Capstone To Expand Leaching At Pinto Valley Mine

VANCOUVER, BC - Capstone Mining Corp.reported that its Pinto Valley mine has successfully demonstrated positive economics from enhanced dump leach performance by partnering with Jetti Resources, LLC to apply their novel patented catalytic technology at Pinto Valley’s existing dump leach operation. During the first year of Capstone’s partnership with Jetti, cathode production per area irrigated has doubled. A plan to increase activity is being implemented with the goal of generating strong cash flow from Pinto Valley’s underutilized 25 million pound per year solvent extraction and electro winning (SX-EW) plant, which is currently operating at only 20% of capacity. The plan is to increase cathode production to 300-350 million pounds from residual and high-grade waste over the next two decades, creating 30 new jobs at Pinto Valley.

Darren Pylot, President and CEO said, “The mining industry has long been pursuing a viable technology to leach low-grade chalcopyrite ores. The results after year one of our partnership with Jetti Resources are exciting because it means we can generate high margin from material that would have been waste. This project represents an opportunity to position Pinto Valley more competitively, which will create and sustain jobs, and economic benefits in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.”

The engagement of Jetti and utilization of their proprietary technology was an extension of Pinto Valley’s existing PV3 Optimization Study, which is focused on several low capex, high impact projects aimed at having a material increase to the net present value of the operation. The PV3 Optimization Study is scheduled for release in Q4.

Jetti’s patented technology makes it possible to extract copper from low-grade primary sulfides, such as chalcopyrite, the world’s most abundant copper mineral ore. Jetti has developed and commercially deployed a catalytic technology that allows for the efficient and effective heap and stockpile leach extraction of copper trapped in these challenging mineral ores. Jetti’s catalysts enable the disruption of the sulfur metal bond of the mineral, allowing copper extraction to take place unimpeded. As a result, Jetti is now increasing profitability at operations and extending project life, while also converting uneconomic waste rock into valuable assets.

Mike Outwin, Jetti Resources Co-Founder and CEO said, “Pinto Valley was a perfect candidate to pioneer our breakthrough technology given the abundance of copper resources available for leaching and the underutilized plant and infrastructure in place. Our technology has integrated seamlessly with the existing infrastructure on site, and we have doubled the production of copper cathode per area irrigated within one year of our partnership. We are excited to partner with Capstone to realize more economic value from their vast copper resource in Arizona and possibly other projects in the Americas.”