America's Newest Copper Producer Delivers First Revenue Milestone
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 25, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the first sales of pure copper cathode from its fully operational Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM") in southeast Arizona, with production capacity of up to 25 million lbs. of copper cathode annually.
On September 15, 2025, Gunnison completed its inaugural copper sales, marking the start of revenue generation following successful commissioning. Gunnison sold a total of 225,371 pounds of finished copper cathode at an average realized copper price of US$4.64 per pound, generating gross proceeds of approximately US$1,046,194.
"This milestone represents the first revenue from Johnson Camp and demonstrates the rapid progress Gunnison has made in delivering value to shareholders since achieving first copper production just weeks ago," stated Craig Hallworth, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Strong copper prices and increasing production levels position us well as we move towards a potential equity valuation re-rating as a copper producer. We are especially proud that every pound sold is 100% Made-in-America copper, directly supporting our nation as we work together to strengthen our supply chains."
Key Highlights of First Copper Sales:
Revenue milestone achieved: First sales total 225,371 lbs. of finished copper cathode, generating over US$1.0 million in gross proceeds.
Strengthened U.S. supply chain: Sales represent the first Made-in-America copper from JCM delivered into domestic markets.
Nuton® Technology: First copper production using Nuton's bio-leaching technology is expected later this year. Nuton , a venture of Rio Tinto, will be deploying this innovative technoogy at scale for the first time at Johnson Camp.
Continued growth trajectory: JCM has a nameplate capacity of 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode annually.
Johnson Camp Mine commenced production in the last week of August 2025, ahead of schedule, and with an excellent health and safety record. Copper cathode from JCM is fully produced in the United States, contributing directly to American energy independence, advanced manufacturing, technology, and national defense supply chains.
Cannot view this video? Visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndGnF4Jl4xY
Figure 1 - First copper sale being shipped from Johnson Camp Mine.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/267913_6c2398d4642f5bcc_001full.jpg
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831,6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is now in production, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually. Copper revenues from Johnson Camp accrue to Nuton LLC until such time as Nuton LLC has received payback of all of its funding for Johnson Camp.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing value.
With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials.
One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lightest environmental footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
For more information, please visit https://nuton.tech.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4536
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) potential equity valuation re-rating as a copper producer; (vi) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vii) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, the production decision at JCM was not based on any feasibility studies of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability of JCM and as a result, there may be increased uncertainty and risks of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals from JCM, or the costs of such recovery, further JCM does not have established mineral reserves, the Company faces higher risks that anticipated rates of production and production costs, as a result these risks could have a material impact on the ability to generate revenues and cash flows to fund operations from and achieve or maintain profitable operations at JCM, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267913
Evaluating Airborne Georadiotomography (aGRT) for Potential Copper and Rare Earth Targeting
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Lunasonde Inc. ("Lunasonde"), a U.S.-based defense technology start-up specializing in airborne based subsurface imaging.
Under the LOI, Gunnison will provide access to its district-scale land package in southeastern Arizona, allowing Lunasonde to test and refine its advanced experimental remote sensing technology. The goal is to accelerate the identification of new copper, other critical minerals, and rare earth element targets within the Company's Cochise Mining District assets.
"Geology like that of the Cochise Mining District has been known to host at least 12 of the Critical Minerals so important to the US supply chain, yet most of this geology lies, un-explored, beneath thick alluvial cover. We are delighted to explore this partnership with Lunasonde who's technology has the potential to see through this cover and make new discoveries," stated Stephen Twyerould, President & Chief Executive Officer.
"Our partnership presents an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate how Lunasonde can accelerate critical mineral exploration," says Jeremiah Pate, Lunasonde's Founder and Chief Technology Officer.
The parties intend to apply for funding of this venture under the United States Department of Energy ("DOE") ROCKS (Reliable Ore Characterization with Keystone Sensing) Program. The transaction remains subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, successful submission and approval of the DOE funding application, and customary closing conditions.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831.6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is now in production, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024, and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
ABOUT LUNASONDE
Lunasonde Inc. is a defense and mineral exploration technology startup dedicated to revolutionizing subsurface sensing using its novel radar system capable of discerning underground features from aerial and space platforms. Their mission is to address the scarcity of critical minerals and life-sustaining natural resources by delivering rapid, high-resolution subsurface data via aerial radar combined with advanced processing pipelines. The company's solutions support commercial, defense, and humanitarian applications-enabling resource mapping, recurring monitoring, and exploration in environmentally sensitive or politically challenging areas on Earth, and, ultimately, celestial bodies.
For more information, please visit www.lunasonde.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4536
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) details of the transaction with Lunasdone; (vi) the potential for identification of new copper and rare earth element targets; (vii) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (viii) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the parties will execute a definitive agreement and receive DOE funding, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, failure to execute a definitive agreement with Lunasonde, failure to receive DOE funding, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/267729
Sorting Tests Reduced Acid Consumption, a Key Operating Cost Driver, on the Highest Acid Consuming Mineralized Material by Approximately 75% While Maintaining Copper Recovery
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 15, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce encouraging results from its initial mineralized material sorting test program at the flagship Gunnison Copper Project in southeast Arizona, one of the largest and most advanced copper development projects in the United States.
"These initial results are extremely encouraging, showing the potential to significantly reduce acid consumption while maintaining copper recovery," stated Roland Goodgame, Gunnison's SVP of Business Development. "This type of high-value-add program can materially improve the Project's already robust economics and feed directly into our upcoming update to our preliminary economic assessment and planned pre-feasibility study. These results support Gunnison's vision of producing cost-effective, sustainable, and 100% Made-in-America copper."
Initial Mineralized Material Sorting Results:
- Sample: A half-ton sample consisting of 2" to 6" pieces of PQ drill core from the Martin Formation, collected as part of Gunnison's recently completed metallurgical drilling program. The Martin Formation is the highest acid consuming rock type in the deposit and makes up ~44% of the resource base. The sample was comprised of ~54% mineralized material and ~46% internal waste, consistent with the overall Martin Formation.
- Waste Reduction: Over 90% of the internal acid-consuming waste was successfully removed from the mineralized material using optical mineral sorting equipment at a commercial scale.
- Acid Consumption Reduction: Due to the removal of the high-acid-consuming waste, the sorted material is expected to require up to 4x lower acid consumption.
- Copper Recovery: Less than 1% of total copper was lost to waste, ensuring strong copper recovery and protecting revenue.
- Testing Location: Initial sorting tests were conducted at Steinert's facilities in Kentucky in August 2025.
Table 1: Results of mineral sorting test work on the Martin Formation from the Gunnison Open Pit resource. 57% of the sample sorted to mineralized and 43% sorted to waste.
Category | Total Copper %* | Acid Soluble Copper % | Sample Weight (lbs) | % of Materials in Samples |
All materials (Martin core) | 0.35 | 0.30 | 1,028 | 100% |
Sorted to mineralization | 0.62 | 0.54 | 591 | 57% |
Sorted to waste | 0.03 | 0.01 | 437 | 43% |
*Copper grades estimated from assays on hand-sized samples from recently drilled core
Should further test work remain consistent with the initial testing results, it suggests approximately 40% of the mined Martin Formation can be removed as internal waste by optical mineral sorting prior to processing on the leach pad. This would result in a near doubling of the process head grade, and significantly reduced process operating costs.
Next Steps:
- Optimization testing on different size fractions of the Martin formation
- Mineral Sorting samples will be crushed at Base Metallurgical Labs in Tucson.
