Mines can take years, or even decades, to open, so we celebrate when the final permits come in for a mine. The U.S. Forest Service signed the Final Mine Plan of Operation for South32’s Hermosa project, a milestone which establishes the federal framework to develop and operate ancillary infrastructure on U.S. Forest Service land. This includes infrastructure such as a primary access road, secondary dry-stack tailings storage and other supporting operations.
Once operational, Hermosa will produce multiple minerals, including zinc, silver and copper. Zinc mining is expected in late 2027 with product headed for the processing plant by mid-2028. These minerals will support industries across the country in energy infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and national security, and Hermosa will also provide up to 900 needed jobs in a rural area.