We mine copper sustainably to energise the future.
With a strategic position in two highly prospective copper belts, Sandfire has grown to be a global copper producer of significance and continues to make strong progress toward its goal of being a sustainable mining company.
We are headquartered in Perth, Western Australia and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Our principal operating Assets are the MATSA Copper Operations (MATSA) in Spain and the Motheo Copper Operations (Motheo) in Botswana.
MATSA is located in the Huelva Province of southwestern Spain in the northern portion of the highly prospective Iberian Pyrite Belt. MATSA is a polymetallic mining operation comprising a central processing facility that sources ore from three underground mines, Aguas Teñidas and Magdalena in Almoñaster la Real and Sotiel in Calañas. MATSA’s copper and zinc concentrates (that contain lead and silver by-products) are shipped from the port of Huelva to smelters around the world.
Motheo opened in August 2023 and is centred on the T3 and A4 open pit mines. With a central processing facility, Motheo produces a high-quality copper concentrate (containing a silver by-product) that is transported by road to Walvis Bay, Namibia where it is shipped to smelters around the world.
Mining ceased at our DeGrussa operations, located 900km north-east of Perth in Western Australia, in October 2022. DeGrussa is now in care and maintenance with rehabilitation to be undertaken over the coming decades. A multi-faceted process to divest discrete assets is also progressing.
In February 2026, Sandfire and Havilah Resources executed definitive transaction agreements to advance the Kalkaroo Copper-Gold Project and establish an exploration strategic alliance across the highly prospective Curnamona Province in South Australia.
Sandfire also holds an 87% equity stake in TSX-listed Sandfire Resources America. Sandfire Resources America owns a 100% interest in the Black Butte Copper Project. Located in central Montana in the United States, Black Butte is a fully permitted, high-grade, undeveloped copper project. The planned mine development will utilise best-practice technology and modern mining techniques to develop a wholly underground mine, with minimal surface footprint and environmental impact.
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Our history
Strategic alliance secured with POSCO
Strategic alliance secured with POSCO, a South Korean-based global steel group, and the world’s fourth largest steel producer at the time. The equity funding received from POSCO enabled the Company to accelerate the exploration of its projects in Australia, which ultimately led to the discovery of DeGrussa. POSCO remained a key long-term strategic partner of Sandfire until mid-2015.
Discovery of the DeGrussa Deposit, Western Australia
Led by Geologist Margaret Hawke, the Sandfire team drills the DeGrussa Deposit’s discovery RC drill hole in Western Australia. The initial drill holes unearthed massive sulphide mineralisation at depth in a region better known for its gold discoveries, leading to one of the most celebrated recent mineral discoveries in Western Australia. The first diamond drill hole targeting the new deposit later returned a stunning intersection including 47m @5.3% Cu at the DeGrussa Deposit.
RC drilling confirms the presence of a second, larger zone of mineralisation, Conductor 1, immediately north of the initial DeGrussa Deposit discovery.
Discovery of a third high-grade copper-gold deposit, Conductor 4, immediately adjacent to the Conductor 1 Deposit.
Discovery grows and Mining Lease Granted as Sandfire enters the ASX 200 Index
Phase 1 Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 7.03Mt grading 5.2% Cu, 1.9 g/t Ag; and 15g/t Au reported for the DeGrussa and Conductor 1 Deposits – less than 8 months after initial discovery.
Discovery of Conductor 5 lens, approximately 900m north-east of the DeGrussa and Conductor 1 Deposits.
DeGrussa Mining Lease formally granted by the West Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum (later renamed Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety).
DeGrussa Development Commences
Sandfire’s Board approves development of the DeGrussa Project based on the strength of a robust Pre-Feasibility Study.
The maiden blast for the box-cut excavation of the “Evans Decline” marked the commencement of underground development at DeGrussa.
Sandfire delivers positive Definitive Feasibility Study for the DeGrussa Project.
$380 million project loan facility executed for the DeGrussa Project development.
First Copper Produced from DeGrussa
Mining of Open Pit ore from DeGrussa commences, followed shortly after by the start of mining underground massive sulphide ore.
Commissioning of the 1.5mtpa on-site concentrator commences.
Sale of first shipment of copper concentrate from DeGrussa, comprising 5,000dmt of copper concentrate.
DeGrussa Officially Opens
DeGrussa’s Stage 2 Open Pit completed, marking the completion of open pit operations and the transition of the DeGrussa Operations to a wholly underground mining operation.
Sandfire announced a maiden annual net profit after income tax of $88 million for the year ended 30 June 2013, marking its arrival as a successful mining company.
Official opening of the DeGrussa Copper Mine by Hon. Colin Barnett MLA, Premier of Western Australia.
Continued profitability as Sandfire acquires stake in the Black Butte Copper Project
The DeGrussa Operations passed the significant milestone of generating over $1 billion in revenue since the commencement of operations in 2012. Sandfire declared its first-ever dividend of 10 cents per share for the 2014 financial year.
Acquisition of an initial 36% stake in copper developer Tintina Resources Inc., giving Sandfire exposure to the potential development of the Black Butte Copper Project in Central Montana, USA, one of the highest grade undeveloped copper deposits in North America.
Construction of the DeGrussa Solar Project Commences
Diamond drilling at the Monty prospect ( Springfield JV Farm-In with Talisman Mining Ltd) intersected a significant zone of massive sulphide mineralisation approximately 10km east of the DeGrussa Operations. Assay results from the discovery drill-hole returned exceptional results including 16.5 metres grading 18.9% Cu and 2.1g/t Au.
