The potential for an underground development of the massive Kennecott copper operations in Utah, USA is becoming more likely with 100% owner Rio Tinto approving a $US108M investment to enable orebody access and characterisation studies.
Rio Tinto recognises Kennecott’s potential for a significant underground development targeting its declared 20Mt at 3.65% Cu and 1.62g/t Au resource with further upside potential based on drilling.
Underground development would occur concurrently with openpit operations to increase its copper output.
PFS work is already progressing on an openpit extension at Kennecott beyond 2032 via a further pushback of the North Wall, to follow its $1.5B South Wall Pushback phase 2 project that will support opencut from 2026 to 2032.