top of page
Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20
Morenci Mine Arial View

Morenci Mine Arial View

Morenci Mine Leaching Area May 18 1994

Morenci Mine Leaching Area May 18 1994

Photo from the Copper Era Newspaper May, 18, 1994.

Morenci Smelter Stacks - Copper Era  (1)

Morenci Smelter Stacks - Copper Era (1)

Photo from the Copper Era with three historical smelter stacks now gone. Article from around the mid 1990's.

Morneci Mine Marshaling ore cars - Coppe

Morneci Mine Marshaling ore cars - Coppe

Photo from the Copper Era - Article from around the mid 1990's.

Morenci 1901 - Hal Gilliland - Facebook

Morenci 1901 - Hal Gilliland - Facebook

Chase Creek - Larry Goodner - Facebook

Chase Creek - Larry Goodner - Facebook

Circa 1910. Photo by Oliver Risdon. Chase Creek, Clifton, AZ.

Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20

Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20

Freeport MacMoRan is the current owner/operator of the Morenci Mine since merging with Phelps Dodge in March of 2007.

Morenci Concentrator

Morenci Concentrator

Morenci Concentrator 1942

Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20

Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20

View of main processing buildings at the Morenci Mine.

Morenci Mine

Morenci Mine

Old Mining Truck Dumping Load at Morenci Mine

Haul Truck

Haul Truck

Haul truck running at the Morenci Mine September 24, 2020

Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20

Freeport Mac-Mo-Ran Morenci Mine 9-24-20

Old abandon structure at the Morenci mine.

Morenci Mine Map c1990

Morenci Mine Map c1990

Morenci Mine Conveyor

Morenci Mine Conveyor

Conveyor over Hwy 191 Just Past Concentration Plant 9-24-20

Morenci Mine  - Greenlee County

 

Where: Greenlee County - Morenci

 

Travel Conditions: Paved Road (Highway 191)

 

Operation Dates:  First report of copper in the area was 1863.  Prospectors looking for gold starting working in the area around 1865.  TBD - Present (See also Metcalf Mine)

 

Description:  Morenci Mine is located in Greenlee county and is the largest copper producer in the United States and second largest producer to a mine located in Chile.  The mine is currently operated by Freeport-McMoRan which merged with Phelps Dodge who previously operated the Morenci Mine.  The mine has been in continuous operation since 1939 with previous workings being underground.

What you will see today:  Traveling through Morneci on highway 191 you will pass by the processing plant which has changed over the years which at one time included two large smoke stacks which have been demolished.

Comments:  On November 16, 1996 the smelter stacks at the Morenci mine were demolished. 

Minerals Mined: Main production is copper with minor production of gold and silver.

Acknowledgement: Freeport-McMoRan (https://fcx.com/operations/north-america), Copper Era Newspaper,

Links: 

Demolition of the Morenci Mine Smoke Stacks (November 16, 1996)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6LpohZTLX0

bottom of page