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Arizona & Copper

Arizona has a diverse cultural history, especially here in the Copper Triangle. Mining and ranching have been an integral part of this community for more than 100 years, and the area is home to many federally recognized tribes and to the places where they have historic and cultural ties.

Our project helps generate social and economic benefits for local communities while working towards a mining operation that will produce up to 25% of the U.S. demand. Copper is a cornerstone of Arizona’s history and economy. Since 1910, the state has been the nation’s leading producer of copper. Today, 68% of all the copper produced in the U.S. comes from Arizona. The copper star at the Arizona flag center highlights the industry’s importance to the Grand Canyon state.

Copper’s impact on Arizona*

  • $6.9 billion worth of minerals produced (2019)
  • Jobs for 39,000 Arizonans (2018)
  • $102,859 average annual industry wage (2017)
  • $1.2 billion direct payrolls to Arizona workers (2018)

*The University of Arizona, Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources

The Copper Triangle

There is no doubt that mining changes the landscape. We’re committed to protecting the land and surrounding area while we operate and after mining is complete.

Since 1863, when prospector Jacob Waltz laid claim to gold in a patch of Arizona desert just 60 miles east of Phoenix’s burgeoning city, the Pioneer Mining District has been at the heart of the state’s mining industry.

While Waltz’s claim continues to draw people searching for his legendary “Lost Dutchman’s Mine,” mining in the district began in 1875, when the King Mine began pulling silver out of the ground.

In 1912, the Magma Copper Mine started up, an operation that continued through the mid-1990s, built the nearby town of Superior and came to define the Pioneer District and its rich stores of copper.

Today, the Resolution Copper team is cleaning up this historic mining site and developing a plan in consultation with the community and other stakeholders to safely develop copper that lies nearly a mile beneath the surface of the original Magma Mine.

Resources

Our Work

Inside Our Underground Concrete Work on 68L

At Resolution Copper, we recently completed a major upgrade on 68L, one of the key levels deep in our underground system. The work was a collaboration between our team, RedPath, and Oddonetto, and it is a good window into what it takes to build strong mining infrastructure before full operations begin.

Resolution Copper Donates $285,000 to United Food Bank

Resolution Copper has donated $285,000 to Mesa-based United Food Bank to support the nonprofit’s mission and work in the Copper Corridor, tribal communities, and in the East Valley. The multi-year agreement through December 2028 comes at a critical time when there is record demand for food among all populations, including seniors and working families.

Can Recycling Alone Meet Copper Demand? Let’s Talk Facts

Copper is one of those materials most people never think about until they really need it. It’s inside your phone. Your laptop. Hospital equipment. Power grids. Electric vehicles. Even renewable energy systems.

From Geology Roots to Modern Mining: Ginger’s Journey

For Ginger, mining isn’t just a career. It is a way to honor her father’s passion for geology and the Arizona landscape he loved. More than 30 years ago, her dad, a hydrogeologist, moved the family to Arizona drawn to the region’s geology, water systems, and the potential beneath the surface. He passed away 20 years ago, but his curiosity stayed with her. “Working at the Resolution Copper project would have been a dream job for him,” she says. “Every time I go underground, I think of him. It feels like I’m walking the path he never got to take.”

Building Stronger Communities Together: December 2025

At Resolution Copper, our mission is to responsibly develop one of the world’s largest copper resources while creating lasting benefits for the communities around us. That means investing in education, supporting local economies, and partnering on initiatives that improve quality of life. Community engagement is not an add-on to our work. It is central to who we are and how we operate.

Volunteering: Making Every Hour Count

126 employees. 1,650 hours. One community. That’s what impact looks like in the Copper Triangle. This year, our team showed up for food banks, flood cleanups, classrooms, and local events. They gave time, care, and heart. And it mattered.

2025 Year-End Review: Progress, Partnership, and Purpose

As 2025 comes to a close, Resolution Copper reflects on a year defined by progress, collaboration, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way. From major operational milestones underground to meaningful investments in local communities, this year marked another important step forward in responsibly advancing one of the most significant copper projects in the United States.

Breaking Ground for WMAT Youth Courts

On November 14, we joined the White Mountain Apache Tribe to celebrate the start of a project that came straight from community voices. WMAT leaders asked for more spaces where kids could safely play outside. We listened. Together we built a plan to rehabilitate three basketball courts. One in East Fork and two in Cibecue.

2025 Supplier Awards: The Partners Behind Every Shift

Once a year, we bring those stories into one room. Our Supplier Award Lunch is where we say thank you. Since 2019, this event has celebrated suppliers and community partners who live our values of care, courage, and curiosity. In 2025, we recognized six partners who quietly make a big difference for our teams, our project, and the Copper Triangle.