en.Wedoany.com Reported - Highland Copper is advancing detailed engineering and optimization studies for its Copperwood project in Michigan, USA, targeting the release of an updated feasibility study in the first quarter of 2027. The company plans to evaluate whether to lower the cut-off grade used to define mineable resources based on a long-term copper price of approximately $4.80 per pound, thereby incorporating more measured and indicated mineral resources into the mine plan. Current resource estimates show total measured and indicated resources of 54.2 million tonnes at a copper grade of 1.51%. Additionally, Highland Copper is studying the potential application of bulk ore pre-sorting technology, which, if feasible, could include the Upper Copper-Bearing Sequence (UCBS) in future mine plans. This sequence contains 10.2 million tonnes at a copper grade of 1.1% in the measured and indicated categories but is currently excluded from reserves.
Geotechnical investigations are optimizing mine design, including mining heights, pillar dimensions, and dilution sources, with preliminary results indicating that dilution may originate from the mineralized hanging wall rather than the footwall. Metallurgical test work completed in September evaluated a "grind-flotation-grind-flotation" processing flowsheet, projecting an average copper recovery of approximately 87.6% over the mine life, higher than the 86% in the 2023 feasibility study, while reducing secondary grinding requirements and lowering energy and reagent consumption. However, Highland Copper noted that these projections are based on test work and engineering assumptions and may differ under actual operating conditions.
Test work conducted at Responsible Mining Solutions in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, demonstrated the ability to produce paste tailings with a solids content of approximately 55% for the Copperwood project. Highland Copper is considering this option in its design to reduce the size of the tailings storage facility and lower initial construction costs, while also improving process water recovery and reducing pumping expenses.
Barry O'Shea, CEO of Highland Copper, stated that against the backdrop of significantly higher long-term consensus copper prices, the company is advancing a comprehensive mine plan review. He expressed encouragement from the optimization of the Copperwood project through improvements in mine design, processing, and engineering, which are expected to enhance project economics and be incorporated into the updated feasibility study. The project is moving toward a construction decision, but there are few new copper projects ready for production in the United States in the near term. The company aims to complete 40% of front-end engineering design by the end of 2026 to prepare for technical due diligence for future project financing.
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