Resolution Copper Project: A Clash of Promise and Peril in the American West
Resolution Copper mine could provide a quarter of the nation’s copper needs and double its tellurium reserves. Yet, every promise carries a price, and this one demands billions of gallons of water annually. A green flag for the project will lead to the extraction of billions of gallons of local groundwater and Colorado River stored water over the next 40 years.
A contentious drama unfolds in the vastness of the American West, where boundless horizons and rugged landscapes conceal untold riches buried deep beneath the earth. It is home to the Resolution Copper Project, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP, set to become the largest underground copper mine in the country.
While its potential economic benefits are substantial, the project’s water-intensive operations have raised significant concerns about their impact on the water-scarce West. An escalating clash of interests between the economic boom and environmental degradation looms here.
Copper is one of the 5 “C”s that Arizona is known for. According to estimates, the world will need the same amount of copper by 2050 as has been mined since copper was discovered. It is a significant amount of copper and Arizona has access to a lot of it.
Eventually, Oak Flat campground and some trails to Apache Leap will be exploited by the Resolution Copper mine, which will create a 1.8-mile-long pit of 1,000 feet. According to many, test drilling has already destroyed some trails to Apache Leap, which will result in the loss of the campground.
In this article, we will take a look at the complex web of factors surrounding the Resolution Copper Project, providing a comprehensive and current analysis.
The water dilemma
As the wheels of the Biden administration turn, driving forward plans to unlock the treasure troves of critical minerals essential for the green energy revolution, concern reverberates across the land. Environmentalists and local communities stand as sentinels, their vigilant eyes fixed on the potential impact of mining on the region’s lifeblood: water.
A quarter of the nation’s copper needs could be met by the Resolution Copper mine, and the country’s tellurium reserves could be doubled. Yet, every promise carries a price, and this one demands billions of gallons of water annually.
Arizona’s water sources are already strained, with a delicate balance between supply and demand. The drought that began in 1994 has been going on for a long time in Arizona. Only nine or ten wet years have occurred in most watersheds since then.
Several large reservoirs have been created on the Colorado River and the Salt River in the Western United States thanks to deep canyons on the topography. As long as the drought does not last too long, the reservoirs can provide water in dry years.
To process copper, the Resolution Copper Project requires around 600 gallons of groundwater per minute. This water is drawn from the East Salt River Valley, further exacerbating water scarcity challenges.
Resolution Mine is giving away this excavated aquifer water for free to nearby farmers to grow alfalfa so operations don’t flood — about 6 billion gallons so far. The mine will eventually use that water for processing the ore, using technology that recycles more water.
Efforts like this have been made to recycle and conserve water, but questions linger about the long-term effects on aquifers, rivers, and ecosystems.
Block cave altering the natural flow
Mining, especially at the scale of the Resolution Copper Project, can have profound environmental impacts because it takes place far below the water table — in geologic formations dating back billions of years.
Excavating deep underground and triggering subsidence may disrupt the natural hydrology of the region, affecting groundwater levels and flow patterns in ways that are difficult to predict.
Moreover, the mining method, known as “block cave mining,” raises concerns about subsidence and its impact on local aquifers. This will trigger a process called subsidence when the land sinks as the ore is taken out of the underground deposit.
This will affect the aquifer, as water that would normally have flowed across that zone now spills into the hole, altering the natural flow of water.
Regulatory Challenges for the Resolution Copper Project
In addition, locals are concerned about Resolution’s plans to store mine waste in a valley, and they worry about potentially releasing treated wastewater into Queen Creek, which was already polluted by copper mining in the past.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe filed suit against Resolution, claiming treated waste would violate the Clean Water Act if released into the creek. Read more about the resilience here: Trump officials are rushing to mine in a desert area which is considered to be holy by native tribes
For its operations, Resolution will also draw billions of gallons of water from the East Salt River Valley, on top of storing some water from the Colorado River.
In the 2019 draft environmental impact statement for the mine, the U.S. Forest Service wrote, “Cumulatively, the total demand on the groundwater resources in the East Salt River valley is substantial and could be greater than the estimated amount of physically available groundwater.”
Elsewhere, Arizona state officials, too, raised their voices of concern. Several proposed home construction projects in the Phoenix area have been rejected by state officials due to groundwater concerns.
But beneath it all, a dark undercurrent flows. Mines, shielded by the legal exemption, self-report their water use, leaving the state’s watchful eye at bay. Subsidence at Resolution Copper, its unmeasured consequence, may taint the quality of groundwater, a silent threat lurking in the depths.
If Resolution Copper secures its environmental permits and embarks on full-scale operations, it will quench its thirst with billions of gallons of local groundwater and the stored waters of the Colorado River, for the next 40 years.
Resolution Copper . Photo via Facebook
Is Resolution Copper Championing Green Mining?
In the midst of this tumult, champions of green mining raise their banners high. They emphasize the necessity of domestic mineral development, an imperative to satiate clean energy technologies.
Despite global shifts away from fossil fuels, the demand for minerals is outpacing supply, a dance of scarcity beyond imagination. The world will need 50% more copper than current supplies in order to meet projected demand by 2030, according to the Net Zero by 2050 scenario from the International Energy Agency.
Mining companies, however, offer their defence. They point to the environmental toll exacted in other lands, where the price of progress may be steeper. Those in favor of the Resolution Copper Mine argue that developing resources like these in other countries, such as China, causes far greater environmental damage.
In an interview, Resolution Copper president Vicky Peacey noted the mine benefited many local communities and provided material for the energy transition.
