics
- Ongoing optimization studies to enhance project efficiency and production
- PFS completion not expected until second half of 2025, potentially delaying project development
- Reliance on inferred mineral resources for initial production years
- Potential changes to project scope may impact previous economic assessments
Pre-Feasibility Study Workstreams
The Cactus Mine plan, and in particular the first five years of mining, was rescoped in the August 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the “PEA”) (see news release dated August 7, 2024) by the incorporation of mineralized material from the MainSpring Property. The MainSpring title transfer took place in March 2024. An initial drilling program on the MainSpring property was complete in April 2024 and identified a significant inferred copper mineral resource as the near surface and southern extension of the Parks/Salyer deposit (see news release dated July 16, 2024). The updated mineral resource ultimately rescoped Parks/Salyer as an open pit mine from an underground scenario, comprising the initial years of proposed production. The focus of the coming months will be upgrading the entirety of the Parks/Salyer deposit to the PFS level. Upcoming workstreams in preparation of the PFS, include:
- Exploration and infill drilling,
- Mine design and scheduling, and
-
Technical studies and project support, including:
- Geotechnical and hydrological drilling, and
- Metallurgical test work.
Bernie Loyer, ASCU SVP Projects, commented, “Continuing to use M3 and supporting consultants was a logical choice due to their strong working knowledge of the Project, the close proximity of their engineering centers in
Opportunities
Having already led the PEA for the Cactus Project in 2024, M3 and the Consultants have a strong working knowledge of the Project’s characteristics and opportunities. Trade-off studies for continued optimization of the current scope, include:
- In-pit and near-pit crushing and conveying,
- Shifting the Parks/Salyer open pit centroid north,
- Primary sulphide extraction scenarios,
- Options to adjust and smooth cathode production and cash flows over the life of mine, and
- Waste dump reclamation studies (backfilling)
Neither the TSX nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this press release.
About M3 Engineering (www.m3eng.com)
M3 Engineering provides continuous design and construction services from project conception to final testing and integration. Members of the Company have had significant experience building Solvent Extraction and Electrowinning projects within the
About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (www.arizonasonoran.com | www.cactusmine.com)
ASCU is a copper exploration and development company with a
For more information on the Cactus Copper Project, including the referenced preliminary economic assessment (or PEA), please refer to the Company’s news release dated August 7, 2024 and the corresponding technical report for the Project, both available on the Company’s website at www.arizonasonoran.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” and "forward-looking information" (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
Preliminary Economic Assessments
The 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (or PEA) referenced in this news release and summarized in the PEA Technical Report is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the Cactus Copper Project and the economic and technical viability of the Project has not been demonstrated. The PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the Project’s potential and design options; there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. For further detail on the Project and the PEA, including applicable technical notes and cautionary statements, please refer to the Company’s news release dated August 7, 2024 and the PEA Technical Report, both available on the Company’s website at www.arizonasonoran.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Mineral Resource Estimates
Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral resource estimates that are not classified as mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements. The quantity and grade of reported “inferred” mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define “inferred” mineral resource estimates as an “indicated” or “measured” mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading “inferred” mineral resource estimates to an “indicated” or “measured” mineral resource category. Inferred mineral resource estimates may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. The accuracy of any mineral resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a “inferred”, “indicated” or “measured” mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category including a mineral reserve. The mineral resource estimates declared by the Company were estimated, categorized and reported using standards and definitions in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the “CIM Standards”) in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 43-101”), which governs the public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.
The terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” as disclosed by the Company are Canadian mining terms defined in the CIM Standards (collectively, the “CIM Definitions”) in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 establishes standards for all public disclosure that a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These Canadian standards differ from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241015310081/en/
For more information
Alison Dwoskin, Director, Investor Relations
647-233-4348
adwoskin@arizonasonoran.com
George Ogilvie, President, CEO and Director
416-723-0458
gogilvie@arizonasonoran.com
Source: Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc.
FAQ
When is Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (ASCUF) expected to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Cactus Project?
What company has been appointed to lead the Cactus Project Pre-Feasibility Study for Arizona Sonoran Copper (ASCUF)?
What major change was made to the Parks/Salyer deposit in Arizona Sonoran's (ASCUF) August 2024 PEA?