Nuton Technology Produces First Copper At Johnson Camp Mine

PHOENIX, AZ – Gunnison Copper Corp. reported that Rio Tinto has successfully produced the first copper from the Johnson Camp mine in Arizona using its Nuton® Technology, marking a pivotal step forward in the development of this innovative copper processing technology. After more than 30 years of research and development, the first copper cathode using Rio Tinto’s proprietary bioleaching technology, which relies on microorganisms grown on site, was produced at Gunnison Copper’s Johnson Camp mine. The deployment involves the design and delivery of a technology package for a heap leach pad targeting production of approximately 30,0001 tonnes of refined copper over a four-year demonstration period. Rio Tinto is engaging with several potential customers in the U.S. to support the domestic copper supply chain.
Rio Tinto Copper Chief Executive, Katie Jackson, said, “This is a breakthrough achievement for our Nuton technology, which is proving that cleaner, faster, and more efficient copper production is possible at an industrial scale. In an industry where projects typically take about 18 years to move from concept to production, Nuton has now proven its ability to do this in just 18 months.
Nuton has designed a modular system deployed as a technology package integrating biology, chemistry, engineering, and digital tools, allowing it to be rapidly scaled and tailored to different ore bodies, unlocking resources that have historically been considered uneconomic or challenging. We are actively partnering on projects in North and South America to assess the potential for future deployment at additional sites in the coming years.”