The Resolution copper project, a joint venture between Rio Tinto (55%, operator) and BHP (45%), is located near Superior, Arizona, in the United States. It remains in the permitting and feasibility stage, with no active mining yet underway. If approved and developed, the project is expected to create approximately 1,500 direct jobs during operations and up to 3,700 during peak construction.
Resolution targets a deep, high-grade porphyry copper deposit located more than 1,300 meters below the surface. The planned operation will be an underground block cave mine with supporting surface infrastructure, including ore handling and processing facilities. Ore grades are estimated to be around 1.5%, significantly higher than the global average for similar deposits. The mine plans to produce copper concentrate with molybdenum and silver as co-products.
The project is positioned to supply nearly 25% of future U.S. copper demand, playing a critical role in the energy transition. It is also being developed under Rio Tinto’s sustainability principles, with an emphasis on stakeholder engagement and minimising surface impact. The area lies within the BSk Köppen-Geiger climate zone, characterised by a semi-arid climate.
Links
- https://resolutioncopper.com/
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/mgGUaEezN4nsWkwbA
- https://www.mindat.org/loc-265644.html
Notes
Owner/operator: Rio Tinto (55%), BHP (45%)
Nearest settlement: Superior (3 kinh, 4 km)
Projected capacity: 500 ktpa
Köppen climate type: BSh - Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Media
- Mar-26:
- Rio Tinto expects Resolution Copper mine to open by mid-2030s (checked 26-Mar-26)
- US Transfers Ownership of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper (checked 17-Mar-26)
- Dec-25: BHP, Features, Mines, Mining Commodities Why copper is set to play a big role in BHP’s future (checked 18-Dec-25)
- Aug-25: Apache Stronghold Responds to Trump: Federal Court Injunction Blocks Land Exchange (checked 5-Sep-25)
- Jun-2025: Resolution Copper welcomes the republication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) (checked 20-Jun-2025)
- May-2025: Rio Tinto Copper Mine Boosted as Supreme Court Rejects Apaches' Appeal (checked 4-Jun-2025)
Created: Jun-25; updated Jun-25, Sep-25, Dec-25, Mar-26