Cascadero Copper Corporation announced that it has commenced a laboratory testing program at the University of British Columbia on mineral samples from the Taron (Argentina) deposit. The Cascadero Copper Corporation Cesium Extraction Process uses acid extraction to dissolve cesium from the Taron mineralization. Cesium is then precipitated from solution as a cesium alum with the addition of aluminum sulfate.

The cesium alum is then recrystallized and purified to form a cesium hydroxide solution. Cesium hydroxide is a pre-cursor for manufacture of cesium salts, including cesium formate for drilling fluid (for oil and gas drilling). The objective of the testing program is to investigate acid leaching of cesium with the goal of minimizing the acid usage per unit of cesium extraction and recovering dissolved cesium from solution.

The testing will last three months. The test results from this program will be used to complete an engineering scoping study on the recovery of cesium from the Taron mineralization.