Rio Tinto Plans to Begin Copper Mining at Resolution Copper Site in Arizona by Mid-2030s

Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining companies, has revealed its intentions to initiate copper mining operations at the Resolution Copper site in Arizona by the mid-2030s. This ambitious plan has been made feasible after the company gained control over critical land parcels in March 2023, which are essential for the construction of one of the largest copper mines globally. The journey to this point has spanned several years and has been marked by numerous legal battles.

The growing demand for copper in the United States faces opposition from the religious rights of the Apache people residing in the San Carlos Indian Reservation. This community has been protesting the project for over two decades, asserting that it poses a threat to their sacred lands. Despite this opposition, Rio Tinto has launched a drilling campaign costing $500 million to explore 30% of the deposit that was previously inaccessible to them.

The Resolution Copper deposit is estimated to contain 1.787 billion tons of ore with an average copper grade of 1.5%. The project is expected to produce over 40 billion pounds of copper over its lifespan, which would satisfy more than a quarter of the copper demand in the United States. This makes the project extremely significant for meeting the American economy's needs for this valuable metal.

Resolution Copper Mining LLC, a joint venture in which Rio Tinto holds a 55% stake and BHP owns 45%, has been navigating a complex regulatory landscape. Notably, in May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court removed a major obstacle to the construction of North America's largest copper mine at Resolution Copper. The court dismissed an appeal from a group of Native Americans who claimed that the project in Arizona would destroy sacred land.

This appeal aimed to block the transfer of 2,422 acres of federal land, which is crucial for the project's realization. Specifically, this land includes Oak Flat, a site where Western Apaches have conducted religious ceremonies for centuries, including a traditional four-day rite that symbolizes the coming of age for young women.

BHP Group Limited, the world's largest mining company, is headquartered in Melbourne, while Rio Tinto, a multinational corporation with offices in Melbourne and London, ranks third in the global mining sector. Both companies are actively working on developing new projects that could significantly impact the copper market in the future.