Resolution Copper Puts $144 Million Into Arizona Project After March Land Exchange

Resolution Copper will invest $144 million to advance the next phase of development at its Arizona copper project, funding feasibility studies, equipment procurement and 50 new roles, PR Newswire reported on November 5, 2026. The figure is additional to $500 million of preliminary spending announced on March 16, 2026.

What the $144 Million Covers at Resolution Copper

The investment follows the completion of the historic land exchange in March 2026, which the company said unlocked the next phase of the project. Resolution Copper said the money will fund feasibility studies and final design engineering for development and production-level material handling equipment in both shafts, plus new water treatment facilities. It also covers ongoing exploration drilling, purchases of underground development and production equipment, and procurement of long lead time items such as transformers, circuit breakers and switchgear. The 50 additional roles include mining, geotech and geology technicians, geologists, engineers and project services.

Resolution Copper President Vicky Peacey said: "This investment builds on the momentum created by the historic land exchange and marks another important step towards unlocking Resolution Copper's potential." The deposit lies between 5,000 and 7,000 feet underground near Superior. Mirage News reported that the deposit could supply up to 25% of U.S. copper demand.

Resolution Copper's Scale and Arizona Partnerships

According to akta.pro company records, Resolution Copper estimates 40 billion pounds of recoverable copper reserves with annual production capacity of 200,000 to 300,000 tons of copper concentrate. The same records put the project's potential at up to 25% of America's copper demand over a 40-year mine life and a projected annual economic contribution to Arizona of $1 billion to $1.2 billion once operational. The company is owned 55% by a Rio Tinto subsidiary and 45% by a BHP subsidiary, and its project site describes the work near Superior.

Contracts and Tribal Trust Before the New Spending

In August 2026, Resolution Copper awarded approximately $110 million in contracts to Major Drilling America Inc. and Redpath USA Corporation to advance exploration and underground development at the proposed mine, PR Newswire reported. In July 2026, the company committed $54 million to establish the Resolution Copper Tribal Trust, a perpetual endowment providing yearly funding to 11 Tribal Nations in Arizona and New Mexico for cultural preservation, education, youth development, workforce opportunities and language revitalisation, Mining Weekly reported.

What Comes After the Feasibility Work

The company said the program will accelerate underground development and its path towards first copper production while maintaining safe underground operations and construction, positioning the project for its next investment decision.