Highland Copper Announces Updated Process Plant Flow Sheet Demonstrating Increased Copper Recoveries of 87.6% and Reduced Processing Costs
Original announcement by tmx on
- Company
- Highland Copper Company Inc.
- Ticker
- HI
- Exchange
- TSX
- Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Primary commodity
- Copper
- Secondary commodities
- Silver, Iron ore, Sulfur
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-08-21 07:09:27 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Highland Copper announced positive results from its 2025 metallurgical test work program for the Copperwood Project, demonstrating an updated process plant flowsheet that is expected to increase copper recoveries to 87.6% and reduce processing costs by up to $1.00 per tonne milled. The redesigned flowsheet incorporates ultrafine flotation technology and an optimized reagent scheme, with Glencore Technologies prepared to offer a performance guarantee for the improved recovery estimate. These results are an important component of Phase 1 detailed engineering, aiming to enhance project economics and reduce technical risk.
Reasoning: The updated process plant flowsheet, incorporating ultrafine flotation and an optimized reagent scheme, demonstrates increased copper recoveries and reduced operating costs, backed by a performance guarantee from Glencore Technologies. While variability testing is a next step, the current results are highly positive.
Positive factors
- Increased copper recovery (87.6% vs 86% in 2023 FS)
- Reduced processing costs (up to $1.00/tonne milled)
- Optimized process flowsheet (MF2, de-sliming, ultrafine flotation)
- Glencore Technologies performance guarantee
- QP sign-off
- Accredited lab (Base Met Labs)
- Locked-cycle tests confirmed performance
- Reduced comminution power requirements (10-13.7%)
- Improved EH&S profile from new reagent scheme
Negative factors
- Single Domain Only
Facts used in scoring: 7
Classification and evidence
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: The projected copper recovery of 87.6% is at or above the exceptional band for flotation processing.
Evidence · text
“average copper recovery of 87.6%”
Pilot Scale Completepositive
Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.
Why it applies: Pilot-scale flotation tests were conducted using a Jameson L150 laboratory unit.
Evidence · text
“pilot application of ultrafine flotation using a Jameson L150 laboratory unit”
Recovery Improvingpositive
Recovery improved versus a like-for-like prior test program on the same domain and route.
Why it applies: The new projected recovery of 87.6% copper is an increase from the 86% reported in the 2023 Feasibility Study.
Evidence · text
“increase in copper recoveries to 87.6%”
QP/CP Signedpositive · Story-specific tag
Qualified Person (QP) or Competent Person (CP) named and signed off — a member of a recognized professional association (e.g., AusIMM, SME, AIG, P.Geo) with relevant experience.
Why it applies: Dr. Aghil Ojaghi, P.Eng., and Dr. Wynand van Dyk, QP, reviewed and approved the technical content.
Evidence · text
“Dr. Aghil Ojaghi, P.Eng., Senior Process Engineer at DRA for the Copperwood Project and independent from the Company. Dr. Ojaghi is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101”
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: The redesigned flowsheet is a mill-float-mill-float (MF2) configuration, indicating a mill-based processing route.
Evidence · text
“mill-float-mill-float (“MF2”) flowsheet”
Single Domain Onlynegative
Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established.
Why it applies: The current test work was conducted on a composite sample, with variability testing planned as a next step, indicating limited domain coverage for the reported results.
Evidence · text
“used to prepare the composite sample for the current phase of test work, as well as to prepare variability samples for the forthcoming lock-cycle variability testing.”
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 7. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (7)
pilot plantCopperwood Project · copperRecovery: 87.6 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- pilot plant
- Processing Route
- MF2 flotation with ultrafine flotation and optimized reagent scheme
- Sample
- composite sample
Recovery
- Recovery
- 87.6 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 25
- Conc. Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Projected copper recovery of 87.6% represents a significant improvement over the prior 86% and is backed by Glencore's performance guarantee, indicating high confidence in the optimized MF2 flotation circuit with ultrafine technology.
