# 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 Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/fitzroy-minerals-reports-copper-recoveries-of-up-to-82-6-from-mini-column-testin--7d1bf842-0d39-4083-aeab-940f8ee0066f Original source: https://fitzroyminerals.com/news-releases/fitzroy-minerals-reports-copper-recoveries-of-up-to-82.6-from-mini-column-testing-with-preliminary-larger-scale-results/ Publisher: prospectors\_exchange Original announcement: 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z Analysis by Minestarters Atlas Atlas analysis published: 2026-09-23T12:49:42.657Z Atlas analysis updated: 2026-09-23T12:49:42.657Z - Company: Fitzroy Minerals Inc. - Ticker: FTZ - Exchange: Unavailable - Region: Chile - Primary commodity: Copper - Secondary commodities: None reported - Document categories: Metallurgy - Extracted: 2026-09-23 12:49:43 UTC Narrative sentiment: 0.80 · Bullish ## Minestarters Atlas 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%. Preliminary results from larger-scale 1-metre column tests are trending higher, suggesting potential long-term recoveries of up to 95% for mixed material. The project also benefits from favourable rock hardness and low acid consumption in key units. Reasoning: The metallurgical testwork provides strong technical validation for a heap-leach development plan at Buen Retiro, with recoveries exceeding expectations and trending upwards in larger-scale tests. - Positive factor: High copper recoveries \(up to 82.6%\) in mini-column tests - Positive factor: Preliminary 1-metre column results trending higher - Positive factor: Low-to-moderate acid consumption - Positive factor: Favourable rock hardness \(soft\) - Positive factor: QA/QC disclosed with SGS laboratory and QP sign-off - Negative factor: Low-grade oxide unit shows higher specific acid consumption \(11.2 kg/kg\) Facts used in scoring: 3 ## Classification and evidence **High Recovery** Polarity: positive Definition: Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route. Why it applies: Mixed unit achieved 82.6% recovery in 21 days, which is strong for heap leach. Evidence · text > total copper \(“CuT”\) recovery of ... 82.6% \(mixed\) after 21 days **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Story-specific tag Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: Release mentions SGS laboratory accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 and QP sign-off. Evidence · text > accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 ... Qualified Person \(“QP”\) Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans ... has reviewed and approved **Mill Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\). Why it applies: The testing is specifically for a heap-leach development plan. Evidence · text > evaluating the response of the Project’s three principal geometallurgical units ... to heap-leach processing **Heap Leach Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: 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 Tested** Polarity: positive Definition: 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-column [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/fitzroy-minerals-reports-copper-recoveries-of-up-to-82-6-from-mini-column-testin--7d1bf842-0d39-4083-aeab-940f8ee0066f#fact-metallurgical-facts-0) Buen Retiro · copper #### Identity - Project: Buen Retiro - Commodity: copper - Region: chile - Reported Region: Chile - Ticker: FTZ #### Test Work - Program Status: preliminary - Test Type: mini-column - Processing Route: heap leach - Sample: high-grade oxide composite #### 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: Strong initial recovery for high-grade oxide unit. - Positive factor: 71.8% recovery in 21 days - Positive factor: Low acid consumption \(4.9 kg/kg\) Evidence · text > total copper \(“CuT”\) recovery of 71.8% \(high-grade oxide\) #### Tags used in scoring **Heap Leach Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected. Why it applies: processing\_route matches the heap\_leach signal ### mini-column [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/fitzroy-minerals-reports-copper-recoveries-of-up-to-82-6-from-mini-column-testin--7d1bf842-0d39-4083-aeab-940f8ee0066f#fact-metallurgical-facts-1) Buen Retiro · copper #### Identity - Project: Buen Retiro - Commodity: copper - Region: chile - Reported Region: Chile - Ticker: FTZ #### Test Work - Program Status: preliminary - Test Type: mini-column - Processing Route: heap leach - Sample: low-grade oxide composite #### 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 the low-grade oxide unit. - Negative factor: Lower recovery \(59.9%\) - Negative factor: Higher acid consumption \(11.2 kg/kg\) Evidence · text > 59.9% \(low-grade oxide\) ... specific acid consumptions of ... 11.2 kg H+/kg Cu #### Tags used in scoring **Heap Leach Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected. Why it applies: processing\_route matches the heap\_leach signal ### mini-column [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/fitzroy-minerals-reports-copper-recoveries-of-up-to-82-6-from-mini-column-testin--7d1bf842-0d39-4083-aeab-940f8ee0066f#fact-metallurgical-facts-2) Buen Retiro · copper #### Identity - Project: Buen Retiro - Commodity: copper - Region: chile - Reported Region: Chile - Ticker: FTZ #### Test Work - Program Status: preliminary - Test Type: mini-column - Processing Route: heap leach - Sample: mixed material composite #### 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: Excellent recovery and low acid consumption for the mixed unit. - Positive factor: Highest recovery \(82.6%\) - Positive factor: Lowest acid consumption \(3.4 kg/kg\) Evidence · text > 82.6% \(mixed\) after 21 days, with low-to-moderate net acid consumption \(3.4 to 11.2 kg/kg\) #### Tags used in scoring **Heap Leach Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected. Why it applies: processing\_route matches the heap\_leach signal **High Recovery** Polarity: positive Definition: 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.