- Crushed materials will then be returned to Steinert for further mineral sorting tests to determine further liberation and sizing characteristics.
- Following the mineralization being separated from internal waste, column leach testing will be conducted on sorted products.
- Some samples may be sent to Germany for testing using Steinert's advanced M Sorters.
- Incorporating results into updated PEA expected in the first quarter of 2026.
About Mineralized Material Sorting:
Copper oxide exists on visually distinct blue-green and red-brown zones that are ideally suited to optical mineralized material sorting. Preliminary testing was 100% successful and data suggest sorting of this material has the potential to greatly reduce acid consumption and volume of material leached by removing 40 to 50 percent of the process stream as unmineralized, higher acid consuming, waste (See Figure-1). This would result in significant savings on operating costs.
Figure 1 - Drill core showing Martin formation mineralization at the Gunnison Open Pit project. The green boxes show mineralized portions of the rock that test work has shown can be optically sorted from the remaining internal waste.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/266394_gunnisonimg1.jpg
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831.6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is now in production, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Roland Goodgame, Senior Vice President Business Development of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Goodgame has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
Dr. Goodgame has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the assay and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in this news release. Dr. Goodgame verified the data disclosed in this news release by reviewing imported and sorted assay data; checking the performance of blank samples and certified reference materials; and reviewing grade calculation formulas. Dr. Goodgame detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data and is not aware of any sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4536
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v)that the test results can materially improve the project's already robust economics; (vi) plans for an update to the preliminary economic assessment and planned pre-feasibility study; (vii) that these results support Gunnison's vision of producing cost-effective, sustainable, and 100% Made-in-America copper; ; (viii) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (ix) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/266394
America's Newest Copper Producer Delivers Ahead of Schedule
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 3, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is thrilled to announce the first production of pure copper cathode from its fully-operational Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM") in southeast Arizona commenced in the last week of August 2025, establishing Gunnison as the newest American Copper Producer.
Following the successful start-up of the solvent extraction (SX) and electrowinning (EW) circuit (announced August 11, 2025), copper cathode is now officially in production from run-of-mine (ROM) ore. Gunnison has achieved this critical milestone ahead of schedule, producing Made-in-America copper for domestic sales.
"This is an incredible moment for Gunnison and for U.S. copper supply. To bring Johnson Camp into production ahead of schedule and with an excellent health and safety record is an achievement we're extremely proud of," states Stephen Twyerould, Chief Executive Officer and President. "Even more exciting is that we are now producing 100% American-made copper at a time when our nation needs it most. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated team, valued stakeholders, and especially Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, whose critical support made this possible."
Nuton is a key strategic and financial partner to Gunnison, supporting the restart of copper production at JCM. With exclusive rights to deploy its proprietary leaching technologies, Nuton is enabling a more sustainable and economically viable path for copper recovery at JCM.
"We congratulate Gunnison Copper and its dedicated team on this important milestone and are proud to support the company's efforts in revitalizing mining in Arizona," added Adam Burley, Nuton's Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to first copper production using Nuton technologies later this year, unlocking copper through innovation and partnership."
Key Highlights of the Johnson Camp Mine Commissioning:
- First copper production achieved ahead of schedule, firmly establishing Gunnison as America's newest copper producer.
- Exceptional safety performance: Commissioning of the ROM copper production circuit completed without incident, underscoring Gunnison's uncompromising commitment to health and safety excellence.
- Critical U.S. supply: New domestic production strengthens American energy independence, national defense, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
- Partnerships: Fully funded and supported by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, and awarded US$13.9 million in 48C tax credits from the Department of Energy (see Gunnison press release dated January 16, 2025 for additional details).
- Growth trajectory: Ramp-up in progress toward the name plate plant capacity of 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode annually.
Figure 1 - Harvesting copper cathode from an electrowinning cell.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/264914_1b943e73f4d98bf3_002full.jpg
Figure 2- Copper cathode being stripped from stainless steel cathodes.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/264914_1b943e73f4d98bf3_003full.jpg
Figure 3 - Copper cathode ready for shipment with the Burro pit in the background.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/264914_1b943e73f4d98bf3_004full.jpg
Figure 4 - The team at work inside the electrowinning plant.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/264914_1b943e73f4d98bf3_005full.jpg
Figure 5 - Sheets of copper cathode being weighed and bundled for shipment.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/264914_1b943e73f4d98bf3_006full.jpg
Figure 6 - Blue colored, copper electrolyte solution produced from the SX plant ready for electrowinning and copper cathode production.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/264914_1b943e73f4d98bf3_007full.jpg
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831.6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is now in production, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing value.
With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials.
One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lightest environmental footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
For more information, please visit https://nuton.tech.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4536
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) expectations regarding the timing and amount of 48C tax credits; (vi) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vIi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264914
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the solvent extraction (SX) plant and electrowinning (EW) circuit has started with first copper sales expected in September at the Company's Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM"), in southeast Arizona.
"With the start-up of the SX-EW plant ahead of schedule we have achieved another major step towards our targeted copper cathode sales in September this year," states Robert Winton, SVP Operations. He continues, "the dedicated team at Johnson Camp has executed this startup without incident and in record time, preparing for our first harvest of Made-in-America copper to be sold in Q3 this year."
Progress as of the Company's last update (see Gunnison news release dated July 22nd) includes:
- Leaching of mineralized run-of-mine material started with copper rich solution being pumped to the SX-EW plant (Figure 1).
- SX Plant started (Figure 2)
- EW Circuit started and being readied for Copper Plating (Figure 3)
Since the Company's last update, the Company is pleased to report that JCM construction activities, funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, continue to progress as planned. The final phase of the leach pad construction is on schedule. The on-pad crushing circuit, which will be used with the Nuton Technologies, has been installed and started commissioning activities. The agglomerator and processing equipment, which will also be used on the Nuton pad, has been placed and the Company is completing final mechanical and electrical construction of these components. The new LNG (liquid natural gas) system at the EW plant was fully commissioned and operating in line with electrowinning start-up.
Figure 1 - Aerial view showing the first four panels of the run-of-mine leach pad under leach and green copper solution collecting on the top right-hand corner of the leach pad before being pumped to the SX-EW plant.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/261935_96e48828d447db99_002full.jpg
Figure 2 - The left image shows green colored, copper rich solution from the leach pad, being pumped into the lined collection pond near the processing plant, ready for treatment. The right image shows upgraded, blue colored, copper electrolyte solution produced from the SX plant being readied for electrowinning and copper cathode production.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/261935_96e48828d447db99_003full.jpg
Figure 3 - This image shows the electrowinning plant being readied by loading stainless steel blank cathodes into the electrowinning cells, ready for plating pure copper metal onto them later this month.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/261935_96e48828d447db99_004full.jpg
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831,6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing value.
With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials.
One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lightest environmental footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: energy, water, land, materials and society.
For more information, please visit https://nuton.tech.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4536
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) timelines for continued construction at JCM; (vi) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261935
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that mineral processing has started with first copper sales expected in September at the fully-permitted Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM"), in southeast Arizona.
"A major milestone for Gunnison Copper has been achieved, as we started leaching copper on July 18, about one year after starting to construct the leach pad," states Robert Winton, SVP Operations of Gunnison Copper. He continues, "Working with our partners, Nuton, M3, Rango, and Schmueser has been a pleasure and the results speak to the incredible dedication and perseverance of the entire team. We have managed to grow our 11 year no lost time accident record at JCM with over 100+ employees and contractors at site. We are just months away from producing finished copper in Arizona, when copper is trading at an all-time high price and when there is an increased need for Made in America solutions to our energy and national security."
