Copper Fox Announces Plans to Advance Van Dyke Project
COPPER FOX ANNOUNCES PLANS TO ADVANCE VAN DYKE PROJECT
Calgary, Alberta–July 13, 2022, Copper Fox Metals Inc. (‘Copper Fox’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX -
V: CUU) (OTCQX: CPFXF) (FSE: HPU), through its wholly owned subsidiary Desert Fox Copper
Inc., are pleased to provide 2022 plans to advance its 100% owned Van Dyke copper project located in
the Globe-Miami Mining District, Arizona.
The Van Dyke project is an in-situ c opper recovery (‘ISCR’) project, located in a Tier 1 mining
jurisdiction surrounded by existing infrastructure. In early 2021 , a Preliminary Economic Assessment,
prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43 -101, (click here for the News Release) suggested
that the project should be advanced to the Preliminary Feasibility Stage and has the potential to become
a mid-tier copper mine. Highlights of the proposed 2022 program are set out below:
Highlights:
• A two-phase program has been prepared with the objective of establishing a broad network of
hydrogeological monitoring and testing locations that will be used to collect hydrogeological and
water quality data. The proposed hydrogeological field monitoring and testing program will help
to support federal and state regulatory applications that will be needed to advance the Project.
• Phase I activities consist of:
o archeological, cultural, and biological surveys , these surveys are currently underway in
advance of initiating field activities to ensure compliance with State and Federal statutes,
o investigate the potential of re habilitating existing drill holes to establish hydrogeological
monitoring sites, and
o a comprehensive testing program on the rehabilitated drill holes.
• Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc., supported by Ausenco Engineering USA South Inc., has been
retained to provide technical supervision of Phase I activities.
• Phase II activities include a drilling program to collect additional hydrogeological and other data
to advance the project to the Preliminary Feasibility Stage.
• The cost of Phase I activities is estimated to be US$240,000. The costing of Phase II activities
would be completed prior to commencing activities.
Elmer B. Stewart, President and CEO of Copper Fox stated, “Adopting a staged, multi-purpose approach
is a capital effective mechanism to advance the Van Dyke project to the Preliminary Feasibility Stage.
The Phase I activities are designed to establish a base on which to advance the project to Phase II which
includes additional drilling designed to expand the hydrogeological monitoring system and collection of
data related to resource expansion/upgrading, metallurgical and geotechnical aspect s of the project .
Copper Fox’s activities are conducted on a transparent and inclusive basis in line with its ESG policy
guidelines.
Archeological, Cultural and Biological Studies:
Compliance with State and Federal statutes is a fundamental aspect of project development. To ensure
that planned activities are protective of any sites that may have archeological and cultural significance,
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and to avoid any adverse impacts to plant and animal communities present within the project area ,
surveys covering these important aspects of project development are underway.
Phase I:
The 2022 program is designed to establish new hydrogeological monitoring sites utilizing existing drill
holes where possible. The 2022 program will investigate the possibility of rehabilitat ing these wells as
future hydrogeological monitoring sites . If it is determined that these well s can be rehabi litated, then
testing of these drill holes to establish a baseline for water levels and quality would follow which would
vastly improve the current understanding of the hydrogeological setting for the Project site.
The proposed testing program is expected to establish the range of hydraulic properties of the primary
groundwater bearing units and structures, groundwater flow directions (vertical and horizontal hydraulic
head distribution), communication of flows between geological units (boundary co nditions), as well as
hydrogeologic influences from historical and current mining workings located on adjacent properties
and on the Project site itself.
The data obtained from Phase I activities (monitoring and testing ) would support the development of a
conceptual 3D numerical groundwater model and identify areas of uncertainty and guide a second phase
of field work to further refine the model for the purpose of supporting potential future regulatory
applications.
Existing Monitoring Well Rehabilitation and Surveying:
Three inactive monitoring locations (drill holes VD14-2, VD14-3, and VD-14-5) and five inactive wells
(drill holes M-5, M-6, OXY-42, OXY-43, and OXY-47A), as well as the existing Van Dyke mine shaft
have been selected for surveying using a downhole video camera to document and assess the potential of
re-entering and instrumenting these drill holes . Assuming positive results from the downhole video
survey:
a) The OXY wells may be re-developed utilizing surge, bail, airlifting and pumping methods and
also tested to confirm hydrogeological characteristics.
b) Groundwater sampling of the OXY wells and Van Dyke mine shaft for water quality.
c) Wellheads will be upgraded to ensure protection from debris, surface water, and vandalism.
d) Installation of p ressure transducers and data loggers in each well and the mine shaft to collect
groundwater levels and to monitor changes over time as part of ongoing baseline data collection.
e) Quarterly downloads of transducer data and groundwater sampling and analyses.
