Pinto Valley Mine

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

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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

Name: Pinto Valley Mine

State: Arizona

County: Gila

Elevation: 4,003 Feet (1,220 Meters)

Primary Mineral: Copper

Lat, Long: 33.4122, -110.96390

Satelite image of the Pinto Valley Mine

Pinto Valley Mine MRDS details

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

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

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

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 Type: Workings	Comment: 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 Type: Reserve-Resource	Comment: 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 Type: Reserve-Resource	Comment: 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 Type: Geology	Comment: A Distinct Zoning Pattern.
Comment Type: Reserve-Resource	Comment: 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 Type: Deposit	Comment: 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 Type: Development	Comment: 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 Category: Deposit	Reference: WORLD MIN 9/75 (ENVIR.)
Reference Category: Workings	Reference: BROWN,C.T., 1983, VICE PRESIDENT, METALS WITH PINTO VALLEY
Reference Category: Reserve-Resource	Reference: MAGMA COPPER CO., 1993 10-K, P.17,18.
Reference Category: Workings	Reference: BANNING,W.R., 1983, METALLURGICAL SUPERINTENDENT WITH PINTO
Reference Category: Ownership	Reference: NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, 1983, NEWS RELEASE DATED MARCH
Reference Category: Reserve-Resource	Reference: MAGMA COPPER CO., 1994 10-K, P.19,20.
Reference Category: Reserve-Resource	Reference: MAGMA COPPER CO., 1992 10K, P.18.
Reference Category: Reserve-Resource	Reference: MAGMA COPPER CO. SEC FORM 10-K REPT. 12/31/92, P.18.
Reference Category: Ownership	Reference: WORLD MINING, 1983, NEWMONT BUYS MIAMI OPERATIONS, JANUARY
Reference Category: Workings	Reference: KENNEDY,A.D., 1983, MANAGER TECHNICAL SERVICES WITH PINTO
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: _____. AUGUST 1979, P. 57. (1975-1978 PRODUCTION)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: WORLD MINING. SEPTEMBER 1983, P. 68. (1979-1982 PRODUCTION)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: ARIZONA DEPT. OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES. PRIMARY COPPER INDUSTRY OF ARIZONA SPECIAL REPORTS, NOS. 8-10 AND 13. (1983-1986 PRODUCTION)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: TRIP NOTES BY R BAER 10/20/77 (BLASTING, MINING, MINE EQUIP,
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: SKIL 7/15/75 (LANDS, PREPROD., MOLY CONC. GRADE, DRILLING,
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: SKILL 1/4/75 (BUILDING SIZES)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: SKILL 4/28/73 (WATER SUPPLY)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: SKILL 5/13/72 (CAPACITY, POWER)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PETERSON,N P, ET AL, 1951, GEOLOGY & ORE DEPOSITS OF THE
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PAYDIRT 4/25/77 (CAPACITIES)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: E/MJ 7/75 (POWDER FACTOR, DRILLING, CUT-OFF GRADES)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: E/MJ 6/75 (MILL EQUIP LIST, REAGENT)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: CITIES SERVICE 1981 ANNUAL REPORT, P.49.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: BURGIN, L.B.,1976, TIME REQUIRED IN DEVELOPING SELECTED ARIZ
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PAYDIRT 6/75 (GEOL., PREPROD., DRILLING, MAINTENANCE)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PAYDIRT 8/28/72 (MINING EQUIP.)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: MIN MAG 11/75 (GEOL., EXPLOR., WATER SUPPLY)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: MIN ENG 6/75 (GEOL.,EXPLOR.,PREPROD.,CONC. GRADE,CONC. PROD,
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: E/MJ INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF MINING & MINERAL PROCESSING
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: E/MJ 6/77 (TIRE LIFE, BUILDING SITES)
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: ZABURUNOV, STEVEN A., MAGMA INDEPENDENCE: OLD RESOURCES, NEW
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PIO, JOHN, PINTO VALLEY SETS 9 PRODUCTION AND COST RECORDS
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: ENVIROMET, CORPORATE PROFILE: MAGMA COPPER CO., 10/94, P.8.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: MAGMA COPPER CO., PINTO VALLEY DIV., COMPANY HANDOUT, DATE ?
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, MILL RECOVERIES AND EFFICIENCIES
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: MAGMA COPPER CO., MAGMA UPDATE, 7/91, P.7.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: EPLER, BILL, PINTO VALLEY CLAIMS LARGEST- 25,000 GALLONS-
Reference Category: Reserve-Resource	Reference: SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.
Reference Category: Other Database	Reference: CIMRI
Reference Category: Production	Reference: PETERSON, 1962; ABM FILE DATA; SAWYER AND OTHERS, 1992.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: 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 Category: Deposit	Reference: PHILLIPS, K.A., 1987, ARIZONA INDUSTRIAL MINERALS: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND MINERAL RESOURCES MINERAL REPORT 4, 185 P.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: _____. MESA QUADRANGLE (TOPOGRAPHIC MAP), ARIZONA. 1 DEG.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: WORLD MINING YEARBOOK, CATALOG, SURVEY, AND DIRECTORY NUM-
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: 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 Category: Deposit	Reference: 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 Category: Deposit	Reference: ABGMT-USBM FILE DATA.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: ABM FILE DATA.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: ABGMT CLIPPINGS FILE.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PETERSON, ET AL, 1946, ECON GEOL V. 41, P. 820-840.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: 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 Category: Deposit	Reference: PETERSON, N.P., 1962, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GLOBE-MIAMI DISTRICT, ARIZONA: USGS PP 342, P. 88.
Reference Category: Reserve-Resource	Reference: Anonymous, 1975, Pinto Valley?another major porphyry copper open pit for Arizona: Mining Magazine, v. 133, no. 5, p. 344?351.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: _____. INSPIRATION QUADRANGLE (TOPOGRAPHIC MAP), ARIZONA.
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. GLOBE QUADRANGLE (TOPOGRAPHIC MAP),
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: PETERSON, N. P. GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE GLOBE-MIAMI
Reference Category: Deposit	Reference: MAGMA COPPER COMPANY, PINTO VALLEY DIVISION. PERSONAL COM-