Lion Copper and Gold Corp. (TSXV: LEO | OTCQB: LCGMF) has announced the positive results of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its Yerington Copper Project in Lyon County, Nevada. The PEA envisions an open pit mining strategy followed by a heap leach operation, enhanced by the application of Rio Tinto’s Nuton technologies to process primary sulfide copper materials.
The PEA was completed with funding in accordance with the agreement between Lion Copper and Nuton LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. Given the advantages offered by Nuton compared to conventional sulfide processing, it serves as the project’s preferred and foundational approach, forming the cornerstone of the PEA.
“We are very pleased with the results of this PEA, which outlines a compelling path forward for advancing the integrated Yerington Copper Project. The projected economics showcase the tremendous value that can be unlocked by adopting an innovative and sustainable approach centered around Nuton technologies for primary sulfide processing,” commented Travis Naugle, CEO and co-chairman of Lion CG.
“The minimal footprint of our optimized strategy, with its consolidated infrastructure sited within the brownfield Yerington area, exemplifies our commitment to sustainable development that benefits all stakeholders.”
The leaching process (using Nuton’s methods) should deliver recovery rates of 74% and eliminate the need for a concentrator, tailings impoundment and resource-intense smelter operations.
Projected copper production over a 12-year lifespan is anticipated to reach 1.4Blbs, with an average annual output of 117Mlbs. This production forecast encompasses operations at both the Yerington site and, in a subsequent phase, the MacArthur project. The MacArthur project, a sizable oxide copper deposit that was previously operational in the 1990s, will contribute to the overall copper production in the later stages.
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