Cananea

Plant in Sonora, Mexico with commodities Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, Silver
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Land status
  13. Ownership information
  14. Production statistics
  15. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10279615
MRDS ID MX00002
MAS/MILS ID 2010490007
Record type Site
Current site name Cananea
Alternate or previous names Kino, Distrito Minero De Cananea, Colorado Veta
Related records 10048836, 10232623

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -110.30066, 30.95015 (WGS84)
Elevation 1600
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pima(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Mexico Sonora

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Molybdenum Secondary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Covellite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -110.30066, 30.95015

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 600M
    Length 3000M
    Width 2500M
    Area 1400HA
    Depth to top 10M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #2 DOMELIKE
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #3 PIPELIKE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control CONTACT ZONE
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 POTASSIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1400
    Date of Last Modification 800718

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1760
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1896
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Cananea District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Compania Mexicana De Cananea Sa
    Home office Mexico
    Year 1995
  • Type Owner
    Owner Mexico Desarrollo Industrial Minera (Medimsa)
    Interest 76.1
    Home office Mexico
    Year 1995
  • Type Owner
    Owner Acec-Union Miniere Sa
    Interest 21.2
    Home office Belgium
    Year 1995
    First year 1991
  • Type Owner
    Owner National Mineworkers Union
    Interest 2.7
    Home office Mexico
    Year 1993

Comments on the ownership information

  • ON NOV.15,1971 THE ANACONDA COMPANY WAS PAID US $48,000,000 FOR 51% OF THEIR 100% OWNERSHIP. THE ACTUAL ESTIMATED VALUE WAS REPORTED AT US $80,000,000. THE PURCHASE WAS PART OF THE MEXECANIZATION PROGRAM AFFECTING ALL MINERAL INDUSTRIES. SEPT76-RCO 153- DEBT SERVICE & TAXES $0.31 & $0.27 PER TON O MILLED
  • OPERATOR- MEXICANA DE CANANEA IS OWNED BY: MEXICO DESARROLLO INDUSTRIAL MINERA (MEDIMSA) 76.1% ACEC-UNION MINIERE SA 21.2% NATIONAL MINEWORKERS UNION 2.7% ASARCO INCORPORATED OWNS 31.2% OF MEDIMSA.

Production statistics

  • Year 1976
    Description 6329000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1977
    Description 6464000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1978
    Description 6904000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1979
    Description 6235000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1979
    Description The Copper Concentrate Produced In This 63492 Mt Copper Metal
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 63492mt
  • Year 1980
    Description 6781000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1981
    Description 7096000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1982
    Description 7017000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1983
    Description 4923000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1984
    Description 4476000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1985
    Description 5188000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1986
    Description 7581000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1987
    Description 18553000 Mt Mill Feed
  • Year 1988
    Description 27.2% Cu 444320 Mt Cu Conc
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 444320mt 27wt-pct
  • Year 1988
    Description .62% Cu 25455000 Mt Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Description 27.4% Cu 288280 Mt Cu Conc
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 288280mt 27wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Description .61% Cu 16637000 Mt Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1990
    Description 26.5% Cu 293800 Mt Cu Conc
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 293800mt 27wt-pct
  • Year 1990
    Description .50% Cu 19910000 Mt Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1991
    Description 32059 Mt Cathode Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 32059mt
  • Year 1991
    Description 40945 Mt Blister Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 40945mt
  • Year 1991
    Description 26.6% Cu 228331 Mt Cu Conc
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 27wt-pct
  • Year 1991
    Description .483% Cu 15191000 Mt Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 0wt-pct
  • Year 1992
    Description 25592 Mt Blister Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 25592mt
  • Year 1992
    Description 26.5% Cu 153383 Mt Cu Conc
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 27wt-pct
  • Year 1992
    Description .529% Cu 9585000 Mt Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1992
    Description 27940 Mt Cathode Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 27940mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Indicated 1850000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1850000000mt ore
    Total resources 1850000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.7 wt-pct Copper Major 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1985
    Measured 825000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 825000000mt ore
    Total resources 825000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.76 wt-pct Copper Major 1985
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Indicated 1670000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1670000000mt ore
    Total resources 1670000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.618 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Indicated 850000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 850000000mt ore
    Total resources 850000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.25 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 1212000000mt ore
    Total resources 1212000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.62 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 588000000mt ore
    Total resources 588000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.25 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 1800000000mt ore
    Total resources 1800000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.5 wt-pct Copper Major 1995

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • DEMONSTRATED RESERVES INCLUDE ONLY SULFIDE MILLING MATERIAL. LEACHABLE MATERIAL AMOUNTS TO 850 M @ .25% CU AS OF 12/31/92.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 1000HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 52
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 10
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 14
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 65
    Capacity 80000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 12000
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 310
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1987
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 1000HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 52
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 10
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 14
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 65
    Capacity 37000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 12000
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1980

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    METAL BULLETIN MONTHLY, APR. 1989, P

  • Reserve-Resource

    GRUPO INDUSTRIAL MINERA MEXICO 1992 ANNUAL REPORT,

  • Reserve-Resource

    P. 6,23,24.

  • Reserve-Resource

    E&MJ INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF MINING, 1985, P. 279, 280.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ASARCO INC., 1993 10-K, P.A15,A18,A19.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ASARCO INC., 1994 10-K, P.A18,A21,A22.

