Freeport Mine Shut Down in Indonesia

The Indonesia government has ordered the Freeport Grasberg mine to halt production while it investigates recent fatal accidents.

PT Freeport Indonesia’s Big Gossan underground training facility collapsed on May 14, kiling 28 workers. A truck driver at the mine died on Saturday, a day after  he was injured when liquid ore flowed into his vehicle.

The mine produces around 220,000 tons of ore a day.

Copper Theft Ring Arrested for Stealing Raw Copper from ASARCO

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has announced that a multi-million dollar copper theft ring has been broken up.

The Department of Public Safety began investigating the ring after a traffic stop of a semi-truck in September. The truck was carrying nearly $180,000 worth of raw copper stolen from the ASARCO mine in Hayden.

During the criminal investigation, DPS determined that several ASARCO employees helped steal the raw copper. Others drove the raw copper loads to heavy metal recyclers in both Arizona and California. The heavy metal recyclers would purchase the stolen copper from them at a fraction of the commodity price and then resell it to Chinese importers at a profit.

The defendants face 10 criminal counts including conspiracy, money laundering and theft involving nearly $10 million in stolen raw copper from ASARCO.

Free Showing of Mining Documentary

The documentary “So Dear to the Miners” will be shown at the Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum on Saturday, March 23 at 11:am.

This film was produced by Miami native Sam Munoz. Munoz is a retired educator now living in Tempe.

The documentary focuses on the stories of immigrant groups that came to our region from all over the world to find a new and better life. People of all backgrounds came together to create the mining district story.

Everyone is invited to attend this showing free of charge.

Arizona's Mineral Potential Ranks High in Survey of Best and Worst Places for Mining

The  new Frazer Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies ranks Arizona 15^th in the world in its assessment of our current mineral potential. That’s up from 31^st last year.

Three US states are in the top 10 jurisdictions in terms of public policy factors that encourage or discourage investment. They are Wyoming, Nevada and Utah.

The Arizona Geology blog reports that Arizona ranks 28^th out of 96 jurisdictions worldwide in how mining companies rank “public policy factors such as taxation and regulation affect exploration investment."

Arizona is 40^th in “regulatory duplication and inconsistencies.” 

The full report is available here.

Video Shows Legacy of Arizona Copper Mining

A new video on the legacy of copper mining and Arizona is on the Arizona Experience You Tube channel.

The Arizona Geological Society staff on the Arizona Experience project produced the video with post-production help and narration by Freeport McMoRan.

'Mining Rocks' This Saturday at Bullion Plaza

The Mining Rocks celebration runs from Noon to 5:pm Saturday in the park in front of Bullion Plaza.

The event includes entertainment, arts and crafts, games and mining displays. The Bullion Plaza has completed several rennovations and it will be open to the public.

Arizona Mining Job Market Continues to Flourish

A story in Sunday’s Arizona Daily Star  reports that Arizona’s mining job market continues to flourish.

The report on Freeport McMoRan and Asarco shows that both companies have more people on their payroll than they did a year ago.  They are also looking to hire more workers than they were a year ago.

Freeport MxcMoRan currently employs about 7,800 people in Arizona, about 700 more than a year ago.

Asarco employs about 2,400 people in Arizona, 40 more than a year ago.

Asarco has about 140 vanancies today, up from 100 a year ago. Freeport has about 570 vacancies, up from nearly 500 a year ago.

Freeport McMoRan estimates that its Arizona operations had a direct and indirect economic impact of  $2.1 billion in 2010.

Freeport to Pay $6.8 Million Damages

Freeport-McMoRan has agreed to pay nearly $7 million to settle federal and state natural resource damage claims involving the Morenci copper mine.

State authorities and federal prosecutors filed a complaint on April 24 that Freeport-McMoRan was liable for injuries to natural resources that resulted from hazardous substance releases.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Freeport has agreed to pay $6.8 million to the Interior Department’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund. The consent decree is subject to a 30 day comment period and court approval.

BHP and Freeport Among 10 'Most Controversial' Mining Companies

An analysis of news media and other public criticism of mining companies lists BHP Billiton as the 4th most “controversial” mining company in the world. Freeport McMoRan is number 5 and Rio Tinto is number 6.

Alpha Natural Resources ranked number one.

The Arizona Geology blog reports that the Swiss-based RepRisk Index “monitors the level of criticism to which a company is exposed.” The Index is used by the world’s leading financial institutions to manage financial, enterprise reputation and compliance risk.

RepRisk says Freeport McMoRan faced allegations of human rights abuses, particularly in Papua New Guinea where its subsidiary was accused of perpetuating the abuse of workers by paying police to guard its mine. The company was also accused of contaminating water bodies with heavy metals from mine tailings. RepRisk also noted that Freeport got a lot of bad press during the 3-month strike of miners in Indonesia.

BHP has been criticized for the forced relocation of communities, the destruction of traditional livelihoods and human rights abuses. The company has also been associated with occupational health and safety issues.

Bloomburg reports that Rio Tinto was one of two companies that were so heavily criticized last year that activists disrupted their Annual General Meetings. Activists called on Rio Tinto and the British mining group Vedanta to stop alleged human rights abuses and to improve environmental impacts. Those companies and several others—including BHP Billiton—were all impacted by alleged links with corruption, bribery, extortion and money laundering during 2011.

For more information click here and here.

Technical Report Concludes Significant Uranium at Workman Creek Project

Uranium Energy Corp. says that the company has received an independednt technical report for the Workman Creek Project in Gila County that reports an inferred mineral resource of 5.5 million pounds.

The Workman Creek Project consists of 180 unpatentef mining claims covering 3,600 acres. It is located in a remote area of the Dripping Springs Mining District abot 30 miles north of Miami.

