US Copper Commences Metallurgical Studies on Its Moonlight-Superior Copper Project
US Copper Corp (OTCQB: USCUF) has engaged Libertas Metallurgy Limited to conduct metallurgical studies for its Moonlight-Superior Mining property in California. The study will support the planned Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and includes reviewing previous metallurgical work and designing new testwork programs for oxide and sulphide resources.
Libertas's team includes David Middleditch, who brings over 20 years of metallurgical experience, and John Wells, a copper oxide processing specialist. The company will determine additional drilling requirements, guide sample selection, and manage laboratory bid processes.
US Copper's CEO highlighted the strategic importance of domestic copper production, noting the project's three surface deposits remain open at depth. The company plans to expand resources through deep drilling, with historical mining at Engels reaching 2,400 feet compared to current average drill depths of 450 feet.
US Copper Corp (OTCQB: USCUF) ha incaricato Libertas Metallurgy Limited di svolgere studi metallurgici per la sua proprietà mineraria Moonlight-Superior in California. Lo studio supporterà il Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) pianificato e comprende la revisione dei lavori metallurgici precedenti e la progettazione di nuovi programmi di test per le risorse ossidate e solfuree.
Il team di Libertas include David Middleditch, con oltre 20 anni di esperienza metallurgica, e John Wells, specialista nel trattamento del rame ossidato. La società definirà le necessità di ulteriori perforazioni, indirizzerà la selezione dei campioni e gestirà i processi di gara dei laboratori.
Il CEO di US Copper ha sottolineato l'importanza strategica della produzione nazionale di rame, osservando che i tre giacimenti superficiali del progetto rimangono aperti in profondità. L'azienda prevede di ampliare le risorse mediante perforazioni profonde, ricordando che l'estrazione storica a Engels ha raggiunto i 2.400 piedi rispetto alle attuali profondità medie di perforazione di 450 piedi.
US Copper Corp (OTCQB: USCUF) ha contratado a Libertas Metallurgy Limited para realizar estudios metalúrgicos en su propiedad minera Moonlight-Superior en California. El estudio respaldará el Estudio de Prefactibilidad (PFS) planificado e incluye la revisión de trabajos metalúrgicos anteriores y el diseño de nuevos programas de ensayos para los recursos oxidados y sulfurados.
El equipo de Libertas cuenta con David Middleditch, con más de 20 años de experiencia metalúrgica, y John Wells, especialista en el procesamiento del cobre oxidado. La compañía determinará los requisitos de perforación adicionales, orientará la selección de muestras y gestionará los procesos de licitación de los laboratorios.
El CEO de US Copper destacó la importancia estratégica de la producción nacional de cobre, señalando que los tres depósitos superficiales del proyecto siguen abiertos en profundidad. La empresa planea ampliar los recursos mediante perforaciones profundas, indicando que la minería histórica en Engels alcanzó los 2.400 pies frente a las profundidades medias actuales de perforación de 450 pies.
US Copper Corp (OTCQB: USCUF)는 캘리포니아의 Moonlight-Superior 광산 자산에 대한 야금학 연구를 수행하기 위해 Libertas Metallurgy Limited와 계약을 체결했습니다. 이번 연구는 예정된 예비타당성조사(PFS)를 지원하며, 기존 야금학 작업을 검토하고 산화물 및 황화물 자원에 대한 새로운 시험 프로그램을 설계하는 내용을 포함합니다.
Libertas 팀에는 20년 이상의 야금 경험을 보유한 David Middleditch와 구리 산화물 처리 전문가인 John Wells가 포함되어 있습니다. 회사는 추가 시추 필요량을 결정하고 시료 선정에 조언하며 실험실 입찰 절차를 관리할 예정입니다.
US Copper의 CEO는 국내 구리 생산의 전략적 중요성을 강조하며 프로젝트의 세 개 노천 매장층이 깊이 방향으로 열려 있다고 언급했습니다. 회사는 심도 시추를 통해 자원을 확장할 계획이며, Engels의 과거 채굴은 2,400피트에 이르렀던 반면 현재 평균 시추 심도는 450피트라고 밝혔습니다.
