First bench test shows copper precipitation, filtration and water recovery, advancing the Super Copper–MetaFLO program into quantitative validation
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 24, 2026 /CNW/ -- SUPER COPPER CORP. (CSE: CUPR) (OTCQB: CUPPF) (FSE: N60) ("Super Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the first bench demonstration of a copper-recovery and water-treatment biopolymer formulation, referred to in this release by its working name CUPRIX, being developed with MetaFLO Technologies Inc. ("MetaFLO"). CUPRIX is being developed pursuant to the Company's previously announced strategic development agreement with MetaFLO (see the news release dated January 30, 2025 for more details).
Highlights:
- Visible separation. CUPRIX triggered formation of a settleable and filterable solid from a strongly acidic copper-bearing solution, providing a direct visual demonstration of the process logic the program is designed to quantify.
- Metallic looking product. The recovered solid was thermally reduced to small reddish metallic-looking beads. The material is visually consistent with copper; composition and purity have not and may not be confirmed and remain to be confirmed by assay in the instrumented phase.
- From visual proof to quantitative proof. The next stage is being designed to measure copper recovery, kinetics, selectivity, reagent dose, acid impact, settling and dewatering behaviour, filtrate quality, sludge characteristics and cost.
- One reaction, two potential applications. The same separation event may create value in two directions: recovering metal from process streams and reducing dissolved metals in water. The program will benchmark these applications against untreated controls and conventional treatment.
- Commercial pathway. Subject to successful bench validation, the program is intended to progress toward field trials and, if viable, commercial deployment recommendations. Super Copper's exploration programs continue in parallel.
Watch video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/9qjHSszq0DI?si=mses3tdayYuVh2iz
What This Test Shows
The demonstration was conducted in August 2026 at the Super Copper–MetaFLO laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil. CUPRIX was added to a strongly acidic, copper-bearing solution, forming a visible solid that settled from the liquid and was recovered by vacuum filtration as an emerald-green wet cake. The recovered material was then heated in a refractory crucible, producing small reddish beads with metallic lustre.
The test demonstrates the basic CUPRIX process concept: capturing material from a copper-bearing solution as a recoverable solid, separating it from the liquid and advancing the recovered material toward a metallic product. The demonstration was qualitative and did not establish copper recovery percentage, purity, selectivity, reagent consumption, cost or commercial performance. These parameters will be evaluated through the quantitative testing phase. There is no guarantee that a copper recovery percentage, purity, selectivity, reagent consumption, cost or commercial performance will be established.
How CUPRIX Could Fit into a Copper Mine
Copper mines use water and reagents throughout processing. In oxide-copper operations, sulfuric acid is commonly used to dissolve copper from crushed rock into process solution. Mines also recover water from tailings, the finely ground rock and water left after processing, and recycle as much of that water as possible.
Before water can be reused, dissolved metals may need to be removed; a common treatment is lime, which raises pH and causes metals to form solids that can be settled and filtered.
CUPRIX is being developed as a potential alternative or complementary treatment for certain copper-bearing process streams. In simple terms, the intended workflow is:
Copper-bearing water → add CUPRIX → recoverable solid forms → settle and filter → recovered solid + cleaner water for potential reuse
If successful, that same treatment step could create value in two ways: recovering copper that would otherwise remain in solution while improving water quality for recycling or further treatment. The program will now test whether CUPRIX can do this selectively, efficiently and economically compared with conventional treatment methods. No recovery, cost or commercial-performance benefit has yet been established and there is no guarantee that such recovery, cost or commercial performance benefit will be established.
How Success is Judged
The Company has established its success criteria:
- Leach recovery: a statistically significant, reproducible improvement in copper extraction or leaching kinetics versus untreated controls on the same material, with incremental copper value versus reagent cost, net of any change in acid consumption.
- Process water: dissolved copper and other regulated metals reduced to applicable discharge or reuse standards, benchmarked head-to-head against lime on sludge volume, settling, dewatering, filtrate quality and cost per cubic metre.
- All workstreams: replicated in triplicate at the joint laboratory, with check assays by an independent accredited laboratory.
The market CUPRIX is built for
The world mined about 23.2 million tonnes of copper in 2025,¹ yet the IEA's current mine project pipeline points to a potential 25% supply shortfall by 2035, driven by declining ore grades, rising capital costs, limited discoveries and long lead times.² The next tonne of copper will increasingly come from lower-grade ore, leached with more acid, processed with more water, and leaving more residue.
- Water. Copper processing is water-intensive, and many of the world's largest copper districts are arid. In Chile alone, seawater is projected to supply about 68% of copper mining's water by 2034, roughly three-quarters of it desalinated.⁴ Every cubic metre a mine can recycle is one it does not have to source, desalinate or pump.
- Tailings. Mining generates an estimated 13 billion tonnes of tailings a year,³ and copper is among the largest contributors; global copper tailings generation is projected to keep rising until at least mid-century as ore grades fall.⁵ Conditioning tailings and recovering the water held in them is a daily task at every concentrator in the world.
- Acid. Sulphuric acid is among the largest reagent costs in oxide-copper leaching, and leach–SX-EW operations supply a meaningful share of the world's copper. Reducing acid consumption per tonne, or recovering more copper for the acid already spent, goes straight to a mine's cost curve.
A reagent that measurably improves any one of those three parameters could have potential applications across copper mining and processing operations.
