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Ray Mine

Producer in Pinal county in Arizona, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver, Molybdenum, Lead, Zinc
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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. Workings at the site
  23. Links to other databases
  24. Bibliographic references
  25. General comments
  26. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10210616
MRDS ID M000327
MAS/MILS ID 0040210006
Record type Deposit
Current site name Ray Mine
Alternate or previous names Pearl Handle Pit, El Paso, Hayden

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -110.99236, 33.18315 (WGS84)
Elevation 671
Location accuracy 10(meters)
Relative position BETWEEN TOWNS OF RAY AND SONORA; 75 MI ESE OF PHOENIX; 70 MI N OF TUCSON.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Pinal(county)

Arizona(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Hot Tamale Peak(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Globe(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Mesa(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Middle Gila(hydrologic unit)

Middle Gila(hydrologic accounting unit)

Middle Gila(hydrologic subregion)

Lower Colorado(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Arizona Pinal

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Gila and Salt River 003 S 013 E 09,15,16,10,11,14 SE4 (09) OF NE4 (16) OF S2 (10) OF N2 (15) Arizona

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Silver Secondary
Molybdenum Tertiary
Lead Tertiary
Zinc Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Brochantite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Copper Ore
Covellite Ore
Cuprite Ore
Galena Ore
Malachite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Silver Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Anhydrite Gangue
Calcite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Tennantite Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) Sericite, K-Feldspar, Biotite, Propyllitic, Biotite-Clay, Chlorite-Epidote

Analytical data

Result PRIMARY CU AS CHALCOPYRITE AVERAGES 0.1-0.2% IN PINAL & GRANITE MTN PORPH. AND MORE THAN 0.4% IN DIABAS

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 79
USGS model code 21a
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu-Mo
Mark3 model number 2

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Rock unit name Granite Mountain Porphyry
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite > Diabase
    Rock type qualifier sills
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mesoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Schist
    Rock type qualifier quartzose and quartz-mica schists
    Rock unit name Apache Group and the over-faulted older Pinal Schists
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Mesoproterozoic

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -110.99236, 33.18315
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Broken Hill Fault, West End Fault, North End Fault And Numerous Others

Ore body information

  • General form horse-shoe shaped, concentric and symmetrical
    blanket
    Thickness 400M
    Length 3200M
    Width 2400M
    Area 7824HA
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control OTHER
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 PROPYLITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 7824
    Date of Last Modification 890322

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Intersection Of Nw & Ne Fault Zones, Permeability & Type Of Host Rock.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1846
Discoverer The Army Of The West
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1911
Milling method Flotation
Production years 1911-1966; 1981-1986, 1986-2006

Mining district

District name Mineral Creek District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
    ID 200150
    Interest 100
    Home office New York
    Year 1991
  • Type Unknown
    Owner Kennecott
    Year 1986
    First year 1955

Production statistics

  • Year 1966
    Period 1911-1966
    Ore mined 170100000mt
    Accuracy Estimate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Minor Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Minor Ore Silver Silver 1g/mt
  • Year 1971
    Period 1911-1971
    Material CU
    Accuracy Estimate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1971
    Material Cu
    Accuracy Estimate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor Gold Gold 1g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Description Total Ore Mined 9545490 Mt/Y
  • Year 1978
    Description Total Ore Mined 10542600 Mt/Y
  • Year 1979
    Description Total Ore Mined 12883800 Mt/Y
  • Year 1980
    Description Total Ore Mined 9945890 Mt/Y
  • Year 1981
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore 357 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 357mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Cu Recovered In Precipitate 11697 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 11697mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 91110 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 91110mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Ore Mined 13440000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1982
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore 21 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 21mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Cu Recovered In Precipitate 10169 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major PPT Copper Copper 10169mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 34845 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 34845mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Ore Mined 4343000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1983
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore Mt/Y
  • Year 1983
    Description Ore Mined 2689000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1983
    Description Cu Recovered In Precipitate 9087 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major PPT Copper Copper 9087mt
  • Year 1983
    Description Cu Recovered In Concentrate 24568 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 24568mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore Mt/Y
  • Year 1984
    Description Cu Recovered In Precipitate 9279 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major PPT Copper Copper 9279mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Cu Recovrd. In Concentrates-Direct Sales 79176 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 79179mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Ore Mined 10665000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1985
    Description Cu Recovered Via Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 246 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 246mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore Mt/Y
  • Year 1985
    Description Cu Recovered Via Heap Leach/Cementation 2322 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2322mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Cu Recovered Via Dump Leach/Cementation 8431 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 8431mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Cu Recovered In Concentrates Sold 67248 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 67248mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Ore Mined 11442000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1986
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore Mt/Y
  • Year 1986
    Description Cu Recovered Via Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 17664 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 17664mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 64971 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 64971mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Cu Recovered Via Dump Leach/Cementation 8027 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 8027mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Ore Mined 9874000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1987
    Description Mo Recovered From Ore Mt/Y
  • Year 1987
    Description Cu Recovered Via Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 22378 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 22378mt
  • Year 1987
    Description Cu Recovered Via Dump Leach/Sx-Ew 6374 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6374mt
  • Year 1987
    Description Cu Recovered Via Dump Leach/Cementation 2339 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2339mt
  • Year 1987
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 65682 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 65682mt
  • Year 1987
    Description Ore Mined 10859000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1988
    Description Cu Recovered From Dump Leach/Sx-Ew 8827 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 8827mt
  • Year 1988
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 71278 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 71278mt
  • Year 1988
    Description Cu Recovered From Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 26004 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 26004mt
  • Year 1988
    Description Ore Mined 9236000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1989
    Description Cu Recovered From Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 26341 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 26341mt
  • Year 1989
    Description Cu Recovered From Dump Leach/Sx-Ew 9916 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 9916mt
  • Year 1989
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 69798 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 69798mt
  • Year 1989
    Description Ore Mined 9006000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1990
    Description Cu Recovered From Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 27225 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 27225mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Cu Recovered From Dump Leach/Sx-Ew 9877 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 9877mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 73416 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 73416mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Ore Mined 9852000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1991
    Description Cu Recovered From Dump Leach/Sx-Ew 10415 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major LEACH Copper Copper 10415mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Cu Recovered From Heap Leach/Sx-Ew 28248 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major LEACH Copper Copper 28248mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Cu Recovered From Ore 67791 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 67791mt
  • Year 1991
    Description Ore Mined 9631000 Mt/Y
  • Year 1992
    Description Cu Cathode Produced From Sx/Ew 38300 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 38300mt
  • Year 1992
    Description Cu Contained In Concentrate 111600 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 111600mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Cu Produced As Cathode Cu From Sx/Ew 33200 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 33200mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Cu Contained In Concentrate 111300 Mt/Y
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 111300mt
  • Year 1995
    Description Silver Production 839000 T Oz/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Silver Silver 26095820.55g

