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Tyrone

Producer in Grant county in New Mexico, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver, Zinc, Lead, Fluorine-Fluorite, Gemstone, Molybdenum, Uranium, Vanadium
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Alteration
  9. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Mineral rights holdings
  18. Land status
  19. Ownership information
  20. Production statistics
  21. Reserves and resources
  22. Links to other databases
  23. Bibliographic references
  24. General comments
  25. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10174772
MRDS ID D007835
MAS/MILS ID 0350170015
Record type Deposit
Current site name Tyrone
Alternate or previous names Includes A Number of Older Underground Mines: Gettysburg, Copper Gulf, Rocket, Niagra, Mowhawk, Sampson, McKinley, St. Louis, Boston, Virginia, Klondike, Valencia, Emerald
Related records 10012285

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -108.37312, 32.63622 (WGS84)
Elevation 1975
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Grant(county)

New Mexico(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Tyrone(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Silver City(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Silver City(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Mimbres(hydrologic unit)

Mimbres(hydrologic accounting unit)

Rio Grande-Mimbres(hydrologic subregion)

Rio Grande(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States New Mexico Grant

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
New Mexico 019 S 015 W 22,23,24,25,26,27 C New Mexico

Comments on the location information

  • Geodetic Location Is For The Approximate Center Of The Open Pit Area.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Primary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Secondary
Lead Secondary
Fluorine-Fluorite Critical Secondary
Gemstone Secondary
Molybdenum Tertiary
Uranium Tertiary
Vanadium Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Presence Of Torbernite Suspected Due To Radioactivity Recorded In Some Drill Holes.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Cuprite Ore
Malachite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Bornite Ore
Brochantite Ore
Chalcanthite Ore
Copper Ore
Fluorite Ore
Libethenite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Tenorite Ore
Turquoise Ore
Hematite Gangue
Jarosite Gangue
Limonite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Azurite Unknown
Gold Unknown
Silver Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) Alteration Products: Sericite, Quartz,

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 53
USGS model code 17
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu
Mark3 model number 4

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
    Rock type qualifier medium to coarse grained containing large grains of orthoclase or plagioclase , and abundant irregular grains of quartz. Biotite is not common, and hornblende is minor. Accessory minerals sphene, zircon, tourmaline, apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, rutile
    Rock unit name Burro Mountain Batholith
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mesoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite > Diabase
    Rock type qualifier dikes
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mesoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Intermediate Volcanic Rock > Andesite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Rock type qualifier multi-phase quartz-monzonite porphyry series of intrusions
    Rock unit name Tyrone Stock; Stage I Porphyry; Stage ll Porphyry; Stage lll Breccia; Stage lV Porphyry
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Eocene
    Stratigraphic age (oldest) Paleocene

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -108.37312, 32.63622
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Five Northeast Trending Zones Of Closely Spaced Fractures Are Also Zones Of
Type of structure Regional
Structure name NW-SE Mangas Fault, NE-SW Burro Chief Fault , E-W Racket-Virginia Fault

Ore body information

  • Depth to top 84M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Primary mode of Origin OTHER
    Date of Last Modification 830310
  • Area 1700HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1700
    Date of Last Modification 910418
  • Length 4827.9M
    Width 3218.6M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Regional Faulting and local fractures

Comments on the geologic information

  • The Ore Body Consists Of A Supergene Blanket Of Erratic Chalcocite Mineralization Which May Vary From A Few To Over 300 Ft. In Thickness.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1871
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1879
Year of last production 1981
Plant type Leach
Milling method Leach-Solvent-Extract-Electrowin
Production years 1879, 1881-1882, 1902-1912, 1916-1949, 1967-

Mining district

District name Burro Mountains District: Tyrone Subdistrict

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Phelps Dodge Corp.
    ID 2900159
    Home office P.O. Drawer B, Tyrone, N.M. 88065
    Year 1995
    First year 1981
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Freeport-McMoRan
    Interest 100
    Home office P.O. Box 571 Tyrone, NM 88065 (575) 538-5331
    Year 2009
    First year 2007

