Excelsior Mining Begins Construction at Johnson Camp Mine with Copper Production Set for 2025

Excelsior Mining Corp. has announced the start of construction at the Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) in southeast Arizona, aiming for initial copper production in the first half of 2025. The development follows a decision by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto venture, to advance to Stage 2 of the process to restart operations using Nuton’s advanced copper heap leaching technologies.

With the bulk of planning and engineering completed, Excelsior has mobilized crews to commence construction activities. Tucson-based M3 Engineering has been awarded the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contract, while Rango Inc. from Mesa has secured the contract for leach pad construction and overliner material crushing. Earthworks related to the new leach pad are already underway, including the crushing of the over-liner material.

To support these initial activities and the transition to Stage 2, Nuton has provided $7.9 million in funding through August 2024. Additional funding and project updates will be announced as construction progresses.

Robert Winton, Senior Vice President of Operations and General Manager of JCM, stated, "The commencement of leach pad construction marks a key milestone in Excelsior's partnership with Nuton. The M3 and Rango team we have assembled is world-class and committed to delivering a safe and timely project. The opportunity to build and operate Nuton's first demonstration of their state-of-the-art copper leaching technology is a privilege Excelsior and our team is proud to deliver."

This development highlights Excelsior’s commitment to advancing copper production capabilities and leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency and sustainability at the Johnson Camp Mine.