Progress as of the Company's last update (see Gunnison news release dated June 9th) includes:
- Stacking and acid curing of mineralized material has commenced (Figure 1).
- Material continues to be stockpiled in advance of the completion of the leach pads (Figure 2).
- Leach pad Phase-2 is complete.
- Phase-3 leach pad is complete and conveyors constructed.
Since the Company's last update, the Company is pleased to report that JCM construction activities continue to progress as planned. The overflow pond construction has been completed ahead of first acid irrigation. The pipelines from the leach pads to the SX/EW plant are complete, and Phase-1 pad leaching has started, with first copper cathode from Run-of-mine (ROM) oxide production using conventional leach technology scheduled for September. First copper using Nuton technology is expected before the end of the year.
Figure 1 ā Stacking mineralized material from the JCM pit in panels for leaching on the ROM pad.
Figure 2 ā Leach Pad Overhead View, 8 million square feet with dimensions of approximately 1220m by 640m. Phase-1 shows 4 panels of material that have started leaching and Phase 2 shows the crusher pad and Nuton process equipment area. Phase 3 in the upper right corner is the Nuton heap location with overliner being installed above the liner.
Figure 3 ā Drip line delivering acidified solution to copper rich material on the ROM pad.
Figure 4 ā Drip lines feeding acidified solution to leach copper from mineralized material on the ROM pad.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831,6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing value.
With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials.
One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lightest environmental footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
For more information, please visit https://nuton.tech.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4563
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the NutonĀ® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) timelines for continued construction at JCM; (vi) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vii) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259568
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - July 18, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of C$8,662,230 from the sale of 28,874,100 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.30 per Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud") acted as a finder in connection with the Offering.
Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.45 at any time on or before July 18, 2028.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund additional and follow on work related to the High Value Add Work Program at the Gunnison Copper Project, begin long lead time drilling and metallurgical testing that will be incorporated in a pre-feasibility study for the Gunnison Copper Project, as well as fund US head office general and administrative expenses ("G&A") for an additional 12 months (April 2026 to March 2027). U.S. head office G&A for the next 9 months to March 2026 will be funded from existing working capital.
The Units were sold to purchasers resident in Canada pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. The securities issuable pursuant to the sale of the Units to purchasers resident in Canada are immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Units were also sold to purchasers in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended.
As consideration for their services in connection with the Offering, Red Cloud and other finders received a total cash commission of C$512,875.80 and were issued 1,709,586 non-transferable warrants of the Company (the "Finder's Warrants"). Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.45 at any time on or before July 18, 2028. The Finder's Warrants are subject to a statutory hold period that expires on November 19, 2025.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products for use in America. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Melissa Mackie
T: 647.533.4536
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate to the use of net proceeds from the Offering; the intention to deploy the NutonĀ® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; the details and expected results of the stage two work program; future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259393
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - July 11, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that as a result of strong investor demand, the Company has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") from aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,010 to aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$8,745,000. The Upsized Offering is comprised of the sale of up to 29,150,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.30 per Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. is acting as a finder in connection with the Offering.
Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.45 at any time for a period of 36 months following the issue date.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund additional and follow on work related to the High Value Add Work Program at the Gunnison Copper Project, begin long lead time drilling and metallurgical testing that will be incorporated in a pre-feasibility study for the Gunnison Copper Project, as well as fund US head office general and administrative expenses ("G&A") for an additional 12 months (April 2026 to March 2027). U.S. head office G&A for the next 9 months to March 2026 will be funded from existing working capital.
Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers in all of the provinces of Canada, except Québec (the "Canadian Selling Jurisdictions") pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities issuable pursuant to the sale of the Units are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada.
The Units may also be sold to purchasers in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended.
The Offering is schedule to close on July 17, 2025 and is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Finder's fees will be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSX.
There is an amended and restated offering document related to the Units being sold pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Amended Offering Document") that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.gunnisoncopper.com. Prospective Canadian investors purchasing under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption should read this Amended Offering Document before making an investment decision.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products for use in America. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate the completion of the Offering or any tranche thereof; the number of securities to be issued under the Offering and the gross proceeds received;
the timing of the closing of the Offering; the payment of any finders fees and the form thereof; the use of net proceeds from the Offering; the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; the details and expected results of the stage two work program; future production and production capacity from the Company's
mineral projects; the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the TSX approves the Offering, the timing of closing the Offering, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/258516
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - July 7, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,010 from the sale of up to 16,666,700 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.30 (US$0.23) per Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. will be acting as a finder in connection with the Offering.
Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.45 at any time for a period of 36 months following the issue date.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund additional and follow on work related to the High Value Add Work Program at the Gunnison Copper Project, begin long lead time drilling and metallurgical testing that will be incorporated in a pre-feasibility study for the Gunnison Copper Project, as well as fund US head office general and administrative expenses ("G&A") for an additional 12 months (April 2026 to March 2027). US head office G&A for the next 9 months to March 2026 will be funded from existing working capital.
Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers in all of the provinces of Canada, except Québec (the "Canadian Selling Jurisdictions") pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities issuable pursuant to the sale of the Units are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada.
The Units may also be sold to purchasers in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended.
The closing of the Offering is expected to occur during the week of July 14, 2025 and is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Finder's fees will be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSX.
There is an offering document related to the Units being sold pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.gunnisoncopper.com. Prospective investors purchasing under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption should read this offering document before making an investment decision.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products for use in America. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate the completion of the Offering or any tranche thereof; the number of securities to be issued under the Offering and the gross proceeds received; the timing of the closing of the Offering; the payment of any finders fees and the form thereof; the use of net proceeds from the Offering; the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; the details and expected results of the stage two work program; future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the TSX approves the Offering, the timing of closing the Offering, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/258051
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - June 26, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") reports that the nominees listed in the management information circular for the 2025 Annual General Meeting of shareholders were elected as directors of Gunnison. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at the Annual General Meeting on June 26, 2025 in Vancouver, B.C., are set out below:
Votes for | % Votes for | Votes withheld | % Votes withheld | |
Stephen Twyerould | 175,940,917 | 99.76 | 417,815 | 0.24 |
Colin Kinley | 175,910,917 | 99.75 | 447,815 | 0.25 |
Fred DuVal | 174,947,547 | 99.20 | 1,411,185 | 0.80 |
Michael Haworth | 175,908,117 | 99.74 | 450,615 | 0.26 |
Joseph Gallucci | 175,926,317 | 99.76 | 432,415 | 0.24 |
Jason Howe | 175,934,117 | 99.76 | 424,615 | 0.24 |
Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting also voted in favour of: (i) setting the number directors at six; and (ii) appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE GUNNISON BOARD
"Stephen Twyerould"
President & CEO
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/257003
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - June 17, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the high-value-add ("HVA") work programs at the Gunnison Copper Project ('Project') in southeast Arizona. All dollar amounts in this press release are in United States dollars.
"We are excited the HVA programs are underway, progressing on-time and under-budget, with numerous catalysts in the next several months," states Roland Goodgame, Gunnison SVP of Business Development. He adds, "the HVA programs have the potential to enhance the Gunnison Copper Project's robust economics and will provide valuable guidance for the up-coming PFS. We are aggressively moving the Gunnison Open Pit forward, which is one of the largest copper projects in development in America. We are equally excited about our soon-to-be-producing Johnson Camp Mine, all at a pivotal time for copper in Arizona meeting the need for domestic copper production."
