The Morenci Copper Mine, operated by Phelps Dodge, is one of the largest open pit copper mines in the world. It annually produces 380,000 tons of copper and employs 2000 people. It originated as an underground mine but was converted to an open pit operation in 1937.
The pictures can only give you a general idea of the scale of the operation. The first picture gives you a good view of what is apparently the deepest part of the mine, but, in fact, is only a small area in a mining operation that reaches as far as the eye can see. Our viewpoint was from the southeastern rim of the excavation.
The second photo provides perspective of the size. The dragline and the mining truck which you can see in the center left of the picture are massive machines. The mine currently has 60 Caterpillar mine trucks, each of which is capable of carrying from 218 to 272 tons of ore.
The ore is blasted loose and hauled to an onsite crushing facility, which is capable of processing up to 63,500 tons each day. Copper is extracted using a leaching process with kerosene as the leaching agent.
Phelps Dodge has provided modular homes for company employees in Clifton.
Arizona 191 takes you out of Clifton, literally through the mine. Parts of the road have been relocated recently to facilitate mining of what was once the roadway. Scenic Hwy 191 continues northward to Alpine. It is one of the most beautiful, scenic drives we've come across on this trip. We highly recommend it if you have the opportunity and the time. For the most part it goes through miles of unspoiled, unsettled national forest area.
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