Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has agreed to use copper produced with Rio Tinto’s microorganism-assisted Nuton process at the Johnson Camp Mine in Arizona. Announced January 15, 2026, the two-year collaboration also has AWS providing cloud analytics and simulation tools to help optimize the mining process. The bacteria help release copper from ore; they do not collect or manufacture finished copper.
Who is involved in the deal?
- AWS, Amazon’s cloud-computing division, is the named customer and will use the copper in components for its U.S. data centers.
- Rio Tinto owns Nuton, the technology venture behind the bioleaching process.
- Gunnison Copper is associated with the Johnson Camp Mine, where the copper is being produced.
The announcement describes a two-year strategic collaboration, not a mine purchase or a disclosed exclusive contract for all mine output. The public announcement does not state the purchase price, AWS’s contracted tonnage, or a delivery schedule. Rio Tinto’s announcement
How does bacteria-assisted copper production work?
Nuton uses microorganisms to help leach copper from sulfide-bearing ore. Sulfide ores are generally harder to process than oxide ores; Nuton’s aim is to make some of these resources suitable for heap leaching. The biological step is part of an industrial mining and recovery system, not a replacement for it.
- Copper-bearing ore is mined and placed on a leach pad.
- A leaching solution passes through the ore. Microorganisms help oxidize minerals and release copper into the solution.
- The copper-bearing solution goes through processing stages including solvent extraction and electrowinning.
- The process produces copper cathode, reported at 99.99% purity for Nuton’s process description.
Depending on the ore and site, bioleaching may avoid some conventional concentrator, smelter, and refinery stages. It does not eliminate mining, ore handling, chemical reagents, water management, or waste. Rio Tinto’s overview of Nuton and Gunnison Copper’s Johnson Camp technical report describe the approach.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- BARE WIRE FOR CRAFTS: Ibaofuing high-quality, 99.9% pure copper wire is perfect for creating jewelry pieces. Weight : 1 Pound / Spool, 16 Gauge/ 0.051" / 1.3 mm Diameter, 127 Feet / 39m
- MULTIPLE USES：Perfect for Electroculture Gardening, Science Class Demos, DIY jewelry making, earrings, bracelets, accessories, sculptures, chainmail, gardening, decoration, toys, and more.
- WIDELY COMPATIBLE: This wire is compatible with a variety of beads, charms, and other jewelry making components, giving you endless design options
- BENDABLE WIRE: Jewelry wire soft and shiny, malleability and durability is very high, plasticity is also very strong.
- GREAT VALUE CRAFT WIRE: We offer high-quality bare copper wire at an affordable price for all your crafting needs. Shop now and save!
Where is the copper coming from, and how much is planned?
Johnson Camp is in southeastern Arizona, about 65 miles east of Tucson. Gunnison restarted production at the mine in 2025; run-of-mine oxide production began in August, and the first copper cathode made using Nuton’s process was produced in December 2025. Gunnison’s project overview and its December 2025 announcement provide those milestones.
