Arizona · Greenlee County
Producer

Morenci Mine

Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
CopperGoldSilverMolybdenumGemstoneREEZincUraniumLeadTalc-SoapstoneGypsum-AnhydriteGarnet
⌖ Show on mapUSGS source ↗
Commodities
PrimaryCopper
SecondaryGold, Silver, Molybdenum, Gemstone
TertiaryREE, Zinc, Uranium, Lead, Talc-Soapstone, Gypsum-Anhydrite, Garnet
Commodity typeM
Deposit
Deposit typePorphyry Cu-Mo
Model79: Porphyry Cu-Mo
WorkingsSurface/Underground
Orebody formELLIPTICAL
Ore controlNe Trending Fissures, Veining, Crackling
Materials
Ore mineralsChalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Andradite, Argentite, Molybdenite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Stromeyerite, Azurite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Covellite, Cuprite, Gold, Malachite, Galena
GangueAllophane, Alunite, Goethite, Gypsum, Hematite, Jarosite, Magnetite, Nontronite, Opal, Talc, Tremolite
Other materialsTenorite, Turquoise
Geology
Host rockQuartz Monzonite,Limestone · "Mulit-phase intrusions", "Coronado Quartzite; Longfellow Limestone; Morenci Limestone; Modoc Limestone and Pinkard Formation"
Associated rockGranite,Schist · "Granite-Granodiorite Complex ", "Pinal Schist"
Economic & production
Development statusProducer
First production1942
Discovery year1865
Identification
Deposit ID10282444
MRDS IDM002216
Alternate namesMorenci-Metcalf, Clay Ore Body
RegionNA
Data scoreA
Coordinates33.089, -109.35375
References
McDowell, F.W., 1971, K-Ar ages of igneous rocks from the western United States; Isochron/West: A Bulletin of Isotopic Geochronology, v. 2, p. 1-16.Holick, P.A., and Wood, S.A., 1999, Fluid-inclusion study of the Morenci porphyry copper deposit, Arizona; metal content of the ore-forming brine (abs.): Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 31, no. 7, p. 404.BUTLER & WILSON, 1938, ABM BULL. 145, P. 72-80.LANGTON, 1971, AIME TRANS., V. 254, P. 247-257.LINDGREN, 1905, USGS PROF PAPER 43.PHILIPS AND OTHERS, 1990.PEIRCE, H.W., 1990, ARIZONA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY INDUSTRIAL MINERAL CARD FILES.TITLEY AND HICKS, 1966, GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICA, P. 221-231.BLAIR, GERRY, 1992, THE ROCKHOUND'S GUIDE TO ARIZONA: HELENA, MONTANA, FALCON PRESS, 165 P.PHILLIPS, K.A., 1987, ARIZONA INDUSTRIAL MINERALS: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES MINERAL REPORT 4, 185 P.PAYDIRT, 1981, PHELPS DODGE, A COPPER CENTENNIAL, 1881-1981. 192 P.PHELPS DODGE TODAY, 1979, AUGUST, V.1, NO. 1 (MOLY PLANT).PHELPS DODGE TODAY, 1980, SEPTEMBER, V.2, NO. 3 (NEW FLOT.COST)U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, 1979, CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTPHELPS DODGE HAS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT. E&MJ AUG. 1987, PP. 24-31.PAY DIRT JAN 1986 P19A AND DEC. 1987 PP4A&5A.PHELPS DODGE 1986 ANNUAL REPORT EINAUDI, MARCO T., IN "ADVANCES IN GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS-SOUTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICA", 1982, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS, P.168,169.WALENGA, KAREN, SX-EW PRODUCTION DOUBLED TO 200 MILLION 25PPY, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 4/90, P.4A-6A.PHELPS DODGE CORP., NEWS RELEASE, 12/19/90, 2PP.EPLER, BILL, PHELPS DODGE FINDS 150 MILLION MORE TONS OF ORE AT MORENCI, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 1/91, P.3A.EPLER, BILL, PHELPS DODGE RELOCATES HIGHWAY AT MORENCI MINE, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 7/91, P.4A-6A.DILLARD, GARY, FOUR MAJOR OREBODIES WILL SHOULDER THE LOAD, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 11/91, P.4A-14A.CARTER, RUSSELL A., EXPANSION ALMOST COMPLETE AT ARIZONA'S MISSION AND MORENCI MINES, ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 2/92, C14-C16.DILLARD, GARY, HEFTY CRAWLER RIG MOVES 3,000 TONS OF PARTS, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 3/92, P.4A-9A.DILLARD, GARY, PD HITTING A MILLION POUNDS A DAY OF ELECTRO- WON, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 