NorthWest Copper Adopting Phased Development Approach at Kwanika-Stardust
NorthWest Copper (TSX-V: NWST) has announced a new phased development approach for its 100% owned Kwanika-Stardust project. The 2025 strategy focuses on three key areas: targeting higher-grade sub-domains within Kwanika's mineralization, exploring near-surface opportunities close to existing resources, and evaluating a hub-and-spoke development scenario including Kwanika South and Lorraine resources.
The company aims to enhance the existing PEA's value by implementing an initial phase concentrated on higher-grade copper and gold domains at Kwanika. This approach, combined with the Stardust project, is expected to improve economics through higher grades and lower initial capital costs. Current copper and gold prices have increased significantly (43% and 84% respectively) compared to PEA estimates.
VP Business Development Geoff Chinn plans to refine the geology model by focusing on gold-copper zones with a 1 g/t gold threshold, moving away from copper equivalent grades. The company also aims to improve metal recoveries, particularly for gold, which currently ranges from 60% for open pit to 71% for underground material.
NorthWest Copper (TSX-V: NWST) ha annunciato un nuovo approccio di sviluppo in fasi per il suo progetto Kwanika-Stardust, di cui detiene il 100%. La strategia per il 2025 si concentra su tre aree chiave: puntare a sottodomini di alta qualità all'interno della mineralizzazione di Kwanika, esplorare opportunità vicino alla superficie in prossimità delle risorse esistenti e valutare uno scenario di sviluppo hub-and-spoke che includa le risorse di Kwanika South e Lorraine.
L'azienda mira a migliorare il valore dell'attuale PEA implementando una fase iniziale concentrata su domini di rame e oro di alta qualità a Kwanika. Questo approccio, combinato con il progetto Stardust, dovrebbe migliorare l'economia attraverso gradi più elevati e costi di capitale iniziali inferiori. I prezzi attuali di rame e oro sono aumentati significativamente (rispettivamente del 43% e dell'84%) rispetto alle stime del PEA.
Il VP Sviluppo Commerciale Geoff Chinn prevede di affinare il modello geologico concentrandosi sulle zone oro-rame con una soglia di 1 g/t di oro, allontanandosi dai gradi equivalenti di rame. L'azienda punta anche a migliorare i recuperi dei metalli, in particolare per l'oro, che attualmente varia dal 60% per il materiale a cielo aperto al 71% per il materiale sotterraneo.
NorthWest Copper (TSX-V: NWST) ha anunciado un nuevo enfoque de desarrollo por fases para su proyecto Kwanika-Stardust, del cual posee el 100%. La estrategia para 2025 se centra en tres áreas clave: apuntar a subdominios de mayor grado dentro de la mineralización de Kwanika, explorar oportunidades cerca de la superficie en proximidad a los recursos existentes y evaluar un escenario de desarrollo hub-and-spoke que incluya los recursos de Kwanika South y Lorraine.
La empresa busca aumentar el valor del PEA existente implementando una fase inicial centrada en dominios de cobre y oro de mayor grado en Kwanika. Este enfoque, combinado con el proyecto Stardust, se espera que mejore la economía a través de mayores grados y menores costos de capital iniciales. Los precios actuales de cobre y oro han aumentado significativamente (43% y 84% respectivamente) en comparación con las estimaciones del PEA.
El VP de Desarrollo Comercial, Geoff Chinn, planea refinar el modelo geológico enfocándose en zonas de oro-cobre con un umbral de 1 g/t de oro, alejándose de los grados equivalentes de cobre. La empresa también busca mejorar las recuperaciones de metales, especialmente para el oro, que actualmente varía del 60% para el material a cielo abierto al 71% para el material subterráneo.
NorthWest Copper (TSX-V: NWST)는 100% 소유한 Kwanika-Stardust 프로젝트에 대한 새로운 단계별 개발 접근 방식을 발표했습니다. 2025년 전략은 세 가지 주요 영역에 초점을 맞추고 있습니다: Kwanika의 광물화 내에서 고품질 하위 도메인을 목표로 하고, 기존 자원 근처의 표면 근처 기회를 탐색하며, Kwanika South 및 Lorraine 자원을 포함하는 허브 앤 스포크 개발 시나리오를 평가하는 것입니다.
회사는 Kwanika에서 고품질 구리 및 금 도메인에 집중하는 초기 단계를 구현하여 기존 PEA의 가치를 향상시키는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 이 접근 방식은 Stardust 프로젝트와 결합하여 더 높은 등급과 낮은 초기 자본 비용을 통해 경제성을 개선할 것으로 예상됩니다. 현재 구리 및 금 가격은 PEA 추정치에 비해 각각 43% 및 84% 증가했습니다.
