Useful resource nationalism can also be rising in latest instances, with nations closely targeted on constructing their very own vital minerals provide chains. This precipitated the Biden administration to listing copper as a vital mineral in late 2024, which might enable tasks accelerated permits, funding incentives and nationwide safety enhancements.
Moreover, after new US President Donald Trump took workplace in January 2025, Trump issued an govt order that may slash pink tape to extend home vital mineral manufacturing, together with copper. The transfer has precipitated important environmental considerations, however it might help US copper firms which have beforehand struggled to obtain permits.
Additional motion to hurry up allowing got here on March 20, when Trump signed one other govt order with the objective of accelerating American mineral manufacturing. The order included requests to associated federal companies to determine appropriate mining websites on federal land and supply a listing of precedence tasks.
This was adopted by an announcement by the White Home on April 18 that 10 mining tasks can be granted elevated transparency, accountability, and predictability for the allowing overview course of, which is able to enhance allowing instances for vital mineral tasks. The preliminary listing contains two copper websites: the Decision copper undertaking in Arizona, which is roofed within the listing under, and an growth of Lisbon Valley Mining Firm’s Lisbon Valley mine in Utah.
On this article we dive into greater than 25 US copper tasks within the development, restarting or allowing section, based mostly on information from mine database Mining Knowledge On-line (MDO) as of March 2025. MDO’s database focuses on publicly traded mining firms, so there could also be US copper mines being developed by non-public firms that aren’t on this listing.
Learn on to be taught concerning the superior copper tasks that might change into new copper mines.
Subsequent US copper mine: Copper mines below development
Black Butte undertaking
Possession: 87% – Sandfire Sources (TSXV:SFR)Mine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: SEDEX, Stratabound
As soon as it enters manufacturing, the Black Butte copper undertaking in Montana is predicted to provide 120,000 metric tons (MT) of copper focus yearly. The positioning’s Johnny Lee deposit hosts confirmed and possible reserves of 8.8 million MT, containing 226,100 MT of copper at a grade of two.6 %.
Sandfire had beforehand begun Section I development to mine the Johnny Lee deposit, however a Montana district court docket ruling overturned the prior File of Determination in 2022 halted it. Nevertheless, the Montana Supreme Courtroom dominated in Sandfire’s favor in Q1 2024. With its mining allow reinstated, the corporate is now assessing Black Butte’s economics because it strikes towards a remaining funding determination.
Florence undertaking
Possession:Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO,NYSE:TGB)Mine sort: In-SituDeposit sort: Porphyry
Positioned in Central Arizona, the Florence undertaking is predicted to provide 85 million kilos of copper yearly. In line with MDO, Florence shall be one of many world’s most effective copper producers, and copper produced on website will meet the London Steel Trade grade A typical.
General, the positioning’s confirmed and possible mineral reserves are 2.32 billion kilos of contained copper from 320 million MT of ore with a median grade of 0.36 % copper. Development on the website reached the 56 % mark in December of 2024 and is on monitor for its first manufacturing by the top of 2025.
Idaho Cobalt Operation
Possession:Jervois World (ASX:JRV,OTC Pink:JRVMQ)Mine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: Vein / slim vein, sediment-hosted
The Idaho Cobalt Operation (ICO) is situated in Northern Idaho close to the border with Montana. Although the undertaking is concentrated on cobalt manufacturing, over the seven-year lifetime of the mine, it’s deliberate to provide greater than 15,000 MT of copper.
Whereas the ICO remains to be listed as below development, Jervois World halted improvement of the mine in March 2023 as a result of falling cobalt costs. As of This autumn 2024, development actions stay suspended and the corporate is concentrated on upkeep and environmental compliance.
