Western Copper names Mark E. Smith as Chairman in Yukon update
Western Copper & Gold Corp. [WRN-TSX, NYSE American] has released an update on the 2026 site program at its flagship Casino copper-gold-molybdenum deposit in the Canadian Yukon.
The company has also announced the appointment of Mark E. Smith as Chairman of the Board. A director of the company since November, 2025, Smith succeeds Raymond Threlkeld, who remains on the board and will continue to be an invaluable technical resource to the company, Western said in a press release.
Smith is a professional engineer with over 45 years of global mining experience, including nearly 25 years leading Vector Engineering, a 500-person firm, he co-founded that served many of the world’s largest miners.
The Casino project ranks as one of the largest copper-gold projects in Canada. It is estimated to host measured and indicated resources 14.5 million ounces of gold and 7.6 billion pounds of copper. On top of that is an inferred resource of 6.6 million ounces of gold and 3.3 billion pounds of copper.
A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) which was announced in June, 2021, envisages a large open pit operation, a concentrator to recover copper, gold, silver and molybdenum, and a solid waste facility to store mine waste rock and mill tailings.
The project will also feature a heap leach facility to recover gold, silver, and copper from oxide ore as well as 130 kilometres of access road and an on-site power generation facility.
On Monday, Western Copper shares rose 1.2% or $0.04 to $3.39. The shares trade in a 52-week range of $5.74 and $1.67.
Western’s focus remains on advancing Casino through the ongoing assessment process with the Yukon Environment and Socio-economic Assessment Board. In parallel, the current site program is designed to advance specific aspects of engineering design and optimization, positioning the company for the next phase of technical analysis and supporting future planned permitting activities.
The program includes further geotechnical drilling and permafrost investigations across proposed mine infrastructure sites, including the tailings management facility, heap leach facility, stockpile areas, and open pit.
Metallurgical drill holes are planned within the oxide cap to provide additional sample density across key ore types and support ongoing test work focused on enhancing metal recovery. This work is complemented by test pits, ground geophysical surveys, and a drone magnetic survey. For the first time in years, the company is evaluating targets on the broader land package to support the planning of future exploration concepts.
Western Copper has attracted strategic investments by Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi Materials Corp. and Rio Tinto Group [RIO-NYSE]. Rio Tinto holds a 9.7% stake in the company, while Mitsubishi holds roughly 5.0%.
Mitsubishi is a Japanese industrial giant engaged in the production of automotive, electronic and metal products. Its involvement in Casino came after Rio Tinto made a $35.6 million strategic investment in Western Copper.
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