Sandfire becomes a first mover in Australia for renewable energy use in an off-grid mining application with the commencement of construction of the DeGrussa Solar Power Station at the DeGrussa Operations in Western Australia.
Sandfire releases its first annual Sustainability Report, prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Framework “Core” option, and is a finalist for the “Best climate disclosure by a new responding company”.
Continued strong production and profitability
Sandfire celebrates trucking its millionth tonne of concentrate produced from the DeGrussa Operations and trucked to port.
Repayment of debt and increased ownership in the Black Butte Copper Project
Sandfire marks a significant milestone for the Company, with the original $380 Million DeGrussa Finance Facility, secured in 2011 to fund the DeGrussa Copper-Gold Project, fully repaid nearly 12 months ahead of scheduled repayment date.
Mining Proposal for the Monty Copper-Gold Mine approved, paving the way for the commencement of development for the new satellite mine.
Sandfire’s 78% owned Black Butte Copper Project in Montana, USA, achieves key permitting milestone, with Mine Operating Permit (MOP) application found to be “Complete and Compliant” in accordance with all State rules and regulations. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) commenced.
Acquisition of Talisman’s Springfield JV Interests
Sandfire reaches agreement to acquire Talisman Mining Ltd’s 30% interest in the Springfield Joint Ventures, providing the Company with 100% ownership of the satellite Monty Copper-Gold Mine and surrounding exploration tenure.
Sandfire increases its ownership of the Black Butte Copper Project in Montana, USA to 86%.
Sandfire acquires MOD Resources limited
First stopping ore delivered from the satellite Monty Copper-Gold Mine, with ore trucked to DeGrussa for processing.
Sandfire announces plans to acquire 100% of MOD Resources Ltd, adding the near-term T3 Project (now referred to as the Motheo Project) in Botswana to the Company’s Global Development pipeline, whilst also adding a significant landholding in the highly prospective Kalahari Copper Belt.
Sandfire is the 2019 winner of the Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence in recognition of the DeGrussa Solar Farm. Awarded by the WA Department for Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, the Golden Gecko recognises leading practice and innovation in environmental management.
Sandfire completes the acquisition of MOD Resources Ltd.
Approval for the development of the Motheo Copper Mine
Positive Record of Decision (ROD) released by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MTDEQ) to grant a Mine Operating Permit (MOP) for the Black Butte Copper Project, located in Montana, USA.
Feasibility study and maiden JORC Ore Reserve announced for the Black Butte Copper Project’s Johnny Lee Deposit in Montana, USA, and updated JORC Mineral Resource estimate for the nearby Lowry Deposit, located 3km south-east of the Johnny Lee Deposit.
Sandfire Board approves the commercial development of the T3 Copper-Silver Deposit (Motheo Copper Mine) located in the Kalahari Copper Belt of Botswana. The final investment decision was based on the positive results of an Optimised Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), which outlined a robust initial 12.5-year mining operation based on a base case 3.2 Mtpa processing capacity and open pit development of the T3 Deposit.
Announcement of a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the A4 Copper-Silver Deposit, located 8km west of the T3 Copper-Silver Deposit, of 6.5Mt at 1.5% Cu and 24g/t Ag, for 100,000t of contained copper and 4.9Moz of contained silver.
Sandfire announces the proposed acquisition of the MATSA Mining Complex in Spain
The government of Botswana grants the Mining Licence for the Motheo Copper Mine, paving the way for full-scale construction of the project to commence, with initial site works already underway.
Announcement of a maiden Ore Reserve for the A4 Deposit, located 8km west of the Motheo Copper Mine in Botswana and completion of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) confirms A4 as a high-grade source of additional ore feed for the Motheo Copper Mine and highlights outstanding project economics from an expanded 5.2Mtpa mining operation compared to the initial 3.2Mtpa base case development scenario approved in December 2020.
Sandfire announces the proposed, transformational acquisition of the world-class MATSA Mining Complex from Mubadala Investment Company and Trafigura for US$1.865 billion.
Sandfire announces sale of its investment in Adriatic Metals Plc for gross proceeds of $97 million.
Sandfire completes the acquisition of the MATSA Mining Complex
Sandfire announces the completion of the MATSA Mining Complex acquisition and welcomes the MATSA team to Sandfire. The transformational acquisition delivers Sandfire 100% ownership of MATSA, a long-life Tier-1 asset with three underground mines and a modern 4.7Mtpa processing facility, located in the world-class Iberian Pyrite Belt in the Huelva Province of Andalusia in south-western Spain.
Official opening of the Motheo Copper Mine
Sandfire was is pleased to celebrate a key milestone, with the official opening of the Motheo Copper Mine in Botswana by His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, the President of the Republic of Botswana.
The official opening ceremony was held on site at Motheo, approximately 70km north-east of Ghanzi, with a number of guests in attendance including representatives of the local community and central Government, Sandfire staff, contracting partners and suppliers.
Black Butte’s mine operating permit reinstated
Sandfire was pleased to advise that a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court has reinstated the mine operating permit for the Black Butte Copper Project (Project) in Montana USA.
Sandfire’s interest in the Project is held via an 87% equity stake in TSX listed Sandfire Resources America Inc. (TSX-V: SFR) (Sandfire America).