Gunnison partner produces first Cu at Johnson Camp

Executive Summary

• Gunnison Copper Corp. announces the successful production of the first copper cathode at its Johnson Camp mine in Arizona using Rio Tinto’s proprietary Nuton bioleaching technology.
• This milestone marks the first industrial-scale production using Nuton technology, which utilizes micro-organisms to extract copper from primary sulphide materials, eliminating the need for traditional concentration, smelting, and refining.
• The project aims to produce approximately 30,000 tonnes of refined copper over a four-year demonstration period, targeting the lowest carbon footprint for copper production in the United States.

Key Details

• Technology Deployment: Rio Tinto’s Nuton technology package was deployed at the Johnson Camp mine, utilizing a heap-leach pad design.
• Production Capacity: The demonstration period targets approximately 30,000 tonnes of refined copper over four years. The asset has a production capacity of up to 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode annually.
• Process Efficiency: Nuton eliminates concentration, smelting, and refining steps, delivering copper cathode directly at the mine gate. Recovery rates from primary sulphides reach up to 85%.
• Environmental Metrics:
  • Carbon Footprint: Anticipated mine-to-metal footprint of 0.82 kg CO2e per kg of copper, significantly lower than the projected 2026 global average of 3.4 kg CO2e per kg.
  • Energy: 100% of site electricity is matched by renewable sources via 134,000 Green-e Energy-certified renewable energy certificates.
  • Water Usage: Anticipated intensity of 71 litres per kg of copper, compared to the global industry average of approximately 130 litres per kg.
• Timeline: The technology underwent more than 30 years of R&D but achieved industrial-scale production in just 18 months, compared to the industry average of 18 years from concept to production.
• Funding: The Johnson Camp asset is fully financed by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture.
• Next Steps: The focus will shift to validating long-term technical performance, including multiyear testing, independent third-party verification, and internal review by Rio Tinto.

Notable Quotes

• Katie Jackson, Rio Tinto Copper CEO: "This is a breakthrough achievement for our Nuton technology, which is proving that cleaner, faster and more efficient copper production is possible at an industrial scale. In an industry where projects typically take about 18 years to move from concept to production, Nuton has now proven its ability to do this in just 18 months."
• Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Gunnison Copper CEO: "The first production of Nuton copper at Johnson Camp is the culmination of exceptional teamwork between Gunnison Copper and Rio Tinto's Nuton team. Achieving this level of performance in such a short time frame shows what is possible when innovation, operational excellence and a shared vision come together."