Comments on the ownership information

  • Tyrone Sx-Ew Plant Owned And Operated By Burro Chief Copper Co (100% Owned By Phelps-Dodge) Started Plant In April 1984. 1981-1987 Production Taken From Phelps Dodge Annual Reports 1981-1987. Corporate Headquarters Address: Phelps Dodge Corp. 2600 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, Az 85004 Mine Address: Tyrone Mine Tyrone, Nm 88065 Burro Chief Copper Co. Operates Both The Sx-Ew Plants At Chino And Tyrone.

Production statistics

  • Year 1930
    Period 1906-1930
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
    Primary Ore Silver Silver 2wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 5000 Mt Cu Prod Frm Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 5000mt
  • Year 1980
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.71% Cu 14968000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 77800 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 77800mt
  • Year 1981
    Description 4100 Mt Cu Prod Frm Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 4100mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.73% Cu 13445000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description 70200 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 70200mt
  • Year 1982
    Description 3500 Mt Cu Prod Frm Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3500mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.70% Cu Closed 4/82 3397000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 17600 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 17600mt
  • Year 1983
    Description 3100 Mt Cu Prod Frm Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3100mt
  • Year 1983
    Description 37700 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 37700mt
  • Year 1983
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.78% Cu Opened 5/83 7824000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description Burro Chief Sx-Ew Plt Started Op In 4/84 10300 Mt Cu Prod From Sx-Ew Plt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 10300mt
  • Year 1984
    Description 67800 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 68700MT
  • Year 1984
    Description 2300 Mt Cu Prod Frm Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2300mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.77% Cu 12948000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 18600 Mt Cu Prod Frm Sx-Ew Plt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 18600mt
  • Year 1985
    Description 5700 Mt Cu Prod Frm Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 5700mt
  • Year 1985
    Description 108100 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 108100mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.89% Cu 16022000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 32100 Mt Cu Prod Frm Sx-Ew Plt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 32100mt
  • Year 1986
    Description 105200 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 105200mt
  • Year 1986
    Description 7200 Mt Cu Prod From Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 7200mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined: 0.86% Cu 16257000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 8000 Mt Prod From Leach Ppt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 8000mt
  • Year 1987
    Description 36000 Mt Cu Prod From Sx-Ew Plt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 36000mt
  • Year 1987
    Description 96000 Mt Cu Prod From Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 96000mt
  • Year 1987
    Description Grade Of Ore Mined 0.88% Cu 15564000 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1993 10K.
    Ore mined 63881000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 138800mt
  • Year 1990
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1993 10K.
    Ore mined 76370000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 144500mt
  • Year 1991
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1993 10K.
    Ore mined 83953000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 110800mt
  • Year 1992
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1993 10K.
    Ore mined 29399000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 71400mt
  • Year 1992
    Period 1969-1992
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1993
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1993 10K.
    Ore mined 44803000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 72100mt
  • Year 1993
    Period 1972-1993
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
  • Year 1994
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 56306000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 62500mt
  • Year 1995
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 76145000mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 67800mt
  • Year 1996
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 93382000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 72304mt
  • Year 1997
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 97882000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 71850mt
  • Year 1998
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 98302000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 74900mt
  • Year 1999
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2003 10K.
    Ore mined 102895000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 72700mt
  • Year 2000
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2003 10K.
    Ore mined 103362000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 71900mt
  • Year 2001
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2003 10K.
    Ore mined 67123000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 69300mt
  • Year 2002
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2003 10K.
    Ore mined 41291000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 63400mt
  • Year 2003
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2003 10K.
    Ore mined 14804000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 51600mt
  • Year 2004
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2006 10K, p. 13-14.
    Ore mined 1494000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 39100mt
  • Year 2005
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2006 10K, p. 13-14.
    Ore mined 26163000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 36700mt
  • Year 2006
    Material Material mined. Phelps Dodge 2006 10K, p. 13-14.
    Ore mined 20098000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 28800mt
  • Year 2007
    Material Freeport-McMoRan 2010 10K, p. 23.
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 23000mt
  • Year 2008
    Material Freeport-McMoRan 2010 10K, p. 23.
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 34000mt
  • Year 2009
    Material Freeport-McMoRan 2010 10K, p. 23.
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 39000mt
  • Year 2010
    Material Freeport-McMoRan 2010 10K, p. 23.
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 37000mt

