The mine is expected to produce critical minerals such as zinc and manganese needed for steel manufacturing and large batteries.
The U.S. Forest Service on July 7 concluded an environmental review for a zinc-silver project in southern Arizona, paving the way for the $2.16 billion mining and processing operation to produce critical minerals domestically for use in manufacturing, defense, and technology.
The project is expected to boost production of zinc and manganese needed for steel production and large-capacity batteries, while reducing China’s control over global critical mineral supplies.
South32’s Hermosa Critical Minerals Project near the southern U.S. border was approved under the agency’s effort to accelerate environmental reviews and authorizations under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015.
The project is expected to create up to 900 jobs and thousands of indirect local jobs.
“With one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc resources and key minerals such as zinc and manganese, it’s a strategic investment in America’s energy and manufacturing future,” said Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
The Hermosa project is in Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains, about 50 miles south of Tucson. It includes the zinc-lead-silver Taylor sulphide deposit and the zinc-manganese-silver Clark oxide deposit. The company said the land can also be explored for copper.
“Our work at Hermosa is helping to fulfill our strategy by reshaping our portfolio to produce the metals that are critical for a low-carbon future,” South32 stated on its website.
The project will be the company’s first next-generation mine using automation and technology to minimize impact on the environment and meet goals of net-zero carbon-emissions operations.
The deposits have the potential to produce battery-grade manganese for the North American electric vehicle supply chain, along with zinc and silver, according to South32.
Jay Timmons, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, said the federal approval was important.
“Manufacturers celebrate today South32 Hermosa securing this federal permit in just two years under FAST-41,” Timmons posted on X.
“Manganese and zinc are two important critical minerals for manufacturers and key to strengthening domestic supply chains, boosting American production and reducing reliance on foreign sources. This is how permitting should work: timely, predictable and focused on moving projects of national importance from review to reality.”