The planned Johnson Camp deployment targets about 30,000 metric tonnes of refined copper over four years: approximately 16,000 tonnes from run-of-mine leaching and 14,000 tonnes attributed to Nuton. These are project figures, not the amount AWS has agreed to buy. Gunnison reports installed capacity of up to 25 million pounds of finished copper cathode per year; that is nameplate capacity, not a production guarantee or AWS allocation. Rio Tinto’s collaboration announcement; Gunnison’s annual information form
Rank #2
- Exact Gauge And Length You Can Plan Around: This copper wire spool holds 100ft / 30.48 m of 24 AWG copper wire measuring 0.02inch/ 0.5mm in diameter. Remember the higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire — if this thickness is not the one your project needs, the size menu above covers 16 gauges from heavy 4 AWG to fine 34 AWG so you can pick by load instead of guessing
- Made For Wire Wrapping And Jewelry Making: A practical length of copper wire for jewelry making, this gauge threads through most beads and bends into tight coils by hand Use it for wire wrapping, jump rings, ear wires, beaded bracelets, pendant frames and chain links. Fine enough to loop repeatedly without fighting the wire, so it suits both first projects and detailed copper jewelry wire designs
- 99.9% Pure Bare Copper, No Coating To Strip: Made of 99.9% pure copper wire with no insulation, so you can cut and shape it straight off the spool with regular pliers instead of stripping a jacket first. As uncoated bare copper wire it conducts well and gradually darkens into a natural patina with air exposure — a normal property of raw copper rather than a defect, and a tone many makers keep on finished pieces
- One Spool For Craft, Garden And Hobby Projects: Beyond copper jewelry making supplies, this soft copper wire works for electroculture garden antennas, plant and bonsai shaping, floral arranging, model and sculpture armatures, holiday DIY decor, weaving and low-voltage hobby circuit connections. Pair it with a thicker or thinner gauge from the same size menu when a project needs both a frame wire and a detail wire
- Easy To Bend, Store And Handle: The wire bends readily and holds the shape you set, and it ships on its own spool so the wire stays untangled on a bench and travels easily in a craft bag. Spool style may vary, wire length is the same either way. Safety note: this is uninsulated bare wire and cut ends can be sharp — wear gloves or handle cut pieces carefully
What will AWS do with the copper—and contribute to production?
Rio Tinto says the copper is intended for components in AWS’s U.S. data centers, including electrical cables and busbars, transformer and motor windings, printed circuit boards, and processor heat sinks. Copper supports power distribution, computing, cooling, and control systems; it is not itself a source of power. The announcement does not identify specific data centers, equipment models, contractors, or component manufacturers.
AWS’s role is also technical. Nuton will use AWS cloud platforms for heap-leach simulation and process-data analysis, with the aim of improving forecasts of copper recovery and optimizing acid and water use. The public announcement does not quantify savings or establish how much performance improvement the analytics have delivered.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
- [HIGH-QUALITY 99.9% PURE COPPER WIRE] Crafted from 99.9% pure copper, this wire showcases a brand-new artistic charm. It is pliable enough for shaping, yet sturdy enough to maintain its form. You can easily cut and bend the pure copper wire without it breaking, making it suitable for securely fastening various objects. Unleash your creativity to craft your own unique style with ease
- [VIBRANT AND SHINY COLOR] The copper wire features a transparent polyurethane coating, which gives it a sparkling luster that won't fade or rust. With its powerful anti-oxidation capability, the copper wire remains timeless and unaffected by the passage of time, leaving no trace of rust or corrosion. The copper wire for jewelry making exudes an eternal sense of beauty, always appearing fresh and appealing
- [16 GAUGE/102 FT] The solid copper wire measures approximately 102 feet / 31 meters in length, with a diameter of 16 gauge (1.3mm). Whether you're engaged in intricate jewelry crafting or practical everyday scenarios, this specification is undoubtedly an excellent choice. The copper wire for jewelry making is packaged on a spool to prevent wear, with a compact size that facilitates easy use and portability, suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities
- [JEWELRY CRAFT WIRE] The copper's attractive and glossy appearance, combined with its corrosion resistance, allows this craft wire to work seamlessly with diverse beads, pendants, and jewelry components. It is ideal for creating earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces, wire-wrapped pendants, and other jewelry-related projects. Additionally, the copper wire for jewelry making suits various crafting uses like metal weaving, embellishing, handwork, beading, floral arrangements, and beyond
- [ELECTROCULTURE GARDENING] Made from pure copper, this wire make it suitable for demonstrating its wonders in DIY electroculture, garden plants, vegetable growth, and science education. Wrap the copper wire around stakes positioned beside tomatoes, legumes, bell peppers, cucumbers, or potted plants to assist their development
How strong are the lower-carbon and water claims?
