Operation is designed to produce 85 million pounds of copper annually and support approximately 200 direct jobs.
FLORENCE, Ariz. (October 8, 2026) — Florence Copper celebrated its grand opening on October 6, 2026, bringing together government officials, employees, community members and business partners to recognize a milestone in domestic copper production.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin joined federal, state and local representatives at the Arizona event. Parent company Trekor Metals described Florence Copper as the world’s first commercial-scale in-situ copper operation and the first new U.S. copper source in nearly 20 years.
New Copper Production Capacity in Arizona
Located south of Phoenix in Florence, the operation began producing copper in February 2026, ahead of the October celebration. Construction of its commercial production facility began in January 2024 and was completed at the end of 2025.
Florence Copper has a designed annual production capacity of 85 million pounds of LME Grade A copper cathode and an expected operating life of 22 years. According to Trekor, the project is expected to support approximately 200 direct jobs at the site and approximately 800 jobs statewide.
In-Situ Recovery Technology
Florence Copper uses wells to circulate a solution through naturally fractured underground copper deposits. The copper-bearing solution is then recovered and processed at the surface to produce refined copper metal.
This method avoids the blasting, excavation and hauling associated with conventional mining. Trekor reports that the operation uses approximately 78% less water and 65% less energy per pound of copper produced, compared with conventional open-pit copper mines in Arizona.
The facility adds a domestic source of refined copper for American manufacturing while supporting employment in Florence and the surrounding region.
