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Americas

South32 has a portfolio of operations and projects in the Americas, with established South American operations in Brazil and Chile, as well as development options in the USA. We also have a number of exploration projects in the Americas, including in Argentina, Canada and the USA.

Sierra Gorda

An aerial shot of the Sierra Gorda project in Chile

Sierra Gorda

Chile

Sierra Gorda is a large, conventional, open pit copper mine located in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile.

Sierra Gorda has a copper-molybdenum-gold sulphide mineral reserve of more than 1 billion tonnes, and a mine life of more than 20 years¹.

Ore processing at Sierra Gorda includes crushing, grinding, flotation, thickening and filtering to produce concentrates. The copper concentrate produced at the operation is transported by truck and rail to the port of Antofagasta and Angamos, for international export to end markets.

Find out more about Sierra Gorda

Hermosa

Hermosa

Arizona, USA

Located in the Patagonia Mountains, about 80 kilometres south-east of Tucson, Arizona, the Hermosa development option comprises the zinc-lead-silver Taylor sulphide deposit (Taylor Deposit), the zinc-manganese-silver Clark oxide deposit (Clark Deposit) and an extensive, highly prospective land package with the potential for further polymetallic and copper mineralisation.

Our work at Hermosa is part of our strategy to reshape our portfolio and increase exposure to the metals critical for a low carbon future.

Learn more about Hermosa

Brazil Alumina

south32 operation

Brazil Alumina

Brazil

Our Brazil Alumina operations are made up of a share in the country’s largest bauxite mine, as well as an alumina refinery.

For more than 40 years bauxite mining has been underway at the Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) mine, in Porto Trombetas, in northern Brazil.

Our share of the ore produced at the MRN mine is supplied to the Alumar alumina refinery in São Luís, northeastern Brazil, which has been operating since the mid-eighties.

We have a 33 per cent interest in the MRN mine and a 36 per cent share of the alumina refinery.

Learn more about Brazil Alumina

Brazil Aluminium

An aerial shot of the Alumar Aluminium Smelter in Brazil

Brazil Aluminium

Maranhão, Brazil

South32 holds a 40 per cent share in the non-operated Alumar aluminium smelter, which was restarted during FY22 after being on care and maintenance since 2015. Alcoa holds a 60 per cent share.

Our share of production from the Brazil Aluminium smelter is powered by 100 per cent cost efficient renewable power and produces aluminium for the domestic and export markets.

Following the restart, first production was achieved in the June 2022 quarter, with full capacity from the smelter’s three potlines expected to be achieved in Q1 FY24. It has a solid metal production capacity of 447kt per year.

Learn more about Brazil Aluminium

Ambler Metals

Ambler Metals

Alaska, USA

The Ambler Metals Joint Venture is a high-grade development option in northwest Alaska.

Ambler Metals can be separated into three key parts – the high grade, polymetallic Arctic deposit, the Bornite copper deposit and an exciting regional exploration portfolio. A pre-feasibility study for the Arctic deposit is underway.   


Learn more about Ambler Metals
¹ Refer to market release “South32 to acquire a 45% interest in the Sierra Gorda copper mine” dated 14 October 2021. The estimates indicated in the original announcement are qualifying foreign estimate and are not reported in accordance with the JORC Code. A Competent Person has not done sufficient work to classify foreign estimates as Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves in accordance with the JORC Code. It is uncertain that following evaluation and/or further work that the foreign estimates will be reported as Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves in accordance with the JORC Code.