Buenavista mine

The Buenavista mine, historically known as the Cananea copper mine, is a large open pit copper mine located in the north-west of Mexico in Cananea, Sonora. It lies 35 km (22 mi) south of the international border near Nogales, Arizona. Buenavista mine represents one of the largest copper reserves in Mexico and in the world. As of 2013, it had estimated reserves of 36 million tonnes of ore grading 0.69% copper, 3.3% zinc and 33.4 million oz of silver.[1] Cananea represents one of the largest copper reserves in Mexico and in the world, having estimated reserves of 4.52 billion tonnes of ore with a grade of 0.42% copper.[2]

Buenavista mine
Photo of the mine, taken from the International Space Station in 2008.
Location
Buenavista mine is located in Sonora
Buenavista mine
Buenavista mine
Buenavista mine is located in Mexico
Buenavista mine
Buenavista mine
LocationCananea
StateSonora
CountryMexico
Coordinates30°57′38″N 110°19′53″W
Production
ProductsCopper, silver, zinc
Owner
CompanySouthern Copper Corporation
Photo taken at the mine in 2013.

History

Greene Consolidated Copper Company (1896-1907)

Copper has been mined at the site continuously as far back as 1899.[3] The mine was originally owned by the American businessman William Cornell Greene.[4]

The mine was the location of the Cananea strike in 1906.

Anaconda Copper (1907-1972)
See also: Anaconda Copper

The mine was run for some time by the American company Anaconda Copper.

Government of Mexico (1972-1990)

The Mexican government mandated that ownership of the mining sector be gradually put into Mexican hands in 1961. Ownership was handed over to the company CIA Minera de Cananea SA in 1971, which was majority controlled by the Mexican government. Anaconda soon sold off its remaining minority interest.[5]

The privatization process began in 1988, but there were several failed auctions before the mine was successfully sold. In 1990, the state company was declared bankrupt.[5]

Grupo México (1990-present)

In 1990, the Mexican government sold the mine to a joint bid by Mexicana de Cananea headed by Jorge Larrea, and the Belgian mining company Acec-Union Miniere.[6]

By 2003, the mine was run by Grupo México. Organized by the National Union of Mine and Metal Workers, about 1,200 workers on the mine went on strike demanding higher pay.[7]

The mine was reopened in 2010 after being closed for three years during a strike, and the mine was renamed the Buenavista mine.[8]

2014 wastewater disaster

In August 2014, a major ecological disaster took place at the mine when 40,000 cubic meters of wastewater spilled into the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers. The wastewater carried sulfuric acid and it is believed to also have carried cyanide. The event prompted 88 schools to close temporarily. Mine officials have been criticized for not reporting the accident to the authorities until after 24 hours, when the residents had noticed the river water turned orange.[9] In the wake of the disaster, Grupo México set up a $151 million clean up fund, while continuing operations.[10] However, according to reports from El Informador, the fund was closed before 1% of funds were distributed to those affected, prompting pressure from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for full compensation.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Buenavista mine". southerncoppercorporation.com. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  2. "Copper mines" (PDF). srupoouthernperu.com. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  3. "Southern Copper Will Open New Zinc Plant in Mexico - E & MJ". E & MJ -Engineering & Mining Journal. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  4. Bacon, David (2016-07-13). "When the River Turned Yellow". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  5. Byrne, Sister Martin (2000). "Cananea consolidated copper company from nationalization to privatization: 1972-1991". International Journal of Public Administration. Informa UK Limited. 23 (5–8): 563–577. doi:10.1080/01900690008525476. ISSN 0190-0692.
  6. "Mexico Sells Copper Mine". The New York Times. 1990-08-28. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  7. Elisabeth Malkin (2003-01-24). "Grupo México Faces Debt And Striking Copper Miners". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  8. "UPDATE 3-Grupo Mexico scraps plan for mining unit merger". Reuters. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  9. Ari Phillips (18 August 2014). "Mining Spill Near U.S. Border Closes 88 Schools, Leaves Thousands Of Mexicans Without Water". Think Progress. Archived from the original on 2014-08-18.
  10. Barrera, Adriana (2014-09-11). "Grupo Mexico dodges mine closure with $151 million toxic spill fund". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  11. "UN asks Grupo Mexico to compensate victims of Buenaventura mine spill". MINING.COM. 2021-08-08. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
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