When did San Manuel mine close?
Daniel Santos
Updated on January 14, 2026
2003
Mining operations ended in 1999 due to the decline in mineable ore reserves, along with sinking copper prices from a high of $1.39 per pound in 1995 to 65 cents in 1999. The mine, closed in 2003, holds the distinction of being the largest open-pit reclamation project undertaken in Arizona history, completed in 2006.
What is the largest copper mine in Arizona?
Morenci mine
The Morenci Mine is a large copper mine located near Morenci, Arizona, United States. Morenci represents one of the largest copper reserves in the United States and in the world, having estimated reserves of 3.2 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.16% copper.
Do they still mine copper in Arizona?
After the Bingham Canyon mine in Utah successfully mined a large low-grade copper deposit from a large open pit, the same technique was applied to Arizona’s porphyry copper deposits. Arizona’s first open pit copper mine opened at Ajo in 1917….
| Copper mining in Arizona | |
|---|---|
| Employees | 10,300 |
| Year | 2007 |
Where is copper located in Arizona?
Arizona has two major types of copper deposits: Porphyry Copper in southern and central Arizona; and, the Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Copper of the United Verde Mine in Jerome of central Arizona. A third copper source includes copper of breccia pipes of the Breccia Pipe Province of northern Arizona.
Which state is largest producer of copper?
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh was the leading producer state of copper concentrates, accounting for about 53% of the production during 2017-18, followed by Rajasthan with 43% and Jharkhand with 4 percent.
Which state has the most copper?
Arizona
Arizona leads the country in copper production and is one of the primary sources of molybdenum as well.
Where is the largest copper mine in the US?
In that year, the largest copper mine in the United States was Morenci in Greenlee, Arizona. Morenci had a capacity of some 480,000 metric tons of copper that year….Leading United States copper mines based on capacity in 2015 (in 1,000 metric tons)
| Mine (County, State) | Capacity in thousand metric tons |
|---|---|
| – | – |
What is the largest copper mine in the world?
Escondida project
In the 2020 calendar year, its copper production measured 1.68 million tonnes. BHP jointly owns the world’s largest copper mine – the Escondida project in Chile – alongside partners Rio Tinto and JECO.
Why is there so much copper in Arizona?
Copper mines became more abundant in Arizona during the 20th century due to several factors, including the ability to exploit low-grade ore deposits (averaging less than one percent of copper) by the use of large-scale operations such as open-pit mining and the flotation process wherein copper minerals are separated …
Which is the richest state in minerals?
Option D is the correct answer because Jharkhand is the richest State of India from the point of view of minerals. Note: Coal, iron ore, Diamond, Natural gases, manganese ore, Bauxite, limestone and thorium are the major mineral resources of India. India’s rank on the basis of mineral production is fourth in the world.
When did EPA visit San Manuel copper mine?
As one of several site visits, EPA visited Magma Copper Company’s San Manuel Facility in San Manuel, Arizona on May 5 and 6, 1992. Sites to be visited were selected by EPA to represent both an array of mining industry sectors and different regional geographies.
Where are the Magma Copper Mines in Arizona?
Magma owns and operates three copper mines in southeastern Arizona: an underground copper sulfide mine and open pit copper oxide mine at San Manuel; an open pit copper sulfide mine at Pinto Valley; and an underground copper sulfide mine at Superior.
Who was the owner of the Magma Copper Company?
Like many mines throughout the west, the Magma Copper Company established a company-owned town for its employees. However, unlike other mining communities, which were established in a piecemeal fashion, Magma Copper Company enlisted the assistance of the Del E. Webb Construction Company and M.O.W. Homes Inc. to plan and build the entire community.
When did Magma Copper start exploring for copper?
The War Production Board in 1942 investigated for copper in the Mammoth area, and exploration drilling was undertaken at Red Hill in the San Manuel region by the U.S. Bureau of Mines from 1943 to 1945. In 1944, Magma consolidated and purchased the bulk of the San Manuel mineral claims, and began its own program of drilling and exploration.
