Alta Copper Corp. (TSX: ATCU; OTCQX: ATCUF; BVL: ATCU) (“Alta
Copper” or the “Company”) advises the commencement of metallurgical
testwork for the Cañariaco Sur deposit to be used in the optimized
Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”)and progress update on drill
permit application and community.
Joanne C. Freeze, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Alta Copper, commented: “We are very pleased that we
have identified potential further benefits to the overall Cañariaco
project by way of blending the Cañariaco Sur copper and gold
resource with some of Cañariaco Norte mineral resources. The
Cañariaco Sur deposit has a higher gold content and has no
deleterious elements such that blending Sur and Norte is expected
to increase gold content while reducing impurities in the mineral
concentrates to be shipped. We are also very pleased with our new
community relations team’s efforts whom in coordination with the
executive of Energy and Mines of the Regional Government of
Lambayeque contributed to a successful participatory workshop in
the community. Approximately 300 people attended the workshop held
to explain the various details in our drill permit application,
environmental aspects and further exploration and development
activities (see photo). The number of participants, and topics
discussed demonstrates the interest in our project, the environment
and applicable laws. We would like to express our gratitude to all
community attendees, Yaku Consultores, our Peru based environmental
consultant, the Lambayeque government and our team.”
Metallurgical TestworkTransmin
Metallurgical Consultants of Lima have been engaged to oversee the
initial metallurgical test work program on mineralized drill core
samples collected from the Cañariaco Sur deposit. The objective of
this testwork is to assess the deposit mineralogy, copper-gold
metal recoveries and grindability characteristics of the deposit.
Collectively, this test data plus other data to be collected from
the testwork are expected to lead to the inclusion of the Cañariaco
Sur deposit in an updated mine plan for the optimized PEA.
A total of 1,100 kg in 35 samples were collected
from core from previous drilling at Cañariaco Sur and delivered to
Plenge Labs in Lima last week. The metallurgical testwork will
include comprehensive Chemical Analysis, Bond Work Index
determination (hardness of ore/grindability), QEMscan mineral
analysis to assess mineral associations, flotation tests to
determine copper and gold recoveries as well as bulk densities,
specific gravities, pH levels (acidity).
Alta Copper’s NI 43-101 Technical Report on
Preliminary Economic Assessment, prepared by Ausenco Engineering
Canada Inc. with an effective date of February 8, 2022, did not
include the Cañariaco Sur mineral resource in the mine plan.
Inclusion of the Sur resource in the updated PEA is expected to
enhance the Cañariaco project economics. The previously disclosed
Cañariaco Sur mineral resource is presented below:
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Cañariaco Sur Inferred Resource ** |
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Contained Metal |
Cu |
Tonnes |
|
|
Au |
Ag |
Moly |
Copper |
Gold |
Silver |
Moly |
CuEq |
Cut-Off |
(Mt) |
Cu Eq* |
Cu |
(g/t) |
(g/t) |
(ppm) |
(B lbs) |
(M Ozs) |
(M Ozs) |
(M lbs) |
(B lbs) |
0.10% |
433.2 |
0.30% |
0.25% |
0.09 |
1.2 |
22 |
2.36 |
1.26 |
16.39 |
20.80 |
2.43 |
0.15% |
384.5 |
0.32% |
0.26% |
0.10 |
1.2 |
22 |
2.22 |
1.18 |
15.02 |
18.91 |
2.93 |
0.20% |
290.0 |
0.35% |
0.29% |
0.11 |
1.3 |
22 |
1.85 |
0.98 |
11.88 |
14.25 |
3.12 |
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* Copper equivalent includes contributions from gold, silver and
molybdenum, were estimated using metal prices (Copper US$3.50/lb.,
Gold US$1,650/oz., US$21.5/oz and US$11.00/lb. Mo), metal
recoveries (Copper 88%, Gold 65%; Silver 57% and molybdenum 60%)
and smelter payables (Copper 96.5%: Gold 93%; Silver 90% and
Molybdenum 100%). Copper grade equivalent calculation: Cu Eq%
equals Cu % plus (Au grade x Au price x Au recovery x Au smelter
payable%) plus (Ag grade x Ag price x Ag recovery x Ag smelter
payable %) plus (Mo grade x Mo price x Mo recovery x Mo smelter
payable%)/(22.0462 x Cu price x 31.1035 g/t x Cu recovery x smelter
payable %)** The Qualified Person for purposes of the Mineral
Resource Estimate was David Thomas of DKT Geosolutions Inc. |
Community and PermitsRecently,
the community of San Juan de Cañaris elected a new Electoral
Committee to organize and conduct an election for a new Community
President who are expected to take office in early 2024. While
there are other regional stakeholders in the Cañariaco project, the
Cañaris community lives closest to the project and owns the surface
rights related to it.
