Gunnison Copper Corp (TSX:GCU, OTCQB:GCUMF) has kicked off operations at its solvent extraction and electrowinning plant at the Johnson Camp Mine in southeast Arizona, with first copper sales expected as soon as September.
This marks a significant milestone for the company, moving closer to producing “Made-in-America” copper.
Robert Winton, Gunnison’s senior vice-president of operations, praised the team for bringing the plant online ahead of schedule and without any hiccups.
The process involves leaching mineralized ore to extract copper-rich solutions, which are then treated in the SX-EW plant to produce pure copper cathode, a highly marketable product.
Construction at Johnson Camp, backed by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture focused on innovative copper leaching technologies, is progressing smoothly.
The final leach pad is on track, while crushing and processing equipment are nearing completion.
Nuton’s technology offers a greener, more efficient way to extract copper with lower energy and water usage, aligning with environmental, social and governance (ESG) ambitions.
Gunnison is developing a portfolio of deposits within Arizona’s prolific Southern Arizona Copper Belt, centred around its flagship Gunnison Copper Project.
This project boasts over 830 million tons of measured and indicated mineral resources at a copper grade of 0.31%, with strong preliminary economic assessment metrics: a net present value of $1.3 billion, an internal rate of return of 20.9%, and a payback period of just over four years.
Johnson Camp itself is set to produce up to 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode annually, fully funded by Nuton, demonstrating confidence in Gunnison’s asset base and technology partnerships.
Beyond Johnson, the company controls several other promising deposits nearby, which could feed into existing infrastructure and extend the life and scale of operations.