The Project
The Resolution Project
The Resolution Project is located roughly three miles east of Superior, Arizona. Here is a brief background on how the project started and where it's headed.
The Discovery
Exploration from 2001 to 2003 led to the discovery of what may be one of the largest copper resources ever found in North America, resting more than a mile below the surface.
The Process
Mining projects are completed in stages, and our project is now in the "pre-feasibility" phase. The work scheduled for the next several years includes removing groundwater from the former Magma Mine and sinking an exploratory shaft to 7,000 feet below the surface. We must also prepare numerous studies to evaluate technical, legal and environmental issues and to ready our mining plan. To begin production by our target date of 2020, there's a tremendous amount of preparatory work to complete.
We'll mine the ore by using a technique known as panel caving, a form of block caving. Unlike an open pit mine, which involves extensive removal of the surface waste rock to access the ore body, this method accesses the ore from underneath through a series of shafts and tunnels. This technique minimizes waste rock. Waste rock that is generated will be used for reclaiming and restoring the adjacent site of the former Magma Mine.
The Result
All of Arizona will benefit from the taxes and jobs created by the Resolution Project. Over the period of active production, 1,200 mine employees and 200 contract employees are expected to be working during peak operations. The mine will employ some people directly (direct jobs), employ others on contract (indirect jobs), and still others will be employed in industries unrelated to the mine but created simply because of its presence (induced jobs). Examples of induced jobs might be local retail or service business employment. Estimates that include these indirect and induced jobs at the mine site project employment of 2,603 people with $178.7 million in wages annually. Total direct, indirect and induced jobs in mining, industrial and commercial fields are estimated to account for a total of 5,808 jobs and $305 million in wages annually.
As the Resolution Project evolves, it benefits not only Superior, but the surrounding region as well. A 2008 third-party study conducted by Elliott D. Pollack and Company projected peak annual economic impact on the state of Arizona at $798.2 million over the life of the project. In terms of fiscal impact, the project is estimated to generate $10.7 billion through federal, state, county and local taxes. The study also estimated the total economic impact over the project life on the state of Arizona to be $46.4 billion.
The Resolution Project is helping to secure a better future for Arizona. See how the entire project will unfold and get an idea of where it stands now.
To learn more about Resolution Copper, visit www.resolutioncopper.com.
* Economic and Fiscal Impact Study conducted by third-party consultant, Elliott D. Pollack & Company.