Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Flotation
- Heap leach
- ROM/dump leach
- Concentrate leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Leaching & Solvent Extraction (SX)
|
Mine Life | 2043 |
The Morenci open-pit mine produces copper cathode and copper concentrate. In addition to copper, the Morenci mine also produces molybdenum concentrate. |
Source:
p. 9
Company | Interest | Ownership |
Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
|
72 %
|
Indirect
|
Freeport Minerals Corp.
(operator)
|
72 %
|
Indirect
|
The Morenci unincorporated joint venture is now owned 72 percent by FCX, 15 percent by Sumitomo Metal Mining Arizona Inc. (SMMAz is owned 80 percent by SMM and 20 percent by Sumitomo Corporation), and 13 percent by SMM Morenci Inc. that is fully owned by SMM.
Summary:
The Morenci mine is a porphyry copper deposit that has oxide, secondary sulfide and primary sulfide mineralization. The predominant oxide copper mineral is chrysocolla. Chalcocite is the most important secondary copper sulfide mineral, with chalcopyrite as the dominant primary copper sulfide.
Summary:
Morenci’s available mining fleet consists of one hundred and forty-one 236-metric ton haul trucks loaded by 13 shovels with bucket sizes ranging from 47 to 57 cubic meters, which are capable of moving an average of 815,000 metric tons of material per day.
Processing
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Flotation
- Heap leach
- ROM/dump leach
- Concentrate leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Leaching & Solvent Extraction (SX)
Source:
Summary:
The Morenci operation consists of two concentrators capable of milling 132,000 metric tons of ore per day, which produce copper and molybdenum concentrate; a 68,000 metric ton-per-day, crushed-ore leach pad and stacking system; a low-grade run-of-mine (ROM) leaching system; four SX plants; and three EW tank houses that produce copper cathode. Total EW tank house capacity is approximately 900 million pounds of copper per year.
Reserves at December 31, 2019:
Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Recoverable Metal |
Proven
|
Heap leach
|
419 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.42 %
|
|
Proven
|
ROM leach
|
2,229 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.16 %
|
|
Proven
|
Mill / Sulphide
|
767 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.39 %
|
|
Proven
|
Mill / Sulphide
|
767 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.02 %
|
|
Probable
|
Heap leach
|
119 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.39 %
|
|
Probable
|
ROM leach
|
729 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.16 %
|
|
Probable
|
Mill / Sulphide
|
172 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.36 %
|
|
Probable
|
Mill / Sulphide
|
172 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.02 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Heap leach
|
538 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.41 %
|
3.9 B lbs
|
Proven & Probable
|
ROM leach
|
2,958 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.16 %
|
4 B lbs
|
Proven & Probable
|
Mill / Sulphide
|
939 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.38 %
|
6.4 B lbs
|
Proven & Probable
|
Mill / Sulphide
|
939 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.02 %
|
0.19 B lbs
|
Financials:
| Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
351.4
|
971.8
|
867
|
Operating Income
|
M USD
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
640.3
|
775.3
|
645.9
|
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Heavy Mobile Equipment as of December 31, 2019:
HME Type | Size | Quantity |
Shovel
|
57 cu. m
|
13
|
Truck (haul)
|
236 t
|
141
|
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