Comments on the production information

  • Tyrone Sx-Ew Plant Owned And Operated By Burro Chief Copper Co (100% Owned By Phelps-Dodge) Started Plant In April 1984. 1981-1987 Production Taken From Phelps Dodge Annual Reports 1981-1987.
  • (1) Ore Milled During Underground Operations. Excludes About 54,000 St Direct Shipping Ores Mined From 1904 To 1949. (2) Ore Milled During Open Pit Operations. (3) Ore Delivered To Leach Stockpiles. Stockpiled Ore Is Part Of 1.3 Billion St "Waste" Mined From 1967 - 1991.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 2010
    Reserves 166000000mt
    Remarks Freeport-McMoRan 2010 10K, p. 33.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 0.28 wt-pct Copper Primary 2010
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1966
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.78 wt-pct Copper Primary 1966
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Measured 148200000mt ore
    Demonstrated 148200000mt ore
    Total resources 148200000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.31 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 208800000mt ore
    Total resources 208800000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.35 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1969
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.8 wt-pct Copper Primary 1969
    Vanadium V2O5 3 wt-pct Vanadium Tertiary 1969
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Inferred 84000000mt ore
    Total resources 84000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.37 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.77 wt-pct Copper Primary 1989
    Uranium U3O8 0.25 wt-pct Uranium Tertiary 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.33 wt-pct Copper Primary 1992
    Vanadium V2O5 2 wt-pct Vanadium Tertiary 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 154800000mt ore
    Total resources 154800000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.36 wt-pct Copper Major 1996

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • The Quant-Grade Matrix Is Leachable Reserves. Grade Is In Terms Of Acid-Soluble Grade.
  • As Of March 1992, The Sulfide Concentrator Closed Due To Deple- Tion Of Sulfide Reserves. Mine Is Still Mining Leach Ore And Processing At Sx-Ew Plant.
  • (1) Initial Open Pit Reserve, Mill Ore; (2) Another Estimate Of Initial Open Pit Reserve, Mill Ore; (3) Final Estimate Open Pit Reserve, Mill Ore, Since Exhausted; (4) Leach Ore. Reserves Of Leach Ore Not Yet (1994) Fully Delineated.

Comments on the workings information

  • Mine Consists Of One Large Open Pit Which Is A Consolidation Of The West Racket, Gettysburg, Main, And Copper Mountain Pits. By 1978 Most Of The Old Underground Workings Had Been Destroyed By Development Of The Open Pit.

