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Our History & Legacy

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The history of the Highland Valley properties including those now owned by Getty Copper, dates back to approximately 1898, when it was explored by surface prospecting, and underground work near high grade copper showings.

Our History

1915
1915 A shaft was sunk on the Glossie Zone, to the east of the Getty deposits, from which 21.8 tons of handpicked ore were were assayed at 12.62% Cu, 0.03 ounces of gold per ton, and 2.96 ounces of silver per ton.
1950s
Large tonnage disseminated mineralization became the primary exploration target and the grandfather of John Lepinski began staking claims across the Highland Valley, forming the foundation of the Getty land package.
1962
The nearby Bethlehem Copper Mine enters production. In the same year, the Lornex and Highmont deposits are discovered (later brought into production in 1972 and 1980), causing John Lepinski to expand the claim holdings in the region.
1967
A key drill hole intersecting 0.28% copper over 58 m marks the discovery of the major Valley Copper deposit, that that would later underpin large-scale mining in the region.
1983
The Valley Copper deposit begins production, becoming a cornerstone of the Highland Valley Copper district. Significant exploration is also conducted on what is now Getty Copper’s ground, particularly at Getty North (Krain) and Getty South (Trojan-South Seas) deposits.
1990
Extensive drilling programs further define mineralization at Getty North and Getty South, advancing the project’s resource potential.
2000s
Getty faces a hostile takeover attempt, which is successfully defended, preserving control of the company’s assets but stalling exploration progress.
2000s
Getty faces a hostile takeover attempt, which is successfully defended, preserving control of the company’s assets but stalling exploration progress. A joint venture with Teck is initiated on non-core claims and later terminated during related legal proceedings.
2025
Teck Resources commits to extending the life of the Highland Valley Copper operation, reinforcing the long-term strategic value of the district.
Today
Getty Copper controls approximately 240 km² of contiguous claims in the Highland Valley, adjacent to Canada’s largest copper mine (Highland Valley Copper), which exploits the Bethlehem, Lornex, Highmont, and Valley Copper deposits. The company is advancing strategic initiatives to unlock and maximize the value of its Getty copper portfolio.

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