비즈니스 개발 부사장인 Geoff Chinn은 구리 동등 등급에서 벗어나 1 g/t 금 기준을 가진 금-구리 지역에 집중하여 지질 모델을 정제할 계획입니다. 회사는 또한 금의 회수율을 개선하는 것을 목표로 하고 있으며, 현재 개방형 갱도에서 60%, 지하 자재에서 71%의 범위를 보이고 있습니다.
NorthWest Copper (TSX-V: NWST) a annoncé une nouvelle approche de développement par phases pour son projet Kwanika-Stardust, dont il détient 100 %. La stratégie pour 2025 se concentre sur trois domaines clés : cibler des sous-domaines de haute qualité au sein de la minéralisation de Kwanika, explorer des opportunités en surface à proximité des ressources existantes et évaluer un scénario de développement en hub-and-spoke incluant les ressources de Kwanika South et Lorraine.
L'entreprise vise à augmenter la valeur de l'APE existant en mettant en œuvre une phase initiale concentrée sur des domaines de cuivre et d'or de haute qualité à Kwanika. Cette approche, combinée au projet Stardust, devrait améliorer l'économie grâce à des teneurs plus élevées et à des coûts de capital initiaux réduits. Les prix actuels du cuivre et de l'or ont considérablement augmenté (respectivement de 43 % et 84 %) par rapport aux estimations de l'APE.
Le VP Développement Commercial, Geoff Chinn, prévoit de peaufiner le modèle géologique en se concentrant sur des zones or-cuivre avec un seuil de 1 g/t d'or, s'éloignant des grades équivalents au cuivre. L'entreprise vise également à améliorer les récupérations de métaux, en particulier pour l'or, qui varie actuellement de 60 % pour le matériau en carrière à 71 % pour le matériau souterrain.
NorthWest Copper (TSX-V: NWST) hat einen neuen phasenweisen Entwicklungsansatz für sein zu 100 % im Besitz befindliches Kwanika-Stardust-Projekt angekündigt. Die Strategie für 2025 konzentriert sich auf drei Schlüsselbereiche: die Zielsetzung von hochgradigen Subdomänen innerhalb der Mineralisierung von Kwanika, die Erkundung von Möglichkeiten in der Nähe der Oberfläche in der Nähe bestehender Ressourcen und die Bewertung eines Hub-and-Spoke-Entwicklungsszenarios, das die Ressourcen von Kwanika South und Lorraine umfasst.
Das Unternehmen zielt darauf ab, den Wert des bestehenden PEA zu steigern, indem es eine erste Phase umsetzt, die sich auf hochgradige Kupfer- und Goldbereiche in Kwanika konzentriert. Dieser Ansatz, kombiniert mit dem Stardust-Projekt, wird voraussichtlich die Wirtschaftlichkeit durch höhere Gehalte und niedrigere Anfangsinvestitionen verbessern. Die aktuellen Kupfer- und Goldpreise sind im Vergleich zu den PEA-Schätzungen erheblich gestiegen (43 % bzw. 84 %).
VP Business Development Geoff Chinn plant, das geologische Modell zu verfeinern, indem er sich auf Gold-Kupfer-Zonen mit einer Schwelle von 1 g/t Gold konzentriert und sich von Kupferäquivalentgraden entfernt. Das Unternehmen strebt auch an, die Metallrückgewinnungen zu verbessern, insbesondere für Gold, das derzeit von 60 % für Tagebau bis 71 % für Untertage-Material reicht.
- Shift to higher-grade copper and gold domains expected to improve project economics
- Significant increase in metal prices: copper +43%, gold +84% vs PEA estimates
- Planned optimization of metal recoveries, particularly for gold
- Lower initial capital costs expected through phased development approach
- Current gold recovery rates are relatively low (60-71%)
- Copper mineralization affected by groundwater movements, complicating estimation
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthWest Copper (“NorthWest” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: NWST) announces Geoff Chinn, VP Business Development and Exploration has begun the process to execute on the Company’s plan to enhance the value of the existing PEA1 on its
The Company’s plans for 2025 are to execute its strategy to enhance the value of the PEA at Kwanika-Stardust through a phased development approach by: i) targeting higher grade sub-domains within the current mineralization at Kwanika, ii) targeting near surface drill-ready exploration opportunities proximal to the existing Kwanika mineral resource, and iii) considering a hub and spoke development scenario for additional mineral resources, including the Kwanika South and Lorraine mineral resources2,3. The Company’s 2025 strategy is set out in the corporate presentation located on the Company’s website at www.northwestcopper.ca.
