Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Simplified.

© 2025 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Product
    Sustainability

    Rio Tinto Nuton copper cathode at Gunnison: heap leach lessons for mine engineers

    December 4, 2025|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    Rio Tinto Nuton copper cathode at Gunnison: heap leach lessons for mine engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Rio Tinto’s Nuton venture has produced its first 99.99% copper cathode using proprietary sulphide bioleaching at Gunnison Copper’s Johnson Camp Mine in Arizona, just 18 months after starting work on site. The four-year demonstration aims to deliver about 30,000 tonnes of refined copper from the existing heap leach pad, with Nuton’s microorganisms in bioreactors achieving up to 85% recovery while eliminating milling, tailings, smelting and off-site refining. Gunnison’s 25-million-lb-per-year operation, with a 15–20-year mine life, is now focused on multi-year technical validation, third-party verification and Rio Tinto internal review.

    Technical Brief

    • Nuton’s natural microorganisms are cultured in proprietary bioreactors, then applied to sulphide ore heaps.
    • Microbes accelerate sulphide oxidation, generating heat and enhancing copper dissolution into the heap leach solution.
    • The process removes milling, tailings storage, smelting and off-site refining from the flowsheet at Johnson Camp.
    • Water consumption is projected to fall by up to 80% versus conventional concentrator–smelter routes.
    • Gunnison reports potential carbon emission reductions of up to 60% compared with traditional copper concentration.

    Our Take

    With a post-tax IRR of 30% and initial capex of $58.9 million for Johnson Camp Mine, Gunnison Copper sits in the more competitive cost tier of the copper projects in our database, which may make the 51/49 JV split with Nuton easier to finance without heavy equity dilution.

    The ability of Nuton’s leach technology to reach 85% recovery on 0.31–0.32% copper grades at JCM is strategically significant, as many of the copper projects in our 152 Mining stories struggle to justify development at similar grades without higher metal prices or by-product credits.

    The four-year demonstration period at Johnson Camp Mine, contrasted with the 18‑month concept-to-production claim for Nuton, signals that regulators and financiers in Arizona are likely to treat new in-situ or novel leach deployments conservatively, even when backed by a major like Rio Tinto.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Northern Star gold hubs: deep extensions and design takeaways for mine planners
    Mining
    about 9 hours ago

    Northern Star gold hubs: deep extensions and design takeaways for mine planners

    Northern Star Resources reports strong exploration results across its Australian hubs, with deep extensions and high‑grade gold intercepts at operations including Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines in Western Australia. Drilling has identified mineralisation continuing at depth beneath existing workings, with multiple emerging zones that could support life‑of‑mine extensions and higher‑grade feed to existing mills. For mine planners and geotechs, the focus now shifts to underground access design, ground support in deeper stress regimes, and sequencing to integrate new stopes into current production.

    Regis WA exploration pipeline: mine life and design takeaways for planners
    Mining
    about 9 hours ago

    Regis WA exploration pipeline: mine life and design takeaways for planners

    Regis Resources is flagging a “significant pipeline” of near-mine and regional exploration targets across its Duketon and Tropicana gold operations in Western Australia, aiming to extend mine life and lift mill feed quality. The company is focusing on brownfields drilling around existing open pits and underground workings, plus greenfields prospects along under-tested shear zones within its Duketon belt and the Tropicana joint venture corridor. For geotechs and mine planners, the message is to expect ongoing resource definition drilling, updated pit shells and potential underground studies rather than major new project footprints.

    Harmony Eva copper project: Metso contract design implications for mine engineers
    Mining
    about 9 hours ago

    Harmony Eva copper project: Metso contract design implications for mine engineers

    Harmony Gold has advanced its Eva copper project in Queensland by awarding Metso a major equipment contract as the greenfield mine moves towards site construction. The deal covers key comminution and processing plant components, with Metso to supply crushing and grinding equipment sized for large-scale copper throughput at one of Australia’s biggest planned copper developments. The contract signals design lock-in for the process flowsheet and allows detailed engineering, foundation design and construction scheduling to proceed on a firmer basis.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.