PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Azure Minerals has started a prefeasibility study (PFS) on its Promontorio copper-gold-silver project, in Mexico.

The decision to advance with the PFS followed the receipt of Mexican federal government environmental approval to continue with the next stage of field work at Promontorio.

he straight-forward approvals process in Mexico again demonstrates the attractiveness of the country for mineral exploration and mining investment,” said Azure MD Tony Rovira.

“The comprehensive environmental-impact statement we compiled ensured compliance with environmental laws and swift approval was issued by the regulatory authorities,” he added.

Rovira said that based on the positive results received from the previously conducted scoping study, Azure was looking forward to the PFS confirming the technical merits and financial robustness of the project.

The company said in a statement on Friday that it was expected that the PFS would take around three months to complete, with the results expected shortly thereafter.

The PFS would be based on a 150 000 t/y project, based on a mineral resource of some 502 000 t, at 4.7% copper, 2.1 g/t gold and 99 g/t silver.