Canada-based Highland Copper has conducted further engineering and optimization studies at its Copperwood project in US, to be included in an updated feasibility study in support of the project’s development and financing.
As part of the optimisation strategy, the company is currently evaluating lower cut-off grades to expand mineable resources, based on a long-term copper price of approximately $4.80 per pound, with the potential to convert additional measured and indicated mineral resources into mineable reserves.
Additionally, it plans to unlock more resources by utilizing various bulk ore sorting technologies in future mine plans, and enhance mine design via the updated geotechnical studies.
In terms of processing, Highland Copper aims to incorporate a simplified plant design to reduce secondary milling requirements, lower energy and reagent costs, decrease plant footprint, and increase copper recoveries to 87.6%, compared to 86.0% in the 2023 feasibility study.
"As we continue our integrated mine plan review against a backdrop of significantly improved long-term consensus copper prices, we are encouraged by the opportunities to further optimize Copperwood through mine design, processing, and engineering enhancements," said the company’s CEO Barry O’Shea.
"As demand for domestically sourced critical minerals continues to grow, we believe Copperwood is strategically positioned to play an important role in the future U.S. copper supply chain."
Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished
