Arizona Sonoran Updates Cactus Project Mineral Resource Estimate to 7.3 B lbs of Copper in M&I and 3.8 B lbs of Copper in Inferred – Updated Parks/Salyer Deposit Amenable as an Open Pit
Arizona Sonoran Copper Company has released an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Cactus copper project in Arizona. Key highlights include:
- Total Measured & Indicated resources of 632.6 million short tons at 0.58% copper, containing 7.3 billion pounds of copper
- Inferred resources of 474.0 million short tons at 0.41% copper, containing 3.8 billion pounds of copper
- Parks/Salyer deposit now amenable to open pit mining
- 1,904% increase in Measured category resources
- 26% increase in total Measured & Indicated resources
- 60% increase in Inferred resources
The updated MRE incorporates results from recent drilling at the MainSpring property. It will form the basis for an upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment, expected in early Q3 2024.
- Total Measured & Indicated resources increased 26% to 7.3 billion pounds of copper
- Inferred resources increased 60% to 3.8 billion pounds of copper
- Parks/Salyer deposit now amenable to open pit mining, potentially reducing costs
- 1,904% increase in higher-confidence Measured category resources
- Successful expansion of mineralization onto MainSpring property
- None.
Highlights:
- Updated total Cactus Project Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”) including Primary Mineral Resources:
-
Measured and Indicated (“M&I”) 632.6 million short tons @
0.58% Total Copper (“CuT”) for 7.3 billion pounds (“lbs”) of copper -
Inferred 474.0 million short tons @
0.41% CuT for 3.8 billion lbs of copper
- Key Changes:
-
Confirms
Parks /Salyer and MainSpring as one deposit, renamed to “Parks/Salyer”-
Parks /Salyer mineral resource contains 339.0 million short tons @0.71% CuT for 4.8 billion lbs of copper in the M&I category and 299.3 million short tons @0.43% CuT for 2.6 billion lbs of copper in the Inferred category
-
-
Parks /Salyer amenable as an open pit within the pending Preliminary Economic Assessment-
New
Parks /Salyer mineral resource dimensions are 6,400 feet (“ft”)(1,950 meters (“m”) by 3,000 ft (915 m) to a maximum depth of 2,350 ft (716 m) below surface
-
New
-
1,
904% increase to the Measured Category with inclusion of initial Measured mineral resources atParks /Salyer,26% increase to the total M&I and a60% increase in total Inferred resource, with no change to cut-off grade criteria or underlying price and cost assumptions-
42% increase of M&I mineral resources atParks /Salyer attributed to success of measured infill drilling program, reporting of open pit resources, and reporting based on total copper pounds -
Parks /Salyer infill drilling (56,907 ft | 17,345 m) converted 55.9 M short tons @1.03% CuT for 1.2 billion lbs of copper reported to the measured category -
60% increase to the Inferred mineral resources attributed to expansion ofParks /Salyer mineral resource onto the MainSpring property and reporting based on total copper pounds -
7-month drilling program at MainSpring (49,193 ft | 14,994 m) delivered 244.9 M short tons @
0.39% CuT for 1.9 Billion lbs of copper reported to the Inferred mineral resource
-
Table 1 below reports the July 11, 2024, Cactus Project MRE, containing the combined
TABLE 1: Cactus Project MRE, Contained Copper Separated into Total Copper and Soluble Copper
Material
|
Tons
|
Grade CuT % |
Grade Cu Tsol % |
Contained
|
Contained
|
Measured |
|||||
Total Leachable |
55,200 |
0.94 |
0.79 |
1,032,200 |
873,800 |
Total Primary |
12,300 |
0.51 |
0.05 |
124,400 |
13,400 |
Total Measured |
67,500 |
0.86 |
0.66 |
1,156,500 |
887,200 |
Indicated |
|||||
Total Leachable |
414,800 |
0.60 |
0.53 |
4,965,000 |
4,365,700 |
Total Primary |
150,400 |
0.39 |
0.04 |
1,173,300 |
126,000 |
Total Indicated |
565,200 |
0.54 |
0.40 |
6,138,200 |
4,491,700 |
M&I |
|||||
Total Leachable |
470,000 |
0.64 |
0.56 |
5.997,200 |
5,239,500 |
Total Primary |
162,700 |
0.40 |
0.04 |
1,297,600 |
139,400 |
Total M&I |
632,600 |
0.58 |
0.43 |
7,294,800 |
5,378,900 |
Inferred |
|||||
Total Leachable |
299,600 |
0.43 |
0.38 |
2,572,400 |
2,262,800 |
Total Primary |
174,500 |
0.36 |
0.04 |
1,267,500 |
124,700 |
Total Inferred |
474,000 |
0.41 |
0.25 |
3,839,900 |
2,387,500 |
NOTES:
1. Total soluble copper grades (Cu TSol) are reported using sequential assaying to calculate the soluble copper grade. Tons are reported as short tons.
