Dec. 5 at 2:01 PM
$FCX ⚡ Major U.S. copper breakthrough yesterday — highly relevant for
$FCX and the entire copper sector ⚡
Rio Tinto has just produced the first-ever industrial copper using Nuton® bioleach technology — the first successful commercial leach of primary sulphide ore.
Why this matters for
$FCX:
• Primary sulphides dominate global copper deposits
• Nuton produces low-carbon, low-water U.S. copper
• Eliminates smelting → shorter supply chain
• Could reshape long-term copper cost curves
• First new copper production method validated in decades
Full announcement:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251203998984/en/Rio-Tintos-Nuton-technology-produces-first-copper
Highly relevant also for two affected small caps:
•
$GCUMF — the Gunnison site where Nuton was proven at industrial scale
• OTC:
$LCGMF /
$LEO.X.CED — Rio’s partner in Nevada and a likely next large-scale Nuton deployment