CEO Paul Olmsted stated, “A phased approach to development will likely provide investors with a more economic alternative to the development approach presented in the current PEA on the Kwanika-Stardust project. This staged approach would see an initial phase focussing on higher-grade copper and gold domains at Kwanika. Combining this new approach at Kwanika with the Stardust project, it has the potential to enhance the economics of the current PEA with higher-grades, and lower capital costs during the initial phase of development. Copper and gold prices used to estimate Mineral Resources in the PEA have increased significantly, by
Newly appointed VP Business Development and Exploration Geoff Chinn, P. Geo, stated, “Having reviewed the Mineral Resource at Kwanika, I see potential to refine the geology model by modelling and targeting higher-grade estimation sub-domains within Kwanika’s broad, lower-grade mineralization. Considering Kwanika’s underground Mineral Resource gold to copper ratio of 1.2: 1 (Au g/t: Cu %) our focus will be on targeting broad higher-grade gold-copper zones guided by a natural break in gold values at a 1 g/t threshold to better support the evaluation of more selective underground mining methods. I can also see moving away from defining estimation domains based on copper equivalent grades, which are complicated by later groundwater movements that have partially remobilized copper. Kwanika’s gold values, on the other hand, are likely more resilient and therefore a better indicator of original fluid pathways that emplaced gold-copper mineralization. Relying on gold values will also help us map potential extensions of the higher-grade zones. Copper equivalent grades from the PEA depended on metal price assumptions at the time, which have changed significantly since. Further to this, I can see an additional, parallel focus on developing a follow-up metallurgical test program looking at improving metal recoveries relative to the current PEA, particularly for gold, where average recoveries ranged from
The Company will provide additional updates on its progress in advancing the plan for the coming year.
Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed, verified, and approved by Geoff Chinn, P.Geo., VP Business Development and Exploration of NorthWest, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects.
About NorthWest Copper:
NorthWest Copper is a copper-gold exploration and development company with a pipeline of advanced and early-stage projects in British Columbia, including Kwanika-Stardust, Lorraine-Top Cat and East Niv. With a robust portfolio in a tier one jurisdiction, NorthWest Copper is well positioned to participate fully in a strengthening global copper market. We are committed to responsible mineral exploration which involves working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure future development incorporates stewardship best practices and traditional land use. Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at www.northwestcopper.ca.
On Behalf of NorthWest Copper Corp.
“Paul Olmsted”
CEO, NorthWest Copper
For further information, please contact:
604-683-7790
info@northwestcopper.ca
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to statements with respect to; plans and intentions of the Company; proposed exploration and development of NorthWest’s exploration property interests; the Company’s ability to finance future operations; mine plans; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the development, operational and economic results of current and future potential economic studies; adding the Lorraine resource to the Kwanika-Stardust Project; the Company’s goals for 2025; geological interpretations; the estimation of Mineral Resources; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future exploration prospects; the completion and timing of technical reports; future growth potential of NorthWest; and future development plans
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, constitutes forward-looking information. Although NorthWest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information since NorthWest can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in NorthWest’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking information are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NorthWest’s expectations include risks associated with the business of NorthWest; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by NorthWest; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company’s mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in NorthWest’s filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com).
Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the information are made. NorthWest does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
1 See NI 43-101 technical report titled “Kwanika-Stardust Project NI 43-101 Technical Report on Preliminary Economic Assessment” dated February 17, 2023, with an effective date of January 4, 2023, filed under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com.
2 See NI 43-101 technical report titled “Lorraine Copper-Gold Project NI 43-101 Report & Mineral Resource Estimate Omineca Mining Division, B.C”, dated September 12, 2022, with an effective date of June 30, 2022, filed under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com.
3 Further work is required, including metallurgical test work, transportation studies, general engineering and geological modeling before the Lorraine resource could be considered.
4 PEA mineral resources are estimated based on assumed prices of US
5 The PEA is preliminary in nature. It includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and the is no certainty that the 2023 PEA will be realized.
FAQ
What is NorthWest Copper's new development strategy for Kwanika-Stardust in 2025?
How much have metal prices increased compared to the original Kwanika-Stardust PEA estimates?
What are the current gold recovery rates at NWST's Kwanika-Stardust project?
What is the gold to copper ratio in Kwanika's underground Mineral Resource?
How will NWST's new geological modeling approach differ from the previous method?