“There is significant local support for the Resolution Copper project, which has been shaped by years of extensive consultation, and we continue to seek a two-way dialogue with all tribes,” Peacey said. “Three hundred current local employees, including Native Americans, and thousands of future construction and operations jobs in rural Arizona depend on our project.”
Here is a detailed assessment of the Arguments favouring in and against the proposed Oak Flat Mine.
The project is expected to generate significant economic benefits for the region. The project’s advocates argue that it will be interpreted and implemented in an environmentally responsible manner. They also argue that it will benefit the economy more than it would be detrimental to the environment.
Resolution Copper Mine could also help to reduce US dependence on imported critical minerals. Resolution Copper claims the project could provide up to 1,500 jobs in the region, with salaries above the national average. Tax revenue could also be generated for local communities by millions of dollars.
Resolution Copper’s road ahead
Resolution Copper’s road ahead will depend on the permitting process outcome. If the project is approved, it will take several years to develop and produce. The road ahead for Resolution Copper is challenging, but the company is committed to developing the project in a sustainable and responsible manner. Resolution Copper has also stated that it is committed to working with the community to mitigate the potential impacts of the project.
Here are some of the key milestones Resolution Copper must achieve in the coming months and years:
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):
The US Forest Service is expected to release a final EIS for the Resolution Copper project in the coming months. The final EIS will assess the potential environmental impacts of the project and will be used by the US Forest Service to make a decision on whether to approve the project.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Resolution Copper project was published in January 2021. In March 2021, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) directed the US Forest Service to rescind the final EIS and reinitiate government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations.
It is unclear when the US Forest Service will release a revised final EIS for the Resolution Copper project. However, the company has stated that it is committed to working with the US Forest Service and Tribal Nations to address any concerns that have been raised.
Record of Decision (ROD)
Once the final EIS is released, the US Forest Service will issue a ROD that states its decision on whether to approve the project. The ROD will also include mitigation measures that Resolution Copper must implement to reduce the environmental impacts of the project.
The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Resolution Copper project has not yet been issued. The US Forest Service is currently conducting government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations about the potential impacts of the project on tribally important and sacred resources. This consultation is ongoing, and the US Forest Service has not yet releas
Permitting
If the US Forest Service approves the Resolution Copper project, the company will need to obtain a number of additional permits from the state of Arizona and other federal agencies.
Development
Once Resolution Copper has obtained all of the necessary permits, the company can begin developing the mine. This process is expected to take several years.
Production
Production at the Resolution Copper mine is expected to begin in the early to mid-2030s.
Water-scarce regions like the American Southwest can look to places like Chile for a glimpse at a mining future in an increasingly arid landscape. South32’s Hermosa manganese and zinc project south of Tucson uses technology to reduce and reuse water, especially in the mine waste, and has built a state-of-the-art water treatment plant to ensure water discharges meet state standards.
In this unfolding saga, the choices of today echo into the future. What is not our drinking water today may well be our life’s sustenance in five short years. It is a tale of promises, perils, and the relentless march of progress.
FAQ
Is Resolution Copper owned by Rio Tinto?
Resolution Copper is owned by Rio Tinto and BHP. Resolution Copper is a joint venture company, with Rio Tinto owning 55% and BHP owning 45% of the project.
Rio Tinto is a global mining and metals group, with headquarters in London, United Kingdom. BHP is a global resources company, with headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.
What is the Resolution Copper project?
The Resolution Copper project is a proposed underground copper mine near Superior, Arizona, United States. The project is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP.
The Resolution Copper deposit is estimated to contain 1.7 billion metric tons of copper at an average grade of 1.5%. This would make it one of the largest copper deposits in the world.
The proposed mine would be located under the now-inactive Magma Mine. The mine would be accessed by two shafts, each over 7,000 feet deep.
The Resolution Copper project is expected to produce up to 25 percent of the United States’ annual copper demand. The mine would also create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic benefits for the state of Arizona.
Who is the CEO of Resolution Copper?
Resolution Copper does not have a CEO. The project is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP, and each company has a representative who serves as the President or General Manager of the project.
The current President and General Manager of Resolution Copper is Vicky Peacey. She has been in this role since 2022. Peacey is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She has held senior leadership positions at Rio Tinto and other mining companies around the world.
Peacey is responsible for all aspects of planning, development, and operations related to the Resolution Copper project. She is also responsible for building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and Tribal Nations.
Peacey is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the mining industry. She is also committed to developing the Resolution Copper project in a sustainable and responsible manner.
How big is the Resolution Copper mine?
The Resolution Copper mine is expected to be one of the largest copper mines in the world. The deposit is estimated to contain 1.7 billion metric tons of copper at an average grade of 1.5%. This would make it one of the largest copper deposits in the world, with the potential to produce up to 25 percent of the United States’ annual copper demand.
The proposed mine would be located under the now-inactive Magma Mine. The mine would be accessed by two shafts, each over 7,000 feet deep. The mine would be approximately 1.5 miles wide and 2 miles long.
How big is the Resolution Copper deposit?
The Resolution Copper deposit is estimated to contain 1.7 billion metric tons of copper at an average grade of 1.5%. This would make it one of the largest copper deposits in the world.
To put this in perspective, the world consumed approximately 24 million metric tons of copper in 2022. The Resolution Copper deposit contains enough copper to supply the world’s annual consumption for over 70 years.
The deposit is also very large in terms of its physical size. It is estimated to be approximately 1.5 miles wide and 2 miles long.
The Resolution Copper deposit is a significant resource, and its development could have a major impact on the global copper market.
originally published in Skillings mining review Resolution Copper Project
