Pinto Valley Mine

The Pinto Valley Mine is a copper mine located in Gila county, Arizona at an elevation of 4,003 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

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MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: Pinto Valley Mine
Secondary: Pinto Valley
Secondary: Castle Dome Mine

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Gemstone
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Tertiary: Barium-Barite
Tertiary: Rhenium

Location

State: Arizona
County: Gila
District: Globe-Miami District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.

Holdings

Type: Other
Type: Located Claim
Type: Patented

Workings

Type: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: BHP Billiton Group
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: London, UK
Info Year: 2009
Years: 1999 -

Owner Name: Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd.
Home Office: Australia
Info Year: 1996
Years: 1996 - 1999

Owner Name: Magma Copper Co., Pinto Valley Div.
Company ID: 201049
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Arizona
Info Year: 1987

Production

Year: 2010
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2010. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/docs/productionReportYearEnded30June2010.pdf
Year: 2008
Material type: BHP Production Report for the year ending June 30, 2008. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/docs/productionReport30June2008.pdf
Year: 2009
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2009. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/docs/2009Q2ProductionReport.pdf
Year: 2007
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2007. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/060725BHPBProdRptQE30Jun06.pdf
Year: 2006
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2006. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/060725BHPBProdRptQE30Jun06.pdf
Year: 2005
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2005. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/BHPBProdnRpt28July2005.pdf
Year: 2004
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2004. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/June04ProductionReport.pdf
Year: 2003
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2003. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/NR2403ProductionReport24July2003.pdf
Year: 2002
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2002. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/NR43ProductionReport.pdf
Year: 2001
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2001. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/PRall.pdf
Year: 2000
Material type: BHP Production Report for year ending June 30, 2001. This report also contains 2000 information. http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/Reports/PRall.pdf
Year: 1994
Material type: Magma SEC 10-K for 1994. Pinto Valley only, does not include Miami leach operation, six miles away. http://sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/61425/0000061425-95-000002.txt
Year: 1993
Mined: 19627000.000 mt
Material type: Cu Recovered In Concentrates 65351 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 8358 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 19627000 Mtpy
Year: 1992
Mined: 20930000.000 mt
Material type: Ore Milled 20930000 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Concentrates 76232 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 8276 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 20930000 Mtpy
Year: 1991
Mined: 20555000.000 mt
Material type: Ore Milled 20556000 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Concentrates 66343 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 6890 Mtpy Mo Recovered In Concentrates 630 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 20555000 Mtpy
Year: 1990
Mined: 21265000.000 mt
Material type: Ore Milled 21273000 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Concentrates 73355 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 6381 Mtpy Mo Recovered In Concentrates 548 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 21265000 Mtpy
Year: 1989
Material type: Cu Recovered In Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 6175 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Concentrates 1470 Mtpy
Description: Cu Recovered In Concentrates 60369 Mtpy
Year: 1988
Mined: 20350000.000 mt
Material type: Ore Milled 20347000 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 20350000 Mtpy
Year: 1987
Mined: 19461000.000 mt
Material type: Ore Milled 19743000 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Concentrates 58230 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 6051 Mtpy Mo Recovered In Concentrates 363 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 19461000 Mtpy
Year: 1986
Mined: 19996200.000 mt
Material type: Ore Milled 17762700 Mtpy Cu Recovered In Concentrates 64928 Mtpy Mo Recovered In Concentrates 846 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined 19996200 Mtpy
Year: 1985
Mined: 18272500.000 mt
Material type: Cu Recovered From Ore 67987 Mtpy Cu Recovered Via Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 7206 Mtpy Mo Recovered From Ore 791 Mtpy
Description: Ore Mined And Milled 18272500 Mtpy
Year: 1984
Mined: 10206600.000 mt
Material type: Cu Recovered In Concentrates 37667 Mtpy Mo Recovered In Concentrates 174 Mtpy
Description: Ore Milled 10206600 Mtpy
Year: 1983
Description: Cu Recovered Via Waste Dumps Leach/Sx-Ew 6960 Mtpy
Year: 1983
Description: Mo Recovered From Ore Mtpy
Year: 1983
Description: Cu Recovered From Ore Mtpy
Year: 1983
Description: Ore Mined And Milled Mtpy
Year: 1982
Description: Total Ore Mined 8776110 Mtpy
Year: 1981
Description: Total Ore Mined 16772900 Mtpy
Year: 1980
Description: Total Ore Mined 10037500 Mtpy
Year: 1979
Description: Total Ore Mined 15633100 Mtpy
Year: 1978
Description: Total Ore Mined 14341700 Mtpy
Year: 1977
Description: Total Ore Mined 12247000 Mtpy
Year: 1976
Description: Total Ore Mined 14179800 Mtpy
Year: 1975
Description: Total Ore Mined 12606100 Mtpy
Year: 1974
Description: Total Ore Mined 5506960 Mtpy
Year: 1973
Description: Total Ore Mined 212690 Mtpy

Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Porphyry Cu-Mo
Operation Type: Surface
Mining Method: Open Pit
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1906
Discovery Year: 1881
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Basin And Range Province
Physiographic Section: Mexican Highland

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu

Orebody

Form: Massive

Structure

Type: L
Structure: NNW trending horst of quartz monzonite. Dome & Gold Gluch faults system

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Alteration phases zoned. silicification

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Hydrothermal Alteration: weak propylitic, clay, quartz-sericite

Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 64.000000+-
Age Young: Tertiary

Name: Diabase
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 64.000000+-
Age Young: Tertiary

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age in Years: 64.000000+-
Age Young: Tertiary

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Wulfenite
Ore: Turquoise
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Cuprite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Wavellite
Ore: Chalcanthite
Ore: Anglesite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Fluorite
Gangue: Gypsum
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Kaolinite
Gangue: Calcite
Unknown: Azurite

Comments

Comment (Workings): Open Pit-Have Mined The Top Of Porphyry Mountain; Early Development Was By Means Of Shafts And Tunnels Which Have Been Consumed By Pit Operations. In 1990, In-Situ And Dump Leach Operations.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Other Name: Castle Dome Includes: Sulfide Mill Ore 161,243,000 Mt @ 0.392% Cu Leach Ore Dumps 70,396,000 Mt @ 0.225% Cu Remaining On Dumps 395,809,000 Mt @ 0.12% Cu Slice 7/8 126,814,000 Mt @ 0.36% Cu Total 754,262,000 Mt @ 0.228% Cu

Comment (Reserve-Resource): The BHP 2009 annual report figures for reserves and resources are: low-grade leach - measured 15 Mt @ 0.2%Cu, indicated 58 Mt @ 0.19% Cu sulfide - measured 48 Mt @0.37% Cu, indicated 142 Mt 0.41% Cu sulfide stockpiles - measured 448 Mt 0.11% Cu http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/docs/annualReport2009.pdf

Comment (Geology): A Distinct Zoning Pattern.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): The Third Reserve Figures Is For Reserves Included In Magma'S Mine Plan For 1987-1997; The Fourth Figure Includes Additional Reserves Beyond Those Included In The Mine Plan.

Comment (Deposit): Turquoise Was Produced From The Oxidized Part Of The Deposit. Hypogene Mineralization Confined Pincipally To The Quartz Monzonit. Massive Chalcopyrite Associated With The Diabase Sills.

Comment (Development): 8 Patented Claims On Porphyry Mountain Held By Castle Dome Development Co From 1915-1924. Property Acquired By Pinto Valley Co Through Merger In 1924. Pinto Valley Acquired Adjacent Property Bringing The Total Number Of Claims At Porphyry Mountain To 37. Property Sold To Miami Copper Co In 1940 Who Incorporated It As Castle Dome Copper Company, A Wholly Owned Subsidiary Of Miami.

References

Reference (Deposit): WORLD MIN 9/75 (ENVIR.)

Reference (Workings): BROWN,C.T., 1983, VICE PRESIDENT, METALS WITH PINTO VALLEY

Reference (Reserve-Resource): MAGMA COPPER CO., 1993 10-K, P.17,18.

Reference (Workings): BANNING,W.R., 1983, METALLURGICAL SUPERINTENDENT WITH PINTO

Reference (Ownership): NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, 1983, NEWS RELEASE DATED MARCH

Reference (Reserve-Resource): MAGMA COPPER CO., 1994 10-K, P.19,20.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): MAGMA COPPER CO., 1992 10K, P.18.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): MAGMA COPPER CO. SEC FORM 10-K REPT. 12/31/92, P.18.

Reference (Ownership): WORLD MINING, 1983, NEWMONT BUYS MIAMI OPERATIONS, JANUARY

Reference (Workings): KENNEDY,A.D., 1983, MANAGER TECHNICAL SERVICES WITH PINTO

Reference (Deposit): _____. AUGUST 1979, P. 57. (1975-1978 PRODUCTION)

Reference (Deposit): WORLD MINING. SEPTEMBER 1983, P. 68. (1979-1982 PRODUCTION)

Reference (Deposit): ARIZONA DEPT. OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES. PRIMARY COPPER INDUSTRY OF ARIZONA SPECIAL REPORTS, NOS. 8-10 AND 13. (1983-1986 PRODUCTION)

Reference (Deposit): TRIP NOTES BY R BAER 10/20/77 (BLASTING, MINING, MINE EQUIP,

Reference (Deposit): SKIL 7/15/75 (LANDS, PREPROD., MOLY CONC. GRADE, DRILLING,

Reference (Deposit): SKILL 1/4/75 (BUILDING SIZES)

Reference (Deposit): SKILL 4/28/73 (WATER SUPPLY)

Reference (Deposit): SKILL 5/13/72 (CAPACITY, POWER)

Reference (Deposit): PETERSON,N P, ET AL, 1951, GEOLOGY & ORE DEPOSITS OF THE

Reference (Deposit): PAYDIRT 4/25/77 (CAPACITIES)

Reference (Deposit): E/MJ 7/75 (POWDER FACTOR, DRILLING, CUT-OFF GRADES)

Reference (Deposit): E/MJ 6/75 (MILL EQUIP LIST, REAGENT)

Reference (Deposit): CITIES SERVICE 1981 ANNUAL REPORT, P.49.

