密歇根州上限岛（UP）拥有密歇根州超过80%的熊资源，但人口占比不足3%。尽管过去三年全球铜价因电网扩张和数据中心建设需求大增60%，且劳伦斯伯克利国家实验室研究显示美国铜年产量有望翻倍以上达到250万吨（足以替代大部分从智利进口的铜），但当地拟议的Copperwood铜矿项目依然面临严峻的建设延误。该项目由Highland Copper公司提出，虽然已获得几乎全套许可，但受制于高昂的劳动力和建设成本，至今未能正式开工。

项目的环境与社会影响引发了显著争议。在拟建现场，挖掘出的矿石中仅有约6%的铜可运往冶炼厂，其余94%的废渣将被堆积在占地相当于350个足球场大小的尾矿处置设施中，并配备塑料衬垫以防污染水流。环保组织“保护波基队”发起的抗议活动已收集了近50万个签名支持，并组织了数百人在密歇根州首府兰辛集会，表达对苏必利尔湖水质安全的担忧。

财务瓶颈与项目可行性构成了最大的实质性阻碍。Copperwood矿石的含铜量仅为1.5%左右，远低于刚果民主共和国铜矿6%或更高的品位。尽管公司寄希望于从美国出口导入银行获得2.5亿美元的贷款（占项目所需资金的大部分），且密歇根州政客曾推动5000万美元的基础设施拨款，但CEO承认建设最早要到2028年才能开始，投产需等到2030年。公司最新年报明确警告存在“对本公司持续经营能力的重大怀疑”。

Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) houses over 80% of the state's bear population but less than 3% of its human residents. Although copper prices surged 60% over the past three years due to power grid expansions and data center demand, and a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study indicates US copper production could more than double to 2.5 million tonnes annually (covering most imports from Chile), the proposed Copperwood mine remains unbuilt. Developed by Highland Copper, the nearly fully permitted project continues to stall under high construction and labor costs.

Environmental and local opposition presents major operational concerns. Processing at the Copperwood mine yields only 6% usable copper for smelters, leaving 94% of crushed rock piled in a tailings facility spanning the area of 350 football fields. The environmental campaign group "Protect the Porkies" gathered nearly 500,000 signatures and organized hundreds of protesters in Lansing, voicing fears of potential dam failures threatening Lake Superior's ecosystem despite company assertions of safety.

Financial viability remains the primary barrier to development. Copperwood's ore grade stands at roughly 1.5% copper, significantly lower than the 6% or higher grades found in Democratic Republic of Congo mines. While Highland Copper seeks a $250 million loan from America's Export-Import Bank for core financing alongside a stalled $50 million state infrastructure proposal, company leadership estimates construction will begin in 2028 at the earliest with production delayed until 2030, leaving its latest annual report to highlight "significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern."

Source: Riches sit under a rare vestige of the wild Midwest

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Dateline: Jul 23rd 2026