Project Profile

The Resolution Project is located in the historic Pioneer Mining District three miles east of Superior, Arizona. Exploration from 2001 to 2003 indicates what may be one of the largest copper resources ever found in North America and possibly worldwide. The orebody rests more than a mile below the surface and appears to be of good grade. In May 2008, Rio Tinto, Resolution Copper’s parent company, announced that Resolution Copper had completed sufficient drilling on the deposit to report an Inferred Resource* (see footnote) of 1.34 billion tons containing 1.51 percent copper and 0.040 percent molybdenum.

Mining projects are completed in stages, and our project is now in the "pre-feasibility" phase. The work scheduled for the next several years includes dewatering the former Magma mine and sinking an exploratory shaft to 7,000 feet below the surface, as well as preparing numerous studies to evaluate technical, legal and environmental issues and to prepare our mining plan. To achieve our target of commencing production by 2019, there is a tremendous amount of preparatory work to complete.

The mine will be deep underground, using a method known as block caving. Unlike an open pit mine, which involves extensive removal of the surface waste rock to access the orebody, the block cave method accesses the orebody from underneath through a series of deep shafts and tunnels. These shafts and tunnels generate minimal waste rock. Waste rock that is generated will be used for reclaiming and restoring the adjacent site of the former Magma mine.

Economic Impact
As the Resolution Project evolves, it benefits not only the Town of Superior but also the surrounding region. A 2008 third-party study conducted by Elliot D. Pollack and Company projected a $10.7 billion fiscal impact from the Resolution Copper mine through federal, state, county and local taxes. The study also estimated the total economic impact of the 66-year project on the state of Arizona to be $46.4 billion. Equally important are the employment projections. Over the anticipated six and one-half decades of mine life, a peak of 1,200 mine employees and 200 construction workers are expected on-site during normal operations. Including indirect and induced jobs, the annual mine operations are initially expected to account for 2,603 total jobs with $178.7 million in wages.

We are already working to develop our future workforce by supporting K-12 and secondary education programs that help students learn, particularly in the areas of math and science. We partner with local community colleges, state universities and government organizations that share our desire to help students gain the knowledge and skill to become successful workers.

What Guides Us
In all we do, we’re guided by certain principles detailed by our parent company, Rio Tinto, in a document called The way we work. First, we believe in the concept of sustainable development. This means we work to ensure our actions have social, environmental and economic value that will last well beyond the life of the mine we seek to develop and operate. We also believe in transparency—being open with those inside and outside the company about our plans, strategies and actions. And we emphasize safety above all else. Our goal is zero work-related injury or illness, and we devote energy and resources to ensure all Resolution Copper employees and contractors work smart and work safe.

Whether you’re a local community member, a student, a government worker, a person focused on caring for the environment, a Resolution Copper partner or simply someone who wants to learn more about mining in the 21st century, we invite you to visit other areas of our website to learn more about us. You may also contact us directly with your questions, ideas or suggestions.