Atico Produces 2.08 Million Pounds of Cu and 1,465 Ounces of Au in Second Quarter 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Atico Mining (OTCQX: ATCMF) reported Q2 2026 operating results from its El Roble copper-gold mine, with production of 2.08 million pounds of copper and 1,465 ounces of gold in concentrates. Copper output fell 4% and gold output 38% versus Q2 2025, as the mine temporarily worked through a lower-gold-grade zone.
Quarterly mill performance included 53,585 tonnes processed (down 14%), average throughput of 786 tpd (down 5%), copper head grade of 1.91% (up 10%) and gold grade of 1.25 g/t (down 40%). Recoveries were 92.3% for copper and 68.0% for gold, with gold recovery up 18% year-over-year. Concentrate production reached 5,332 dmt, and closing concentrate inventory was 1,491 dmt after one shipment. All figures are preliminary and subject to final settlement and independent lab verification. Management is targeting an updated reserve report and operational optimization in the second half of 2026.
Positive
- Copper head grade 1.91%, a 10% increase over Q2 2025
- Gold recovery 68.0%, an 18% improvement versus Q2 2025
- Copper recovery 92.3%, slightly higher than Q2 2025
- Closing concentrate inventory 1,491 dmt after one shipment in Q2 2026
- El Roble reserves 828 kt at 2.49% Cu and 2.20 g/t Au, with mine life to Q1 2027 (effective March 12, 2024)
Negative
- Copper production 2.08M lbs, down 4% from Q2 2025
- Gold production 1,465 oz, down 38% from Q2 2025
- Gold head grade 1.25 g/t, a 40% decrease year-over-year
- Ore mined 53,156 t, down 12% from Q2 2025
- Tonnes processed 53,585 t, down 14% from Q2 2025
- Payable copper 1.95M lbs, a 4% decline versus Q2 2025
News Explained
At El Roble, the disclosed reserve estimate, effective
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atico Mining Corporation (the “Company” or “Atico”) (TSX.V: ATY | OTCIQ: ATCMF) announces its operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2026 from its El Roble mine. Production for the quarter totaled 2.08 million pounds of copper and 1,465 ounces of gold in concentrates.
“The El Roble mine performed as planned during this period and delivered incremental improvements compared to the first quarter, particularly in copper grades and metal recovery. Gold grade as well as output were impacted as we temporarily mine through a lower gold grade zone of the deposit,” said Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO. “In the second half of the year, we are targeting an updated reserve report and anticipate further gains in production as we optimize new operational equipment, gaining further access to higher-grade ore zones.”
Second Quarter Operational Highlights
- Production of 2.08 million pounds of copper contained in concentrates; a decrease of
4% over Q2 2025. - Production of 1,465 ounces of gold contained in concentrates; a decrease of
38% over Q2 2025. - Average processed tonnes per day of 786, a decrease of
5% over Q2 2025. - Copper head grade of
1.91% , an increase of10% over Q2 2025. - Gold head grade of 1.25 grams per tonne; a decrease of
40% over Q2 2025. - Copper and gold recovery of
92.3% and68% ; no significant change for copper and an increase of18% for gold, respectively, over Q2 2025.
Second Quarter Operational Details
| Q2 2026 Total | Q2 2025 Total | % Change | |||||
| Production (Contained in Concentrates) | |||||||
| Copper (000s pounds) | 2,081 | 2,155 | -4 | % | |||
| Gold (ounces) | 1,465 | 2,385 | -38 | % | |||
| Mine | |||||||
| Tonnes of ore mined | 53,156 | 60,633 | -12 | % | |||
| Mill | |||||||
| Tonnes processed | 53,585 | 62,007 | -14 | % | |||
| Tonnes processed per day | 786 | 830 | -5 | % | |||
| Copper grade (%) | 1.91 | 1.74 | 10 | % | |||
| Gold grade (g/t) | 1.25 | 2.08 | -40 | % | |||
| Recoveries | |||||||
| Copper (%) | 92.3 | 91.2 | 1 | % | |||
| Gold (%) | 68.0 | 57.6 | 18 | % | |||
| Concentrates | |||||||
| Copper and Gold Concentrates (dmt) | 5,332 | 5,592 | -5 | % | |||
| Payable copper produced (000s lbs) | 1,951 | 2,032 | -4 | % | |||
| Note: Metal production figures are subject to adjustments based on final settlement. The reported results are preliminary in nature and are awaiting independent lab verification. | |||||||
Concentrate Inventory
The number of shipments the Company can export in any given quarter depends on several variables some of which the Company does not control, hence there may be an inherent variability in tonnes shipped quarter to quarter.
| Q2 2026 | |||
| Amounts in dry metric tonnes | |||
| Opening inventory | 1,266 | ||
| Production | 5,332 | ||
| Sales | -4,989 | ||
| Adjustments | (118 | ) | |
| Closing inventory | 1,491 | ||
| Number of shipments | 1 | ||
| Note: Concentrate figures are subject to adjustments based on final surveys and final settlement of sales. | |||
El Roble Mine
The El Roble mine is a high grade, underground copper and gold mine with nominal processing plant capacity of 1,000 tonnes per day, located in the Department of Choco in Colombia. Its commercial product is a copper-gold concentrate.
Since obtaining control of the mine on November 22, 2013, Atico has upgraded the operation from a historical nominal capacity of 400 tonnes per day.
El Roble’s reserves estimate, with an effective date of March 12, 2024, includes Proven and Probable mineral reserves of 828 thousand tonnes averaging
Mineralization is open at depth and along strike and the Company plans to further test the limits of the deposit. On the larger land package, the Company has identified a prospective stratigraphic contact between volcanic rocks and black and grey pelagic sediments and cherts that has been traced by Atico geologists for ten kilometers. This contact has been determined to be an important control on VMS mineralization on which Atico has identified numerous target areas prospective for VMS type mineralization occurrence, which is the focus of the current surface drill program at El Roble.
Qualified Person
Mr. Thomas Kelly (SME Registered Member 1696580), advisor to the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 standards, is responsible for ensuring that the technical information contained in this news release is an accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or developed by Atico.
About Atico Mining Corporation
Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin America. The Company generates significant cash flow through the operation of the El Roble mine and is developing its high-grade La Plata VMS project in Ecuador. The Company is also pursuing additional acquisition of advanced stage opportunities. For more information, please visit www.aticomining.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Fernando E. Ganoza
CEO
Atico Mining Corporation
Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF
Investor Relations
Igor Dutina
Tel: +1.604.633.9022
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange 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.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘‘U.S. Securities Act’’), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company’s mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company’s mineral projects; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form (“AIF”) dated September 4, 2024, filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.com and as available on the Company's website for further details.