Reference (Deposit): BURGIN, L.B.,1976, TIME REQUIRED IN DEVELOPING SELECTED ARIZ

Reference (Deposit): PAYDIRT 6/75 (GEOL., PREPROD., DRILLING, MAINTENANCE)

Reference (Deposit): PAYDIRT 8/28/72 (MINING EQUIP.)

Reference (Deposit): MIN MAG 11/75 (GEOL., EXPLOR., WATER SUPPLY)

Reference (Deposit): MIN ENG 6/75 (GEOL.,EXPLOR.,PREPROD.,CONC. GRADE,CONC. PROD,

Reference (Deposit): E/MJ INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF MINING & MINERAL PROCESSING

Reference (Deposit): E/MJ 6/77 (TIRE LIFE, BUILDING SITES)

Reference (Deposit): ZABURUNOV, STEVEN A., MAGMA INDEPENDENCE: OLD RESOURCES, NEW

Reference (Deposit): PIO, JOHN, PINTO VALLEY SETS 9 PRODUCTION AND COST RECORDS

Reference (Deposit): ENVIROMET, CORPORATE PROFILE: MAGMA COPPER CO., 10/94, P.8.

Reference (Deposit): MAGMA COPPER CO., PINTO VALLEY DIV., COMPANY HANDOUT, DATE ?

Reference (Deposit): SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, MILL RECOVERIES AND EFFICIENCIES

Reference (Deposit): MAGMA COPPER CO., MAGMA UPDATE, 7/91, P.7.

Reference (Deposit): EPLER, BILL, PINTO VALLEY CLAIMS LARGEST- 25,000 GALLONS-

Reference (Reserve-Resource): SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.

Reference (Other Database): CIMRI

Reference (Production): PETERSON, 1962; ABM FILE DATA; SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.

Reference (Deposit): SAWYER, M.B., GURMENDI, A.C., DALEY, M.R., AND HOWELL, S.B., 1992, PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS OF STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MINERALS IN ARIZONA: UNITED STATES BUREAU OF MINES SPECIAL PUBLICATION, 334 P.

Reference (Deposit): PHILLIPS, K.A., 1987, ARIZONA INDUSTRIAL MINERALS: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES MINERAL REPORT 4, 185 P.

Reference (Deposit): _____. MESA QUADRANGLE (TOPOGRAPHIC MAP), ARIZONA. 1 DEG.

Reference (Deposit): WORLD MINING YEARBOOK, CATALOG, SURVEY, AND DIRECTORY NUM-

Reference (Deposit): PEIRCE, H.W., 1969, GEM MATERIALS, IN USGS, ABM, AND USBR, MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF ARIZONA: ABM BULLETIN 180, USGS BULLETIN 871, P. 359-364.

Reference (Deposit): PHILLIPS, K.A., BEARD, R.R., NIEMUTH, N.J., AND BARN, D.R., 1991, ACTIVE MINES IN ARIZONA--1992: AZ DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES DIRECTORY 39, 20 P.

Reference (Deposit): ABGMT-USBM FILE DATA.

Reference (Deposit): ABM FILE DATA.

Reference (Deposit): ABGMT CLIPPINGS FILE.

Reference (Deposit): PETERSON, ET AL, 1946, ECON GEOL V. 41, P. 820-840.

Reference (Deposit): PETERSON, N.P., GILBERT, C.M., AND QUICK, G.L., 1951, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF CASTLE DOME AREA, GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA: USGS BULL 971, 134 P.

Reference (Deposit): PETERSON, N.P., 1962, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GLOBE-MIAMI DISTRICT, ARIZONA: USGS PP 342, P. 88.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Anonymous, 1975, Pinto Valley?another major porphyry copper open pit for Arizona: Mining Magazine, v. 133, no. 5, p. 344?351.

Reference (Deposit): _____. INSPIRATION QUADRANGLE (TOPOGRAPHIC MAP), ARIZONA.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. GLOBE QUADRANGLE (TOPOGRAPHIC MAP),

Reference (Deposit): PETERSON, N. P. GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GLOBE-MIAMI

Reference (Deposit): MAGMA COPPER COMPANY, PINTO VALLEY DIVISION. PERSONAL COM-

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