Geologist’s Perspective – The Resolution Ore Body

Why this high-grade, deep deposit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

When Adam Schwarz first arrived at Resolution Copper in 2005, he didn’t need much convincing. One look at the core samples coming out of the ground—shimmering with high-grade copper minerals—and he was hooked. “That was the moment,” Adam recalls. “I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Now, nearly two decades later, Adam serves as the Resource Evaluation Manager at Resolution Copper, leading a team of geologists, technicians, and data professionals. Their mission? To uncover the story written in rock and translate it into reliable data that drives mine design and engineering. From the surface to depths nearing 8,000 feet, Adam’s team is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and modeling geological data critical to shaping the mine of the future.

“Safe and profitable mine design starts with good information—and that starts with us.”

According to Adam, Resolution Copper’s ore body is truly one of a kind. “There just aren’t many deposits in the world like this—high-grade, deep, and incredibly complex,” he explains. “We’re dealing with more than 1.7 billion years of geological history right beneath our feet.”

What makes this deposit so unique?

• Depth & Heat – Drilling thousands of feet underground in extreme conditions pushes the limits of technology and perseverance.
• Geological Complexity – Multiple rock types, intense alteration, tectonic activity, and hot groundwater combine to create one of the most challenging (and exciting) environments a geologist could ask for.
• Grade – With copper concentrations reaching nearly 1.5%, Resolution’s ore body is 2–3x the grade of typical porphyry deposits in Arizona.

And while the ore body itself is impressive, it’s the innovation happening around it that keeps Adam and his team motivated. Automation, remote-controlled equipment, and advanced modeling techniques are changing the game—allowing teams to collect better data while keeping people out of harm’s way.

“We’re not just collecting rock samples—we’re laying the foundation for the safest, most technologically advanced underground mine of the future.”

Adam also emphasizes how learning from other Rio Tinto operations and mining projects around the world helps improve Resolution’s approach. “We’re applying the best practices and hard lessons learned across the industry to make sure we get it right.”

For Adam, this isn’t just a job—it’s a passion project that spans nearly his entire career. And he’s not done yet.

“I started my career here, and I’d love to finish it here, too. There’s still so much left to discover, and the impact this project can have—for Arizona, for the U.S., and for the world—is massive.”

Adam’s story is a reminder that sometimes the greatest discoveries aren’t just what we find in the ground—but what we uncover when we follow our passion all the way to the core.