Antipa Minerals Confirms Conventional Processing and Steeper Pit Slopes at Minyari Dome

Conventional Processing Confirmed with High Gold Recoveries

Antipa Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZY) has bolstered confidence in its Minyari Dome Gold-Copper Development Project by confirming that the mineralisation is amenable to a conventional gold-copper processing pathway. Metallurgical test-work completed as part of the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) delivered strong gold recoveries ranging from 89% to 98% across oxide, transitional, and primary ore types at a grind size of 75 microns. This performance meets or exceeds previous Scoping Study outcomes, underpinning the potential for efficient gold doré production via a standard Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) process.

Beyond gold, the test-work also demonstrated the ability to produce a commercial-grade copper concentrate grading approximately 22% copper through flotation of the CIL residue. The copper mineralisation is dominated by chalcopyrite, which is readily liberated and exhibits low cyanide solubility, reducing processing complications. Notably, arsenic levels in the concentrate remain below typical smelter penalty thresholds, an important factor for concentrate marketability.

Geotechnical Advances Support Deeper Open Pit Mining

Parallel geotechnical studies have revealed that steeper open pit slope angles can be safely applied to the transitional and primary mineralisation zones than previously assumed. The updated parameters suggest overall slope angles of up to 41.2° for transitional material and 51.3° for primary material down to 250 metres below surface, compared to 37° and 50° respectively in the earlier Scoping Study. This improvement opens the door for deeper open pit designs, which could materially reduce or potentially eliminate the need for underground mining within the development schedule.

These findings provide critical inputs for ongoing mine plan optimisation, offering the possibility of a lower strip ratio and enhanced project economics. The potential to rely more heavily on open pit mining aligns with industry preferences for simpler and lower-cost extraction methods.

Integrated PFS Workstreams on Track for Q3 Completion

Antipa’s Managing Director Roger Mason emphasised that these metallurgical and geotechnical outcomes strengthen the technical foundation of the Minyari Development. He noted that all PFS technical workstreams, including mine planning, processing design, cost estimation, and environmental studies, are progressing as planned, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2026. Concurrently, Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) activities have commenced, signalling a steady advance toward project development.

The company’s extensive drilling and sampling programs underpin the PFS work, with detailed JORC-compliant data supporting the robustness of the results. Metallurgical samples were drawn from five diamond drill holes across various deposits, representing oxide, transitional, and primary domains. Geotechnical investigations involved 32 diamond drill holes totalling nearly 7,000 metres, providing a comprehensive dataset for slope stability and pit design.

Minyari Positioned as Standalone Gold-Copper Project in Paterson Province

Minyari Dome sits within Antipa’s 100%-owned Minyari Project, covering 4,500 square kilometres in Western Australia’s highly prospective Paterson Province. The project hosts a substantial Mineral Resource containing 2.9 million ounces of gold, 91,000 tonnes of copper, alongside silver and cobalt credits. This region is home to major operations such as Greatland Resources’ Telfer mine and Rio Tinto’s Winu deposit, highlighting the strategic value of Minyari’s location.

With metallurgical and geotechnical parameters now better defined, Antipa is well placed to capitalise on the project’s standalone development potential. The improved processing pathway and pit design flexibility could significantly enhance the project’s economic viability and reduce technical risks associated with underground mining.

While no Ore Reserves have yet been declared, these PFS updates provide crucial stepping stones toward that milestone. Investors should watch for the full PFS results later this year, which will detail capital and operating cost assumptions, mine scheduling, and financial modelling outcomes.