Subsequent US copper mine: Mines being restarted
Gunnison mine
Possession:Gunnison Copper (TSX:GCU,OTCQB:GCUMF)Mine sort: In-Situ Restoration, Open PitDeposit sort: Skarn
Gunnison Copper, beforehand named Excelsior Mining, is at present creating its Gunnison mine in Arizona as an open pit mining operation. Gunnison was initially scheduled to start working in 2020 as an in-situ restoration undertaking, however startup was delayed as a result of low movement charges. Gunnison Copper has been evaluating totally different alternate options to beat the challenges and obtained permits to start effectively simulation utilizing small-scale, shallow-level hydraulic fracking.
Nevertheless, the corporate decided that an open-pit operation has “considerably improved viability” in comparison with the ISR operation right now, and is now advancing the allowing course of for the open pit. Gunnison intends to keep up the choice of its totally permitted ISR operation and effectively stimulation.
As soon as the open-pit mine is in operation, Gunnison estimates a median annual manufacturing of 167 million kilos of copper cathode. The possible mineral reserve for the in-situ operation as of 2016 is 4.5 billion kilos of copper from 782.2 million MT of ore with a median grade of 0.29 %. The open pit’s 2024 mineral useful resource estimate confirmed a measured and indicated useful resource of 5.1 billion kilos of copper from 831.6 million MT of ore with a median copper grade of 0.31 %.
Sunshine mine
Possession: Sunshine Silver Mining and RefiningMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: Vein / slim vein, mesothermal
The Sunshine mine has seen manufacturing courting again to 1904, with the latest being in 2008. The positioning sits inside some of the prolific mining areas of the Coeur d’Alene district in Idaho, United States. Since buying the undertaking in 2010, Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining has spent greater than US$100 million on-site upgrades and developments with the intent of restarting manufacturing earlier than the top of the last decade.
In line with MDO, the Sunshine property hosts “one of many highest-grade, massive major silver deposits on this planet.” As soon as restarted, it can additionally produce copper and a number of other different metals as byproducts, with deliberate common annual copper manufacturing of 1.12 million kilos.
Subsequent US copper mine: Copper mines within the allowing stage
Antler undertaking
Possession: New World Sources (ASX:NWC,OTC Pink:NWCBF)State: ArizonaMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: Volcanogenic huge sulfide (VMS)Commodities: Copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold
As of February 2025, New World Useful resource’s Antler undertaking is on monitor to start development actions in H2 2025 and full the allowing course of by early 2026. Federally, the one allow remaining is the Mine Plan of Operations, which the Bureau of Land Administration said shall be evaluated below an Environmental Evaluation. If issues proceed as deliberate, the corporate will start transport focus by 2027.
The positioning hosts quite a few targets and a possible copper reserve of 180,000 MT from 11 million MT of ore with a median grade of 1.6 % copper. The corporate anticipates a mine lifetime of 12.2 years with a median annual copper manufacturing of 36 million kilos and copper equal manufacturing of 30,100 MT.
Arctic undertaking
Possession: 50% – Trilogy Metals (NYSE:TMQ)50% – South32 (ASX:S32,OTC Pink:SHTLF)State: AlaskaMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: VMSCommodities: Copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold
The Arctic undertaking is at present within the feasibility stage. Because of its location, the one important federal allow required is the 404 wetlands allow from the US Military Corps of Engineers. The remaining permits are issued on the state degree.
The positioning’s indicated copper useful resource is 2.35 billion kilos from 35.7 million MT of ore with a median grade of two.98 % copper. An extra 189 million kilos are inferred from 4.5 million MT of ore with a median grade of 1.92 %. As soon as full, the mine is predicted to provide 234,000 MT of copper yearly.
Again Forty undertaking
Possession: Gold Useful resource (NYSEAMERICAN:GORO)State: MichiganMine sort: Open pit and undergroundDeposit sort: VMS, breccia pipe/stockworkCommodities: Gold, silver, copper, zinc
Again Forty is deliberate as two open pits, an underground mine and a processing plant. As soon as totally permitted, Gold Useful resource plans for a 21 month development interval earlier than mining commences at its Pinwheel open pit. In 2021, a decide denied a wetlands allow for Again Forty as a result of its influence on the encompassing space. MDO stories that Gold Useful resource’s revised mine plan avoids influence on the area’s wetlands, which ought to help the mine allowing course of.