Comments on development

  • Work, Later Merging To Form The Savannah Copper Co. (2577 Ac) Which Was Acquired By Phelps Dodge In 1916. In 1906 Briggs Oliver Development Co Optioned The Burro Chief Group From Thomas Parker, Was Suceeded By The Tyrone Copper Co. And Then The Chemung Copper Co. (953 Ac) Which Was Acquired By Phelps Dodge In 1912. Having Consolidated Control Of The Major Chalcocite Vein Properties, Phelps Dodge Developed A 1400 Tpd Mine And Mill From 1913 To 1916 And Operated The Mine From 1916 To 1921. Leach Operations, Producing Cement Copper Continued To 1928 When Leach Plant Was Dismantled. Intermittent Development And Production By Company And Leasers Ceased In 1949. From 1949 To 1958. Phelps Dodge Delineated The Supergene Enrichment Blanket Orebody By Drilling 720 Churn Drill Holes On 200 Ft Centers Over An Area 8400 Ft East-West By 9400 Ft North-South For A Total Footage Of 434,000 Ft To A Maximum Of 1000 Ft Depth. During That Time Phelps Dodge Acquired Property Of The Azure Mining Co.
  • Turquoise Mined By Native Americans. John E. Coleman Located First Copper And Turquoise Claims In 1869. St. Louis Claim Located 1879 By James Bullard, John Swisshelm, And J.W. Fleming Then Sold To Val Verde Copper Co. Oxide Surface Ores, Smelted In A 5o Tpd Reverbatory Furnace Located In Dead Man Gulch, Were Quickly Exhausted. A 500 Ft Shaft Cut The Tabular St. Louis Chalcocite Orebody. About The Same Time The Alessandro Copper Co. Attempted To Leach Oxide Ores From Claims 3 Miles East Of The St. Louis And Another Smelter At Oak Grove Ran For A Short Time. The Val Verde Copper Co. Was Subsequently Absorbed Into The Southwestern Copper Co. Which Later Acquired The Sampson And Other Properties. In 1901 The Burro Mountain Copper Co. Took Over The Southwestern Copper Co. And Built The Leopold Mill. The Burro Mountain Property (1000 Ac) Was Optioned By Phelps Dodge In 1904 And Acquired In 1906. Around 1905 The Comanche Mining And Smelting Co. And Copper Gulf Development Co. Began And The American Gem And Turquoise Co. Stripping Began May 1, 1967, Mill Operations Began In 1969, And Leach Operations Began In 1972. Mill Operated Continuously Until February, 1992 When Reserves Of Mill Ore Were Exhausted. Mill Subsequently Dismantled Except For One 15,000 Tpd Section Retained For Treatment Of Mill Ore Which May Become Available During Mining Of Recently Delineated Leach Ores. A Sx/Ew Plant Of 14,000 Tpd Capacity Was Installed In 1984. A Fourth Expansion In 1992 Brought Capacity To 70,000 Tpd. Additional Drilling From 1991 Continues To Delineate More Leach Ore Reserves.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Ownership

    Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. "Mining Reclamation in New Mexico. Retrieved March 18, 2009, from http://www.fcx.com/envir/pdf/brochure/reclamation_NewMexico.pdf

  • Geology

    KOLESSAR, JOSEPH. GEOLOGY AND COPPER DEPOSITS OF THE TYRONE DISTRICT, GUIDEBOOK, 21ST FIELD CONFERENCE, ENTITLED TYRONE-BIG HATCHET MOUNTAINS-FLORIDA MOUNTAINS REGION, NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 1970.

  • Geology

    KOLESSAR, JOSEPH, THE TYRONE COPPER DEPOSIT, IN ADVANCES IN GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS- SOUTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICA, 1982, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS, P.327-333.

  • Geology

    Duhamel, J.E., Cook, S.S., and Kolessar, J., 1995, Geology of the Tyrone porphyry copper deposit, New Mexico, in Pierce, F.W., and Bolm, J.G., eds., Porphyry copper deposits of the American Cordillera: Tucson, Arizona Geological Society Digest 20, p. 464-

  • Geology

    North, R.M., and McLemore, V.T., 1988, A classification of the precious metal deposits of New Mexico, in Schafer, R.W., Cooper, J.J., and Vikre, P.G., eds., Bulk mineable precious metal deposits of the western United States: Reno, Nevada Geological Societ

  • Production

    DAMAN, A.C., PHELPS DODGE TYRONE CONCENTRATOR, DECO TREFOIL, FALL ISSUE, 1971, BULLETIN NO M4-B144.

  • Deposit

    FIELD VISIT BY KEITH R. LONG, USGS, 10/1994

  • Deposit

    STEGEN, R.J., 1994, GEOLOGIC TOUR OF THE TYRONE MINE: PHELPS DIDGE MINING CO., UNPUBLISHED REPORT, 6 P.

