# Copper mining expansion in Arizona > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/copper-mining-expansion-in-arizona > Updated: 2026-09-02T06:42:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. Gunnison Copper is expanding its drilling operations in Arizona, with plans to increase its active drill rig fleet from two to six by September. The company is executing a 15 million USD program to complete up to 120 drill holes, totaling approximately 42,000 meters. This includes metallurgical drilling at the primary Gunnison project and new drilling at the Strong & Harris satellite deposit to evaluate copper, zinc, and silver resources. These localized efforts are part of a broader trend in Arizona, which is emerging as a hub for a copper renaissance in the United States. This regional growth is driven by increasing demand from the defense, electrification, and artificial intelligence sectors as companies seek to reduce reliance on imports. In addition to Gunnison Copper, the Resolution Copper project—a joint venture between BHP and Rio Tinto—is noted as a significant regional development that could potentially meet up to 25 percent of U.S. copper demand. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: Arizona emerges as center of U.S. copper renaissance Arizona is becoming a key center for U.S. copper production as companies like Gunnison Copper and the BHP/Rio Tinto joint venture expand operations to meet demand from AI and electrification sectors. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/arizona-emerges-as-center-of-us-copper-renaissance ### 2026-08-17: Gunnison Copper expands drilling operations in Arizona Gunnison Copper is expanding its Arizona drilling operations, increasing from two to six rigs in September to support resource expansion and metallurgical testing at its Gunnison and Strong & Harris projects. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gunnison-copper-expands-drilling-operations-in-arizona --- Cite as: Copper mining expansion in Arizona. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/copper-mining-expansion-in-arizona