The U.S. Forest Service said it plans to re-publish an environmental report before July that will set in motion a land swap between the U.S. government and Rio Tinto, allowing the miner to develop its Resolution Copper project in Arizona, reported Reuters. In 2014, Congress approved the land exchange of 2,422 acres above a copper deposit for 5,459 acres of…
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Rio Tinto testing renewable diesel at U.S. ops
Another decarbonization step is being taken, this time by Rio Tinto at its United States operations: the operator is planning to swap out its conventional diesel fuel for renewable fuel across its haul truck fleet. The miner has already wrapped up a trial of renewable diesel at its U.S. Borax mine in Boron, Calif., and is conducting a second trial…
Read MoreArizona Sonoran plans for the new year
Arizona Sonoran Copper Company has announced its 2023 work plan for the Cactus Property, inclusive of the Cactus and Parks/Salyer projects near Casa Grande, Ariz. All work streams this year will feed into the planned Prefeasibility Study (PFS) due in the fourth quarter 2023/first quarter 2024, and includes drilling, metallurgy, detailed engineering, permitting and technical studies, along with continued efforts…
Read MoreCaterpillar switches on first battery-electric mining haul truck
With its Arizona proving grounds outside Tucson, Ariz., serving as a backdrop, Caterpillar has demonstrated its first battery-electric 793 model large mining truck as it announced an investment into the campus as a sustainable testing and validation hub of the future. The development of the 793 prototype came with support from key mining customers participating in Caterpillar’s Early Learner program.…
Read MoreCR Minerals, Rio Tinto to produce pozzolans from waste materials
Texas-based CR Minerals has reached an agreement with miner Rio Tinto for the production of pozzolans from waste materials at the latter’s U.S. Borax facility in Boron, Calif. CR Minerals intends to use waste tailings present onsite to produce pozzolans that can be used as a cement replacement in concrete. The pozzolans will be manufactured at a new facility to…
Read MoreRio Tinto invests $55M to add underground mining at Kennecott
Rio Tinto has announced a major growth plan for its Kennecott copper complex outside of Salt Lake City, Utah – an expansion to mining that will also take its efforts underground, which it said holds “potential for significant and attractive underground development.” The miner has earmarked US$55 million for the landmark transition project on the century-old mine and said it…
Read MoreArizona Sonoran, Nuton partner
Copper developer and near-term producer Arizona Sonoran Copper has entered into a one-year exclusivity period of metallurgical testing with Nuton, a Rio Tinto venture. Arizona Sonoran said the exclusivity was triggered by successfully modeling the Cactus and Parks/Salyer ore samples and achieving the previously contemplated indicative metallurgical recoveries of at least 72% (copper recovery to cathode), under an investor rights…
Read MoreRio Tinto investing US$188M for Alma upgrade project
Rio Tinto said it has earmarked US$188 million to upgrade its Alma smelter in Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec to boost its production by 202,000 tonnes annually. The project, which is projected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2025, will include an expansion of the existing casting center to accommodate new equipment, including a casting pit and furnaces – which in…
Read MoreRio Tinto, Star Diamond puts Star-Orion on ice
Star Diamond and partner Rio Tinto have confirmed they will place the Star-Orion diamond project in Saskatchewan, Canada, on care and maintenance until the end of this year. The two, which as a joint venture are known as Fort à la Corne, met recently and Rio Tinto Exploration Canada exercised its voting power as 75% interest holder to place the…
Read MoreRio Tinto, Corona Canada pilot low-carbon aluminum can
Rio Tinto and Corona Canada have launched a pilot in Ontario of specially marked, low-carbon beverage cans – the first in the country. The cans were made using aluminum from Rio Tinto and leveraging emissions-free ELYSIS smelting technology.
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