For drill holes VD14 -2, VD14 -3, and VD -14-5; the condition of previously installed Vibrating Wire
Piezometers(VWP) installations and data logger s will be inspected, and any repairs or maintenance
undertaken. The goal will be to put the VWPs back into active operation to support ongoing data
collection if possible and quarterly data downloads.
Phase II:
Upon completion of the Phase I activities, Phase II will consist of the installation of at least eight new
groundwater monitoring well clusters. (each cluster consisting of three drill holes) to establish a broader
hydrogeological monitoring system to conduct ongoing data collection that will include water level data,
groundwater quality sampling, and pump tests of various durations (i.e., 48 (forty -eight) hours, one
week, and one month) at selected locations. The purpose of the test work will be to collect data on the:
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a) hydraulic properties of identified aquifers (including transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity,
storability) as well as identifying the properties of aquitards that may act to limit flow in layered
systems,
b) evaluate well performance, and
c) identify aquifer boundaries.
The results of the pump testing can be used to improve the understanding of the hydrogeological
conceptual model for the Project site, as well as improve the accuracy of the groundwater numerical
model.
Refinement of Hydrogeological Conceptual Model:
The development of a conceptual hydrogeological model for the Project is in progress and relies on the
existing geological model as a starting point . As the Phase I and II field data are collected, the
conceptual model forms the basis for the development of a numerical 3D hydrogeological model that
will be used as a predictive tool for project . The development of the numerical model will be an
ongoing iterative process that will help to decrease regulatory risk and improve both mining and
environmental performance. The predictions provided by the model will support Project design ,
operations, and closure/post-closure planning. The development of an accurate and detailed numerical
hydrogeological model is a key requirement that will support the preparation of future permit
applications which will be subject to expert technical reviews conducted by federal and state authorities
Elmer B. Stewart, MSc. P. Geol., President, and CEO of Copper Fox, is the Company’s non -
independent, nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43 -101, Standards for
Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approves the scient ific and technical information
disclosed in this news release.
About Copper Fox:
Copper Fox is a Tier 1 Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX -V:
CUU) focused on copper exploration and development in Canada and the United States. The principal
assets of Copper Fox and its wholly owned Canadian and United States subsidiaries, being Northern Fox
Copper Inc. and Desert Fox Copper Inc., are the 25% interest in the Schaft Creek Joint Venture with
Teck Resources Limited on the Schaft Creek copper -gold-molybdenum-silver project located in
northwestern British Columb ia and the 100% ownership of the Van Dyke oxide copper project located
in Miami, Arizona. For more information on Copper Fox’s other mineral properties and investments
visit the Company’s website at http://www.copperfoxmetals.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Elmer B. Stewart
President and Chief Executive Officer
For additional information contact:
Lynn Ball: [email protected]
(844) 464-2820 or (403) 264-2820
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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.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward -looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and forward -looking information within the meaning of the
Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking information”). Forward-looking information is identifiable by use of
the words “believes,” “may,” “plans,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “budgets ,” “could,” “estimates”, “expects”,
“forecasts”, “projects ” and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this
news release includes statements regarding; advancing the Van Dyke project to the Preliminary Feasibility Stage; the project
having potential to be a mid-tier copper mine; adoption of a two-phase program being capital effective; Phase I establishing a
base to advance to Phase II; rehabilitating existing drill holes.
In connection with the forward -looking information contained in this news release, Copper Fox and its subsidiaries have
made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the geological advice that Copper Fox has received is reliable
and is based upo n practices and methodologies which are con sistent with industry standards and the reliability of historical
reports. While Copper Fox considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to
significant uncertainties and contingencies.
Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Copper Fox’s actual results, performance, or
achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking information contained herein . Known risk factors include, among others: the surveys may not provide the
information needed to advance the project; the existing drill holes may not be able to be rehabilitated; Phase I program may
not be completed as planned or at all; the cost of Phase I, estimated at US$240,000, may not be sufficient to cover the cost of
the activities; Phase II program may not be completed as planned or at all; the financial markets and the overall economy may
deteriorate; the need to obtain additional financing and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as
to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals.
A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous
disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein
is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise or update any su ch
forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any rev isions to any of the forward -looking information
contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law.