About Arizona Sonoran Copper Company

Our mission is to find, evaluate, and develop mining projects in a responsible and respectful manner.

Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc.’s (“ASCU”) principal business objectives are the identification, acquisition, exploration, development and sustainable production of base metal properties in geographic regions known to have low geopolitical risk. The Company's principal asset is a 100% interest in the Cactus Project, which is situated on private land and which the Company acquired from ASARCO Trust in July 2020.

Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, the Company’s Cactus Mine is located 70 km south of Phoenix International Airport and just outside of the city of Casa Grande. Geologically, the project is situated at the convergence of three major porphyry copper belts and benefits from excellent nearby access to a skilled workforce and local infrastructure (including water, onsite power, highways and rail networks).

Our Leadership

The executive management team and Board have a long-standing track record of successful project delivery in North America complimented by global capital markets expertise.

About Copper

Copper is one of the most versatile metals, it is used in nearly every industry and more recently has become a shining star in the green revolution due to its conductive properties. The recyclable and reusable properties of Copper is a positive contributor to the circular economy – reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions and extending the life of natural resources.

Proven Track Record of Creating Value

In less than three years, ASCU has achieved numerous meaningful milestones, and is advancing through the studies to build a material mid-tier copper producer on private land in Arizona.

1974

  • 1974 - 1984: ASARCO processes 38 Mt of primary copper ore through a flotation mill at the Sacaton Mine, producing 400 Mlbs Copper, 759 koz Silver, 27koz Gold.

2018

  • Due diligence complete on the of the past-producing porphyry copper Sacaton Mine – in ground and stockpile opportunity 

2019

  • Incorporation of the Company
  • Reclamation of the former Sacaton Mine complete and approval by the ADEQ, completing a baseline environmental study for the Cactus Mine Project
  • Agreement to acquire the Sacaton mine from the ASARCO Multi-State Environmental Custodial Trust, and name change to Cactus Mine
  • Drilling at Cactus in ground historic deposits and Stockpile project

2020

  • Preliminary Economic Assessment completed on the Stockpile Project providing early production flexibility

  • Completion of over US$25 M in fundraising from institutional and individual shareholders

  • Acquisition of the Parks/Salyer Property

  • Received two major permits (Air Quality and Pollution Discharge Elimination System (402))

  • Relogging and re-assaying program of former ASARCO drill core complete

  • 26,050 ft mineral resource drilling complete

2021

  • Maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate on the Cactus mine

  • Metallurgical test work (bottle roll and column leach) ongoing

  • Appointed new CEO, George Ogilvie

  • Secured the water supply for the known life of the operation (Arizona Department of Water Rights)

  • Acquired the Aquifer Protection Permit for the Stockpile Project*

  • Integrated Preliminary Economic Assessment – Cactus Mine and Stockpile Project

  • Completion of the IPO to the TSX

2022

  • Completed permitting milestones including:

    • Receipt of Aquifer Protection Permit (March 2022)
    • JDS Determination of no WOTUS on entire Cactus Property (Feb 2022)
    • Rezoning the 2021 acquired land to industrial from commercial and residential (Jan 2022)
  • Began trading on the OTCQX under the symbol ASCUF

  • Set Exploration Target at Parks/Salyer (see press release)

    • 40-90 M tons of potential leachable material @ 1.05%-1.3% TSol for potential of 1.0-2.35 B lbs of contained copper
    • Rezoning the 2021 acquired land to industrial from commercial and residential (Jan 2022)
  • Closed C$35 M private placement, with a Strategic Investment by Rio Tinto and its NutonTM subsidiary

  • Declares maiden resource at Parks/Salyer of 2.9B lbs (143.6 million tons at 1.015% TCu)

  • Launces metallurgical program

2023

  • Adds to the Board, Operations and Development teams and appoints Ausenco to lead PFS

  • Closes C$30 million bought deal financing + C$2.5 million pro-rata investment with Nuton LLC (a Rio Tinto Venture)

  • Purchases the MainSpring Property south of Parks/Salyer

  • Drilling NE Ext, northeast of Cactus East confirms mineralization

  • Completes permitting for the 2021 PEA, receives Mined Land Reclamation Permit and Industrial Air Permit, and rezones MainSpring

  • Positive ASCU and Nuton-led metallurgical programs 

  • Updated Cactus MRE, inclusive of Parks/Salyer to 445.7 Mtons @ 0.58% CuT Measured and Indicated and 233.8 Mtons @ 0.472% CuT Infered

  • Option to Joint Venture announced with Nuton LLC on the Cactus Project, including US$33M Payment to ASCU

2024

  • Successful infill drilling at Parks/Salyer and Cactus West

  • Completes rezoning of MainSpring to Industrial Use and obtains Property Title 

  • Updates MRE to 7.3 billion pounds at 0.58% CuT M&I, and 3.8 billion pounds at 0.41% CuT Inferred

  • Releases Preliminary Economic Assessment on Cactus, illustrating 86kstpa heap leach and SX/EW operation over 31 years producing copper cathodes directly onsite