Falcon-OperatedFAST-41
Blue Copper Project
Montana
A copper-dominant, multi-critical-minerals exploration project targeting copper, tungsten, zinc, gallium, germanium, and gold. Listed on the federal FAST-41 permitting transparency dashboard.
Falcon Copper Corporation
America needs a stronger
copper supply chain.
We are expanding it.
Falcon Copper is dedicated to expanding and strengthening the domestic copper supply chain from end to end.
JV with Rio Tinto Kennecott
JV with Freeport-McMoRan
FAST-41 Federal Dashboard
U.S. Critical Minerals Policy
The Falcon Platform
Three integrated platforms. One supply chain.
01
Falcon Copper Mining
U.S. copper-dominant exploration across Alaska, Montana, Nevada, and Arizona.
02
Falcon Copper Works
A modern primary copper smelter and refinery on federal land in Arizona.
03
Falcon Copper International
Tier-one allied copper projects strengthening U.S. critical-minerals supply.
The Structural CaseFour forces are reshaping
Four forces are reshaping
global copper.
“This is not a commodity cycle. It is a category reset: driven by structural forces that no price signal has the power to reverse.”
Force 01
68%
China's share of global
smelting & refining capacity
smelting & refining capacity
The Processing Chokepoint
Treatment and refining charges collapsed to $0/t in 2026. A deliberate strategic move, not a market outcome. U.S. smelting capacity is severely constrained, and a significant share of American mine-produced concentrate is exported overseas for processing.
Force 02
42Mt
Additional copper demand
required by 2040 (S&P Global)
required by 2040 (S&P Global)
The Demand Surge
AI infrastructure, grid electrification, and defense systems are converging simultaneously, driving multi-decade demand insulated from cyclical compression.
Force 03
17.9yr
Average discovery-to-production
timeline (2020–2023)
timeline (2020–2023)
The Supply Cliff
Ore grades have declined 40% since 1991. Exploration budgets have collapsed. No amount of new investment today produces copper before 2040.
Force 04
$550B
U.S.–Japan Strategic Investment
Framework, Sept. 2025
Framework, Sept. 2025
The Policy Reset
DOE/USGS critical-mineral designation. Section 232 tariffs. Bilateral agreements with DRC and Zambia. The policy environment has structurally changed.
The Falcon PlatformThe integrated answer
The integrated answer
to all four forces.
Falcon operates as a single company across exploration, domestic processing, and allied international supply, with the scale and integration to address the full structural challenge.
01 · Upstream
01
Falcon Copper Mining
Exploration & Extraction
Eight copper-dominant, multi-critical-minerals exploration projects across the United States, including joint ventures with Rio Tinto Kennecott and Freeport-McMoRan in Nevada, and Falcon-operated assets in Montana, Alaska, and Arizona. Blue Copper designated a FAST-41 federal permitting transparency project.
- U.S. copper-dominant project portfolio
- Rio Tinto Kennecott and Freeport-McMoRan JVs
- Multi-critical-minerals targeting
- FAST-41 federal dashboard listings
02 · Midstream
02
Falcon Copper Works
Domestic Smelting & Refining
A primary copper smelter and refinery in development on federal land in Arizona. The first of its kind to be built in the United States in four decades, consistent with the strategic priorities of the U.S.–Japan Strategic Investment Framework.
- 400,000+ tpa primary smelter and refinery
- JGC Corporation — EPC integrator
- Metso — core smelting technology
- Federal land, Arizona
03 · Global
03
Falcon Copper International
Allied Critical-Minerals Supply
Identifies and advances tier-one copper projects worldwide that strengthen U.S. critical-minerals supply, focusing on the African Copperbelt and other high-grade geographies within the framework of U.S. bilateral agreements with the DRC and Zambia.
- Focus on tier-one global copper geographies
- African Copperbelt — Tenke Fungurume pedigree
- Allied-government engagement framework
- Senior team with global processing experience
Falcon Copper Works · Arizona · In DevelopmentAdding large-scale primary
Adding large-scale primary
copper smelting capacity
to America.Closing the processing gap.
America's copper smelting capacity falls well short of domestic mine output. A significant share of U.S.-mined concentrate is exported for processing, predominantly to China. Falcon Copper Works is being developed to close that gap.
The project is being advanced on federal land in Arizona, the country's leading copper producer. The U.S.–Japan $550 billion Strategic Investment Framework, announced in September 2025, establishes the strategic priority for exactly this class of domestic copper processing investment. Engineering work is led by JGC Corporation, with Metso providing core flash-smelting technology. The leadership team carries direct operating experience from Freeport's Tenke Fungurume, Glencore Mutanda, and Barrick's Nevada Gold Mines.
