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 Corp.
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.
Option to JV with Rio Tinto Kennecott
JV with Freeport-McMoRan
FAST-41 Federal Transparency 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 Domestic Smelting and Refining
A modern primary copper smelter and refinery on federal land in Arizona.
03
Falcon Allied Supply Chains
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.”
— The American Copper Imperative, Falcon Copper (2026)
Force 01
~50%
China's share of global
smelting & refining (ICSG, 2024)
smelting & refining (ICSG, 2024)
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
Global copper demand by 2040
(S&P Global, 2026)
(S&P Global, 2026)
The Demand Surge
AI infrastructure, grid electrification, and defense systems are converging simultaneously, driving multi-decade demand insulated from cyclical compression. A ~50% increase from current levels, with a projected 10Mt supply gap by 2040.
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. U.S.–Zambia bilateral critical-minerals agreement. 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 partnerships
- Multi-critical-minerals targeting
- FAST-41 federal dashboard listings
02 · Midstream
02
Falcon Domestic Smelting and Refining
Primary Copper Smelter · Arizona
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 Allied Supply Chains
African Copperbelt · Zambia
Identifies and advances tier-one copper projects worldwide that strengthen U.S. critical-minerals supply, focusing on Zambia and other high-grade African Copperbelt geographies within the framework of the U.S.–Zambia bilateral critical-minerals agreement.
- Focus on tier-one global copper geographies
- African Copperbelt · Tenke Fungurume pedigree
- Allied-government engagement framework
- Senior team with global processing experience
Falcon Domestic Smelting and Refining · 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 Domestic Smelting and Refining 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.
Alongside the domestic smelter, Falcon Allied Supply Chains advances tier-one copper projects in Zambia under the U.S. bilateral critical-minerals framework, building the allied-nation feedstock pipeline that strengthens America's long-term copper position. Together, domestic processing and allied supply close the U.S. copper gap end to end.
Project Overview
Falcon Domestic Smelting and Refining
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 Domestic Smelting and Refining
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 Option to JVFAST-41
Schell Creek Project
Nevada
Under an option to joint venture agreement with Rio Tinto's Kennecott Exploration Company targeting copper, zinc, molybdenum, silver, and gold across two properties near the Robinson mine in Ely, NV. The Muncy property is 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 and does not constitute a technical disclosure of mineral resources, reserves, exploration results, or project economics. See Disclosures.
LeadershipOperators who have done this before
Operators who have done this before
at the world's largest copper companies.
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
Executive Chairman, Director & Founder
Falcon Copper Corp
Travis Naugle founded Falcon Copper Corp. and serves as Executive Chairman and Director.
Travis brings extensive domestic and international experience developing large-scale resource projects. A trusted operating partner with the majors in pursuit of big copper, he has executed significant agreements with industry leaders across the Western United States, Alaska, and internationally.
B.S. Mining Engineering; MBA, Chicago Booth. Licensed Professional Engineer.
RM
President & CFO
Falcon Copper Corp
Ryan Moss serves as President & CFO of Falcon Copper Corp.
Ryan is a former Chief Financial Officer of Lucid Energy Group, a former Partner at Perella Weinberg Partners, and a former Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. His career spans capital markets, natural-resources finance, and corporate leadership across energy and infrastructure sectors.
BBA Finance, University of Texas at Austin; MBA, Columbia Business School.
RG
President
Falcon Copper Works
Rick Gittleman serves as President of Falcon Copper Works.
Rick is a former Senior Vice President of Freeport Africa and a member of the senior management team at Tenke Fungurume. He also held senior management roles within the copper group at Glencore.
His legal, commercial, and operational experience in the African Copperbelt gives Falcon International a direct entry point into the world's most productive copper geography.
A.B., J.D.
EB
Executive Vice President
Falcon Copper Works
Eric Best serves as Executive Vice President of Falcon Copper Works
Eric is a former President of Freeport Africa, where he oversaw Tenke Fungurume — one of the world's largest and highest-grade copper operations. He is also a former Chief Executive Officer of Nevada Copper, and former Head of Global Copper Production at Glencore.
His career spans mine construction, commissioning, and large-scale copper operations across Africa and the Americas.
MC
Executive Vice President
Falcon Copper Works
Mike Ciricillo serves as Executive Vice President of Falcon Copper Works.
Mike is a former Process Plant Manager at Freeport's Tenke Fungurume operation, former Chief Executive Officer of Glencore Mutanda Mining, and former General Manager of the Cortez District at Barrick Gold.
His direct operating credits across three of the world's most productive copper and gold operations represent the operational depth at the core of the smelter project.
PN
Phil Nickerson
Vice President, Exploration
Falcon Copper Mining
Phil Nickerson serves as Vice President of Exploration at Falcon Copper Mining.
Phil is a former U.S. Exploration Manager at Rio Tinto and a former senior geologist at EMX Royalty Corp, with a career focused on copper and critical-minerals exploration in North America.
M.S. and Ph.D. in Geosciences. Licensed Professional Geologist.
Board of Directors
Executive Chairman & Founder
Founder of Falcon Copper Corp. Career spanning capital markets, natural-resources finance, and corporate leadership across energy and mining. Fmr. CFO Lucid Energy; Fmr. Partner Perella Weinberg; Fmr. MD Morgan Stanley.
Director
Former Portfolio Manager at Ridge Run Partners and Millennium Management. Partner at Wexford Capital. Board member at Altus Power (NYSE: AMPS) and Orion Energy. Career spanning institutional investment and corporate governance across energy and infrastructure. MBA.
Director
Senior counselor at Palantir Technologies. Former senior advisor at the White House and National Security Council. Former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Career across national security policy, corporate strategy, and government affairs. B.A., J.D.
Director
Current Chief Financial Officer of a private silver and base-metals producer with South American assets. Former CFO of Novo Resources Corp (TSX/ASX: NVO). Career spanning resource-company finance, capital markets, and corporate governance. BCom.
Newsroom
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