Again Forty can have the capability to provide 6.8 million kilos of copper focus yearly. The undertaking hosts an open pit indicated copper useful resource of 74 million kilos from 9.36 million MT of ore with a median grade of 0.36 % copper, and an underground indicated copper useful resource of 47 million kilos from 5.1 million MT with a median grade of 0.41 %.
Cactus Mine undertaking
Possession: Arizona Sonoran Copper (TSX:ASCU,OTCQX:ASCUF)State: ArizonaMine sort: Open pit and undergroundDeposit sort: PorphyryCommodities: Copper
Cactus is a brownfield improvement undertaking in Central Arizona with a 5.5 kilometer mine pattern. The positioning hosts the past-producing Sacaton mine, a mining stockpile and three major deposits: Cactus East, Cactus West and Parks/Salyer. Arizona Sonoran Copper is working to finish a pre-feasibility examine for the second half of 2025.
A Q3 2024 preliminary financial evaluation( PEA) outlined a 31 12 months mine life with on-site manufacturing of 86,000 quick tons of LME Grade A copper cathode per 12 months. In whole, the positioning has a measured and indicated useful resource of seven.29 billion kilos from 632.7 million MT of ore at a median grade of 0.576 % copper.
CK Gold undertaking
Possession: US Gold (NASDAQ:USAU)State: WyomingMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockworkCommodities: Copper, gold, silver
In 2024, the CK Gold undertaking achieved a number of allowing milestones. In April, US Gold acquired its mine working allow, and in November, its subsidiary, Gold King, acquired its remaining allow approval from the air high quality division of the Wyoming Division of Environmental High quality. These permits had been the ultimate hurdles wanted earlier than the corporate started creating the undertaking.
The corporate plans to provide a copper focus that incorporates gold, copper and silver. CK has a major copper useful resource with confirmed and possible reserves totaling 248 million kilos from 70.4 million MT at a median grade of 0.18 % copper. US Gold is working in direction of a feasibility examine, and goals to start development in late-2025 or 2026 with first focus manufacturing in 2027 or 2028.
Copper Flat undertaking
Possession: THEMAC Sources (TSXV:MAC,OTC Pink:MACQF)State: New MexicoMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockwork, hydrothermalCommodities: Copper, molybdenum, gold, silver
Copper Flat is a brownfield undertaking constructed on a website that has seen mining courting again to the Eighteen Nineties, with varied firms working to deliver the positioning again on-line for the reason that Eighties. So far, THEMAC has accomplished its definitive feasibility and environmental research and has acquired a number of key Federal and State permits. The state mining allow is within the superior stage.
The positioning hosts a confirmed and possible copper reserve of 579.21 million kilos from 113.08 million MT of ore at a median grade of 0.3 % copper.
Copperwood undertaking
Possession: Highland Copper (TSXV:HI,OTCQB:HDRSF)State: MichiganMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: Sediment-hostedCommodities: Copper, silver
Copperwood is a totally permitted undertaking and is in lively improvement. Highland spent a lot of 2024 working to meet its obligations to arrange the positioning as required below the phrases of the wetlands and streams allow. Its subsequent improvement steps are metallurgic testing utilizing ultra-fine flotation know-how and group engagement because it strikes in direction of a development determination.
Copperwood hosts confirmed and possible reserves of 25.7 million MT of ore at a median grade of 1.45 % copper for 820 million kilos of contained copper. Highland expects to provide 65 million kilos of saleable copper per 12 months for a complete of 675 million kilos over the mine’s 10.3 12 months life.
Copper World Complicated
Possession: Hudbay Minerals (TSX:HBM,NYSE:HBM)State: ArizonaMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Porphyry, skarnCommodities: Copper, molybdenum, silver, gold
Copper World is without doubt one of the largest copper tasks in improvement in america, in response to Hudbay. The corporate is at present within the allowing stage for Section 1 at Copper World, which is able to consist of 4 open pits with an anticipated mine lifetime of 20 years. The second section will broaden the operation and lengthen the lifetime of the mine additional.
