/ Project Overview

Project Overview

The Resolution Copper project is a proposed underground copper mine 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, near the town of Superior. The Arizona project is a joint venture between two global mining companies, Rio Tinto (55%) and BHP (45%).

The project has the potential to become one of the largest copper mines in United States.

The copper deposit lies deep underground, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet below the surface. It is considered one of the largest undeveloped copper resources in the world, with studies estimating an average copper grade of about 1.5 percent1. Over an expected operating life of up to 40 years, the mine could produce as much as 40 billion pounds of copper and supply up to 25 percent of U.S. copper demand.

We have strong community and regional support for the project, which has the potential to become one of the largest copper mines in America, add $1 billion a year to Arizona’s economy, and create thousands of local jobs in a region where mining has played an important role for more than a century.

Resolution Copper continues to work with local communities, Tribal Nations, and regional partners to advance the project responsibly.

You can find updates on where the project stands and what comes next on our current status page.

To learn how the mine would operate, read more about the planned mining method and how copper would be safely recovered deep underground using a well‑established approach called caving.

1 This copper grade for the Resolution Mineral Resource was reported in accordance with the JORC Code and the ASX Listing Rules in Rio Tinto’s 2024 Annual Report released to the ASX on 20 February 2025. Rio Tinto confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the 2024 Annual Report, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the 2024 Annual Report continue to apply and have not materially changed, and that the form and context in which the Competent Persons’ findings are presented have not been materially modified.

Resources

Our Work

Town of Superior Approves Historic Water Agreement with Resolution Copper

The Town of Superior Town Council has unanimously approved a landmark water agreement with Resolution Copper, securing a long-term, more than $20 million water mitigation commitment designed to protect and enhance the community’s water future.

Resolution Copper’s Funding of Globe High School Robotics Lab Prepares Students for Competitive Careers

In the small town of Globe, Arizona, with a population of just over 7,000 people, big ideas for the future are brewing among high school students.

Copper Strong: April Community Impact Across Arizona

Across Arizona, students explored future careers, volunteers served neighbors in need, families gathered at community events, and local partnerships continued creating real impact.

Resolution Copper employee Bryan Seppala awarded 2026 AAED Member of the Year

The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) honored Resolution Copper employee Bryan Seppala, AZED Pro, with the prestigious Member of the Year award.

New Water Recycling System Reduces Annual Use by One Million Gallons

A new Potable Water Recycling System is now operating on site, reducing water use by an estimated one million gallons per year. The system captures clean analyzer water and returns it to the plant for reuse, replacing water that was previously discharged onto the ground.

Reflecting on His Past, Bryan Mines a New Future

Bryan’s family is no stranger to mining. Born and raised in Globe, Bryan grew up watching his father and uncles work at the Magma Copper Mine. The industry was volatile at the time, and Bryan’s father was laid off three different times. Wanting a more stable path for his son, Bryan’s father encouraged him to do anything else for a living. Bryan followed that advice and decided to enroll at the University of Arizona, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economic development.

Apache Owned Business to Manage Oak Flat Campground

Resolution Copper reaffirms that public access to the Oak Flat Campground, as well as to recreational roads and climbing areas on private land in the Oak Flat area, will remain open for the foreseeable future following completion of a federal land exchange this month.

United States Forest Service and Resolution Copper Complete Land Exchange

The U.S. Forest Service and Resolution Copper, a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto and BHP that represents one of the world's most significant untapped copper deposits, have completed a Federal land exchange required to unlock the full potential of the project.

Eight Years of Emory Oak Restoration and Cultural Stewardship

Across Arizona’s National Forests, Emory oak trees and the restoration of their groves support far more than wildlife and shade. For Western Apache communities, these trees provide acorns that are central to food traditions, ceremonies, and cultural practices that stretch back generations.