CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

ORGANIZERS

  • Harvey Thorleifson, Chair
    Minnesota Geological Survey
  • Carrie Jennings, Vice Chair
    Minnesota Geological Survey
  • David Bush, Technical Program Chair
    University of West Georgia
  • Jim Miller, Field Trip Chair
    University of Minnesota Duluth
  • Curtis M. Hudak, Sponsorship Chair
    Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC

 

Paper No. 7
Presentation Time: 3:00 PM

IT SEEMS LIKE MINING IS THE EASY PART: ADDRESSING SOCIETAL ISSUES AS PART OF DEVELOPING THE RESOLUTION COPPER MINE IN ARIZONA


CHERRY, Jon, Resolution Copper, Na, 102 Magma Heights, Superior, AZ 85173, jon.cherry@riotinto.com

Mining in the 21st Century involves much more than moving rock and concentrating ore. It requires a much wider talent pool of professionals and broader thinking to address the many societal issues that are part of mining today. Without the social and regulatory licenses to operate, the ore body is essentially just another geologic anomaly rather than a source of value to be unlocked for shareholders, manufacturers, and surrounding communities.

Located in Superior, Arizona, Resolution Copper is the third largest undeveloped copper deposit in the world with approximately 1.6 billion tonnes of ore at 1.47 percent copper. Resolution is a porphyry copper joint venture between Rio Tinto (55 percent) and BHP (45 percent) with Rio Tinto managing the project. The underground block cave mining project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage, with an estimated requirement for a capital investment of more than $5 billion dollars and approximately 9 years of permitting and construction prior to production in 2022. With a mine life of more than 40 years, the estimated economic impact to the state of Arizona is approximately $61 billion, with $19 billion in tax revenues going to the federal, state, and local governments.

Resolution integrates a technical design with social, environmental and regulatory aspects for a comprehensive project plan. Specifically, the presentation will review the guiding principles for social engagement described in The Way We Work, social and environmental measurements, metrics and reporting, economic impact assessments and mutual benefit agreements or licenses with communities and special interest groups.

For example, Resolution cooperatively worked with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy and Audubon to identify and acquire over 5300 acres of high habit and conservation value land to be traded with approximately 2400 acres of less critical US Forest Service land.

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