The positioning has acquired all essential state permits to start development and operation after it acquired its air high quality allow in January 2025. Hudbay is anticipating annual common copper manufacturing of 92,000 MT throughout the first 10 years and 85,000 MT over the 20 12 months mine life. In 12 months 5, it plans to start copper cathode manufacturing to provide the US market.
CuMo undertaking
Possession: Idaho Copper (OTC Pink:COPR)State: IdahoMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Porphyry, vein/slim vein, breccia pipe/stockworkCommodities: Molybdenum, copper, silver, tungsten, rhenium, sulfuric acid
Whereas Idaho Copper’s focus with CuMo is creating one of many world’s largest molybdenum mines, the corporate additionally plans to provide a median of 84 million kilos of copper metallic in focus per 12 months. CuMo hosts a major measured and indicated copper useful resource of three.81 million kilos.
Idaho Copper is working in direction of releasing an up to date PEA throughout the first half of 2025. Moreover, the corporate expects to start environmental work for its environmental influence assertion someday this 12 months.
Empire undertaking
Possession:80% – Phoenix Copper (LSE:PXC,OTCQB:PXCLF)20% – ExGen Sources (TSXV:EXG,OTC Pink:BXXRF)State: IdahoMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Skarn, vein/slim vein, breccia pipe/stockworkCommodities: Copper, gold, silver
Empire is a brownfield undertaking deliberate as an open-pit mine atop historic underground workings. Phoenix Copper is creating its mine plan for the Idaho Division of Lands and for federal overview by the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act. The corporate is aiming to finish the allowing undertaking in 2025 and start manufacturing in 2026 utilizing on-site, pre-owned milling tools it bought in 2024.
Empire’s confirmed and possible copper reserves are 109.45 million kilos from 10.1 million MT of ore with a median grade of 0.49 % copper. The mill will produce a copper-gold-silver focus and cement copper stream, combining for 89.1 million kilos of payable copper over the nine-year lifetime of mine.
Mason undertaking
Possession: Hudbay MineralsState: NevadaMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Porphyry, vein/slim veinCommodities: Copper, molybdenum, gold, silver
Deliberate for a mine lifetime of 27 years, Mason is a major greenfield copper deposit and one of many largest undeveloped porphyry copper deposits in North America, in response to MDO. Hudbay considers Mason a “long-term future improvement asset” and is engaged on enhancing undertaking economics by way of metallurgical research.
Primarily based on its 2021 PEA, Hudbay expects the mine to provide a median of 112,000 MT of copper focus per 12 months and ship greater than 10 million MT over its lifetime.
NorthMet undertaking
Possession:50% – Teck (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK)50% – Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF)State: MinnesotaMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: MagmaticCommodities: Copper, nickel, palladium, gold, platinum, cobalt, silver
The Teck and Glencore NewRange three way partnership consists of two deposits: NorthMet and Mesaba. Allowing for NewRange is stalled partially as a result of considerations with the mine’s tailings plan. In 2025, the businesses plan to advance engineering research at NorthMet and safe up to date improvement permits.
The Trump administration’s govt order to hurry approvals of vital minerals tasks might probably assist the undertaking clear regulatory hurdles. Whether it is totally permitted, NorthMet is predicted to ship a median of 60 million kilos of copper focus per 12 months over a 20 12 months mine life.
Palmer undertaking
Possession: American Pacific Mining (CSE:USGD,OTCQX:USGDF)State: AlaskaMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: VMSCommodities: Copper, zinc, silver, gold, barite, lead
American Pacific Mining is assessing its Palmer undertaking by way of its five-year plan that ends in 2028. In 2024, work included environmental and allowing actions, quite a lot of research in preparation for future feasibility plans and drilling to broaden the mineral useful resource.
