Safford mine explained

The Safford Mine is an open-pit copper mine located in Graham County, Arizona, eight miles (13 km) north of the city of Safford. The mine is owned and operated by Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold.

Construction on the Safford mine began in mid-2006. Production began December 26, 2007, with full production starting in 2008.[1] It is the first new large-scale copper mining project in Arizona in more than 30 years.[2] In September 2005, as part of the deal, Phelps Dodge (which was subsequently purchased by Freeport-McMoran) transferred 3867acres of "environmentally sensitive" land to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and purchased from the BLM 16297acres located next to the site of the mine.[3]

The mine composes two porphyry copper deposits (the San Juan and Dos Pobres copper ore bodies) that have leachable oxide and secondary sulfide mineralization. Freeport-McMoran estimates that it will remove 205 to 240 million pounds of copper from the deposits annually between 2008 and 2011.[4]

In 2016, copper production at Safford was 230 million pounds. In 2017, copper production was 150 million pounds, and approximately 830 people were employed there. [5]

Geography and facilities

The area where the mine is located is at an average elevation of 4186feet.

The mine is served by a branch of the Arizona Eastern Railway.

See also

External links

32.9472°N -109.6509°W

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fcx.com/envir/pdf/health-safety/safford/safford_mine.pdf "Safford Mine Tops 5 Million Pounds of Copper in First Month"
  2. http://www.house.gov/list/press/az01_renzi/RenziSaffordLandExchange.html "Renzi Pleased to See Safford Land Exchange Completed"
  3. Stockton, Lindsey. "Officials glad land exchange is complete"Eastern Arizona Courier – September 28, 2005
  4. http://www.fcx.com/operations/USA_Safford.htm Safford Mine
  5. http://www.freeportinarizona.com/our-company/az-operations/safford/ Safford Mine