7/92, P.4A-8A.MINING RECORD, 8/5/92, P.3.METAL BULLETIN MONTHLY, 8/92, P.47.DOWALL, WILLIAM M., AND LINDE, TERRY B., MORENCI'S IN-PIT CRUSHING AND CONVEYING SYSTEM, MINING ENGINEERING, 3/93, P.257-262DILLARD, GARY, PHELPS DODGE IS CONTEMPLATING SX-EW EXPANSION AT MORENCI, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 5/94, P.3A,8A.PHELPS DODGE CORP, NEWS RELEASE, 6/9/94, P.1.METALS WEEK, 6/13/94, P.1,5.CANEY, DEREK J., PD SETS $200M FOR MINE EXPANSION, AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 6/14/94, P.16.SKILLINGS', 6/18/94, P.11.MINING RECORD, 6/22/94, P.1.SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 7/94, P.3A.RHOADES, DAVID, TWO NEW P&H 40-YARDERS HELP BOOST PRODUCTION, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 7/94, P.5A-7A.SNIDER, T.R., MORENCI SOUTHSIDE WILL ADD 150 MILLION POUNDS OF CATHODE, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 8/94, P.3A.DILLARD, GARY, CHALLENGES OF 2 SAFFORD PROJECTS APPEAR WITHOUT STANDING, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 2/95, P.9A,10A.MINING RECORD, V 106/N 28, 7/12/95, P.8.The Metals Economics Group website has a page covering the Morenci mine. http://www.metalseconomics.com/Enders M S, Knickerbocker C, Titley S R and Southam G, 2006 - The Role of Bacteria in the Supergene Environment of the Morenci Porphyry Copper Deposit, Greenlee County, Arizona : in Econ. Geol. v101 pp 59-70.Melchiorre E B, Enders M S 2003 - Stable isotope geochemistry of Copper Carbonates at the Northwest Extension deposit, Morenci district, Arizona: implications for conditions of supergene oxidation and related mineralization: in Econ. Geol. v98 pp 607-621Moolick R T, Durek J J 1966 - The Morenci district: in Titley S R, Hicks C L 1966 Geology of the Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southwestern North America University of Arizona Press, Tucson pp 221-231.TITLEY,S.R.,HICKS,C.L.,1966; GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS SOUTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICALANGTON,J.M.,2/72;ORE GENSIS IN THE MORENCI-METCALF DISTRICT AIME TRANSACTIONS VOL 254 9/73Enders, M.S., Titley, S. R. and Hertle, M. P., 1997, Thick supergene enrichment blankets - lessons from the Morenci District, Arizona; Mining Engineering, vol. 49, no. 11, Supplement, 62 p.Einaudi, M.T., 1982, Description of skarns associated with porphyry copper plutons, in Titley, S.R., ed., Advances in geology of the porphyry copper deposits, southwestern North America: Tucson, University of Arizona Press, p. 139-183.Enders, M.S., 2000, The evolution of supergene enrichment in the Morenci porphyry copper deposit, Greenlee County, Arizona: Tucson, University of Arizona, Ph.D. dissertation, 517 p.Enders, M.S., Knickerbocker, C., Titley, S.R., and Southam, G., 2006, The role of bacteria in the supergene environment of the Morenci porphyry copper deposit, Greenlee County, Arizona: Economic Geology, v. 101, p. 59-70.Melchiorre, E.B., and Enders, M.S., 2003, Stable isotope geochemistry of copper carbonates at the northwest expension deposit, Morenci district, Arizona: indications of conditions of supergene oxidation and related mineralization: Economic Geology, v. 98, p. 607?621.The Porter GeoConsultancy website has a webpage covering the Morenci mine. http://www.portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn741CIMRIFreeport-McMoRan 2008 Form 10-KSinger, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C., 2008, Porphyry copper deposits of the world: database and grade and tonnage models, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155, 45 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1155/PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1993 FORM 10-K, P.12.PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1994 FORM 10-K, P.12,14.PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, P.14.PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, P.22.PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1995 FORM 10-K.GREELEY, 1976, P. 86; 1990 ESTIMATE FROM PHILIPS AND OTHERS, 1990.