Explore Falcon Copper WorksProject Overview
Falcon Copper Works
Capacity
400,000+ tpa
Primary copper cathode output (subject to refinement)
Site
Federal Land, Arizona
Rail, power, and water infrastructure access
EPC Partner
JGC Corporation
Engineering, procurement, and construction integrator
Technology
Metso Flash Smelting
Proven primary copper smelting technology
Policy Context
U.S.–Japan Framework
$550B bilateral investment framework, Sept. 2025
Output
Refined Copper Cathode
Mine concentrate → cathode on U.S. soil
01
Western U.S. Mine Districts
Ore extracted from copper deposits across AZ, NV, MT, AK
02
Crushing, Milling & Flotation
Run-of-mine ore processed to ~28% Cu concentrate at the mine site
Falcon Copper Works
03
Primary Smelter & Refinery
Flash smelting converts concentrate to 99.99% copper cathode
04
Copper Anode & Cathode
Anode casting followed by electrorefining to refined copper cathode
05
U.S. Industry & Allied Nations
Defense systems, grid infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing
Falcon Copper Mining · Project PortfolioA district-scale portfolio
A district-scale portfolio
of U.S. copper assets.
Eight copper-dominant exploration projects across Montana, Alaska, Nevada, and Arizona, including joint ventures with two of the world's largest copper producers.
Portfolio Geography
Nine properties across four U.S. states. Hover a pin to explore.
Falcon Copper Projects
FAST-41 Listed Project
Nevada
Butte Valley
Freeport-McMoRan
Schell Creek — Cabin
Rio Tinto Kennecott
Schell Creek — Muncy
Rio Tinto Kennecott
Bristol
Falcon-Operated
Arizona
Santa Maria
Falcon-Operated
Greenback
Falcon-Operated
Pioneer
Falcon-Operated
Montana
Blue Copper
Falcon-Operated
Alaska
Groundhog
Falcon-Operated
Rio Tinto Kennecott JVFAST-41
Schell Creek Project
Nevada
A joint venture with Rio Tinto's Kennecott Exploration Company targeting copper, zinc, molybdenum, silver, and gold across two properties in Nevada's Ely mining district. The Muncy property is individually listed on the FAST-41 federal permitting transparency dashboard.
Falcon-Operated
Groundhog Project
Alaska
A copper-gold exploration project in Alaska situated on a major regional mineral trend. Falcon's broader Mountain West and Alaska portfolio reflects a consistent focus on long-life, district-scale copper geology in proven U.S. mining jurisdictions.
Freeport-McMoRan JV
Butte Valley Project
Nevada
A joint venture with Freeport-McMoRan targeting copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver in Nevada. The partnership extends Falcon's upstream portfolio alongside one of the world's largest copper producers.
Falcon-Operated
Bristol Project
Nevada
A 100%-owned copper exploration property in Lincoln County, Nevada, covering approximately 2,600 acres of BLM land. The district hosts historical copper, silver, lead, and zinc workings across approximately two square miles.
Falcon-Operated
Santa Maria Project
Arizona
An approximately 9,500-acre copper exploration project in Yavapai County, Arizona — 5.5 miles southeast of Freeport-McMoRan's operating Bagdad porphyry copper deposit.
Falcon-Operated
Greenback Project
Arizona
A 12,000-acre copper exploration property in southeastern Arizona, situated between Freeport-McMoRan's Morenci and Safford mining districts — two of the most productive copper operations in the United States.
Falcon-OperatedComing Soon
Pioneer Project
Arizona
A copper exploration project in southeastern Arizona. Details will be released as the project advances. Pioneer expands Falcon's growing presence in Arizona's established copper-producing districts.
Project information is provided for general reference only. Technical disclosures regarding mineral resources, reserves, exploration results, and project economics are made through Falcon Copper's regulatory filings. See Disclosures.
LeadershipOperators who have done this before
Operators who have done this before
at the world's largest copper mines.
The team behind Falcon Copper has held senior operating roles at Freeport-McMoRan, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Barrick Gold, and Phelps Dodge, with direct credits on Tenke Fungurume, Mutanda Mining, and the Cortez District.
Team pedigree
Freeport-McMoRan
Glencore
Rio Tinto
Barrick Gold
Phelps Dodge
Morgan Stanley
Perella Weinberg
TN
Travis Naugle
Executive Chairman, Director & Founder
Extensive international experience; track record of developing projects. A trusted operating partner with the majors in pursuit of big copper; executed significant agreements with industry leaders. B.S. Mining Engineering, MBA; Licensed Professional Engineer.
