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.

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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.

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

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

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

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Links: 

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