In preparation for the Gunnison Copper Project pre-feasibility study ("PFS") the Company commenced what it identified as the high-value-add work programs (See press release dated April 14th, 2025). These programs are expected to take 3-6 months to complete, which are on schedule and under budget. (See Figure-1). An update on the HVA work programs are below:
-
Gravel By-Product Revenue - An experienced consulting firm has been engaged to investigate the viability of marketing gravel and limestone. Their geologists and engineers are currently reviewing the data that has been supplied. Once the data review is complete, they will advise the Company on the economic viability of the approximately 760 million tons of alluvial gravel that is expected to be mined during the mine life. The mining of the alluvial gravel is already fully costed as waste in the Gunnison Copper Project Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"). However, it is anticipated that some of this material has commercial value. As detailed in the PEA, if just 10% of this material could be sold for revenue of $5/ton, it could potentially add $380M in revenue to the Project. The revenues associated with such sales are not anticipated to have any material costs (aside from marketing costs) as the material has already been mined and requires minimal further processing*.
-
Limestone By-Product Revenue - As mentioned above, the experienced consulting firm is investigating the viability of marketing gravel and limestone by-products from the Gunnison open pit. The geologists are currently reviewing the existing drill core in preparation for sampling and analysis (see Figures 2A to 2D). Once the analysis is complete, they will advise on the economic viability of the 85million tons of Escabrosa limestone that is expected to be mined as waste in the Gunnison open pit (additional limestone occurs in the overlying Horquilla formation). The mining cost of this material is already included in the PEA so any value from the sale of this by-product should be highly accretive. For example, crushed limestone is a highly valuable commodity in cement, aggregate, chemical and agricultural industries, selling for between $20/ton and over $60/ton in the region. As detailed in the PEA, if 50% of this limestone could be sold at $20/ton it could generate approximately $850M in additional gross revenue. The revenues associated with such sales are not anticipated to have any material costs (aside from marketing costs) as the material has already been mined and requires minimal further processing*.
-
Mineralized Material Sorting - Drilling of all 3 holes totaling 3,899 feet targeting oxide mineralization in the Martin and Abrigo formations were competed in May. Drilling costs were cheaper than budgeted due to high drill production rates. The holes are currently being scanned in Salt Lake City using LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy). Following LIBS scanning, the core will be sent for assaying and extensive mineralogical testing. The mineralized material sorting plan has been completed, and testing is scheduled for the weeks of August 4th and 25th. (See Figure-3 for results of early test work completed in 2024)
-
Permitting - Gunnison's prior permitting and community track record is excellent. There is no federal permitting required. The Gunnison Copper Project is permitted today for in-situ recovery; however, amendments are needed. Trinity Consultants (Air Quality Permit) and Clear Creek (APP) have been engaged and have produced drafts for the permitting process.
-
Sulfide Investigation - Sulfide mineralization occurs in the bottom of the Gunnison Copper Project open pit design. Due to the previous ISR mining method the sulfide potential has been mostly untested. The plan is to collect appropriate samples and initiate metallurgical test work. The sulfides have the potential to add mine life, production rate and excite strategic interest such as the recent interest from Nuton LLC (a Rio Tinto Venture) who have an agreement with Gunnison to test the suitability of its proprietary sulfide leaching technology for the Project's sulfide resources (see press release dated March 3, 2025). As an example, one of the recent HVA drill holes intersected coarse grained copper sulfide mineralization in quartz veins related to porphyry dyke intrusions at depth in hole NSM-16 (see Figure-4). This hole is yet to be assayed.
Figure-1. Gunnison High-Value-Add work program shown in the table above.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/255792_d2a778d354217b93_002full.jpg
Figure-2A to 2D Limestone Core. The four images above show limestone material in core from Hole NSD-41 at the Gunnison project. Figure 2A shows the white limestone starting at ~395 below surface, immediately below the base of the alluvium (gravel) overburden. Figure 2B shows the limestone at 575 feet. Figure 2C shows the limestone at 775 feet and Figure 2D at 975 feet, demonstrating an extensive thickens of limestone. These drill core samples have not yet been assayed for mineral content and the Company will provide disclosure of assay data when available.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/255792_gunnfig2ato2d.jpg
Figure-3. Red-brown and green-blue copper oxide mineralization shown in drill core above is highlighted by the green boxes. This mineralized material is confined to discrete mineralized intervals between un-mineralized waste. Material sorting has the potential to separate the visibly distinct mineralized material from the waste. Samples sent to a material sorting laboratory in 2024 (bottom images) showed 100% separation of mineralized material from waste material simply based on the presence of green coloration (copper oxide) in the sample. The HVA drilling program is collecting a number of bulk samples for further testing.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/255792_d2a778d354217b93_011full.jpg
Figure-4. Example of copper sulfide mineralization intersected in NSM-16 from the recent HVA drilling program. For scale the drill core is 85.0 mm (3.345 inches) in diameter.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/255792_d2a778d354217b93_012full.jpg
* This does not include the costs of making this material marketable, and there is no guarantee it can be made marketable.
All dill holes have been drilled using diamond drill rigs to generate PQ sized core and assays are underway for all holes. All samples are prepared from manually split or sawn PQ core sections on site in Arizona. Split drill core samples are then sent to independent laboratory Skyline Assayers & Laboratories in Tucson, Arizona for Total Copper and Sequential Copper analyses. Standards, blanks, and duplicate assays are included at regular intervals in each sample batch submitted from the field as part of an ongoing Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program. Pulps and sample rejects are stored by Gunnison for future reference.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products for use in America. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Twyerould has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information disclosed in this news release. Mr. Twyerould has verified that the results were accurate from a visual inspection of the core samples.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the future development plans for the Gunnison Project; (ii) the details of the HVA including its objectives, expected results and timelines; (iii) the results of the PEA including operating and capital costs estimates, along with the economics of the Gunnison Project; (iv) the intention to mine the Gunnison Project and future production therefrom; (v) risks and opportunities associated with the Gunnison Project; (vi) expectations regarding permitting of the Gunnison Project; and (vii) the future completion of a PFS.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the Company will continue to have access to financing to support operations, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be commenced at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks relating to the failure to raise new financing to support operations, variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/255792
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - June 9, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that mineral processing will commence by July with first copper sales in September at the fully-permitted Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM"), in southeast Arizona.
Progress as of the Company's last update (see Gunnison news release dated March 21st) included:
- Mining of mineralized material had commenced (Figure 1).
- Material was being stockpiled in advance of the completion of the leach pads (Figure 2).
- Leach pad Phase-1 was complete.
- Phase-2 leach pad was expected in the near term.
Since the Company's last update, the Company is pleased to report that JCM construction activities are progressing as planned. The haul road to the run of mine oxide Phase-1 pad, PLS sump, culverts and overflow pond construction have started ahead of first acid irrigation. The pipelines from the leach pads to the SX/EW plant are nearing completion, and Phase-1 pad irrigation is anticipated by July, with first copper cathode from Run-of-mine (ROM) production using conventional leach technology scheduled for September. First copper using Nuton technology is expected before the end of the year.
