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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

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.

Resolution Copper Donates $10,000 to Support Superior Families This Holiday Season

As families across Arizona prepare for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Resolution Copper is proud to support the Superior Food Bank with an additional $10,000 gift to help keep shelves stocked and ensure Superior residents have access to essential food and supplies during this time of year.

Building Community Through Sports

In November, Resolution Copper partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Academy to host a free baseball clinic in Whiteriver. Held at Alchesay High School, the event brought together more than 65 young athletes from the White Mountain Apache Little League. Players ages 6–14 spent the day learning from official D-backs coaches through drills, skills stations, and on-field instruction.

From Service to Mining: Honoring Our Veterans

This Veterans Day, we honor the brave individuals who’ve served in the U.S. Armed Forces. At Resolution Copper, we’re proud to work alongside veterans whose leadership, discipline, and teamwork continue to strengthen our project and community.

Resolution Copper Completes Deepening and Rehabilitation of Historic No. 9 Shaft

Resolution Copper has reached a major milestone with the completion of its multi-year, $200 million rehabilitation and deepening of the historic No. 9 Shaft, a critical step in paving the way for one of the nation’s most important new sources of copper and critical minerals.

Inside the Never Sweat Tunnel

Completed in 1973 by the Magma Copper Company, the Never Sweat Tunnel stretches 8,600 feet (1.6 miles) long and sits at a depth of 1,100 feet. At the time, it came with a hefty price tag of $74 million, but what it delivered was priceless. It created a direct underground connection between the East and West Plant sites.

Honoring Mine Rescue Day

Every October 30, Mine Rescue Day reminds us of the quiet heroes who train for the worst so they can help others stay safe in emergency situations. These volunteers don’t seek the spotlight. They prepare, practice, and show up when it matters most.

Powering Progress: 8 Shaft VFD Upgrade Delivers Big Wins

From September 8–24, Resolution Copper completed a major infrastructure upgrade at the historic Magma Mine’s 8 Shaft, replacing a 20-year-old 480V variable frequency drive (VFD) with a new 5KV unit.

Resolution Copper Donates $1 Million to Support Globe-Miami Flood Relief Efforts

Rio Tinto, the majority owner of Resolution Copper, has donated $1 million to support flood relief efforts in the City of Globe and Town of Miami, following devastating flash floods in late September and additional flooding that occurred this past weekend, causing widespread damage to local communities and businesses.