A US federal judge said he will decide by May 14 whether to stop the Trump administration from selling land in Arizona to Rio Tinto $RIO (+0.93%) and BHP $BHP (+1.11%) to build a large copper mine that is opposed by Native Americans.

The lengthy and complex legal battle is about the religious rights of the San Carlos Apache people in Arizona, the increasing demand for copper for the energy transition and the geopolitical significance of China's extensive control over the important minerals industry.

The dispute centers on the federally owned Oak Flat Campground, where many Apache worship their deities. The site sits on a reserve of more than 40 billion pounds (18.1 million tons) of copper, a key ingredient in electric vehicles and nearly all electronic devices.

Rio and BHP's Resolution Copper project, if built, would create a crater 3 kilometers wide and 304 meters deep that would slowly engulf this place of worship.

U.S. District Judge Steven Logan, who ruled in favor of the land transfer in 2021, held a nearly two-hour hearing Wednesday to consider a renewed request to temporarily block the land transfer while the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates.

Logan, who was appointed by former U.S. President Barack Obama, gave little indication of how he would rule in the week he announced, but asked pointed questions about what harm the Apaches might suffer if the transfer were to take place before the Supreme Court's decision.

He also asked for details on Rio's maintenance costs for the resolution's existing facilities, which one Rio executive estimated at $11 million per month.

Since 2021, the courts have denied a request by Apache Stronghold - a nonprofit group that includes Apaches - to block the land transfer needed for the mine. The rulings referred to a 2014 decision by the US Congress and then-President Obama.

President Donald Trump initiated the land transfer in his first term, a move that was reversed by his successor Joe Biden as the issue wound its way through the courts.

The US Supreme Court is now considering whether to take up the case. The Supreme Court has said at least 13 times that it will continue to consider the appeal - an unusually long time frame.

Meanwhile, Trump resumed the land transfer process last month, with his administration aiming to complete it by June 16.

The U.S. Department of Justice, which has opposed the Apaches' application under both Biden and Trump, argued that Logan should stand by his 2021 decision.

"There is no basis for this court to reach a different result here," said Erika Danielle Norman, an attorney for the Justice Department.

Apache Stronghold and its attorneys from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said they were encouraged by the hearing.

"All the Apaches are asking for is to put the land transfer on hold while the Supreme Court considers it," said Joseph Davis of Becket.

Rio Tinto thanked the court for its time and said the resolution is critical to securing America's energy future, infrastructure and national defense.

BHP, which owns 45% and Rio 55% of the project, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rio Tinto $RIO (+0.93%) and its new partner Indium Corporation have successfully extracted the first primary gallium as part of a research and development project. The goal of this project is to produce commercial quantities of the critical and strategic mineral contained in the bauxite processed at Rio Tinto's Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Quebec, the only one in Canada.

This first step was carried out at Indium Corporation's research and development facility in Rome, New York.

The next phase of the project involves the evaluation of extraction techniques that will enable the production of larger quantities of gallium on a pilot scale. If successful, Rio Tinto plans to build a demonstration plant in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, financially supported by the Quebec government, with a capacity of up to 3.5 tons of gallium per year. With the transition to a commercial-scale plant, production could reach 40 tons per year, which corresponds to between 5 and 10% of current global gallium production.

Jérôme Pécresse, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Aluminum, said: "We are very proud to announce this significant milestone in our important research and development project to extract gallium from our aluminum operations in Quebec. Through this innovative partnership, Rio Tinto and Indium Corporation are working together to strengthen the North American supply chain for gallium, a critical and strategic mineral.

Ross Berntson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Indium Corporation, added: "This achievement is an important milestone that reflects our commitment to meeting the global needs of the industry by ensuring a sustainable supply of gallium. Our combined efforts position North America as a leader in the production of critical materials."

Primary gallium is used in key sectors such as the manufacture of integrated circuits, which are essential for modern technologies such as high-performance radar, smartphones, electric cars and laptops. Gallium is only produced in limited quantities worldwide, an estimated 600 metric tons per year, and only outside North America.

In addition to aluminum, copper, iron ore and titanium dioxide, Rio Tinto already produces a wide range of critical minerals at its North American facilities, including scandium for aluminum alloys, tellurium for solar panels, lithium for electric car batteries and molybdenum for steel alloys. Additional research and development initiatives are underway to evaluate the possibility of extracting new materials from the company's existing operations and to strengthen the supply chain for these materials.

The diversified mining company Rio Tinto $RIO (+0.93%) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Pilbara region and announced plans to invest 13.3 billion dollars in new mines and facilities over the next three years.

Chief executive Dominic Barton told the company's annual general meeting this week that the investment underlines the long-term potential of its operations in Western Australia.

He highlighted several major projects that will shape the future of Rio Tinto's mining operations in the Pilbara. These include expansions at key sites such as Western Range, West Angelas, Hope Downs 1, Greater Nammuldi and Brockman 4.

"Our development pipeline stretches well into the next decade and beyond with new mines and projects," Barton said.