Rio Tinto says a cited third-party life-cycle assessment estimated Johnson Camp Nuton copper at 2.82 kg CO₂e per kg of copper, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. It compares that figure with a global primary-copper range of about 1.5 to 8.0 kg CO₂e per kg. Rio Tinto also reports an anticipated water intensity of 71 liters per kg of copper, compared with a cited global industry estimate of about 130 liters per kg. These figures are site-specific company-reported estimates, not established results for every Nuton deployment. Rio Tinto’s announcement
- The carbon comparison is not independently reproducible from the public announcement. It does not provide the full LCA methodology. Results can depend on system boundaries, mine conditions, electricity assumptions, transport, and how Scope 3 emissions are counted.
- The water figure needs a defined comparison. Water consumption and water withdrawal are different measures; the announcement does not make the figure a universal comparison across mining routes.
- Renewable-energy certificates are not the same as direct renewable delivery. Rio Tinto says electricity use is matched with on-site electricity through the purchase of 134,000 Green-e Energy-certified renewable-energy certificates. That does not by itself establish that renewable electricity was physically delivered to the site at every hour.
- Lower-carbon is not zero-carbon or impact-free. Mining still disturbs land and entails ore handling, reagents, water management, waste rock, and closure obligations.
Gunnison said in December 2025 that long-term technical performance, recovery rates, and environmental performance would require multi-year testing and independent verification. The first production and AWS agreement show an early industrial deployment; they do not by themselves settle whether the process will consistently meet its targets at scale. Gunnison’s December 2025 statement
Rank #4
- The Perfect Copper Wire To Use For Your Electroculture Gardening. Works Well For Winding Up A Stick, Dowel, Tree Branch Or Bamboo Stake
- Wire Size: 12 Gauge(2.05mm), Weight:16OZ
- Lead Free And Nickel Free Soft and Shiny Bright Copper
- High Malleability, Durability And Strong Plasticity
- Suitability For Crafts, Jewelry Making, Home Decor, DIY Making, Gardening
What the announcement does—and does not—establish
| Established in the public announcements | Not disclosed or not yet established |
|---|---|
| A two-year AWS–Rio Tinto collaboration; Johnson Camp as the production site; intended use in AWS U.S. data-center components; and AWS analytics support. | AWS purchase price, contracted volume, delivery dates, participating data-center locations, or component suppliers. |
| A roughly 30,000-tonne four-year mine deployment target, including about 14,000 tonnes attributed to Nuton. | AWS’s share of that output or the percentage of AWS copper demand it would cover. |
| Company-reported carbon and anticipated water intensity estimates for Johnson Camp. | The full public LCA methodology or long-term, independently verified operating results. |
The practical significance is a potential traceable domestic source of copper cathode for some U.S. data-center infrastructure, paired with a digital-services collaboration. The scale and environmental performance of the broader opportunity depend on output, recovery consistency, site conditions, and validation over time.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【High-Quality Material】- Made from premium-grade pure copper, Art3d 18 AWG copper wire provides a good balance between strength and flexibility. Wire is thick enough to be durable and maintain its shape, also soft enough to be easily manipulated with hand tools
- 【Flexibility & Malleability】- Our 18 gauge bare copper wire is thick enough to conduct a sufficient amount of electricity without being overly bulky. Also it is flexible, making it easier to work with in electroculture gardening to wrap around plants or structures
- 【Long-Lasting Performance】- Crafted for durability, our solid copper wire boasts a robust composition that withstands wear and tear. Its ability to retain shape and strength over time ensures consistent functionality, making it an dependable material for indoor and outdoor projects
- 【Versatile Usage】- Soft and flexible, ideal for detailed work in jewelry making, beading, bracelets or earrings crafting; Easy to bend and hold shape well, great for sculpturing, electroculture gardening, plants supporting or DIY science projects
- 【Specification】- External Diameter: 18 Gauge / 1.02 mm, 60 feet 99.99% pure copper wire with handy spool for easy unwinding and organization
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
