Curis gets letter of support for Florence copper project from Arizona

Curis Resources (TSE:CUV) Tuesday received a letter of support for its Florence copper project from the Arizona State Land department.

The Toronto-based company's stock rose 3.72% as at 11:09 am EDT, to $1.95.

The letter, dated August 24 and signed by the land commissioner, Maria Baier, claimed to "see a clear benefit to the [State Trust] from revenue generated through its mining operations and subsequent reuse made possible through sound mining and reclamation practices."

Curis holds the mineral rights to the 160-acre property in central Arizona. The lease covers over half of the known 2.84 billion pounds of copper oxide, in the measured and indicated category, located in Florence, Arizona. The remaining 1,182 acres is owned by Curis and is private patented land.

Curis president and CEO Michael McPhie said: "After many months of technical review meetings with our team in Arizona, the Arizona State Land Department has concluded that the development of the Florence Copper Project is the highest and best use of the land."

"This is a key step in the approval and permitting process for the project and is an important part of preparing the ground for the start of development in early 2012," McPhie said.

In mid-August, Curis reported several strong copper grades from its six-hole drill program at Florence. Notable results included 346.0 feet of 0.37% copper in hole CMH11-01; 329.3 feet of 0.58% copper in hole CMH11-02; and 328 feet of 0.48% copper in hole CMH11-03A.