Mining Intelligence and Sales Leads
United States

Morenci Mine

Click for more information
Australia

Morenci Mine

Location: 44 km NE from Safford, Arizona, United States

Address:

4521 U.S. Highway 191
Morenci
Arizona, United States
85540

Contacts:

Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors

Categories

Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Molybdenum
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotMorenci Copper Mine is the highest production copper mine in the United States and third-most in the world.

Large-scale Morenci minerals district in Arizona is an open-pit copper and molybdenum mining complex.

The Morenci operation consists of two concentrators; a 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.

Current projects focus on improving water management and operational efficiency. The Reed Lake Project now targets construction of a new reservoir, replacing the earlier plan to recommission the Columbine Reservoir, which reduces permitting timelines and community impacts. Remote crusher operation has been introduced, supported by technology upgrades that enhance safety and performance.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
SMM Morenci Inc. 13 % Indirect
Sumitomo Metal Mining Arizona Inc. 15 % Indirect
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. 72 % Indirect
Freeport Minerals Corp. (operator) 72 % Direct
The Morenci mine is an unincorporated joint venture owned 72% by Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX), with the remaining 28% owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Arizona, Inc. (15%) and SMM Morenci, Inc. (13%). Each partner takes in kind its share of Morenci’s production. FCX is the operator of the joint venture and holds registered title to the mineral claims.

Contractors

Lock

- subscription is required.

SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Porphyry

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.

Deposit Geology
The mineral deposits of the Morenci district consist of copper oxide, secondary sulfide, and primary sulfide mineralization associated with a large porphyry copper system. Geologic studies indicate a complex series of Tertiary igneous intrusive rocks were emplaced within Precambrian-age granite and overlying Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary. A porphyry copper deposit formed and was associated with the emplacement and crystallization of intrusive rocks. Several cycles of leaching and enrichment of the primary sulfides formed the secondary sulfide enrichment blanket and copper oxide zones currently being mined. Mineralization spans approximately 5 miles in a north-south direction and 4 miles in an east-west direction.

Alteration and Mineralization
Primary hypogene mineralization is associated with emplacement of Laramide-age granodiorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dike swarms intruded into Precambrian granite and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Quartz-sericite-sulfide alteration and attendant copper-molybdenum mineralization is temporally and spatially associated with the emplacement and cooling of these intrusions. Low-grade hypogene copper mineralization is manifested as quartz-sericite alteration with pyrite-chalcopyrite-molybdenite stockwork veins that overprinted early quartz-orthoclase and biotite vein assemblages.

The style and sequence of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization in the Morenci district can be characterized from vein mineral assemblages and crosscutting relationships. As in many other well-studied porphyry copper systems (Nielsen, 1968; Phillips, Gambell and Fountain, 1974; Beane and Titley, 1981), alteration and vein assemblages in the Morenci ore body appear to vary systematically from potassic alteration near the core and deep within the deposit to sericite-dominated alteration in the upper and central portions. A propylitic zone is present in the fringes of the deposit. Crosscutting relationships among veins associated with these discrete alteration assemblages reflect the evolution of fluids responsible for copper-molybdenum mineralization. Key characteristics of hypogene mineralization are that the potassicrelated assemblages are sulfide poor and do not contain significant amounts of copper and the later sericite dominant assemblages contain the bulk of the copper, principally as chalcopyrite.

The supergene zone characteristically displays a massive white appearance reflecting pervasive argillic alteration. Textural destruction is commonly so intense that even coarsegrained granitic textures are obscured, making field identification of lithological units difficult.

Anhydrous skarns containing garnet, diopside, wollastonite, marble and hornfels, and hydrous skarns containing tremolite-actinolite, chlorite, epidote, and magnetite developed where the Laramide porphyries intruded Paleozoic sedimentary units.

Most ore mined from the Morenci district and carried in the current operation is the product of supergene oxidation and enrichment processes. Long-lived multiple supergene cycles resulted in an enriched zone localized in the ancestral Chase Creek Canyon. In supergene sulfide zones, chalcocite occurs as thick coatings and complete replacements of pyrite and chalcopyrite.

The form and distribution of supergene mineral assemblages is largely a function of the physical character of the ore body and the nature of the climate and the hydrologic setting at the time of formation. Faults and fractures provide conduits for infiltration of supergene solutions into the host rocks. Supergene profiles typically mirror the current topographic surface. Enrichment and oxidation zones are generally thicker in valleys and thinner at ridge tops.

The predominant oxide copper mineral is chrysocolla. Chalcocite is the most important secondary copper sulfide mineral, and chalcopyrite and molybdenite are the dominant primary sulfide minerals.

Reserves

Lock

- subscription is required.

Mining Methods

Lock

- subscription is required.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Lock

- subscription is required.

EV - Electric

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Lock

- subscription is required.

Processing

Lock

- subscription is required.

Commodity Production

CommodityProductUnits20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Copper Metal M lbs  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,0001,0001,0001,1001,060
Molybdenum Metal in concentrate M lbs  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe5912158

Operational metrics

Metrics20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Daily ore mining rate  ....  Subscribe
Daily mining capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe815,000 t815,000 t815,000 t815,000 t815,000 t
Daily milling capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe132,000 t of ore (in concentrator)115,000 t of ore (in concentrator)115,000 t of ore (in concentrator)115,000 t of ore (in concentrator)115,000 t of ore (in concentrator)
Daily processing capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe68,000 t of ore (in heap leach)68,000 t of ore (in heap leach)68,000 t of ore (in heap leach)
Daily processing capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe900 M lbs of copper cathode900 M lbs of copper cathode900 M lbs of copper cathode900 M lbs of copper cathode900 M lbs of copper cathode
Stripping ratio  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Mine Financials

Units202520242023202220212020
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Operating Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Book Value M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 18, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 23, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 18, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 18, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 18, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 18, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 18, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 23, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 23, 2026
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Feb 23, 2026

Workforce

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2025
...... Subscription required 2024
...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required 2015
...... Subscription required 2014

Aerial view:

Lock

- subscription is required.