Phoenix-based copper miner Excelsior Mining has started the production of copper cathodes at its Gunnison Copper Project in Arizona.
The company noted that it will now ramp up production by introducing more wells and bring the entire wellfield into production by late 2021 to a cathode output of 11,340mt per year. The miner is using a low-cost method known as in-situ recovery using less water and energy.
Excelsior plans to begin sales of the cathode output next month. The Gunnison Project is measured and indicated to hold 873mn nt (792mn mt) of copper mineralization, containing about 2.5mn nt of copper concentrate.