As of 2018, the positioning hosts an indicated copper useful resource of 154 million kilos from 4.68 million MT of ore at a median copper grade of 1.49 %, and an inferred copper useful resource of 124 million kilos from 9.6 million MT of ore at a median grade of 0.59 %.
Pebble undertaking
Possession: Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX:NDM,NYSE:NAK)State: AlaskaMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: PorphyryCommodities: Copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, rhenium
In line with MDO, Pebble is the world’s largest recognized undeveloped useful resource of copper in addition to gold. The undertaking has been stalled since November 2020, when the US Military Corps of Engineers (USACE) rejected its allow functions as a result of environmental considerations. Since then, Northern Dynasty has been suing to overturn the rejection.
In February 2025, court docket proceedings had been suspended for 90 days on the request of the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) and the USACE. This adopted the affirmation of a brand new EPA administrator and Trump’s govt order supporting vital mineral tasks. Nevertheless, it nonetheless stays to be seen whether or not the Trump administration will help Pebble this time round, because the earlier rejection was made throughout his first time period.
Pebble is deliberate to provide an estimated common of 320 million kilos of copper focus yearly, from a measured and indicated useful resource base of 52.99 billion kilos of copper.
Pumpkin Hole undertaking
Possession: Kinterra CapitalState: NevadaMine sort: Open pitDeposit sort: Skarn, breccia pipe/stockwork, iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG)Commodities: Copper, gold, silver
The Pumpkin Hole undertaking hosts a totally permitted open pit undertaking and a totally permitted and constructed underground mine. Manufacturing and improvement had been suspended on the operations after its earlier proprietor Nevada Copper filed for Chapter 11 chapter in June 2024. That October, Pumpkin Hole was acquired for US$128 million by an affiliate firm of personal fairness agency Kinterra Capital, which plans to advance the belongings.
Confirmed and possible copper reserves at Pumpkin Hole’s open pit undertaking whole 3.59 billion kilos from 385.7 million MT of ore with a median grade of 0.47 % copper. The open pit is predicted to provide an annual common of 163 million kilos of payable copper. Moreover, the underground mine is projected to provide 50 million kilos of payable copper yearly as soon as it’s restarted.
Decision undertaking
Possession:55% – Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)45% – BHP Group (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP)State: ArizonaMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: PorphyryCommodities: Copper, molybdenum, silver
The Decision undertaking has the potential to provide 25 % of the whole US copper demand, with deliberate manufacturing of 40 billion kilos of copper over its 40 12 months mine life.
Allowing for the undertaking has been underway for over a decade, and the US Forest Service revealed after which rescinded the undertaking’s remaining environmental influence assertion in early 2021. The native Apache Tribe has taken authorized motion to cease the proposed mine because the deposit sits below a website of spiritual significance.
In line with BHP’s 2024 annual report, the Decision three way partnership and the US Forest Service are targeted on additional session with Native American Tribes to mitigate hurt to the area. The company has stated there’s at present no timeline for republication of the ultimate environmental influence assertion. After Trump took workplace in January, Rio Tinto’s CEO stated he’s optimistic the president will grant Decision’s remaining permits.
On April 19, Decision was included as one of many preliminary 10 tasks for the federal authorities’s allowing transparency initiative. This system is designed to provide higher predictability within the allowing course of. In line with the federal web page for the undertaking, “a allowing timetable shall be revealed for this undertaking on or earlier than Could 2, 2025.”
Santa Cruz undertaking
Possession: Ivanhoe Electrical (TSX:IE,NYSE:IE)State: ArizonaMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockwork, vein/slim veinCommodities: Copper
The Santa Cruz copper undertaking is situated on non-public land in Arizona. It’s designed to attenuate environmental influence, with a small floor footprint and the usage of fashionable know-how and on-site renewable vitality to provide as much as 70 % of its vitality demand.