2. Stockpile resource estimates have an effective date of 1st March, 2022, Cactus mineral resource estimates have an effective date of 29th April, 2022,
3. Technical and economic parameters defining mineral resource pit shells: mining cost
4. Technical and economic parameters defining underground mineral resource: mining cost
5. Technical and economic parameters defining processing: Oxide heap leach (HL) processing cost of
6. Royalties of
7. Variable cut-off grades were reported depending on material type, potential mining method, potential processing method, and applicable royalties. For ASCU properties - Oxide open pit or underground material =
8. Mineral resources, which are not mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant factors.
9. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there is insufficient exploration to define these inferred mineral resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource; it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or measured classification.
10. Totals may not add up due to rounding.
George Ogilvie, Arizona Sonoran Copper Company President and CEO commented, “The new
Doug Bowden, Arizona Sonoran Copper Company VP Exploration stated, “Our Cactus Project is a successful copper porphyry growth story resulting from an aggressive exploration program. Our mineral resource journey began with our initial PEA in 2021, and continuously expanded outward from the Cactus Pit area to include
Cactus Mineral Resources Estimate
The
For the purposes of the MRE, Cactus East reports as open pit mineral resources in compliance with Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (“RPEEE”). For the purposes of the pending PEA, Cactus East is expected to be exploited as an underground operation.
Table 2 below reports a direct like–for-like comparison of the updated July 11, 2024, MRE, to the MRE comprising the Prefeasibility Study (“PFS”) MRE and illustrates a significant change to the Measured (+1,
Table 2: The Cactus Project Mineral Resource Estimate, as of July 11, 2024, as Compared to August 31, 2023
|
PREVIOUS MINERAL RESOURCE (As of August 31, 2023) |
UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE (As of July 11, 2024) |
VARIANCE |
||||
Material Type |
Tons kt |
Grade Cu%¹ |
Contained Cu k lbs |
Tons kt |
Grade Cu%¹ |
Contained Cu k lbs |
Cu Content % |
Leachable |
9,100 |
0.23¹ |
41,900 |
55,200 |
0.79¹ |
873,800 |
1, |
Primary |
1,300 |
0.32 |
8,000 |
12,300 |
0.51 |
124,400 |
1, |
Total Measured |
10,400 |
0.24 |
49,800 |
67,500 |
0.74 |
998,200 |
1, |
Leachable |
348,500 |
0.63¹ |
4,387,200 |
414,800 |
0.53¹ |
4,365,700 |
|
Primary |
86,800 |
0.43 |
737,000 |
150,400 |
0.39 |
1,173,300 |
|
Total Indicated |
435,300 |
0.59 |
5,124,200 |
565,200 |
0.49 |
5,539,000 |
|
Leachable |
357,600 |
0.62¹ |
4,429,000 |
470,000 |
0.56¹ |
5,239,500 |
|
Primary |
88,000 |
0.42 |
745,000 |
162,700 |
0.40 |
1,297,600 |
|
Total M&I |
445,700 |
0.58 |
5,174,000 |
632,600 |
0.52 |
6,537,100 |
|
Leachable |
107,700 |
0.61¹ |
1,307,900 |
299,600 |
0.38¹ |
2,262,800 |
|
Primary |
126,200 |
0.36 |
900,000 |
174,500 |
0.36 |
1,267,500 |
|
Total Inferred |
233,800 |
0.47 |
2,207,900 |
474,000 |
0.37 |
3,530,300 |
|
NOTES: refer to TABLE 1
1 Grade shown is Soluble Copper (Cu TSol)
Drilling programs
The updated Cactus Project MRE is supported by a systematic drilling program targeting MainSpring, the near surface southern extension of the
TABLE 3: MainSpring Property Resource contained within New Parks/Salyer Mineral Resource
Material
|
Tons
|
Grade CuT % |
Grade Cu Tsol % |
Contained
|
Contained
|
Inferred |
|||||
Total Leachable |
200,100 |
0.39 |
0.34 |
1,562,700 |
1,370,300 |
Total Primary |
44,800 |
0.38 |
0.04 |
344,000 |
33,100 |
Total Inferred |
244,900 |
0.39 |
0.29 |
1,906,700 |
1,403,500 |
NOTES: refer to TABLE 1
TABLE 4: Cactus Project Mineral Resources by Resource Area
Material
|
Tons
|
Grade CuT % |
Grade Cu Tsol % |
Contained
|
Contained
|
|
Measured |
||||||
Leachable |
Parks Salyer O/P |
45,000 |
1.09 |
0.92 |
981,200 |
828,700 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
