Summary

Mine Type	Tailings
Study Completed	Feasibility
Study in Progress	Feasibility Update
Stage	Fully Permitted
Commodities	Copper Gold
Mining Method	Dredging
Mine Life	...
Snapshot	Chañaral Copper Project (previosly Copper Bay) is an advanced copper and associated gold tailings retreatment project located in the Chañaral Bay area. The resource consists of tailings, from inland copper mining operations, which were deposited in a dry riverbed (at that time) between 1938-1975 and which have over decades now washed down to the coast to be deposited in the bay and on the beach. The Project development has been fully planned both financially and operationally in the DFS previously completed by the previous owners. In March 2025 the Project has obtained EIA approval. Guardian Metals is commissioning studies to update the DFS and completing a bankable feasibility study ahead of moving the Project into development and first revenues. As at April 2025, Guardian Metals is conducting negotiations with funders to secure sufficient financial resources to complete an update of the definitive feasibility and associated studies.

Deposit type

• Tailings

Summary:

Between 1938 and 1975 the Potrerillos and later the El Salvador copper mines, disposed of tailings from their respective mineral processing operations into the Rio Salado which outflows into Chañaral Bay. Over that period, it is believed that some 250Mt of tailings were discharged into the bay. These tailings now sit in the bay and on the beach at Chañaral, covering an area of 13km2.

Tails accumulation ceased over 40 years ago, the beach and sub-sea environment has been weathered and winnowed by wave, chemical and wind action.

Significantly, much of the Copper Sulphide mineralisation has oxidised, especially in the upper parts of the deposit, making it amenable to leaching.

Tailings of up to 14m in thickness overlay the original beach, with a transition layer comprised of tailings mixed with original beach material.

Mineralisation reflects original Potrerillos and Salvador ore, albeit with significant amount of Cu and Mo removed and process chemicals added.

Principal copper-bearing minerals are chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, chalcocite, malachite, chrysocolla and brochantite.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Processing

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Commodity Production

Operational metrics