A December 2022 mineral reserve estimate reported an indicated copper useful resource of two.8 million MT of copper from 226.72 million MT of ore with a median grade of 1.24 % copper, and an inferred useful resource of 1.85 million MT copper from 149 million MT on the similar grade.
Ivanhoe Electrical is aggressively working by way of engineering design and allowing functions for the undertaking. As of February 2025, it has acquired 10 permits or rights supporting exploration actions, land use conversion and land reclamation. The corporate plans to submit its main website plan, aquifer safety permits and encroachment allow in Q2.
In April, the corporate acquired a letter of curiosity from the Export-Import Financial institution of america for potential debt financing of US$825 million. Ivanhoe is on monitor to launch a prefeasibility examine in June 2025, and it “anticipates permits shall be acquired and preliminary development actions will start within the first half of 2026.”
Tamarack North undertaking
Possession:51% – Talon Metals (TSX:TLO,OTC Pink:TLOFF)49% – Rio Tinto State: MinnesotaMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: PorphyryCommodities: Nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold
Tamarack is one in all solely three high-grade nickel sulfide deposits found on this century. Because of its significance, the US Division of Power has chosen it to obtain a US$114.8 million grant for the development of a battery mineral processing facility.
Regardless of its nickel major standing, the undertaking will produce 24,000 MT of copper focus yearly as a by-product materials from an indicated useful resource of 8.56 million MT of ore grading 0.92 % copper. Talon at present plans to start development in 2026, with manufacturing starting in late 2027.
Twin Metals Minnesota undertaking
Possession: Antofagasta (LSE:ANTO,OTC Pink:ANFGF)State: MinnesotaMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: MagmaticCommodities: Copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, silver, cobalt, lead
Twin Metals Minnesota’s improvement is at present on maintain after hitting a number of roadblocks, together with the rejection of its mine plan and cancelling of two federal mining leases as a result of considerations tailings from the mine will influence the Superior Nationwide Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Space.
In 2022, Antofagasta’s subsidiary Twin Metals engaged in litigation towards the US authorities over the actions, and in September 2023, the district court docket dismissed the corporate’s claims, siding with the federal government. Twin Metals filed an enchantment in November of that 12 months.
If authorized, the mine is predicted to provide 158,000 MT of copper yearly. The corporate stated it’s learning the attainable influence of Trump’s govt order.
Van Dyke undertaking
Possession: Copper Fox Metals (TSXV:CUU,OTCQX:CPFXF)State: ArizonaMine sort: In-situDeposit sort: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockwork, vein/slim veinCommodities: Copper
The Van Dyke undertaking covers a undertaking space of 531.5 hectares and hosts historic mine workings, which produced 11.5 million kilos of copper between 1929 and 1945 and an extra 5 million kilos between 1988 and 1989.
In a 2020 PEA, Copper Fox reported an after-tax internet current worth of US$644.7 million, an inner charge of return of 43.4 % and a payback interval of two.1 years. The corporate forecasts a mine lifetime of 17 years and annual common copper manufacturing of 85 million kilos. Copper Fox is at present advancing the undertaking in direction of a pre-feasibility examine.
White Pine North undertaking
Possession:66% – Kinterra Capital34% – Highland Copper State: MichiganMine sort: UndergroundDeposit sort: Sediment-hostedCommodities: Copper, silver
Kinterra Capital is the operator of White Pine North as of 2023, when Highland offered it 66 % of the undertaking. In June 2024, the corporate initiated an environmental baseline examine for White Pine North that may be key to supporting its ongoing allowing operations. Utilizing room-and-pillar mining, the companions plan to make use of start manufacturing on the first panel in 2027 and count on a four-year ramp-up to full plant throughput.
The undertaking hosts a measured and indicated copper useful resource of three.5 billion kilos from 133.4 MT of ore with a median grade of 1.05 % copper and an extra inferred copper useful resource of two.18 billion kilos from 97.2 MT of ore with a median grade of 1.03 %. Common annual payable copper metallic manufacturing is projected at 94 million kilos.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, personal shares of Northern Dynasty.
