Second Government Critical Mineral Study Begins at Bell Copper’s Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project in Arizona, USA
October 17, 2025
NEWS RELEASE
Bell Copper Corporation
Second Government Critical Mineral Study Begins at Bell Copper’s Big
Sandy Porphyry Copper Project in Arizona, USA
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Bell Copper Corporation (TSX.V: BCU) (OTCQB: BCUFF) (“Bell Copper ” or the
“Company”) reports that the Arizona Geological Survey at the University of Arizona, with funding from the
United States Geological Survey and the State of Arizona , has initiated a new study at the Company’s Big
Sandy porphyry copper discovery to assess potential new resources of critical minerals in Arizona. The
Company is contributing core samples from its 100% owned Big Sandy porphyry copper project, a large,
concealed porphyry copper -molybdenum p roject located in northwestern Arizona, approximately 30
kilometers from the Company’s Perseverance Project.
• Several critical minerals are commonly enriched in deposits like Big Sandy
• Big Sandy core records the continuous transition from leached capping to supergene blanket
• Initial Samples have been contributed from the Company’s drill core
The Arizona Geological Survey ( “AZGS”) research initiative, led by Dr. Carson Richardson , Senior Research
Scientist, and Ms. Zoey Plonka, AZGS Research Scientist , is a two-pronged project with one component
focused on constraining both the timing of exhumation (via thermochronology) and supergene processes
(via Ar-Ar geochronology of alunite and jarosite). The other component would include a detailed study of
the Big Sandy supergene profile using systematic sampling to quantify elemental/critical mineral presence
and variability. This sampling work has now been completed.
A previous study of Big Sandy core samples culminated in the publication of a University of Arizona Master’s
Thesis entitled “Integrating Geochronology and Ore Mineralogy Constraints to Correlate the Formation of
the Diamond Joe Pluton and Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Prospect, NW Arizona, USA” by Jonothan Chappell,
generally supporting the Company’s concept of a genetic link between the Big Sandy porphyry and the root
zone at Diamond Joe Peak, 13 kilometers to the west.
The Big Sandy core has been demonstrated to contain significant amounts of copper, rhenium, and silver ,
elements which, notably, the U.S.G.S. included on its 2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals.
Dr. Timothy Marsh, Bell’s President and CEO, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, said,
“Bell is pleased to contribute further samples of the Big Sandy core to aid this assessment of the nation’s
critical mineral resources . Big Sandy’s status as one of the few complete profiles from leached capping
through supergene enrichment in an unmined porphyry copper deposit gives the AZGS a great example to
study.”
Bell Copper continues the work of securing funding to complete the drilling of BS-4 at Big Sandy, which was
suspended in August 2024. The BS-4 drill hole is located 900 meters from the previous drill hole, BS-3, which
had an intersection of 200 meters of chalcocite-bearing porphyry (see June 7, 2022 news ). The Company
plans to drill BS-4 into bedrock using an angle capable mud rotary drill, to be followed by coring into bedrock.
About Bell Copper
Bell Copper is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, exploration and discovery of
large copper deposits located in Arizona. Bell Copper is exploring its 100% owned Big Sandy Porphyry
Copper Project and the Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project which is under a Joint Venture - Earn In.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Bell Copper Corporation
"Timothy Marsh"
Timothy Marsh, President, CEO & Director
For further information please contact the Company
Tel: 1 800 418 8250
Email: [email protected]
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes “forward -looking statements” and “forward -looking information” within the meaning of
Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, the ability of Bell to identify a mineral resource at the
Perseverance or Big Sa ndy Projects. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the
identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically
recoverable. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always,
identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe ", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target",
"budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be
achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable
by management based on the business and markets in which Bell Copper operates, are inherently subject to significant
operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Important factors that cou ld cause actual results to differ materially from the
Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the
mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital
and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory
changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from
time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described