5TH WΔVE METALS
THE FUTURE OF MINERAL PROCESSING
Last year, the world consumed over 26 million tonnes of refined copper.
1.3 million of it in the U.S. alone.
Over 70% of the world’s known copper is trapped in ores with grades below 0.5%.
Once grades dip under ~0.5%, energy intensity rises exponentially.
(up to 8× more per kg of Cu)
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As the world rushes to build intelligence into every interface, AI is becoming one of the most copper-intensive technologies of our time. Generative AI alone is on pace to become a larger driver of copper demand than the global EV industry, and it’s scaling faster. Every insight, every inference, every response is built on a metal the world is running low on.
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THE NEXT WAVE OF MINING TECHNOLOGY
​We are advancing this next phase by focusing on low-grade metallurgical
complex ore bodies.​​
The evolution of mining technology is marked by distinct waves of innovation, each reshaping how we locate, extract, and process ore as they become scarce, lower-grade, and increasingly chemically complex
A BRIEF HISTORY
WAVE 01 MANUAL EXTRATION
The foundational phase of mining.
Labor Intensive, localized and limited to surface--accessible high-grade ores.
WAVE 02 MECHANICAL EXPANSION
The industrial revolution of mining.
This wave introduced energy-intensive methods and reshaped mine design across the globe, allowing access to deeper deposits.
WAVE 03 CHEMICAL PROCESSING
A transformative shift in how we treat ore using advancement in methods such as flotation, smelting, solvent extraction, and hydrometallurgy.
WAVE 04 DIGITAL INTEGRATION
Mining meets data.
Sensors, AI, robotics, and predictive analytics drove efficiency, safety, and decentralization. High-resolution ore sensing, autonomous haulage, real-time process optimization, and precision blasting redefined productivity.
WAVE 05 MINERAL ACTIVIATION
Scientific breakthroughs and the compounded achievements across five eras of mining innovation have culminated in the emergence of the present phase: the ability to unlock value from materials once dismissed as waste or economically unviable.
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Selective ion-exchange systems: targeting specific metals from complex solutions.
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Green chemistry innovations: low-energy, non-toxic reagents for metal separation.
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Tailings reprocessing: turning historic waste into a new revenue stream.
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Biomining: using microbes and enzymes to separate metals from low ores.
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Mineral activation: modifying ore chemistry to make processing feasible.
Backed by the RACM Planetary Health Fund and supported by a founding group of operators, scientists, and investors with deep roots in mining, chemistry, and commercialization, we're shaping the 5th wave of mining and the future of mineral processing.
JOIN OUR TEAM
GRANT CAFFERY
Co-Founder,
Chief Scientific Officer
ATUSA SADEGHI
Co-Founder,
Chief Operating Officer
CHRIS BROWN
RA Planetary Health Fund, IP Development
NATALIE CIRA
Advisor,
Corporate Development, Finance & Commodities
Transforming how we extract minerals from the earth isn’t a solo effort. It’s a systems challenge that requires collaboration across disciplines and perspectives. If this work speaks to you, aligns with your expertise or interests, please reach out.
We’d value the opportunity to connect.
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We're currently prioritizing access to diverse ore samples across geologies and grades. If you can help us source or share material for lab-scale validation, please let us know.