Gunnison Copper Corp (TSX:GCU, OTCQB:GCUMF) announced what it called “encouraging” results from the initial mineralized material sorting test program at its flagship Gunnison Copper Project in Arizona, which could result in significant savings on operating costs.
The multi-asset, pure-play copper developer and producer said sorting tests reduced acid consumption, a key operating cost driver, on the highest acid consuming mineralized material by about 75% while maintaining copper recovery.
"This type of high-value-add program can materially improve the project's already robust economics and feed directly into our upcoming update to our preliminary economic assessment and planned pre-feasibility study,” Gunnison Copper senior vice president Roland Goodgame said in a statement.
"These results support Gunnison's vision of producing cost-effective, sustainable, and 100% Made-in-America copper."
Gunnison noted that during the sorting test program more than 90% of the internal acid-consuming waste was successfully removed from the mineralized material using optical mineral sorting equipment at a commercial scale.
As well, less than 1% of total copper was lost to waste, ensuring strong copper recovery and protecting revenue, according to the company.
Gunnison added that it plans to incorporate results of these tests into an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) expected in the first quarter of 2026.
The Gunnison Copper Project has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831.6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31%.