Native Americans file property lien on copper mine land swap

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Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO) land swap case has taken a new turn after the claims were made by San Carlos Apache tribe to regain the disputed land.

• Arizona's tribe filed a property lien claiming that the US doesn't possess the rights on the property.
• The Native Americans claim that the government has illegally acquired the land for more than 160 years and holds no right to transfer it to a third party.
• The mine is anticipated to fulfil one-fourth of the US domestic copper demand.
• The land swap deal was approved in 2014 by the US government.
• Rio Tinto would exchange its owned land with the 2,400 acres copper prospective ground, with the land swap conditional on environmental assessment completion.
• The US administration plans to submit the environmental assessment report before Joe Biden takes over as the new president.