5 |
1.30 |
0.92 |
100 |
100 |
|
Cactus O/P |
10,200 |
0.25 |
0.22 |
50,800 |
45,000 |
|
Cactus U/G |
n/a |
|||||
Stockpile |
n/a |
|||||
Total Leachable |
55,200 |
0.93 |
0.79 |
1,032,100 |
873,800 |
|
|
||||||
Primary |
Parks Salyer O/P |
10,900 |
0.53 |
0.06 |
115,500 |
12,200 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
40 |
0.77 |
0.07 |
700 |
100 |
|
Cactus O/P |
1,300 |
0.32 |
0.04 |
8,200 |
1,100 |
|
Cactus U/G |
n/a |
|||||
Stockpile |
n/a |
|||||
Total Primary |
12,300 |
0.51 |
0.05 |
124,400 |
13,400 |
|
Total Measured |
67,500 |
0.86 |
0.66 |
1,156,500 |
887,200 |
|
Indicated |
||||||
Leachable |
Parks Salyer O/P |
201,300 |
0.75 |
0.66 |
3,027,000 |
2,671,100 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
1,100 |
0.96 |
0.85 |
21,400 |
18,900 |
|
Cactus O/P |
131,000 |
0.55 |
0.49 |
1,446,100 |
1,277,000 |
|
Cactus U/G |
10,200 |
1.04 |
0.89 |
213,100 |
181,100 |
|
Stockpile |
71,100 |
0.18 |
0.15 |
257,400 |
217,600 |
|
Total Leachable |
414,800 |
0.60 |
0.53 |
4,965,000 |
4,365,700 |
|
|
||||||
Primary |
Parks Salyer O/P |
80,400 |
0.42 |
0.04 |
680,600 |
69,200 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
100 |
0.77 |
0.12 |
1,200 |
200 |
|
Cactus O/P |
68,300 |
0.34 |
0.03 |
465,800 |
45,100 |
|
Cactus U/G |
1,600 |
0.81 |
0.36 |
25,700 |
11,500 |
|
Stockpile |
n/a |
|||||
Total Primary |
150,400 |
0.39 |
0.04 |
1,173,300 |
126,000 |
|
Total Indicated |
565,200 |
0.54 |
0.40 |
6,138,200 |
4,491,700 |
|
Measured & Indicated |
||||||
Leachable |
Parks Salyer O/P |
246,300 |
0.81 |
0.71 |
4,008,200 |
3,499,800 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
1,100 |
0.98 |
0.86 |
21,500 |
19,000 |
|
Cactus O/P |
141,200 |
0.53 |
0.47 |
1,496,900 |
1,322,000 |
|
Cactus U/G |
10,200 |
1.04 |
0.89 |
213,100 |
181,100 |
|
Stockpile |
71,100 |
0.18 |
0.15 |
257,400 |
217,600 |
|
Total Leachable |
470,000 |
0.64 |
0.56 |
5,997,200 |
5,239,500 |
|
|
||||||
Primary |
Parks Salyer O/P |
91,300 |
0.44 |
0.04 |
796,100 |
81,400 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
100 |
0.95 |
0.15 |
1,900 |
300 |
|
Cactus O/P |
69,600 |
0.34 |
0.03 |
474,000 |
46,200 |
|
Cactus U/G |
1,600 |
0.80 |
0.36 |
25,700 |
11,500 |
|
Stockpile |
n/a |
|||||
Total Primary |
162,700 |
0.40 |
0.04 |
1,297,600 |
139,400 |
|
Total M&I |
632,600 |
0.58 |
0.43 |
7,294,800 |
5,378,900 |
|
Inferred |
||||||
Leachable |
Parks Salyer O/P |
234,500 |
0.42 |
0.38 |
1,990,200 |
1,767,500 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
9,600 |
0.84 |
0.76 |
161,200 |
146,300 |
|
Cactus O/P |
50,400 |
0.34 |
0.28 |
344,600 |
286,900 |
|
Cactus U/G |
3,900 |
0.94 |
0.77 |
72,800 |
59,100 |
|
Stockpile |
1,200 |
0.15 |
0.13 |
3,600 |
3,000 |
|
Total Leachable |
299,600 |
0.43 |
0.38 |
2,572,400 |
2,262,800 |
|
|
||||||
Primary |
Parks Salyer O/P |
54,100 |
0.39 |
0.04 |
427,300 |
41,000 |
Parks Salyer U/G |
1,000 |
0.82 |
0.26 |
16,700 |
5,300 |
|
Cactus O/P |
117,800 |
0.34 |
0.03 |
798,700 |
68,300 |
|
Cactus U/G |
1,500 |
0.82 |
0.33 |
24,900 |
10,200 |
|
Stockpile |
n/a |
|||||
Total Primary |
174,500 |
0.36 |
0.04 |
1,267,600 |
124,800 |
|
Total Inferred |
474,000 |
0.41 |
0.25 |
3,839,900 |
2,387,500 |
NOTES: refer to TABLE 1
Cactus Project Mineral Resource Modelling
The geological modelling, statistical analysis, and resource estimation in respect of the Cactus Project MRE were prepared by the ASCU resource team and by Allan Schappert – CPG #11758, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
The Cactus Project MRE updates are based upon updated drilling data and interpretations. The Cactus Mineral Resource model was developed in
The mineralized domains are consistent with domaining for porphyry copper systems. Mineralized domains represent combinations of rock type and copper mineral zonation associated with secondary copper enrichment weathering processes. The main mineral zones are leached, oxide, enriched, and primary. Mineral zones are determined by logging and the assay attributes of sequential copper analyses.
