US Copper Commences Metallurgical Studies on Its Moonlight-Superior Copper Project

Executive Summary

• US Copper Corp. has engaged Libertas Metallurgy Limited to review all existing metallurgical work and design the test‑work program for its upcoming PFS on the Moonlight‑Superior property in California.
• Libertas will assess current data, recommend any additional drilling, define sample requirements, design the PFS metallurgical test plan, and issue RFPs to third‑party labs.
• The engagement supports US Copper’s next development step following a positive 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) that reported an after‑tax NPV of US$1.075 billion.

Key Details

• Consultant: Libertas Metallurgy Limited, specialist in flotation, leaching, process design and cost reduction.
• Scope of Services:
• Review all metallurgical work completed to date.
• Recommend additional drilling (if needed) before PFS testwork begins.
• Advise on sample selection: number of holes, quantities, composites, discrete/variability samples.
• Design the PFS metallurgical test‑work program for both oxide and sulphide resources, providing a basis for third‑party lab quotes.
• Issue RFPs to selected laboratories, evaluate bids, and adjudicate contracts.
• Key Personnel: David Middleditch (President & Principal Metallurgist, Libertas) and John Wells (copper‑oxide processing specialist).
• CEO Comment: Stephen Dunn highlighted the strategic importance of domestic copper production, referenced the 2025 PEA update, and noted that the project is ready to advance toward a PFS with additional deep‑drilling planned.
• Project Context:
• Moonlight‑Superior property hosts three surface‑open deposits (Moonlight, Superior, Engels) with an average historic drill hole depth of 450 ft; Engels was previously mined to 2,400 ft in 1929.
• The 2024 PEA (effective Dec 16, 2024) reported a life‑of‑mine production estimate of 1.8 billion lb Cu and an after‑tax NPV of US$1.075 billion.
• Resource Summary (as per PEA): Mineral resources calculated at a 0.16 % Cu cutoff for oxide/transition material and a 10.45 NSR cutoff for sulphide material; metallurgical recovery assumed at 75 % Cu.

Notable Quotes

“I am very pleased to welcome Libertas to the Moonlight project… Their expertise will be very beneficial as we advance our metallurgical work.” – Stephen Dunn, CEO
“The year 2025 has been a very positive one for US Copper… We are now focused on taking the next steps required to begin a PFS for our project.” – Stephen Dunn, CEO