Comments on the production information

  • Pb And Pc Are Identical Because They Are Both Produced From The Same Electrowinning Operation; However, Prior To The Final Electrowinning Procedure, Pb And Pc Are Obtained Via Separate Processing Facilities Or Circuits. Further- More, Pb Is Derived From The Processing Of Silicate Ore, Whereas Pc Is Derived From The Treatment Of Sulfide Mine Waste.
  • Asarco Inc., New York, N.Y., Will Partially Curtail Operations At One Of The Two Concentrators At Is Ray Complex In Hayden, Az To Reduce Copper Concentrate Inventories. . . . The Curtailment Will Begin On Oct. 8 And Is Expected To Lastthrough March 1997. The Curtailment Will Permit The Company To Process Excess Concentrates Through Its Smelters.
  • Percent Recovery For Cu In Record A Is Actually 83.5.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1998
    Demonstrated 862747000mt ore
    Remarks Asarco 1998 10K p. A15.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1998
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 995400000mt ore
    Total resources 995400000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.63 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
    Silver Ag 1.7 g/mt Silver Minor 1994
  • Type Leaching
    Name leachable ore
    Estimate year 1998
    Demonstrated 161067000mt ore
    Remarks Asarco 1998 10K p. A15.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.45 wt-pct Copper Major 1998
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 921000000mt ore
    Total resources 921000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.62 wt-pct Copper Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 178000000mt ore
    Total resources 178000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.41 wt-pct Copper Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 1099000000mt ore
    Total resources 1099000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.59 wt-pct Copper Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Total resources 274895000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.68 wt-pct Copper Major 1981
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 314987000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.7 wt-pct Copper Major 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1971
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.7 wt-pct Copper Major 1971
    Gold MoS2 0.01 wt-pct Gold Minor 1971

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Other Name:Pearl Handle Pit(Old). Reserves And Production From Asarco 1993 Ann. Rept. P. 5 & 13.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 708HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .59
    Percent Waste Rock 60
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Primary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 32
    Capacity 23587
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 2.07
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1988
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 708HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .59
    Percent Waste Rock 75
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Primary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 32
    Capacity 10433
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 3.31
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1988

Comments on the workings information

  • 2 Open Pits, Pearl Handle Pit & West Pit

Comments on development

  • In 1991, Operations Included Dump And Heap Leaching. ; Econ.Com: Ore Milled At Hayden, Ariz.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Other Database

    Cimri

  • Geology

    E/Mj 6/77 (Size Of Ore Body)

  • Deposit

    Metz, R.A., And Rose, A.W., 1966, Geology Of The Ray Copper Deposit, Ray, Arizona, In Titley, S.R., And Hicks, C.L., Eds., Geology Of The Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southwestern North America: Tucson, Ariz., University Of Arizona Press, P. 177-188.

  • Age

    Kendrick, M.A., Burgess, R., Pattrick, R.A.D. and Turner, G., 2001, Halogen and Ar-Ar age determinations of inclusions within quartz veins from porphyry copper deposits using complementary noble gas extraction techniques; Chemical Geology, v. 177, p. 351-370.

