Resolution Copper has awarded contracts worth approximately $110 million to Major Drilling America Inc. and Redpath USA Corporation to advance exploration and underground development at the proposed Resolution Copper project in Arizona. These contracts represent significant early commitments under the approximately $500 million investment plan announced earlier this year following the completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) process, Record of Decision, and Congressionally-authorized land exchange. Major Drilling America, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been awarded a two-and-a-half-year contract to conduct deep-hole directional diamond core drilling from surface and underground at approximately 6,800 feet to continue exploration of the Resolution ore body. The project will mobilize four of the world's largest and most productive surface core drills, designed for deep mineral exploration in hard rock environments. Two LF-350 drills have already arrived at the Resolution site, while two next-generation LF-300 drills are being manufactured and are expected to be delivered by the end of the year. The drills from Boart Longyear, based in Utah, **incorporate advanced safety features including remote-controlled drilling and mechanized rod handling**, which help keep employees at a distance from moving machinery. Resolution Copper has awarded a contract to Redpath USA, based in Nevada, to initiate the first phase of underground development. The work will involve converting two existing 7,000-foot-deep shafts from sinking status to development status, and installing new steel structures and underground infrastructure. Redpath will also develop a new mine station approximately 6,800 feet underground, which will include about 1,500 feet of tunnels, truck and drill parking areas, maintenance workshops, and associated infrastructure. New underground equipment will include a production drill and two Caterpillar loaders, which **will be procured through Empire CAT, based in Mesa, Arizona**. Vicky Peacey, President and General Manager of Resolution Copper, stated: "The actions of the federal government are delivering tangible progress for Resolution Copper. The completion of the FEIS process and the land exchange has enabled us to move quickly into this next phase, with approximately $110 million in drilling and underground development contracts already awarded to U.S. companies. This is a significant early commitment within our broader $5 billion investment plan, nd we appreciate the Trump Administration's prioritization of domestic mineral development and its help in advancing this project of national significance." "The Resolution project has the potential to supply up to 25% of U.S. copper demand for decades to come. Rio Tinto's Kennecott copper smelter and refinery in Utah could also provide a pathway for processing Resolution copper concentrates within the U.S., subject to technical, commercial, and permitting requirements**. Combined, these assets could help establish a secure U.S. mine-to-metal supply chain, supporting the electrical grid, advanced manufacturing, data centers, and national security."
Post time: Aug-10-2026
