- 01212 wells cover 1.7Mt for near-term leaching.
- 02Early copper recovery meets or beats assumptions.
- 03First cathode copper on track for Q4 2026.
Cyprium Metals (ASX: CYM) has met key injection and copper recovery targets during heap leach commissioning at its Nifty copper complex in Western Australia's Paterson region.
The developer has established 212 production and monitoring wells across an area containing approximately 1.7 million tonnes of material available for near-term leaching.
Early results show the returning solution is gaining copper at a rate consistent with or better than operating assumptions, although the initial performance does not guarantee future outcomes.
High-voltage power has also been connected to the solvent extraction and electrowinning (SXEW) plant, keeping first copper cathode production on track for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Production Planning Supported
Following a successful direct injection field trial in August, Cyprium completed and cased another 198 wells across Heaps 13 to 16 on Pad 6.
Composite samples from 24 wells reconciled within 5% of copper grades in the existing mineral resource block model, supporting its use for production planning.
The established production area is expected to provide enough material for approximately six to eight months of leaching activity.
Additional production blocks will be drilled, cased, and commissioned as the operation works through the accessible inventory.
Infrastructure connecting solution ponds and production areas is constructed and undergoing commissioning, with liquid already being delivered to two blocks through the completed pipe network.
Direct Pressure Injection
Rather than relying only on surface irrigation, direct injection delivers leaching solution under controlled pressure to selected depths within the existing heaps.
Cyprium expects the method to reach higher-grade material lower in the heaps earlier than would be possible with conventional surface re-leaching.
Operators have established a cycle of preconditioning, high-pressure injection and lower-pressure application, meeting targeted volumes and exceeding expected rates during lower-pressure injection.
The movement of solution into monitoring wells indicates that the heaps have the permeability and internal connectivity required for the approach.
Injection will progressively extend to further wells, with operating areas rotated through repeated cycles until they reach their economic cut-off.
Copper Solution Chemistry
Initial tests show free acid consumption averaging 4.25 grams per litre, with the concentration of copper in returning solution rising by roughly 1g/L to approximately 1.3g/L.
The observed ratio of copper produced to acid consumed is about 1:4.25, within the range of earlier column test work and in line with or better than modelling.
This intermediate leach solution is intended for recirculation through the heaps with additional acid until copper concentrations reach at least 2.5g/L for downstream recovery.
“It is exciting to see the early results of heap leach commissioning so quickly validating our operating assumptions,” executive chair Matt Fifield said.
“We are demonstrating that we can quickly build solution grade from primary leaching as the SXEW approaches commissioning—this is another foundational moment as we continue to build Australia’s next great copper company.”
Plant Commissioning Progress
Cyprium is progressively lifting injected solution volumes towards production targets while building copper-bearing solution inventory ahead of SXEW wet commissioning.
The company plans to expand the active leaching footprint across several areas over the coming weeks to match its targeted operating rates.
With high-voltage power connected to the SXEW electrical infrastructure and controls, pre-commissioning work at the plant is accelerating.
First copper cathode remains targeted for the fourth quarter, contingent on the remaining commissioning and ramp-up work proceeding as planned.
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