Gunnison Copper Corp (TSX:GCU, OTCQB:GCUMF) said on Monday it will begin mineral processing at its fully permitted Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) in southeast Arizona by July, with initial copper sales expected in September.
The company said construction at the site is progressing as planned. Haul road development, sump and overflow pond construction, and the installation of pipelines from the leach pads to the solvent extraction/electrowinning (SX/EW) plant are nearing completion, according to a company statement.
Irrigation of the Phase-1 run-of-mine (ROM) oxide leach pad is anticipated next month, enabling first production of copper cathode using conventional leach technology. Gunnison also expects to begin producing copper using Nuton technology before the end of the year.
"Construction activity continues its fast pace and we are getting ever closer to first irrigation of oxide mine production at JCM SX/EW restart," said Robert Winton, Gunnison’s senior vice president of operations.
“There is no better time than now to bring a new copper mine online in America, with this critical mineral playing a vital role in our energy and defense security.”
JCM had previously started mining and stockpiling mineralized material in preparation for the leaching process.
Phase 1 of the leach pad is now complete, with Phase 2 construction expected shortly.