Figure 1 - Mining mineralized material from the JCM pit.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/254883_ad99f12ba4c1198e_002full.jpg
Figure 2 - Leach Pad Overhead View, 8 million square feet with dimensions of approximately 1220m by 640m. Phase 1 shows the protective, crushed rock, over-liner material on bottom half of the image and Phase 2 shows the crusher pad and Nuton process equipment area. Phase 3 in the upper right corner is the Nuton heap location with liner and overliner being installed.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/254883_ad99f12ba4c1198e_003full.jpg
"Construction activity continues its fast pace and we are getting ever closer to first irrigation of oxide mine production at JCM SX/EW restart," states Robert Winton, SVP Operations of Gunnison Copper. He continues, "There is no better time than now to bring a new copper mine online in America, with this critical mineral playing a vital role in our energy and defense security. The efforts of our team and contractors have been second to none during the entire project."
Figure 3 - New LNG infrastructure storage tank and vaporizers to ensure grade 1 copper production at JCM.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/254883_ad99f12ba4c1198e_004full.jpg
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing their value.
With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials.
One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lightest environmental footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
For more information, please visit https://nuton.tech.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the NutonĀ® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) timelines for continued construction at JCM; (vI) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vIi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254883
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Jason Howe and Mr. Joseph Gallucci have joined the Board of Directors. The new appointments are consistent with Gunnison's continuing effort to add leaders from the mining community with production and finance experience as the Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) targets copper production in Q3, 2025 and the Gunnison Copper Project advances the open pit development plan.
Mr. Jason Howe – CPA, CA is a seasoned mining executive with over 20 years of experience in corporate development, finance, and executive leadership. He has a proven track record in leading strategic acquisitions, fostering stakeholder relationships, and driving sustainable growth in the mining industry. Mr. Howe has been recognized for expertise in mergers and acquisitions, financial oversight, and corporate governance.
Mr. Howe was a co-founder of Capstone Mining Corp. where he led their Business Development, Marketing and HR functions. He led negotiations for the Far West Mining and the Pinto Valley Mine acquisitions. In 2021, Mr. Howe completed $2 billion in transactions at Capstone, including the business combination with Mantos Copper, the Gold Stream acquired by Wheaton Precious Metals and the consolidation of the ownership of Santo Domingo. In addition, Mr. Howe was co-founder of Silverstone Resources and served as CFO until its acquisition from Wheaton Precious Metals.
Mr. Joseph Gallucci – MBA, ICD.D, is a capital markets executive and director with more than 20 years of experience including investment banking and equity research focused on mining including base metals, precious metals, energy metals and bulk commodities. His career has spanned across several firms including BMO Capital Markets, GMP Securities, Dundee Securities, and he was a co-founder of Eight Capital where he led their Mining Investment Banking team.
He is presently Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking at Laurentian Bank Securities where he is the head of the vision and strategy for the entire investment banking practice. He is responsible for corporate finance, and mergers & acquisitions including many notable transactions and was directly involved in raising over $1 billion for mining companies with a focus on base and precious metal companies.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Gallucci was a research analyst at GMP and Dundee Securities. At Dundee Securities, he was a Managing Director and Head of the Metals and Mining Research Team. Aside from the ICD.D designation obtained in 2022, Mr. Gallucci holds a B.Comm and an MBA in investment management from Concordia University. In 2021 Mr. Gallucci was chosen as one of Concordia University's Top 50 under 50.
Fred Duval, Chair of the Board of the Gunnison states, "I am extremely pleased to welcome both Jason and Joseph to the Gunnison Board as we reconstitute the board of directors as part of our new strategic focus. Their vast array of experiences in the mining industry will bring valuable input to the team. We look forward to their contributions as we advance both of our made-in-America copper assets."
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products in America. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the future development plans for the Gunnison Project; (iii) the results of the PEA including operating and capital costs estimates, along with the economics of the Gunnison Project; (iv) the intention to mine the Gunnison Project and future production therefrom; and (v) risks and opportunities associated with the Gunnison Project and Johnson Camp Mine.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the Company will continue to have access to financing to support operations, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be commenced at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks relating to the failure to raise new financing to support operations, variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251999
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - April 24, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison") is pleased to announce that Gunnison, Gunnison's wholly-owned subsidiary Excelsior Mining Arizona, Inc. dba Gunnison Copper ("Gunnison Arizona") and Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund I LP ("Nebari") have entered into to a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Second ARCA"). The Second ARCA encompasses certain amendments to the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 22, 2021 (the "First ARCA") that were announced on March 3, 2025. The amendments provide for, amongst other matters, a suspension of principal amortization from February 1, 2025 until January 1, 2026, provide for potential partial conversion to equity of up to US$6.25 million of the principal amount at a price equal to US$0.2097 (converted from Cdn$0.30), and provide for a mechanism to repay a portion of the principal amount of the Second ARCA with proceeds to be received from sale of the previously announced 48C tax credits and through a potential refinancing process provide for an extension of the maturity date.
The Amendments were subject to certain conditions including conditional approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange, approval from Greenstone Resources L.P. ("Greenstone") and Triple Flag, deferral of interest payments due under convertible debentures due to Greenstone and Triple Flag, certain agreements between Nebari and Triple Flag agreement and commencement of a work program by Gunnison to optimize certain opportunities identified in the preliminary economic assessment for the Gunnison Project. All of these conditions have now been satisfied.
Nebari is at arm's length to the Company. There are no commissions or finders' fees payable in connection with the transactions discussed in this news release.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in mid 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects; and (vii) the satisfaction of final conditions and receipt of 48C tax credits.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the allocation of the 48C tax credits between the Company and Nuton, the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the failure to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of the 48C tax credits may be allocated to repay capital expenditures for the Johnson Camp mine, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/249596
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - April 14, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the high-value-add ("HVA") work programs have commenced at the Gunnison Copper Project ('Project') in southeast Arizona, including mobilization of the drill rig later this week. All dollar amounts in this press release are in United States dollars.
"The fully funded HVA programs are differentiating factors for the Project over our peers in Arizona," states Roland Goodgame, Gunnison SVP of Business Development. He adds, "Several of the HVA programs, such as the overburden by-product monetization and mineralized material sorting are opportunities that are unique to the Gunnison Copper Project due to the geological environment. These programs, if successful have the potential to materially enhance the Project's already positive economics and provide guidance for the PFS. We are moving both of our mines forward at a pivotal time for copper in Arizona and in the USA, meeting the need for domestic production."
In preparation for the Gunnison Copper Project pre-feasibility study ("PFS"), the Company has decided to first complete what it has identified as the high-value-add work programs. The programs are expected to take 3-6 months to complete and consist of (See Figure-1):
-
Gravel By-Product Revenue - 759 million tons of alluvial gravel is expected to be mined during the mine life and is already fully costed in the Gunnison Copper Project Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"). Gravel, as an aggregate or rock product, is a potential source of by-product revenue. The planned rail spur and railyard increases the range the Company can profitably sell the gravel with access to larger markets such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas. As detailed in the PEA, if just 10% of this material could be sold for revenue of $5/ton, it could potentially add $380M in revenue to the Project. The revenues associated with such sales are not anticipated to have any material costs (aside from marketing costs) as the material has already been mined and does not require further processing*.
-
Limestone By-Product Revenue - 85 million tons of limestone is also expected to be mined, and already included in the PEA mining cost, at the Gunnison Copper Project. Crushed limestone is a highly valuable commodity in cement, aggregate, chemical and agricultural industries, selling for between $20/ton and over $60/ton in the region. As detailed in the PEA, if 50% of this limestone could be sold at $20/ton it could generate approximately $850M in additional gross revenue. The revenues associated with such sales are not anticipated to have any material costs (aside from marketing costs) as the material has already been mined and does not require further processing*.