  • Deposit

    BARRENACION Y VOLADURA CON EXPLOSIVOS EN LAS OPERACIONES A

  • Deposit

    CIELO ABIERTO DE LA COMPANIA MINERA DE CANANEA,S.A.,

  • Deposit

    PP.1-61.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS,D.N.JR., CIA MINERA DE CANANEA S.A.'S PORPHYRY

  • Deposit

    TYPE COPPER OPERATION;SKILLINGS MNG.REV.,APR.22,1972.

  • Deposit

    WEED,ROBERT C., LEACHING PLANT AT CANANEA; ENG. AND MINING

  • Deposit

    JOURNAL,VOL.155, NO.4, PP.88-91.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, SEPT. 1978, PP.64-70.

  • Deposit

    GOLDER ASSOCIATES,DEPOSIT PROFILE REPORT,UNDER CONTRACT

  • Deposit

    WITH M.A.S.

  • Deposit

    ENG. AND MINING JOURNAL, JULY 1977, P.150.

  • Deposit

    PRIVATE REPORT,1973.

  • Deposit

    AVILA, JAVIER LOPEZ, CIRCUM PACIFIC ENERGY AND MINERAL

  • Deposit

    RESOURCES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PRINCIPAL CHARACTER-

  • Deposit

    ISTICS OF SOME PORPHYRY COPPER DEPOSITS IN SONORA,

  • Deposit

    MEXICO-SUMMARY, PP. 519-521.

  • Deposit

    VELASCO,J. RUBEN, GEOLOGY OF THE CANANEA DISTRICT: IN

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHRY COPPER DEPOSITS, TITLERY AND HICKS

  • Deposit

    EDS., UNIV. OF ARIZONA PRESS, 1966, PP.245-250.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, MAY 17, 1974.

  • Deposit

    CANANEA, MEXICO COPPER OPERATION - LORRAINE B. BURGIN,

  • Deposit

    NOVEMBER 15, 1982.

  • Deposit

    INTERNATIONAL MINING, CONSULTING CANANEA'S CONCENTRATOR

  • Deposit

    CONSTRUCTION, NOVEMBER 1987. PP.32-33.

  • Deposit

    LATIN AMERICAN MINING LETTER VOL 7, NO 8. APRIL 1988.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, A QUESTION OF AID. MARCH 4, 1983 P 141.

  • Deposit

    INTERMOUNTAIN PAY DIRT FOR MARCH 1983, COPPER STATES'S

  • Deposit

    CONGRESSMEN REFUSE TO LET CANANEA LOAN ISSUE IDE. P 18A -

  • Deposit

    19A.

  • Deposit

    INTER MT. PAY DIRT FOR APRIL 1983, CANANEA MANAGER GIVES

  • Deposit

    EXPANSION OF COPPER FACILITY. PG. 8B - 12B.

  • Deposit

    INTER MT. PAY DIRT FOR MAY 1983, WORLD BANK BACKS OF ON

  • Deposit

    CANANEA LOAN. PG. 1A-6A.

  • Deposit

    E&MJ, CANANEA'S MASTER PLAN FOR GROWTH. AUGUST 1983, PG.44 -

  • Deposit

    49.

  • Deposit

    LAML VOL 5, NO 9. JAPAN SEEKS MEXICAN CU CONCENTRATES TO

  • Deposit

    COVER SMELTER SHORTAGE. APRIL 8, 1986, P 2.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT FOR JULY 1988, MEXICAN GOVERNMENT

  • Deposit

    CALLS OFF CANANEA SALE TO PROVATE FIRM. PP 10A-12A.

  • Deposit

    PINCOCK, ALL & HOLT, INC., CANANEA. PP 4.9.1.- 4.9.4.

  • Deposit

    CIA. MINERA DE CANANEA, S.A., CANANEA. BY ING. JOSE SAGAON.

  • Deposit

    MARCH 1986.

  • Deposit

    TITLEY, SPENCER R., IN "ADVANCES IN GEOLOGY OF THE PORPHYRY

  • Deposit

    COPPER DEPOSITS-SOUTHWESTERN NORTH AMERICA", 1982,

  • Deposit

    UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS.

  • Deposit

    COMPANIA MINERA DE CANANEA, S.A. NEW CONCENTRATOR PROJECT.

  • Deposit

    MAY 1986.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK, CANANEA CU PRODUCTION FOR FIRST HALF OF 1992

  • Deposit

    BELOW TARGET DUE TO EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS, 6/15/92, P.6.

  • Deposit

    LOVATT, MELANIE, CANANEA MINE, SMELTER PROBLEMS PERSIST,

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 12/21/92, P.5.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, CANANEA DEFENDS ITS EXPANSION PLANS,

  • Deposit

    12/21/92, P.7.

  • Deposit

    LOVATT, MELANIE, MIXED FORTUNES FOR IMMSA'S BASE METALS

  • Deposit

    OPERATIONS, METAL BULLETIN MONTHLY, 2/93, P.28,29,31,33.

  • Deposit

    SOUTHWESTERN PAY DIRT, RECOVERY OF MOLY IN COPPER ORES BEGAN

  • Deposit

    AT CANANEA IN 1930'S, 9/93, P.7B.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 10/94, P.180.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit SAME AS USGS MRDS PROPERTY D000737, FILE LINK MMF

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-MAR-97 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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