Pecoy Copper Phase 1 Metallurgical Review Identifies Potential Step-Change in Gold Recovery and Optimization Opportunities
Pecoy Copper’s lab study hints at a gold-recovery jackpot that could redraw the economics of its giant Peruvian porphyry.
On May 26, 2026, Pecoy Copper released results of an independent Phase 1 metallurgical review by Global Resource Engineering Ltd. (GRE) for its 100%-owned Pecoy copper-gold-molybdenum-silver project in southern Peru. The study examined historical test data and simulated modified flotation flowsheets. Key findings: - Gold recovery in the South Breccia domain could rise from historic levels of ~40–43% to an estimated 73% using flash flotation, optimized mass pull, reagent selection, and pH control. - The Granite domain shows similar potential improvement from ~40% to ~70%. - Weighted-average primary recoveries are estimated at 92% Cu, 72% Au, 84% Ag, and 73% Mo. - A separate molybdenum flotation circuit appears feasible, with recoveries of 72–74%, potentially adding a second payable product. - Phase 2 metallurgical program is planned to validate these projections using fresh core from the ongoing 35,000 m drill campaign.
The news is materially positive because it signals a step-change in the project’s by-product value, which was previously constrained by poor gold recovery. The Pecoy resource is large (865 Mt at 0.34 % Cu) but low grade. Doubling gold recovery – if confirmed at scale – would substantially boost net smelter returns and could tip a marginal open-pit into a highly profitable starter pit. The optionality of a marketable molybdenum concentrate adds further upside. However, the findings are purely bench-scale simulations; no pilot testing or on-site validation has occurred. The market will likely treat the announcement as a strong positive signal, but the final magnitude of impact depends entirely on Phase 2 verification.
Pecoy Copper is a Peru‑focused exploration company advancing the Pecoy porphyry copper‑gold‑molybdenum‑silver deposit in the Arequipa region. The project benefits from low elevation (~1,650 m), year‑round access, proximity to highways, power, water, and deep‑water ports (Matarani, Ilo). An NI 43‑101 inferred resource estimates 865 Mt at 0.34% Cu (~6.5 bn lbs Cu) with gold, molybdenum, and silver credits. A second asset, Tororume (~8 km away), has historical drilling and shows copper‑gold potential but no formal resource. The 2026 exploration program is fully funded and includes up to 40,000 m of diamond drilling at Pecoy and ~5,000 m at Tororume, with five rigs planned. The company’s strategy is to demonstrate a large, low-strip-ratio open pit with a high‑grade starter pit.