-
Mineralized Material Sorting - Copper oxide exists on visually distinct blue-green and red-brown zones that are ideally suited to optical mineralized material sorting. Preliminary testing was 100% successful and data suggest sorting of this material has the potential to greatly reduce acid consumption and volume of material leached by removing 40 to 50 percent of the process stream as unmineralized, higher acid consuming, waste (See Figure-2). This would result in significant savings on operating costs. A drill rig has been mobilized to drill 3 holes totaling 4,500 feet targeting oxide mineralization in the Martin and Abrigo formations. The holes will undergo extensive mineralogical testing and assaying followed by mineralized material sorting and analysis.
-
Sulfide Investigation - Sulfide mineralization occurs in the bottom of the Gunnison Copper Project open pit design. Due to the previous ISR mining method the sulfide potential has been mostly untested. The plan is to collect appropriate samples and initiate metallurgical test work. The sulfides have the potential to add mine life, production rate and excite strategic interest such as the recent interest from Nuton LLC (a Rio Tinto Venture) who have an agreement with Gunnison to test the suitability of its proprietary sulfide leaching technology for the Project's sulfide resources (see press release dated March 3, 2025).
-
Permitting - Gunnison's prior permitting and community track record is excellent. There is no federal permitting required and is only a state run process. The Gunnison Copper Project is permitted today for in-situ recovery; however, amendments are needed. The Company will begin collecting the data needed to commence this amendment process.
Figure-1, Gunnison High-Value-Add Program
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/248351_1851c8159415fb47_002full.jpg
Figure-2, Material Sorting Early Test Work
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/248351_1851c8159415fb47_003full.jpg
* This does not include the costs of making this material marketable, and there is no guarantee it can be made marketable.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products locally. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the future development plans for the Gunnison Project; (ii) the details of the HVA including its objectives, expected results and timelines; (iii) the results of the PEA including operating and capital costs estimates, along with the economics of the Gunnison Project; (iv) the intention to mine the Gunnison Project and future production therefrom; (v) risks and opportunities associated with the Gunnison Project; (vi) future intentions regarding well stimulation trials; (vii) the future completion of a PFS.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the Company will continue to have access to financing to support operations, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be commenced at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks relating to the failure to raise new financing to support operations, variations in mineral resources, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248351
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") announces that is has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$5.15 million through the issuance of 17,170,916 units (the "Units"), with each Unit consisting of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each full common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant") at a price of C$0.30 per Unit. Each full Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share at a price of C$0.45 for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing date of the Offering.
The net proceeds will be used to define high value opportunities (the "High Value Work Program") and commencement of drilling and metallurgical testing activities that will be incorporated in a pre-feasibility study for the Gunnison Copper Project.
The Company previously announced a non-dilutive funding transaction with Nuton, LLC that provided proceeds of US$3 million (C$4.29 million assuming a US$1.00:C$1.43 exchange rate) that were received on March 13, 2025. The funding from Nuton, when combined with the Offering has resulted in total proceeds of C$9.44 million. As a result of the completion of the Offering the Company will have sufficient working capital to execute the High Value Work Program and meet its business objectives and liquidity requirements for a period of 12 months, and commence additional prefeasibility study work programs.
The Offering was made to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). Pursuant to the limitations of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the Units offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.gunnisoncopper.com.
Finder's fees of 6% in cash ($304,096) and 6% in finder warrants (1,013,655), which terms are the same as the Warrants, were paid on a portion of the Offering in accordance with the policies of the TSX.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products locally. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with a direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Mine is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually. The project is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate to the use of net proceeds from the Offering; the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; the details and expected results of the stage two work program; future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and application state securities laws.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/247490
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (FSE: 3XS) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") announces a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") consisting of a minimum of 6,666,700 and up to a maximum of 22,940,000 units (the "Units"), with each Unit consisting of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each full common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant") at a price of C$0.30 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of C$2,000,010 and up to a maximum of C$6,882,000. Each full Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share at a price of C$0.45 for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the closing date of the Offering.
The net proceeds will be used to define high value opportunities (the "High Value Work Program") and commencement of drilling and metallurgical testing activities that will be incorporated in a pre-feasibility study for the Gunnison Copper Project.
The Company previously announced a non-dilutive funding transaction with Nuton, LLC that provided proceeds of US$3 million (C$4.29 million assuming a US$1.00:C$1.43 exchange rate) that were received on March 13, 2025. The funding from Nuton, when combined with the Offering would result in total proceeds of C$6.29 million if the minimum Offering is completed and C$11.17 million if the maximum Offering is completed. With the minimum Offering the Company will have sufficient working capital to execute the High Value Work Program and meet its business objectives and liquidity requirements for a period of 12 months. With additional proceeds from the maximum Offering the Company would expand the High Value Work Program and commence additional prefeasibility study work programs.
There is an offering document related to this Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.gunnisoncopper.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.
The Offering is being made to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). Pursuant to the limitations of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the Units offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.
The Company intends to close the Offering during the week of March 31, 2025. Closing of the Offering is subject to approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX").
Finder's fees of 6% in cash and 6% in finder warrants, which terms will be the same as the Warrants, may be paid on a portion of the Offering in accordance with the policies of the TSX.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products locally. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with a direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Mine is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually. The project is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements relate the completion of the Offering or any tranche thereof; the number of securities to be issued under the Offering and the gross proceeds received; the timing of the closing of the Offering; the payment of any finders fees and the form thereof; the use of net proceeds from the Offering; the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; the details and expected results of the stage two work program; future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the TSX approves the Offering, the timing of closing the Offering, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, as amended, and application state securities laws.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246126
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a construction update for the fully permitted Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM"), in southeast Arizona.
Further to the last update where it was announced the mining fleet had been mobilized, and mining activities such as pre-stripping had begun (see Gunnison news release dated December 16th), the Company is pleased to report JCM construction activities are progressing well and on track to produce cathode in Q3 2025.
Mining of mineralized material commenced in January 2025 (Figure 1) and is being stockpiled in advance of the completion of the leach pad. Leach pad phase-1 is complete, and phase-2 of the leach pad follows closely behind (Figure 2). With phase-2 advancement we will begin installing Nuton's processing equipment and ultimately start stacking sulfide and oxide production mineralized material. The Company has completely redesigned and constructed a modern laboratory for on-site material and process analysis (Figure 3). The lab will begin ramping up in April and will be commissioned once production from the leach pad commences. In addition, the Company's HR group is progressing with its staffing plan, with a focus on hiring locally, and has added exceptional talent to the Gunnison team.
Figure 1 - Blast Hole Drill Rig Preparing a Bench for Mining at JCM
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/245498_dd6e6b8f74ca19a8_001full.jpg
Figure 2 - Leach Pad Overhead View, 8 million square feet with dimensions of approximately 1220m by 640m. Phase 1 shows the protective, crushed rock, over-liner material on bottom half of the image and Phase 2 shows the black under-liner material with over-liner being placed on top.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/245498_dd6e6b8f74ca19a8_002full.jpg
"The fast pace at which our construction partners continue to progress the Johnson Camp project is nothing short of impressive. In roughly 12 months we will have transformed Gunnison Copper into a nimble open pit copper producer with a future as bright as the Arizona sky we enjoy daily," noted Robert Winton, SVP Operations of the Company.