  • Production

    PHELPS DODGE CORP., CRUSHING PLANT EQUIPMENT AND FLOWSHEET.

  • Production

    PHELPS DODGE CORP,GRINDING & ROUGHER FLOTATION EQUIP.& FLWST

  • Deposit

    NMBMMR GENERAL FILE DATA

  • Production

    PHELPS DODGE CORP, CLEANING, SCAVENGING AND DEWATERING EQUIPMENT & FLOWSHEET.

  • Deposit

    SIEMERS, W.T., AND AUSTIN, G.S., 1979 NMBMMR RESOURCE MAP 9

  • Reserve-Resource

    PHELPS DODGE CORP., ANNUAL REPORTS 1966,1976-78.

  • Deposit

    HEDLUND, D.C., 1978 USGS MAPS MF-1031, MF-1037, MF-1040, MF-1041

  • Reserve-Resource

    WORLD MINING, OCT., 1975, V 28, NO 11, P 74-RESERVES 1/1/75.

  • Deposit

    WILLIAMS, F.E., 1966 USBM IC-8307, P. 64

  • Reserve-Resource

    PHELPS DODGE CORP. SEC FORM 10-K REPORT, DEC 31, 1993, P. 12

  • Deposit

    LONG, K.R., 1994, PRODUCTION AND RESERVES OF CORDILLERAN PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS, IN BOLM, J.G., AND PIERCE, F.W., EDS., BOOTPRINTS ALONG THE CORDILLERA: ARIZ. GEOL. SOC. DIGEST 21.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1994 FORM 10-K, P.12.

  • Deposit

    KOLESSAR, J., 1982, THE TYRONE COPPER DEPOSITS, GRANT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, IN TITLEY, S.R., ED., ADVANCES IN GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS: TUCSON, UNIV. ARIZONA PRESS, P. 327-333.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, P.15.

  • Deposit

    GILLERMAN, E., 1952 USGS BULL 973-F, P. 261-289

  • Reserve-Resource

    PHELPS DODGE CORP., 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P.22.

  • Deposit

    PAIGE, S., 1922 USGS PP 122, 53 PAGES

  • Deposit

    LINDGREN, W., GRATON, L.C., AND GORDON, C.H., 1910 USGS PP 68, P. 321-324

  • Production

    (1,2) LONG, 1994; (3) STEGEN, 1994.

  • Deposit

    JONES, F.A., 1904 NEW MEXICO MINES AND MINERALS, THE NEW MEXICAN PRINTING CO., P. 55-57

  • Deposit

    BIGGER MEANS BETTER. PHELPS DODGE TODAY, V.1,NO.2, DEC 1979

  • Deposit

    'MINER' MIRACLE. PHELPS DODGE TODAY, JUNE 1982, PP. 6-7.

  • Deposit

    PHELPS DODGE. 10-K REPORT, P.2, 1980.

  • Deposit

    PHELPS DODGE. 1980 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 9.

  • Deposit

    SUCCESSFUL RECLAMATION OF TYRONE TAILINGS SPILL. PHELPS DODGE TODAY, V.4 NO. 1, MARCH 1982.

  • Deposit

    TYRONE BRANCH TAILINGS DAM FAILS. PHELPS DODGE TODAY, V.2, NO.4, DECEMBER 1980, P.7.

  • Deposit

    TYRONE DRILLING AND BLASTING DEPARTMENT. PHELPS DODGE TODAY, V.3, NO. 1, MARCH 1981, PP. 8,9.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING. MORENCI IS LARGEST AND HIGHEST GRADE PHELPS DODGE OREBODY OCTOBER 1975, V. 28, NO. 11, P. 74.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING. SEPTEMBER 1982, P. 70.

  • Deposit

    DOUBLED SX-EW COPPER PLANT AT TYRONE IS NOW IN PRODUCTION, SW PAY DIRT, JAN 1986, P. 6A.

