Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of a precision leaching technology that selectively extracts copper from heavily contaminated mining ores and concentrates, helping miners and U.S. processors recover more usable copper from difficult-to-treat domestic resources.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
March 11, 2026
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Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of a precision leaching technology that selectively extracts copper from heavily contaminated mining ores and concentrates, helping miners and U.S. processors recover more usable copper from difficult-to-treat domestic resources. Specifically, the project team will (1) test and validate bench scale leaching technology to meet efficiency and output metrics, (2) design, develop, test, and validate complete pilot system to achieve performance metrics, and (3) prepare system design for next-stage development. If successful, this project will result in a copper separation system that operates at a 60 percent reduction in energy consumption, up to an 80 percent reduction in freshwater consumption, and up to a 95 percent reduction in waste production, ultimately reducing dependence on foreign energy and minerals, thereby increasing U.S. energy security.