Figure 3 - Newly Constructed Material and Process Analysis Laboratory
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/245498_dd6e6b8f74ca19a8_003full.jpg
The Company also announces that long serving Board member, Stephen Axcell, has retired as a director of the Company effective March 20, 2025. Initially appointed in 2018, Mr. Axcell has provided invaluable contributions during his more-than six years as a Board member of the Company and the Company thanks Mr. Axcell for his contributions and support during his tenure.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Gunnison exists to develop and operate copper mines in Southern Arizona to produce fully Made in America finished copper cathode to directly supply American energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains. Gunnison proudly hires locally, purchases locally, and sells its products locally. Gunnison invests in its employees, their families, and the communities around it. Gunnison operates safely and responsibly with a focus on technology and positive societal impact, while also emphasizing long-term value creation for stakeholders.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing their value.
With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials.
One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lowest footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
For more information, please visit www.nuton.tech.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the NutonĀ® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245498
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison") is pleased to announce it has agreed to a non-dilutive funding transaction (the "Nuton Transaction") with Nuton, LLC ("Nuton"), a Rio Tinto Venture, for $3 million in proceeds to Gunnison to be used toward its costs related to a Nuton testing program at the Gunnison Project, as well as the execution of the Tax Partnership Agreement with an agreed-upon allocation of the potential future proceeds from Gunnison and Nuton's award of 48C tax credits from the U.S. government. All amounts in this news release are in United States dollars unless otherwise noted.
"The agreement announced today with Nuton provides Gunnison $3 million in non-dilutive financing and the possibility of additional funds during 2025 as result of monetizing the tax credits awarded to Gunnison and Nuton that Gunnison estimates could be up to $8 million," states Stephen Twyerould, President & CEO of Gunnison. "Nuton's interest in the Gunnison Copper Project's sulfide potential and a potential extension to Stage 2 at Johnson Camp are very positive outcomes for the Company."
Highlights
Gunnison and Nuton have entered into a Collaboration Agreement that will provide for, among other things:
Nuton's exclusivity over novel heap leach processing technologies for sulfide mineralization at the Gunnison Open Pit, and
Agreed milestones to examine the potential for an extension to the Stage 2 Work Program at the Johnson Camp Mine.
In exchange for the above:
Nuton will provide $3M to Gunnison to be used toward its expenses for the Nuton Stage 1 Viability study on the Gunnison Open Pit (expected in early March) and other agreed purposes; and
The parties will work within the parameters of the Tax Partnership Agreement to allow for a portion of the realized cash proceeds from the potential sale of 48C tax credits to be distributed to Gunnison to benefit the Stage 2 project, including paying down a significant portion, or all of, the Nebari debt. Gunnison estimates that its share of the potential proceeds could be up to $8M after Nuton's allocation and reimbursement of costs, with the actual amount depending on the 48C tax credit certification process and how much can be realized from the sale of the certified credits.
In addition to this, Gunnison and Nebari have entered a binding term sheet (details below) that provides for the following:
Deferral of all principal payments for the remainder of 2025, reducing carrying costs by $2.8M.
The right to convert up to $6.25M of the principal into equity at a set conversion price based on a premium to market price or financing price.
A trigger to initiate a process by Nebari to refinance the remaining principal maturity, if any, to December 31, 2029. The trigger occurs when the principal, currently $13.75M (including the Repayment Bonus) is reduced to $7.5M or less (the "Refinance Trigger").
The above provides two pathways to trigger the refinancing process, either through Nebari's conversion of principal to equity, or through funds received under the distribution of money from the potential sale of the 48C tax credits. Should both events occur, or other funds become available, then it is possible that the entire Nebari debt could be extinguished in 2025, which is the objective of Management.
Gunnison Stage 1 Viability Testing
The parties have agreed to conduct a Stage 1 viability testing program of Nuton Technologies on sulfide mineralization at the Gunnison Open Pit (the "Stage 1 Gunnison Program"). The Stage 1 Gunnison Program will involve the collection and testing of samples from drill core from the Gunnison Project. The samples will be analyzed by Nuton for the purposes of determining the suitability of the Gunnison Project with Nuton Technologies.
Stage 2 Extension
Gunnison and Nuton have agreed to work together to evaluate the possible extension of the Stage 2 Work Program at Johnson Camp. This evaluation is guided by a set of milestones and is expected to take place over the next 4 to 6 weeks. Nuton shall also receive a right of first offer over the use of any excess capacity from the SX/EW plant and related infrastructure and mining assets located at the Johnson Camp Mine.
"This initial funding allows us to start evaluating by-product commercialization, increase sulfide production potential through drilling and testing, as well as our mineral optimization program, that are all expected to generate significant value creation. This value creation, in parallel with our Nuton partnered JCM operational ramp up and Q3 scheduled cathode production, are continuing to build Made in America copper," commented Robert Winton SVP Operations and GM.
Intent to Negotiate Exclusive Exploration Agreement
Gunnison and Nuton (or its affiliates) have also agreed to negotiate in good faith an exclusive exploration agreement over all of Gunnison's property for a 3-to-5-year term (or such term as agreed between the parties), on commercial terms that includes a specified work program, costs and timelines.
Sale of 48C Tax Credits
As announced on January 16, 2025, Gunnison Copper Corp and Nuton LLC have been selected to receive US$13.9 million in tax credits (the "48C tax credit") under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Program. Nuton and Gunnison will work within the parameters of the Tax Partnership Agreement to potentially allow for a portion of realized cash proceeds from the sale of 48C tax credits to be distributed to Gunnison to retire a significant portion, or all of, the Nebari debt, which will benefit the Stage 2 Work Program by reducing Gunnison's debt service obligations.
The receipt of the 48C tax credit is subject to Certification as outlined in IRS Notice 2023-44. There is no certainty that the conditions to the completion of the Nuton Transaction or receipt of the 48C tax credit will be satisfied.
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Gunnison's wholly-owned subsidiary Excelsior Mining Arizona, Inc. dba Gunnison Copper ("Gunnison Arizona") have agreed with Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund I LP ("Nebari") to amend certain terms of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "ARCA"). The amendments provide for, amongst other matters, a suspension of principal amortization from February 1, 2025 until January 1, 2026, provide for potential partial conversion to equity, and provide for a mechanism to repay a portion of the principal amount of the ARCA with proceeds to be received from sale of the previously announced 48C tax credits and through a potential refinancing process provide for an extension of the maturity date.
ARCA Amendments
The Company, Gunnison Arizona and Nebari have signed a binding term sheet (the "Nebari Term Sheet") setting out the terms for the following amendments to the ARCA (collectively, the "Amendments"):
Deferral of Principal Amortization: The requirement to begin repaying the principal balance of the ARCA in monthly installments shall be suspended from February 1, 2025 until January 1, 2026. As of January 1, 2026, the remaining principal shall be amortized on a straight-line basis in equal monthly amounts or a monthly amount of $300,000, whichever is smaller.
Equity Conversion: To provide for a potential alternative repayment mechanism, up to $6.25 million of the principal amount of the ARCA will be convertible, at Nebari's option, into common shares of Gunnison, at a price (the "Conversion Price") equal to the lower of (i) a 30% premium to the lowest issuance price of the common shares or units issued in any equity financing prior to March 31, 2025 (subject to minimum pricing rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange); and (ii) the lowest exercise price of any warrants issued as part of any such equity financing, provided that if no equity financing is completed prior to March 31, 2025 the Conversion Price shall be US$0.1622 (Cdn$0.2339), which is a 30% premium to the volume weighted average trading price ("VWAP") of the common shares of Parent on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five trading days prior to the execution of the Nebari Term Sheet.
