Fitzroy Minerals Reports Copper Recoveries of up to 82.6% from Mini-Column Testing, with Preliminary Larger-Scale Results Trending Higher, at the Buen Retiro Copper Project, Chile
Original announcement by orestocks on
- Company
- Fitzroy Minerals Inc.
- Ticker
- FTZ.V
- Exchange
- Unavailable
- Region
- Chile
- Primary commodity
- Copper
- Secondary commodities
- None reported
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-23 11:49:28 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Atlas analysis published:
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Fitzroy Minerals has reported successful initial metallurgical test results for the Buen Retiro Copper Project in Chile, with mini-column copper recoveries reaching up to 82.6%. Ongoing larger-scale 1-metre column tests are showing even higher recovery trends, supporting the project's heap-leach development plan.
Reasoning: The metallurgical results confirm a strong heap-leach case with high recoveries and low acid consumption across multiple geometallurgical units.
Positive factors
- High copper recoveries (up to 82.6%) in mini-column tests
- Low acid consumption (3.4 to 11.2 kg/kg)
- Favourable rock hardness (8 kWh/t)
- Preliminary 1m column results trending higher than mini-columns
- Chloride addition identified as optimization opportunity
Negative factors
- Low-grade oxide unit shows higher acid consumption (11.2 kg/kg) which may limit leach extension
Facts used in scoring: 3
Classification and evidence
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: Mixed unit achieved 82.6% recovery in mini-column testing.
Evidence · text
“total copper (“CuT”) recovery of ... 82.6% (mixed)”
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: The testing is specifically for a heap-leach processing route.
Evidence · text
“evaluating the response of the Project’s three principal geometallurgical units (“UGM” or “Units”) to heap-leach processing”
QA/QC Disclosedpositive · Story-specific tag
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: Release details SGS laboratory accreditation and specific QA/QC protocols.
Evidence · text
“carried out under a documented quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") protocol”
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: the document describes a heap_leach route ("heap leach")
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 3 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 3. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (3)
mini-columnBuen Retiro Copper Project · copperRecovery: 71.8 %Head Grade: 0.95Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Buen Retiro Copper Project
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- chile
- Reported Region
- Chile
- Ticker
- FTZ.V
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- mini-column
- Processing Route
- heap leach
- Sample
- High-grade oxide composite (1,349 kg)
- Leach Time
- 504 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 71.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.95
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Reagents
- Acid
- 4.9 kg/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 71.8% recovery is a solid result for a high-grade oxide heap leach test.
Positive factors
- Strong recovery for oxide
Evidence · text
“total copper (“CuT”) recovery of 71.8% (high-grade oxide)”
Tags used in scoring
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the heap_leach signal
mini-columnBuen Retiro Copper Project · copperRecovery: 59.9 %Head Grade: 0.35Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Buen Retiro Copper Project
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- chile
- Reported Region
- Chile
- Ticker
- FTZ.V
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- mini-column
- Processing Route
- heap leach
- Sample
- Low-grade oxide composite (1,566 kg)
- Leach Time
- 504 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 59.9 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.35
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Reagents
- Acid
- 11.2 kg/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Recovery is lower and acid consumption is higher for this unit.
Negative factors
- Higher acid consumption
Evidence · text
“59.9% (low-grade oxide)”
Tags used in scoring
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the heap_leach signal
mini-columnBuen Retiro Copper Project · copperRecovery: 82.6 %Head Grade: 1.24Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Buen Retiro Copper Project
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- chile
- Reported Region
- Chile
- Ticker
- FTZ.V
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- mini-column
- Processing Route
- heap leach
- Sample
- Mixed material composite (426 kg)
- Leach Time
- 504 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 82.6 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 1.24
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Reagents
- Acid
- 3.4 kg/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 82.6% recovery is an exceptional result for the mixed unit.
Positive factors
- Excellent recovery
- Low acid consumption
Evidence · text
“82.6% (mixed)”
Tags used in scoring
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the heap_leach signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 82.6% is at or above the exceptional band (80%)
How Atlas produces this analysis
Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.