Management commentary
"The CUPRIX program represents an opportunity for Super Copper and MetaFLO to build something that could ultimately extend well beyond a single project or deposit," said Zachary Dolesky, CEO of Super Copper. "This first demonstration moves the program from concept into something tangible that people can actually see. Our goal now is to continue advancing the technology methodically to improve commercial viability."
"This first CUPRIX test gives us a clear visual demonstration of the process we are developing: capture copper from a solution, separate it as a recoverable solid and advance that material toward a metallic product," said Laurent Serra, Chief Scientist. "The next step is to put numbers around what we observed and determine how efficiently, selectively and economically the process can perform under real operating conditions."
Next Steps
Super Copper and MetaFLO will continue advancing CUPRIX through laboratory testing focused on copper recovery, process-water treatment and potential commercial applications. Upcoming work is being designed to build on this initial demonstration with more quantitative testing and validation as the program progresses.
The Company will continue to keep shareholders updated as meaningful technical results and development milestones are achieved.
Investor Relations Update
The Company also provides an update regarding its previously announced engagement of Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC ("EMC"). Further to the Company's April 8, 2026 news release, EMC continues to provide investor awareness and communications services to the Company under the previously disclosed engagement, which is now expected to continue until October 15, 2026. All other material terms of the engagement remain unchanged.
About MetaFLO Technologies Inc.
MetaFLO develops and markets proprietary solidification and biopolymer solutions for industrial applications, including mining, oil and gas, soil stabilization, dust suppression, liquid waste solidification and environmental remediation. With the unique ability to customize its products for the specific challenges facing its customers, MetaFLO provides tailored optimized solutions that enhance industrial processes while improving environmental outcomes. for clients worldwide. | www.metaflotech.com
About Super Copper Corp.
Super Copper is a mining exploration company focused on acquiring, advancing and consolidating global copper assets from early discovery through late-stage development. The company is currently advancing its copper projects in Atacama, Chile, a region with world-class infrastructure and the presence of global majors. By operating a single, integrated technical team and a milestone-driven acquisition strategy, Super Copper aims to build a portfolio of scalable projects capable of supplying the world's accelerating demand for copper. | www.supercopper.com
Qualified Person
This news release does not contain scientific or technical information relating to the Company's mineral projects. Any future disclosure of test results generated on material from the Company's projects will be reviewed and approved by a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
Sources
- International Copper Study Group (ICSG), World Copper Mine Production 2025 (Table 1, Monthly Copper Bulletin, 2026).
- International Energy Agency (IEA), Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 — Executive Summary (July 2026).
- International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), GISTM Tailings Progress Report (December 2025).
- Comisión Chilena del Cobre (Cochilco), Proyección del Consumo de Agua en la Minería del Cobre 2025–2034 (2026).
- Nature Sustainability, Global copper tailings distribution and projection (2026).
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the continued development, testing and validation of CUPRIX; the scope, design and anticipated results of planned quantitative testing, including testing of copper recovery, kinetics, selectivity, reagent dosage, acid impact, settling and dewatering behaviour, filtrate quality, sludge characteristics and cost; the ability of CUPRIX to satisfy the Company's stated success criteria or demonstrate improvements in copper extraction, leaching kinetics, process-water treatment or other performance parameters relative to untreated controls or conventional treatment methods; the potential applications of CUPRIX for copper recovery and process-water treatment; the potential progression of CUPRIX from laboratory testing to field trials, commercial deployment recommendations and commercialization; the ability of CUPRIX to perform efficiently, selectively or economically under operating conditions; the potential market for CUPRIX and other potential commercial applications; the continued advancement of the Company's development activities with MetaFLO; the achievement and reporting of future technical results and development milestones; industry projections regarding future copper supply, water use and tailings generation; and the expected continuation of the Company's engagement with Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC through October 15, 2026. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable as of the date hereof, including that MetaFLO will continue to perform its obligations; that laboratory facilities, suitable test materials, equipment and third-party testing services will be available as required; that planned testing can be completed substantially as contemplated; that analytical and independent testing will provide reliable data regarding the composition and performance of the materials produced; that results obtained during future testing will be sufficiently reproducible to permit further development; that, if laboratory validation is successful, suitable industry partners and field-testing opportunities will be available; that the Company and MetaFLO will have sufficient financial, technical and other resources to continue development activities; and that applicable market and regulatory conditions will remain supportive of the continued development and potential commercialization of CUPRIX. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the preliminary and qualitative nature of the demonstration described herein; the fact that no analytical testing has yet confirmed the composition or purity of the recovered material or quantified copper recovery, selectivity, reagent consumption, cost or commercial performance; the risk that subsequent testing may not produce reproducible results or satisfy the Company's stated success criteria; the risk that CUPRIX may not demonstrate any measurable or economic advantage over conventional treatment methods; risks associated with scaling laboratory results to field or commercial applications; development, operational, regulatory and commercialization risks; the ability to obtain financing and secure suitable industry partners or field-testing opportunities; reliance on MetaFLO, third-party laboratories and other service providers; intellectual property and trademark risks; market acceptance and competitive risks; the possibility that third-party estimates and projections cited herein may prove inaccurate or may change; the possibility that the Company's engagement with Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC may be amended or terminated; and general economic, market and business conditions. There is no assurance that CUPRIX will satisfy the Company's success criteria, progress to field testing or commercial deployment, or result in any commercial product, revenue or commercial arrangement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
SOURCE Super Copper Corp.
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