The group Apache Stronghold is vowing to carry on the fight against a massive copper mining project on land the Apaches hold sacred, after a Supreme Court decision that is expected to let the mine proceed.

The U.S. Supreme Court gave a boost on Tuesday to plans for one of the world's largest copper mines, as the justices declined to hear a Native American group's bid based on religious rights to block Rio Tinto and BHP from gaining control of land in Arizona long used for Apache sacred rituals.

An ancient sacred site will be destroyed, replaced by a 2-mile-wide crater,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in dissent.