Positive factors
- High Recovery
- Recovery Improving
- Pilot Scale Complete
- QP/CP Signed
- Glencore Performance Guarantee
Negative factors
- Single Domain Only
Evidence · text
“Copperwood is now expected to achieve average copper recovery of 87.6% at a concentrate grade of 25% copper”
locked-cycleCopperwood Project · copperRecovery: 85.4 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- locked-cycle
- Processing Route
- MF2 flotation with ultrafine flotation and optimized reagent scheme
- Sample
- Cycle E+F Average
Recovery
- Recovery
- 85.4 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 32.9
- Conc. Grade Unit
- %
- Mass Pull
- 5.9 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Locked-cycle test C52 confirmed a high copper concentrate grade of 32.9% at 85.4% recovery, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new MF2 flotation circuit and optimized reagent scheme.
Positive factors
- High Concentrate Grade
- Locked-Cycle Test
- QP/CP Signed
Negative factors
- Single Domain Only
Evidence · table
“85.4”
Context: 5.9
locked-cycleCopperwood Project · iron_oreRecovery: 7.1 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- iron_ore
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- locked-cycle
- Processing Route
- MF2 flotation with ultrafine flotation and optimized reagent scheme
- Sample
- Cycle E+F Average
Recovery
- Recovery
- 7.1 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 6.6
- Conc. Grade Unit
- %
- Mass Pull
- 5.9 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Locked-cycle test C52 also reported recoveries and concentrate grades for iron, providing a comprehensive view of the concentrate composition from the new MF2 flotation circuit.
Positive factors
- Locked-Cycle Test
- QP/CP Signed
Negative factors
- Single Domain Only
Evidence · table
“7.1”
Context: 5.9
locked-cycleCopperwood Project · silverRecovery: 75.1 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- locked-cycle
- Processing Route
- MF2 flotation with ultrafine flotation and optimized reagent scheme
- Sample
- Cycle E+F Average
Recovery
- Recovery
- 75.1 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 62.5
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Mass Pull
- 5.9 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Locked-cycle test C52 also reported recoveries and concentrate grades for silver, providing a comprehensive view of the concentrate composition from the new MF2 flotation circuit.
Positive factors
- Locked-Cycle Test
- QP/CP Signed
Negative factors
- Single Domain Only
Evidence · table
“75.1”
Context: 5.9
locked-cycleCopperwood Project · sulfurRecovery: 88.3 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- sulfur
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- locked-cycle
- Processing Route
- MF2 flotation with ultrafine flotation and optimized reagent scheme
- Sample
- Cycle E+F Average
Recovery
- Recovery
- 88.3 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 9.4
- Conc. Grade Unit
- %
- Mass Pull
- 5.9 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Locked-cycle test C52 also reported recoveries and concentrate grades for sulfur, providing a comprehensive view of the concentrate composition from the new MF2 flotation circuit.
Positive factors
- Locked-Cycle Test
- QP/CP Signed
Negative factors
- Single Domain Only
Evidence · table
“88.3”
Context: 5.9
locked-cycleCopperwood Project · copperRecovery: 85.8 %Historical resultNeeds review: historical_restatementView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- locked-cycle
- Processing Route
- previous design
- Sample
- FSU Table 13.29
Recovery
- Recovery
- 85.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 25.1
- Conc. Grade Unit
- %
- Mass Pull
- 7.3 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- Yes
- Review Reason
- historical_restatement
- Historical
- Yes
- Historical Source Date
- 2023-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: This fact represents the historical copper recovery baseline from the 2023 Feasibility Study, used for comparison with the new metallurgical test work results.
Negative factors
- Historical Estimate Only
Evidence · table
“85.8”
Context: 7.3
locked-cycleCopperwood Project · silverRecovery: 78.8 %Historical resultNeeds review: historical_restatementView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Copperwood Project
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- michigan’s upper peninsula
- Reported Region
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Ticker
- HI
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- locked-cycle
- Processing Route
- previous design
- Sample
- FSU Table 13.29
Recovery
- Recovery
- 78.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Conc. Grade
- 61.2
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Mass Pull
- 7.3 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
- Consultant
- DRA Americas Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- Yes
- Review Reason
- historical_restatement
- Historical
- Yes
- Historical Source Date
- 2023-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: This fact represents the historical silver recovery baseline from the 2023 Feasibility Study, used for comparison with the new metallurgical test work results.
Negative factors
- Historical Estimate Only
Evidence · table
“78.8”
Context: 7.3
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.