In addition, 16 Certificates of Non-Existence of
Archaeological Remains (“CIRA”) have now been received for the
Cañariaco Sur and Quebrada Verde areas, such that together with the
previous CIRA certificate received in 2007 for the Cañariaco Norte
area, all copper resources known in Cañariaco have now been
determined not to contain archeological remains.
As required for purposes of the Declaración de
Impacto Ambiental (“DIA“) drilling permit application, a citizen
participation workshop was held in the community on October 28,
2023 to explain the environmental studies by the executive of the
Energy Management and Mines of the Regional Government of
Lambayeque.
While a total of 185 persons registered at the
meeting, closer to 300 people were estimated to have attended the
workshop which covered legal and environmental aspects of
exploration and development activities and our drill permit
application. The number of participants, including residents and
authorities from the different hamlets of the community,
demonstrates the interest in learning about environmental aspects,
details of our planned drilling program for 2024 and further
exploration and development activities. This is one of the last
stages remaining to be completed before the DIA permit application
can be submitted, which is currently targeted for submission by
November 30, 2023. The expected timeline for approval remains on
schedule with respect to the DIA permit application which would
allow for approximately 47,000 meters to be drilled in 95 drill
holes. Alta Copper intends to initially drill approximately 20,000
meters in two separate phases commencing in 2024.
An updated geological model for the Cañariaco
Project recently completed based on the re-interpretation of
district-scale and project-specific geology, has enabled the Alta
Copper geological team to identify numerous high priority drill
targets which will provide the foundation for the 2024 drilling
program. The new geological modelling has identified several
high-grade copper zones with previously untested potential depth
extension. In addition to resource expansion laterally in Cañariaco
Sur and Quebrada Verde, deeper zones in Cañariaco Norte will be
targeted with the goal of further enhancing the current mineral
resource already defined at Cañariaco Norte. The next phase will
also include the first drilling of the Quebrada Verde porphyry
target. Quebrada Verde is on trend with Cañariaco Sur and Norte,
while possessing similar surface geochemical signature and
supportive geophysics.
About Alta CopperAlta Copper is
focused on the development of its 100% owned Cañariaco advanced
staged copper project. Cañariaco comprises 97 square km of highly
prospective land located 150 km northeast of the City of Chiclayo,
Peru, which include the Cañariaco Norte deposit, Cañariaco Sur
deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, all within a 4 km NE-SW trend
in northern Peru’s prolific mining district. Cañariaco is one of
the largest copper deposits in the Americas not held by a
major.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking
Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws
(“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are
typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate,
intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are
those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All
statements that are not statements of historical fact are
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to,
statements with respect to the effective date of the consolidation
and name change of the Company. These forward-looking statements
are made as of the date of this press release. Although the Company
believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are
reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and
assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. The
Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by
the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance,
and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other
factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors include, among others: the state of the equity
financing markets in Canada and other jurisdictions; the receipt of
regulatory approvals; fluctuations in metals prices, the actual
results of current development activities; conclusions of economic
evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to
be refined; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the
mining industry; and delays in obtaining approvals or financing.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will
prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or
alter any forward-looking statements except as required under
applicable securities laws.
On behalf of the Board of Alta Copper
Corp.
“Joanne C. Freeze” P.Geo., President, CEO and
Director
For further information please contact:Joanne C.
Freeze, President, CEO and Director jfreeze@altacopper.com +1 604
512 3359orGiulio T. Bonifacio, Executive Chair and
Directorgtbonifacio@altacopper.com+1 604 318 6760
Email: |
info@altacopper.com |
Website: |
www.altacopper.com |
Twitter: |
https://twitter.com/Alta_Copper |
LinkedIn: |
https://www.linkedin.com/company/altacopper/ |
Facebook: |
https://www.facebook.com/AltaCopperCorp |
Instagram: |
https://www.instagram.com/altacopper/ |
YouTube: |
https://www.youtube.com/@AltaCopper |
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