Muon Technology Aims to Revolutionize Mining
Mining companies including Freeport-McMoRan, NexGen Energy, Rio Tinto, and BHP Group are advancing into commercial applications of muon technology, with significant developments expected by 2026. This technology utilizes cosmic rays to improve the detection of valuable minerals like copper, nickel, and uranium, with the US Department of Energy reporting that “one muon hits every square centimeter of the Earth every minute at sea level.”
In late 2025, Rio Tinto entered a five-year partnership with Ideon Technologies to enhance subsurface modeling for mineral identification. Meanwhile, BHP is deploying this technology in Australia, while NexGen utilizes it for its Rock I uranium project in Canada. The innovative approach is also being applied for safety improvements, as Freeport-McMoRan plans to install muon detection technology at its Grasberg mine following past incidents.
Additionally, Rio Tinto’s new Nuton technology for copper recovery is leveraging muon technology to optimize leaching processes, marking a significant advancement in mining efficiency. The collaboration with Amazon Web Services will further enhance the operational capabilities of these advanced mining technologies.