US Copper Corp (OTCQB: USCUF) a mandaté Libertas Metallurgy Limited pour réaliser des études métallurgiques sur sa propriété minière Moonlight-Superior en Californie. L'étude soutiendra l'étude de préfaisabilité (PFS) prévue et comprend la revue des travaux métallurgiques antérieurs ainsi que la conception de nouveaux programmes d'essais pour les ressources oxydées et sulfurées.
L'équipe de Libertas comprend David Middleditch, fort de plus de 20 ans d'expérience en métallurgie, et John Wells, spécialiste du traitement du cuivre oxydé. La société déterminera les besoins de forage supplémentaires, orientera la sélection des échantillons et gèrera les appels d'offres des laboratoires.
Le PDG de US Copper a souligné l'importance stratégique de la production nationale de cuivre, notant que les trois gisements de surface du projet restent ouverts en profondeur. L'entreprise prévoit d'accroître les ressources par des forages profonds, en rappelant que l'exploitation historique à Engels atteignait 2 400 pieds contre des profondeurs moyennes de forage actuelles de 450 pieds.
US Copper Corp (OTCQB: USCUF) hat Libertas Metallurgy Limited beauftragt, metallurgische Studien für das Moonlight-Superior-Bergbaugrundstück in Kalifornien durchzuführen. Die Studie soll die geplante Vorwirtschaftlichkeitsstudie (PFS) unterstützen und umfasst die Überprüfung früherer metallurgischer Arbeiten sowie die Ausarbeitung neuer Testprogramme für Oxid- und Sulfidressourcen.
Im Team von Libertas sind David Middleditch mit über 20 Jahren metallurgischer Erfahrung und John Wells, ein Spezialist für die Aufbereitung von Kupferoxid, vertreten. Das Unternehmen wird zusätzlichen Bohrbedarf ermitteln, die Probenauswahl steuern und die Laborangebotsverfahren managen.
Der CEO von US Copper hob die strategische Bedeutung einer heimischen Kupferproduktion hervor und wies darauf hin, dass die drei Tagebau-Lagerstätten des Projekts in die Tiefe offen bleiben. Das Unternehmen plant, die Ressourcen durch Tiefbohrungen zu erweitern; der historische Abbau bei Engels erreichte 2.400 Fuß gegenüber den aktuellen durchschnittlichen Bohrtiefen von 450 Fuß.
- Project aligns with US government's critical minerals strategy for domestic copper production
- All three deposits are at surface and remain open at depth, indicating expansion potential
- Historical mining depth of 2,400 feet suggests significant untapped resources beyond current 450-foot average drill depth
- Company completed updated PEA in January 2025
- Additional drilling may be required before PFS metallurgical testwork can begin
- Project still in early stages, requiring extensive studies and permitting
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - US Copper Corp. (TSXV: USCU) (OTCQB: USCUF) (FSE: C730) ("US Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged Libertas Metallurgy Limited ("Libertas") to review all the metallurgical work to date and make recommendations for any metallurgical testwork required for the planned Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") at its Moonlight-Superior Mining property ("Moonlight"), located in Plumas County, California.
Libertas was founded in 2017 to provide metallurgical consulting services to the global minerals and mining industry. Their area of expertise is in flotation, leaching, process design and cost reduction as it relates to managing technical studies and process development and operations.
Libertas's President & Principal Metallurgist, David Middleditch, has over 20 years experience in the field of metallurgy and mineral processing. Dave has worked at Falconbridge (now Glencore) in Sudbury, Ontario as a metallurgist and managed the mineral processing laboratory, prior to joining Hudson's Bay Mining and Smelting Co. in Flin Flon, Manitoba as Lead Metallurgist for the Lalor Project. He has also worked on copper projects in Chile, Norway, Mexico and Serbia. The project will be supported by John Wells, an industry leading specialist in copper oxide processing and has authored over 12 technical papers while also working on numerous projects in Chile and Peru.