Principal Reduction through 48C Tax Credit: If Gunnison receives a portion of the cash received from the sale of Johnson Camp 48C tax credit it shall use the lower of $6.25 million or the full amount of the proceeds so received to pay down the non-convertible principal amount of the ARCA.
Maturity Date Extension: In the event that the principal amount of the ARCA is reduced to $7.5 million or less (whether through conversion or repayment in cash (including cash from the 48C tax credit)), Nebari agrees to seek sale and assignment of the ARCA to another party (the "Loan Buyer"). The assigned ARCA shall have its maturity date amended to 31 December 2029, or such earlier date as agreed between the Loan Buyer and Gunnison, and no amortization shall be due on the convertible portion of the ARCA until the amended maturity date.
Minimum Cash Balance: The existing financial covenants related to a minimum cash balance and accounts payable aging shall be adjusted so that they only apply to cash and accounts payable that are not related to the Stage 2 Work Program with Nuton, LLC. Furthermore, the required minimum cash balance shall be $1 million.
Security: Gunnison's subsidiary Excelsior Mining Holdings, Inc. shall become part of Nebari's collateral package.
The Amendments are subject to certain conditions including approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange, approval from Greenstone Resources L.P. ("Greenstone") and Triple Flag, deferral of interest payments due under convertible debentures due to Greenstone and Triple Flag, certain agreements between Nebari and Triple Flag agreement and commencement of a work program by Gunnison to optimize certain opportunities identified in the preliminary economic assessment for the Gunnison Project.
Nebari is at arm's length to the Company. There are no commissions or finders' fees payable in connection with the transactions discussed in this news release. While the Nebari Term Sheet is binding, the parties intend to conclude a second amended and restated credit agreement reflecting the terms in the Nebari Term Sheet. There is no assurance that the conditions to the Amendments will be satisfied.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in mid 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is an innovative venture focused on finding better ways to produce the copper the world needs with the smallest possible environmental footprint. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary nature-based leaching technologies and capabilities that offer the potential to economically unlock copper through bio-heap leaching, including from primary sulfide resources, achieving market-leading recovery rates and increasing copper production at new and ongoing operations. One of the key differentiators of Nuton is our ambition to produce the world's lowest carbon footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each deployment site across five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
To learn more about Nuton, visit https://nuton.tech/
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects; (vii) the satisfaction of final conditions and receipt of 48C tax credits; (viii) the terms of the Nuton Transaction; (ix) the terms of the Amendments; and (xi) the satisfaction of the conditions to the Nuton Transaction and the Amendments.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, Nuton and Gunnison will execute definitive agreements for the Nuton Transaction, Gunnison and Nebari will execute definitive agreements for the Amendments, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the allocation of the 48C tax credits between the Company and Nuton, the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton and Gunnison failing to conclude definitive agreements for the Nuton Transaction, Nebari and Gunnison failing to conclude definitive agreements for the Amendments, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the failure to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of the 48C tax credits may be allocated to repay capital expenditures for the Johnson Camp mine, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243016
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 16, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS) ("Gunnison") and Rio Tinto venture Nuton LLC have been selected to receive US$13.9 million in tax credits (the "48C tax credit") under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Program (the "48C program") to expand production of Made in America copper, which is designated a Critical Material for Energy, from its Johnson Camp Mine in Southern Arizona.
The competitive process for funding was managed by the U.S. Department of Energy as advisor to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), which selected recipients based on an extensive review of each project. "We are honored to receive this significant support from the Department of Energy and the IRS," said Stephen Twyerould, CEO of Gunnison Copper. "This tax credit will allow us to produce significant quantities of copper metal domestically in the United States to directly supply American production in a variety of critical industries such as energy and defense."
Gunnison1 is expanding the Johnson Camp Mine, which is under construction, with first copper production expected in mid-2025. The asset is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode annually.
"The goal of 48C is to support projects that achieve a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. At Nuton, our ambition is to redefine how copper is produced by applying nature-based technologies that achieve more positive social, economic and environmental outcomes," said Adam Burley, CEO of Nuton. "Our first industrial-scale deployment of the Nuton technology at Johnson Camp is a major step on the journey to achieving that ambition."
"I am very pleased with the government support for this project," said Fred DuVal, Chairman of Gunnison Copper. "We remain committed to providing good jobs, paying prevailing wages, for Cochise County residents and to developing our partnership with Cochise College to implement an apprenticeship program for labor on behalf of Gunnison."
The 48C tax credit is part of the US$10 billion in funding under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 ("IRA") to intensify clean energy manufacturing and recycling, industrial decarbonization, and critical materials projects in the US. In March 2024, the IRS allocated $4 billion in 48C credits. In April 2024, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with DOE, announced up to $6 billion in a second round of tax credit allocations and Gunnison and Nuton applied for these credits for the Johnson Camp project. Under the IRA, a qualifying advanced energy project credit can either be monetized through its sale for cash or by using it to offset income tax liability. Realization of the full amount of this tax credit is subject to satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code including certification of the operational and employment plans set out in the application. The tax partnership has a period of two years within which to satisfy the certification requirements and claim the tax credits.
The actual allocation of the 48C tax credits as between Gunnison and Nuton will be determined in a tax partnership agreement that will be entered into between the parties. Final details will be confirmed in a subsequent press release.
ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER
Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.
Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a measured and indicated mineral resource containing over 831 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (measured mineral resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and indicated mineral resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.
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. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in mid 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.
Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.
For additional information on the Gunnison Project please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.
For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com
ABOUT NUTON
Nuton, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is an innovative venture focused on finding better ways to produce the copper the world needs with the smallest possible environmental footprint. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary nature-based leaching technologies and capabilities that offer the potential to economically unlock copper through bio-heap leaching, including from primary sulfide resources, achieving market-leading recovery rates and increasing copper production at new and ongoing operations. One of the key differentiators of Nuton is our ambition to produce the world's lowest carbon footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each deployment site across five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society.
To learn more about Nuton, visit https://nuton.tech/
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Gunnison Copper Corp.
Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018
Shawn Westcott
T: 604.365.6681
E:
www.GunnisonCopper.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton® technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; (vi) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects; (vii) the satisfaction of final conditions and receipt of 48C tax credits; (viii) the direct supply of American production in a variety of critical industries such as energy and defense.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the allocation of the 48C tax credits between the Company and Nuton, the satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the failure to satisfy the requirements set forth in Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of the 48C tax credits may be allocated to repay capital expenditures for the Johnson Camp mine, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
1 Gunnison Copper Project Mineral Resources and PEA are reported by Gunnison Copper in accordance with NI 43-101. These are not reported by Rio Tinto under the JORC Code or the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237368
- Gunnison Copper Files Technical Report for Preliminary Economic Assessment of Open Pit Mining at its Flagship Gunnison Project in Arizona's Copper Belt
- Gunnison Copper Mobilizes Mining Fleet at the Johnson Camp Mine in SE Arizona
- Gunnison Copper Announces Preliminary Economic Assessment of Open Pit Mining at its Flagship Gunnison Project in Arizona's Copper Belt
- Excelsior Mining Announces Name Change to Gunnison Copper