Sierrita mine

The Sierrita Mine is a large copper mine located in the Sierrita Mountains of Arizona, in the southwestern part of the United States. The mine is located in southern Pima County, southwest of Tucson and west of Green Valley-Sahuarita.

Sierrita mine
Mines on the east flank of the Sierrita Mountains, Arizona. Sierrita mine is at the bottom right of the image (north to the left).
Location
Sierrita mine is located in Arizona
Sierrita mine
Sierrita mine
Location in Arizona
Pima County, Arizona
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 31°52′26″N 111°08′02″W
Production
ProductsCopper, molybdenum, rhenium
Production152 million pounds copper
Financial year2018
History
Discovered1895
Opened1907
Owner
CompanyFreeport-McMoRan Inc.
Websitefcx.com
Year of acquisition2007

Originally developed as an underground mine in 1907, the Sierrita open pit has been in operation since 1959 and is a copper and molybdenum mining complex, operating on a porphyry copper deposit with oxide, secondary sulfide, and primary sulfide mineralization. The mine produces copper and molybdenum concentrate as well as SX/EW copper cathode from a ROM oxide-leaching system.[1]

Sierrita was acquired by Duval Corporation in 1959; Pennzoil acquired a controlling interest in Duval in 1968.[2] Sierrita was operated by Cyprus Mines (later Cyprus Amax Minerals) from 1986 to 1999. Sierrita was operated by Phelps Dodge from 1999 until 2007 when it was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan. The mine has one of the largest copper reserves in the United States and in the world. In 2018, the deposit had estimated proven and probable reserves of 3,369 million tonnes of ore grading 0.23% copper and 0.02% molybdenum along with an additional resource of 1,378 million tonnes of mineralized material at 0.17% copper and 0.02% molybdenum.[1][3]

References
  1. "Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(D) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2018" (PDF). Freeport-McMoRan Inc. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  2. http://www.savethesantacruzaquifer.info/history%20in%20gv.htm
  3. Minerals Yearbook, 2006, V. 2, Area Reports, Domestic; U. S. Department of the Interior, p. 5-2
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