The authors of the technical report concluded that geological similarities and historic mining activity show excellent potential for significant uranium mineralization.

'Mining Rocks' Saturday at Bullion Plaza

"Mining Rocks 2011" will be held Saturday from 1 to 5:pm at the Bullion Plaza. There will be mining displays and equipment, exhibits, food and crafts booths, and entertainment.

Resolution Land Swap Passes Committee

A bill to clear the way for the Resolution Copper mine near Superior was approved yesterday (Wednesday) by the House Natural Resources Committee.

The Arizona Republic reports that the 26 to 19 vote was along party lines. The full House may vote on the measure before the August recess.

The bill would authorize a federal land exchange giving Resolution Copper about 2400 acres in the Oak Flats area of the Tonto National Forest in return for more than 5,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land around the state.

The bill’s sponsor is 1st District Representative Paul Gosar who is on the Natural Resources Committee. But another Arizona Repreesentative Raul Grijalva opposes the bill. He is also on the Natural Resources Committee. Grijalva says the bill threatens sacred Apache lands and could endanger the area’s water supply. Gosar says the mine would bring jobs and revenue to Arizona.

Magma Mine Reclamation Projects

Resolution Copper says it is proceeding with voluntary reclamation on the old Magma Mine outside Superior.

In its quarterly newsletter, the company says it is re-contouring the landscape to improve drainage and water collection. The company is also covering tailings and rock piles with three feet of rock and soil. After that they will hydro-seed the area with a mixture of mulch, fertilizer, water, seeds from native vegetation and a bonding agent. When the vegetation takes hold, this will prevent erosion and keep moisture away from old mining waste.

Resolution also reported on treatment of water from the historic Magma Mine shaft. The water is being treated, tested and then transported through a 27 mile pipeline to the New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District, where it is blended with Central Arizona Project water to irrigate 5,000 acres of Arizona farmland. Resolution says that to date they have delivered more than 1.6 billion gallons of water.

You'll find more details here.

(Via Arizona Geology)

Gosar Introduces Land Exchange Bill

The Arizona Geology blog reports that 1st District Congressman Paul Gosar has introduced legislation in the US House to effect the land exchange needed by Resolution Copper to develop its underground mine near Superior. Gosar’s two predecessors—Ann Kirkpatrick and Rick Renzi—also pushed for similar legislation.

Renzi was indicted for his involvement in related land deals and the bill was tainted by association.

The Hill newspaper says that one of the main differneces between Gosar’s bill and Kirkpatrick’s bill is that Gosar’s bill requires an environmental impact study after the land is given to Resolution Copper rather than before.

Mining and Mineral Museum Closes

The Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum in Phoenix was shut down over the weekend. The closure came about a month earlier than expected in order to convert into the Arizona Experience Museum which will be part of the Arizona Centennial celebration. It will reopen in the fall of 2012.

The Arizona Geology blog says the Flagg Foundation and others who have minerals on loan to the museum began removing them last week to prepare for the remodeling.

For more information check out Dick Zimmerman's Mineral Museum Madness blog.

Old Dominion Park and Mining Rocks Festival

A formal dedication program for the Old Dominion Historic Mine Park will take place Saturday at Noon. The park is not quite ready for a full opening but you’ll be able to see the amenities, interpretive signage and several hiking trails.

The Mining Rocks Festival follows the dedication from 1 to 5:pm. Exhibits from mining companies, community agencies, food booths and games are planned. Several of the walking trails will be open and you can either walk the trails yourself or be part of a guided walking tour.

There is no admission charge.

Apache Leap Mining Festival this Weekend in Superior

The 23rd Annual Apache Leap Mining Festival takes place this weekend in Superior.

Saturday’s events start at 10:am with a parade and opening ceremonies followed by a carnival and food booths, along with entertainment and the mining competition.

Sunday’s festivities start at 10:am and include a Junior Mining Competition for youth 10 to 17.

For more information call the Superior Chamber of Commerce at 520-689-0200.

Arizona Ranked High By Mining Companies

An annual survey of 3,000 mining-related companies around the world ranks Arizona as the fifth most hospitable policy climate for mining in the US. Arizona ranks 25th worldwide. The survey was conducted by the Fraser Institute.

The Arizona Geology blog reports that Arizona ranks high in favorable tax structure, infrastructure, community development and trade barriers. Arizona ranks very high in labor relations and labor supply.

Asarco May Expand Arizona Mining Operations

The union representing Asarco copper miners says that rising metal prices in the world market will probably lead to expansion at 2 Arizona mines.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the union official told the energy and mining publication Platts that the two most likely mines to expand operations are the Ray mines and the Mission Mine south of Tucson.

Asarco had no comment and the Star’s calls to the United Steel Workers were not returned.

Copper prices bottomed at $1.33 a pound in 2008 but have recently topped $4. Some experts predict that shortages could drive up copper prices to $5 a pound.

Blogger Says Museum Bill Should Be Repealed

Yesterday KIKO News reported that the Arizona Mines and Mineral Resources Department is closing down because it has run out of money. Tempe engineer Dick Zimmerman says that actually Governor Brewer starved the department to death by transfering most of its budget to the Arizona Historical Society.

Last year Zimmerman started a weblog to tell the story of the threat to the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum, which was tranferred to the Arizona Historical Society. He says the Arizona Historical Society has consistently been given bad reviews by the Auditor General but still received a budget increase of more than $2 million.

Zimmerman says the top rated Mining and Mineral Resources Museum collection and its earth science programs appear to be threatened and the mineral collection is now under the control of an organization that doesn’t have appropriate scientific credentials. His ultimate goal is to repeal the bill that reassigned the Arizona mineral collection to the Arizona Historical Society.

For more information visit the Mineral Museum Madness website.