Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 23, 2026
Fitzroy Minerals Reports Up to 82.6% Copper Recovery at Buen Retiro
TLDR
- Fitzroy Minerals' Buen Retiro copper project shows heap-leach recoveries up to 82.6% with larger columns trending toward 95%.
- SGS mini-column tests on three geometallurgical units achieved copper recoveries of 71.8%, 59.9%, and 82.6% after 21 days with low acid consumption.
- Fitzroy Minerals' copper project advances with promising metallurgical results, potentially supporting economic growth and resource development in Chile.
- Chloride addition during agglomeration and leaching boosted copper recoveries by 3 to 5 percentage points in oxide units at similar acid consumption.
Impact - Why it Matters
The successful metallurgical test results at Buen Retiro are a critical milestone for Fitzroy Minerals, demonstrating the technical viability of heap leaching for the project's oxide and mixed mineralization. With copper recoveries reaching up to 82.6% in mini-column tests and preliminary 1-metre column results trending even higher—potentially up to 95% for mixed material—the project is significantly de-risked. This is particularly important as the global transition to clean energy drives demand for copper, a key metal in electric vehicles and renewable infrastructure. For investors, these results enhance the attractiveness of Fitzroy as a copper development play, with a clear pathway to a Pre-Feasibility Study in 2027. The low acid consumption and favorable rock hardness further support the potential for low-cost production, which could position Buen Retiro as a competitive copper project in Chile, one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions.
Summary
Fitzroy Minerals Inc. (TSXV: FTZ, OTCQX: FTZFF, FSE: C3Y) has announced promising initial metallurgical test results from the Buen Retiro Copper Project in Copiapo, Chile. Conducted by SGS Laboratories, the mini-column testing of three geometallurgical units—high-grade oxide, low-grade oxide, and mixed—demonstrated copper recoveries of 71.8%, 59.9%, and 82.6% respectively after 21 days of leaching, with low-to-moderate acid consumption. These results, which exceeded expectations, support the company's planned heap-leach development strategy. Larger-scale 1-metre column tests are already trending higher, with projections suggesting ultimate recoveries of up to 95% for mixed material after 75 days, further de-risking the project. The test work also confirmed favorable rock hardness and moderate abrasiveness, which will benefit crushing circuit design.
Merlin Marr-Johnson, President and CEO, expressed confidence in the heap-leach case, noting that the results are statistically robust and materially de-risk the path to production. The mineralization is classified into three units based on grade and mineralogy, and a total of 3,341 kg of composite samples have been submitted for 208 separate tests. The next steps include finalizing 1-metre column balances, starting 3-metre column testing in November, and reporting final metallurgical results by March 2027, which will feed into a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) planned for Q2 2027. For more information, visit www.fitzroyminerals.com.
Fitzroy Minerals is focused on copper exploration in the Americas, with a portfolio including the Buen Retiro, Caballos, Polimet, Taquetren, and Caribou projects. The positive metallurgical results mark a significant step forward in advancing Buen Retiro towards development, highlighting the potential for a low-cost heap-leach operation. The company remains committed to thorough testing and transparency, as evidenced by its rigorous QA/QC protocols and independent verification by qualified persons.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Fitzroy Minerals Reports Up to 82.6% Copper Recovery at Buen Retiro