RM
Ryan Moss
President & CFO
Extensive domestic and international experience in natural resources development. Fmr. CFO Lucid Energy Group; Fmr. Partner Perella Weinberg; Fmr. Managing Director Morgan Stanley. BBA, MBA.
EB
Eric Best
Executive Vice President · Falcon Copper Works
Fmr. President of Freeport Africa, in charge of Freeport Tenke Fungurume; Fmr. CEO Nevada Copper; Fmr. Glencore Head of Global Copper Production. B.Eng. Metallurgy; MBA.
MC
Mike Ciricillo
Executive Vice President · Falcon Copper Works
Fmr. Process Plant Mgr, Freeport Tenke Fungurume; Fmr. CEO Glencore Mutanda Mining; Fmr. GM, Cortez District of Barrick's Nevada Gold Mines; Fmr. Origin Mining COO. B.S. Chemistry.
RG
Rick Gittleman
President · Falcon Copper Works
Senior VP Freeport Africa; senior management team Tenke Fungurume; senior management copper group, Glencore. A.B., J.D.
RL
Rich Leveille
Chief Prospector · Falcon Copper Mining
Fmr. Senior VP Exploration, Freeport-McMoRan; fmr. AMAX, Kennecott, Rio Tinto, Phelps Dodge. History of prolific discoveries. B.S., M.S. Geology.
PN
Phil Nickerson
VP Exploration · Falcon Copper Mining
Fmr. U.S. Exploration Manager, Rio Tinto; senior geologist EMX Royalty Corp. M.S., Ph.D. Geosciences; Licensed Professional Geologist.
+
Additional Appointments
To Be Announced
Falcon continues to add senior operating leadership. Announcements posted in the Newsroom as they are made.
Board of Directors
Travis Naugle
Executive Chairman & Founder
Founder. Mining engineer and project developer with 25+ years in gold, copper, and strategic metals. B.S. Mining Engineering; MBA.
Richard Shapiro
Director
Fmr. Portfolio Manager Ridge Run Partners and Millennium Management; Partner Wexford Capital. Boards: Altus Power (NYSE: AMPS), Orion Energy. MBA.
John Rader
Director
Senior counselor at Palantir; fmr. White House and NSC senior advisor; fmr. chief of staff to U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. B.A., J.D.
Ronan Sabo-Walsh
Director
Current CFO of a private silver and base-metals producer with South American assets. Fmr. CFO Novo Resources (TSX/ASX: NVO). BCom.
Carla Consoli
Director
35+ years with mining and energy companies. Permitting, environmental, water rights, agency negotiations. EPA and BLM relationships. M.S., J.D.
Falcon Copper Insight SeriesData-led research on the
Data-led research on the
U.S. copper supply chain.
Original research on global copper flow, U.S. industrial policy, and the structural forces reshaping domestic production and processing capacity.
Insight · 2026
The world's copper, mapped.
Falcon Copper Insight SeriesPDF
Cartographic Brief
A visual atlas of mine, smelter, and refinery capacity by country of operation.
Mapping the physical geography of global copper. The shift in processing center of gravity is the dominant story.
Download PDFInsight · 2026
Arizona-led copper supply chain.
Falcon Copper Insight SeriesExhibit
Supply-Chain Brief
From Western mine districts to U.S. manufacturers and allied nations.
Arizona produced ~70% of U.S. mine copper in 2024. The state has world-class resources, deep supply chain, and strategic infrastructure.
View the exhibitWhite Paper · 2026
The American Copper Imperative.
Falcon Copper Insight Series18 sections
Strategic Analysis
How copper became a U.S. strategic priority, and why Falcon is positioned to act.
The investment thesis in full: four structural forces, the competitive architecture, and the timing window for first-movers.
Read the white paperNewsroom
Press releases and corporate announcements.
Press releases, project updates, and corporate announcements will be posted here as they are issued. For media, policy, and general press inquiries, please contact Falcon Copper directly.
Visit the NewsroomCorporate InquiriesContact Falcon Copper
Investors, government partners, and counterparties.
Falcon Copper welcomes inquiries from institutional investors, federal and allied-government agencies, potential JV partners, and the financial press.
General
info@falconcopper.com
Phone
(984) 363-0733
CareersSend a CV
Build a fully integrated American copper company.
Falcon hires across mining engineering, smelter and refinery operations, environmental and permitting, government affairs, and exploration geology. The standard is institutional. The work is operational.
Project Geographies
Alaska · Montana · Nevada · Arizona
Recruiting
info@falconcopper.com