Libertas will provide the following services to US Copper during the initial review of our metallurgical work to date:
- Review all met work done to date and make recommendations for PFS metallurgical testwork;
- determine whether additional drilling is required before PFS metallurgical testwork can commence;
- Provide guidance on PFS metallurgical sample selection i.e. required number of holes, quantities of sample, number of composites and discrete, variability samples etc.;
- Design of PFS metallurgical testwork program for the oxide and sulphide resources providing the basis and outline for third party metallurgical laboratories to provide quotes for PFS testwork; and
- Issue RFPs to selected testwork laboratories, review and adjudicate bids.
Stephen Dunn, CEO of US Copper, commented, "I am very pleased to welcome Libertas to the Moonlight project. Their expertise in metallurgy and, specifically, the far-reaching experience of David Middleditch and John Wells with copper processing will be very beneficial to US Copper as we advance our metallurgical work at Moonlight.
"The year 2025 has been a very positive one for US Copper as we released the updated results from our Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in January. We are also strategically aligned with the United States of America ("USA") administration which both recocognizes the importance of domestic copper production in the USA AND has issued executive orders aimed at speeding up the permitting of natural resources development in the USA.
"USCU is now focused on taking the next steps required to begin a PFS for our project. In preparation for this we have started this metallurgical study and will soon begin baseline studies. We are also designing a deep drilling program to expand the resources at Moonlight. Our project has three deposits that are all at surface, are very shallow and all all open at depth. We are ready to add to our knowledge of the mineralogy underneath. (The average drill hole depth is 450 feet ("ft"), across 500 holes yet we know Engels was mined to a depth of 2400 ft in 1929.)
"Copper is a key component in a wide range of energy technologies and is designated as a Critical Mineral by the USA government. Copper is a critical material for an extensive range of important applications ranging from renewable power generation to electric vehicles. As such, it is vital that the USA has a strong and viable domestic source of copper supply."
About US Copper Corp.
US Copper controls approximately 10 square miles of patented and unpatented federal mining claims in the Light's Creek Copper District in Plumas County, NE California; essentially, the entire District. The District contains substantial copper (silver) sulfide and copper oxide resources in three deposits – Moonlight, Superior and Engels, as well as several partially tested and untested exploration targets.
The Superior and Engels Mines operated from about 1915 to 1930 producing over 161 million pounds of copper from over 4 million tons of rock containing
The Moonlight deposit was discovered by Placer Amex during the 1960s and a resource was calculated after the drilling of over 400 holes. A development decision was made but then put on hold in 1972 when copper prices were weak. US Copper has owned the project since 2013 and has advanced the project with three different drill programs and a number of engineering studies.
US Copper recently reported an after-tax NPV of US
GRE calculated a new mineral resource for the purposes of this PEA that included all recent drill programs on the property. This resource is summarized below:
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1768/265050_uscopper.jpg
Notes:
- The effective date of the Mineral Resource is December 16, 2024.
- The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource Estimate is Terre Lane of GRE.
- Mineral resources are reported at a
0.16% Cu cutoff for oxide and transition material and at a 10.45 NSR cutoff for sulfide material. The oxide and transition cutoff is calculated based on a long-term copper price of US$4.00 /lb; assumed combined operating costs of US$7.50 /ton (process and G&A); metallurgical recovery of75% for copper. The sulfide cutoff is calculated as the breakeven NSR, which is equal to the combined process and G&A costs for the sulfide material.
Further details of this Resource, and the Preliminary Economic Assessment NI43-101 Technical Report on the Moonlight-Superior Project, Plumas County, California, USA with an effective date of December 16, 2024 can be found on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca or at the Company's website at www.uscoppercorp.com.
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves under CIM Definition Standards. Readers are advised that there is no certainty that the results projected in this preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
For Further Information, Contact:
Mr. Stephen Dunn, President, CEO and Director, US Copper Corp. (416) 361-2827 or email info@uscoppercorp.com.
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 press release.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws and regulations, including statements regarding the future activities of the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management and are identified by the use of words including "will", "hopes", "anticipates", "expected to", "plans", "planned" and other similar words. Actual results may differ significantly. The achievement of the results expressed in forward-looking statements is subject to a number of risks, including those described in the Company's management discussion and analysis as filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/265050
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