One of Rio Tinto's major projects in the region is the Rhodes Ridge project. Rhodes Ridge, which is currently under investigation, has the potential to become Australia's largest iron ore mine, with the ability to produce more than 100 million tons per year when fully developed.

The 13.3 billion dollar investment follows similar levels of spending in the Pilbara over the past three years, which totaled 8.5 billion dollars.

Beyond the mining projects themselves, Rio Tinto places great importance on its relationships with local communities.

CEO Jakob Stausholm reiterated the company's commitment to supporting the Western Australian economy, pointing out that Rio Tinto's spend with local suppliers reached a record A$10.3 billion last year, an increase of A$1.5 billion on the previous year.

"We are very committed to the communities here because we know we can't operate without their trust," Stausholm said. "We work with around 2,400 suppliers in the region every year - a symbol of our ongoing commitment to supporting jobs and shared success."

President Trump has made a new announcement calling for a specific industry to move to meet the new demand created by the recent imposition of trade tariffs.

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Rio Tinto Group$RIO (+0.93%)the world's second largest mining company, has successfully fended off a challenge from activist investor Palliser Capital UK Ltd. to review its dual-listing structure.

A significant proportion of shareholders, almost 20%, voted in favor of the proposal. However, the resolution did not receive sufficient support to be adopted.

Despite the outcome, Rio Tinto has indicated its intention to continue discussions with shareholders on the subject of its dual listing agreement.

The company had previously encouraged its shareholders to reject the proposal put forward by Palliser Capital UK Ltd.

In addition, Rio Tinto's CEO, Jakob Stausholm, stated that the long-term outlook remains positive.

He expressed his confidence in the company's strategy and objectives to create value now and in the future. Stausholm also pointed to the growing world population and increasing demand for energy, which will increase the need for the materials produced by Rio Tinto.

During the meeting, Dominic Barton, Chairman of Rio Tinto, announced that the company is targeting 4% production growth this year, supported primarily by the Oyu Tolgoi underground project.

Oyu Tolgoi has a Mongolian workforce of 97.5%. To further support local expertise, the South Gobi Underground Mass Mining Institute was recently established to focus on promoting technical, technological and safety skills in the region.

After making my first small investments of a few hundred euros in the stock market in February '25, I added a larger amount in the course of April. It also took some time to develop an investment strategy; where do I want to invest? What risk do I want to take? Accumulating or distributing? ETFs and/or individual shares? If so, which ones and why? Are there specific countries and/or sectors I would like to focus on?

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The Trump administration said on Thursday that it would approve a land swap to allow Rio Tinto and BHP to build one of the world's largest copper mines. $RIO (+0.93%) and BHP $ABHPG despite concerns from Native Americans that it would destroy a site of religious value.

The move is likely to exacerbate tensions between indigenous groups campaigning to preserve historic sites and Western governments seeking to boost production of key minerals and offset China's dominance in the sector.

The U.S. Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, said it would publish an environmental report within 60 days, which is required for the land swap under the Resolution Copper project.

Congress and then-President Barack Obama approved the mine in 2014 after it was included in a must-pass military funding bill at the last minute with the requirement to publish an environmental report.

The underground mine - which President Donald Trump approved in his first term before his successor Joe Biden changed his mind - would supply more than a quarter of the US's copper needs and would be a key part of Trump's plan to boost mining in the US.

Copper is used in construction, transportation, electronics and many other industries. The United States imports about half of its copper needs each year.

However, building the mine would create a sinkhole that would swallow up the Oak Flat area where the San Carlos Apache live in Arizona. All but one of the state's 22 Native American tribes and the National Congress of American Indians have spoken out against the project.

Apache Stronghold, a non-profit group made up of the San Carlos Apache tribe and conservationists, petitioned the US Supreme Court last September to block the land swap. The court has not yet decided whether it will hear the case.

If the court accepts the case, the Forest Service could reevaluate its approach to the land swap on Thursday," it said.

"The U.S. government is in a hurry to give away our spiritual homeland before the courts can even make a judgment, just as it has been in a hurry to wipe out Native people for generations," said Wendsler Nosie, a leader of Apache Stronghold.

The group and its attorneys from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty contend that the government would violate the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom if the mine is developed.

"This makes clear what is at stake: If the court doesn't act now, Oak Flat could be relocated and destroyed before justice is served," said Luke Goodrich, an attorney for Becket.

Representatives for the San Carlos Apache could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rio Tinto said the move was a "positive step forward" and that it would continue to work on the project, in which the company and BHP have already invested more than $2 billion. They have not yet produced any copper.

"The Resolution Copper mine is critical to securing America's energy future and infrastructure needs through a domestic supply of copper and other key minerals," a Rio spokesperson said.

BHP, which owns 45% of the project while Rio holds 55%, said: "Resolution is committed to engaging in open dialog with the local community and Native American tribes to responsibly advance the project."

The Forest Service's move was welcomed by Mila Besich, the Democratic mayor of Superior, Arizona, the town closest to the Resolution project.

"This is a milestone in a very long process," Besich said. "This is a good thing for our city."

Rio has said it plans to keep all of Resolution's copper in the U.S. if the mine is approved. The company already controls one of the two copper smelters in the U.S.