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US Forest Service signs off on South32 Hermosa’s mine plan in Arizona

Staff Writer | September 2, 2026

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Construction is already half-way complete on private land with zinc mining underground expected in late 2027 and first zinc product from the processing plant in the first half of 2028, the company said.

Hermosa was the first mining project added to, covered under, and completed in the federal FAST-41 permitting program, a process reserved for infrastructure projects that must meet certain criteria to demonstrate how they will benefit the US as the critical minerals race accelerates.

South32 plans to begin initial earthworks activities and surveys to support exploration drilling and geotechnical investigations in the coming weeks, representing the first physical activity enabled by the federal approval.
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