Physical density measurements have been undertaken across the deposits, both historically by ASARCO, and more recently by ASCU. Density measurements on inground deposits use the wet / dry weight method and comprise 3,372 samples for Cactus and 143 samples for
Copper grades were estimated using Ordinary Kriging, using 20 ft (6.1 m) composites and top cutting determined by log normal probability plots on a per domain basis. Grade estimates were validated using visual and statistical methods including statistical distribution comparisons, visual comparison against the drilling data on sections, swath plots comparing block grades trends against de-clustered composites, and by smoothing checks using change of support. The effective date of the Cactus Project MRE is July 11, 2024. The Cactus Project MRE will form the basis of a PEA technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, and prepared by M3 Engineering, which will be filed on SEDAR+ under the Company’s issuer profile within 45 days of this news release and will also be available at such time on the Company’s website. The PFS will be superseded in all respects once the Company has publicly disclosed the PEA.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Drilling completed on the project between 2020 and 2024 was supervised by on-site ASCU personnel who prepared core samples for assay and implemented a full QA/QC program using blanks, standards, and duplicates to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to Skyline Laboratories in
Scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and verified by Allan Schappert – CPG #11758, who is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.
Links from the Press Release
Figures: https://arizonasonoran.com/projects/cactus-mine-project/press-release-images/
February 21, 2024: https://arizonasonoran.com/news-releases/arizona-sonoran-announces-a-positive-pre-feasibility-study-for-the-cactus-mine-project-with-a-us-509m-post-tax-npv-and-55-kstpa/
Neither the TSX nor the regulating authority has approved or disproved the information contained in this news release.
About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (www.arizonasonoran.com | www.cactusmine.com)
ASCU’s objective is to become a mid-tier copper producer with low operating costs and to develop the Cactus Project that could generate robust returns for investors and provide a long term sustainable and responsible operation for the community and all stakeholders. The Company’s principal asset is a
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain information that may constitute “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information, other than historical fact, are forward-looking information. Generally, statements containing forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expect”, “is expected”, “in order to”, “is focused on” (a future event), “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, or the negative connotation thereof. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, the Company’s future operations, future exploration and development activities or other development plans, the potential of the Cactus Project (including the
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. The Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which may be beyond the control of the Company, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affects the Company and its operations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information and are urged to carefully consider the foregoing factors as well as other uncertainties and risks outlined in the Company’s public disclosure record. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and ASCU disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240716866475/en/
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
What is the new total Measured & Indicated copper resource for Arizona Sonoran's Cactus Project?
How much did the Inferred resources increase in the updated MRE for ASCUF?
When is Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (ASCUF) expecting to release its Preliminary Economic Assessment?