Mining Method

The most viable way to recover the ore body is by a well-established underground mining method called block caving. Block caving is safe, environmentally sound, and cost-effective for mining a large, deep orebody.

In block caving, a large section of ore is initially undercut by drilling and blasting, causing it to collapse under its weight. The blasted ore breaks apart and falls into a series of pre-constructed funnels and access tunnels to form ore extraction drawpoints. From the drawpoints, ore will pass through a series of handling systems to an initial crushing circuit underground before transferring to the above surface Concentrator Complex.

Concentrating

In the second step of the production process, we convert the ore from a low-grade material into a concentrate of high-grade copper inside the Concentrator Complex.

The technique all begins with a wet grinding process that turns the crushed ore into a slurry and transports it to flotation cells. When mixed with water, reagents, and air, the copper minerals produce a bubbly froth. The bubbles with copper are skimmed and filtered to produce copper concentrate.

The concentrate, which contains about 29-31% copper, will then be sent to customers for further processing.

Smelting and Refining

When the concentrate leaves our facility, it will complete the smelting and refining phases to separate the copper from other metals. The final result is a 99.999% pure copper cathode, which is an essential raw material for the processing industry. Copper originating from 7,000 ft below the surface will eventually find its way into electrical wiring, electronics, power generation and transmission, automotive applications, and antimicrobial medical products.

Our Work

Women in Mining

At Resolution Cooper, women are leading efforts to support nearly 25% of the United States’ annual copper demand, providing a material that is integral to daily life and enabling the energy transition. While mining is typically seen as a male dominated field, women at Resolution Copper are making their mark on the mining industry and paving the way for future generations of woman miners. It starts at the top with Vicky Peacey, President and General Manager of Resolution Copper

Good Luck Scholarship Students

With school starting this month across the State of Arizona, Resolution Copper wishes our fifteen 2023 scholarship recipients good luck as they begin their collegiate careers at Central Arizona College, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Pima Community College, University of Arizona, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, Grand Canyon University, and Universal Technical Institute

Resolution Copper Receives Rocky Mountain Mining Institute Safety Award For Second Year In A Row

Resolution Copper accepted the Rocky Mountain Mining Institute’s (RMMI) 2023 Safety Award for Small Underground Mine. For the second year in a row, Resolution Copper is identified as the safest among

Resolution Copper Teams Up with Local Institutions to Help Protect Native Plants

As residents of the Copper Triangle, Resolution Copper employees take great pride in our efforts to preserve and restore the areas that so many unique, native species call home.

Resolution Copper Names Victoria Peacey As President and General Manager

A longtime copper and mining industry veteran who has served as acting Project Director since the summer, Peacey has held a number of leadership roles at

Arizona Mining Association Awards Resolution Copper 2022 SPADE Award

The Arizona Mining Association (AMA) awarded Resolution Copper the 2022 Sustainability, Preservation, and Diversity in the Environment Award (SPADE) for Public Education.

Resolution Copper Receives Rocky Mountain Mining Institute Safety Award

Resolution Copper accepted the Rocky Mountain Mining Institute’s (RMMI) 2022 Safety Award for Small Underground Mine.

Resolution Copper partners with the University of Arizona on Reclamation

Resolution Copper has partnered with The University of Arizona since 2014 on research of revegetation methods for mining reclamation purposes

National Transportation Week: A Reminder of Our Rare Mineral Needs

Last week the U.S. recognized National Transportation Week, a time dedicated to the appreciation of our nation’s key infrastructure