Florence Copper Inc
1575 West Hunt Highway , Florence, Arizona, United States

Florence Copper is located in the historic Copper Corridor of Arizona – a region steeped in copper mining history. The project offers a unique opportunity to provide strong economic benefits to the community of Florence and the state of Arizona with minimal environmental impact. During its lifetime, Florence Copper is estimated to create close to 500 jobs for Pinal County and generate $3.4 billion in economic activity for the state of Arizona.  The Florence Copper deposit is rare. Unlike most copper deposits, this one is naturally porous and shattered, which allows the copper to be extracted with minimal environmental impact.  Currently, Florence Copper is operating its Production Test Facility (PTF). The PTF is a one to two year demonstration of in-situ copper recovery. This state-of-the-art method requires no open pit, no tunneling, no blasting, no waste dumps, and none of the large equipment typically associated with traditional mining activity. The first copper cathode was produced in April 2019.  Once the mining process is complete, the land will look much as it does today and can be used in a variety of ways: parkland, residential, commercial or manufacturing activities, or simply returned to its natural desert landscape.

What is In-situ Copper Recovery (ISCR)?

In-situ copper recovery is an environmentally responsible way of extracting copper from the ground. A low-pH solution similar in strength to household vinegar slowly dissolves copper in the bedrock. At the same time this solution is being introduced into the copper ore body, it is also being drawn through the ore and extracted. More solution is pumped out than is pumped in, and the deposit is flushed with water after the copper extraction is complete, so none of the solution is left behind. The water just outside of the project area is continually monitored to ensure proper water quality.  Florence Copper will drill and operate 24 wells at the facility, including four injection wells and nine recovery wells. Four geochemical sampling wells and seven observation wells will also be used to verify that the solution is being recovered and groundwater is unaffected. It will operate for one year, and may be extended for a second year. Operations will include 24-hour site monitoring, sampling, and reporting to the ADEQ and EPA. Commercial operating permits will only be issued if the facility is proved to operate safely.  The Production Test Facility at Florence Copper is designed to prove that in-situ recovery can be done responsibly. Environmental and water quality monitoring will be on-going throughout the operation.

Air Quality

Florence Copper received a renewed Air Quality permit for operations at Florence Copper from the Pinal County Air Quality Control District in March 2018.  Any dust or emissions from the Florence Copper solvent extraction/electrowinning (SX/EW) plant are expected to be minimal and well within health standards enforced by Pinal County and the Environmental Protection Agency.  During full operations, an estimated 245 employees and contractors are likely to drive to the Florence Copper site each day. Shipment of equipment and supplies will require about 12 truck trips per day, while shipment of copper cathode will require an average of 3 truck trips per day. All truck and most car traffic will use state highways and major roads and will not enter residential neighborhoods.