  • Deposit

    PHELPS DODGE HAS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT, BY D. ELLINGSON, E&MJ, AUG 1987, PP. 24-32.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, STUDY PROJECTS GRANT COUNTY LOSSES WHEN TYRONE MINE CLOSES, 5/90, P.12A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, FIRMS PROMOTING NEW MEXICO COPPER SITE NEXT TO TYRONE MINE, 8/90, P.14A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, OLD CHINO TRUCKS MOVE TO TYRONE, 2/91, P.11A.

  • Deposit

    PHELPS DODGE CORP., NEWS RELEASE, 10/24/91, 2PP.

  • Deposit

    DILLARD, GARY, TYRONE MILL CLOSING, BUT MINING AND LEACHING TO CONTINUE, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 11/91, P.3A.

  • Deposit

    MINING RECORD, PHELPS TO SUSPEND CONCENTRATOR OPERATIONS, 11/6/91, P.5.

  • Deposit

    DILLARD, GARY, TYRONE CONCENTRATOR SHUTS DOWN AS MILL-GRADE ORE RUNS OUT, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 3/92, P.10A.

  • Deposit

    DILLARD, GARY, PD HITTING A MILLION POUNDS A DAY OF ELECTROWON, SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 7/92, P.4A-8A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 10/95, P.4A-10A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, 6/95, P.4A-10A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT.APRIL, 1995. P. 7A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT.DIPATCH CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPED AT TYRONE. JUNE, 1995. PP.4A-10A.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT. EARLY MINE FAILURE COULD ADD 4 MORE YEARS. OCTOBER, 1995. PP. 4A-10A.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Deposits Occur In A Highly Fractured Disseminated Copper Porphyry Stock. Numerous Fracture Fillings And Veinlets Were Mined Underground Prior To Open Pit Operations. Protore Consists Of Quartz-Sericite-Pyrite-Chalcopyrite Stockwork Veinlets With Very Little Bornite And Grades Of 0.05 To 0.15% Cu. Multiple Stages Of Primary Copper Veinlets Are Hosted By Precambrian Granite, Cretaceous Andesite, And Four Stages Of Eeocene Quartz Monzonite Porphyry. The Chalcocite Enrichment Blanket, Up To 500 Ft Thick, Had Grades Of 0.8 To 1.0% Cu. Chalcocite Replaces Pyrite And Chalcopyrite. Enrichment Blanket Is Overlain By A Hemetitic Leached Capping Up To 500 Ft Thick. Oxide Ore In Leached Blanket In Copper Mountain Pit Consists Of Chrysocolla-Malachite-Azurite Veinlets, Coatings, And Rare Disseminations Grading 0.06 To 0.60% Cu. Secondary Enrichment Occured At 45 Ma (Eeo). About 350 Million St Of 0.2 To 0.4% Cu Protore Was Enriched To About 0.8% Cu. Enriched Blanket Was Subsequently Offset By Nne Trending Faults. Additional Concentration Of Chalcocite Occured Along These Nne Trendings Faults And Fractures At 19.5 Ma. These Formed Tabular Bodies Of Chalcocite Ore Averaging 2 To 3% Cu Of Which At Least 20 Were Partly Mined Out By Old Underground Workings. All Mineralization Cut By Unrelated Mio? Fluorite Veins. (Duhamel and others, 1995)
Deposit 30% covered. Two stages of supergene enrichment 19.2?16.2 Ma and 8.7?4.6 Ma.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 23-SEP-97 BJR U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-AUG-81 Menzie, David New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources
Updater 01-DEC-94 Long, Keith R. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusActive since 05/03/2016
MSHA mine ID2900159
Mine name (MSHA)TYRONE MINE
Current operatorFreeport-McMoRan Tyrone Inc
Current controller (parent)Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • Phelps Dodge Corp. — acquired by Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Acquired by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold in 2007 in what was then the largest mining-industry deal ever (~US$26 B).

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

External references

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