Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Amazon Secures Copper from Arizona Mine
Amazon is buying copper from a mine in Arizona that just started producing again.
This mine uses a special method with bacteria and acid to get copper from rocks that weren't worth mining before.
Amazon needs a lot of copper for its big computer centers that help with artificial intelligence.
The copper from this mine won't be enough for all of Amazon's needs, but it's a start.
The mine is important because it's the first new copper source in the U.S. in over ten years.
Copper is also used in many other things like electric cars and power lines.
The price of copper has been going up, and there might not be enough copper in the future to meet all the demand.
Amazon has signed a two-year deal with Rio Tinto to source copper from the Johnson Camp mine in Arizona, the first new U.S. copper source in over a decade.
The mine uses a bioleaching process with bacteria and acid to extract copper from low-grade ore that was previously uneconomical to process.
The copper will be used in Amazon's data centers, which require large amounts of copper for wiring and other electrical components.
The mine is expected to yield 14,000 metric tons of copper over four years, which is a small fraction of Amazon's total copper needs.
Growing demand for copper from data centers, electric vehicles, and renewable energy installations has driven copper prices to record highs, with potential tariffs further impacting prices.
- Who
- Amazon and Rio Tinto
- What
- Amazon is sourcing copper from Rio Tinto's Nuton venture in Arizona
- When
- The supply pact is for two years, with the first batch of Nuton cathodes produced in December 2023
- Where
- Johnson Camp mine in southeastern Arizona
- Why
- To meet the growing demand for copper in data centers and other applications, and to support Rio Tinto's low-carbon copper extraction technology
- Company
- Amazon
- Mine Location
- Arizona
- Supply Duration
- 2 years
- Copper Source
- Rio Tinto's Nuton venture
- Copper Extraction Method
- Bioleaching using bacteria and acid
- Expected Copper Yield
- 14,000 metric tons over four years
- Copper Demand Driver
- AI data centers, power-grid upgrades, electric vehicles, renewable-energy installations
- Copper Price Increase
- 41% in 2023, trading above $6 per pound