  • Geology

    Force E R, 1998 - Laramide alteration of Proterozoic diabase: a likely contributor of Copper to Porphyry systems in the Dripping Spring Mountains area, southeastern Arizona: in Econ. Geol. v93 pp 171-183

  • Deposit

    Phillips And Others, 1974, Economic Geology, V. 69, P. 1237-1250.

  • Production

    Paydirt 5/18/70 (History Of Property, Mine Equip., Crushing Drilling, Trucks, Shovels)

  • Age

    Banks, N.G. and Stuckless, J.S., 1973, Chronology of intrusion and ore deposition at Ray, Arizona; Part II, fission-track ages; Economic Geology, v. 68, p. 657-664.

  • Deposit

    Cornwall And Others, 1971-1972, USGS Map Gq-1021.

  • Geology

    Porter, T.M., 1998, An overview of the World's porphyry and other hydrothermal copper & gold deposits and their distribution; in Porter, T. M., ed., Porphyry and Hydrothermal Copper and Gold Deposits: a global perspective, PACRIM '98 Conference Proceedings, Australian Mineral Foundation, p. 3-17

  • Deposit

    Abgmt File Data.

  • Geology

    The Porter GeoConsultancy webpages for Ray contain a very complete description of the geology. Accessed on 9/28/2010.
    http://www.portergeo.com.au/

  • Production

    World Mining. September 1981, P. 49. (1977-1980 Production)

  • Deposit

    Dayton, S.H., 1988, Asarco Hits The Mark With Arizona Copper Expansion: Engineering and Mining Journal, V. 189, No. 9, P. 30-50.

  • Production

    Skillings Mining Review. Asarco Curtails Operations At Ray Complex. Oct. 5, 1996. P.11.

  • Deposit

    Walenga, Karen, 1989, Mission, Ray Expansion To Assure Copper Feed: Southwestern Paydirt, March 1989, P. 4a-8a.

  • Deposit

    Phillips, K.A., Beard, R.R., Niemuth, N.J., And Bain, D.R., 1991, Active Mines In Arizona--1992: Arizona Department Of Mines And Mineral Resources Directory 39, 20 P.

  • Production

    Arizona Dept. Of Mineral Resources. Primary Copper Industry Of Arizona Special Reports, Nos. 5 And 6. (1981 And 1982 Production)

  • 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.

  • Production

    Arizona Dept. Of Mines And Mineral Resources. Primary Copper Industry Of Arizona Special Reports, Nos. 8-10, 13, And 14. (1983-1987 Production)

  • Geology

    Titley and Hicks, 1966 Geology Of The Porphyry Copper Deposits (Geology Of Deposit)

  • Ownership

    Asarco Incorporated. 1986 Annual Report. Pp. 5 And 24.

  • Production

    E/Mj 6/77 (Exploration, Ore Body Dimensions, Mine Equip. Mill, Vat Leach, Dump Leach, Electrowinning, Railroad)

  • Production

    Skilling 6/20/70 (Crushing, Vat Leach, Electrowinning)

  • Production

    Kennecott Annual Report 1967 (Crusher)

  • Production

    Ariz./N.M. Contractor 11173 (Flotation)

  • Production

    Skillings 1/5/74 (Milling)

  • Production

    Paydirt 6/23/76 (Milling Rate)

  • Production

    Skillings 10/73 (Vat Leach Expansion, Cone Precipatators)

  • Production

    Skillings 2/74 (Vat Leach Expansion)

  • Production

    World Mining 6/76 (Vat Leach)

  • Production

    Skillings 9/6/69 (Pilot Plant Cost)

  • Production

    Kennezonian, Spring 1977 (Marketing Cathodes)

  • Production

    Roman, Sheffer and Stone, 1978, Draft Ic "Copper Leaching Practices In Western U.S." (Dump Leach Description)

  • Production

    Paydirt 11/22/76 (Solvent-Extraction Pilot Plant)

  • Production

    Skillings 4/27/74 (Underground Leach)

  • Production

    Paydirt 1/78 (Tailings Reclamation)

  • Production

    Paydirt 4/71 (Water Diversion Project)

  • Reserve-Resource

    Asarco, Inc., 1993 Annual Report. P. 5.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Asarco, Inc., 1993 Form 10-K, P.A15,A18.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Dayton, S. H. Asarco Hits The Mark With Arizona Copper Expansion. EandMj, September 1988, Pp. 30-50.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Asarco Inc. 1995 Annual Report, P.7.

  • Workings

    Kennecott Annual Report 1966 (Surface Plant)

  • Workings

    World Mining 8/73 (Mine Equipment)

  • Workings

    Kennezonian, Spring 1978 (Drilling)

  • Workings

    Paydirt 3/25/74 (Mine Equip., Tailings, Expansion, Railroad)

  • Workings

    Baer,R.L. 1978, File Report-Ray Mine,Leach Plant, Concentrator and Smelter - Visited 4/18/78 (Information On All Phases Of Operation)

  • Deposit

    Kennezonian, Summer 1977 (Exploration) Arizona Pay Dirt. Kennecott Surprises Industry By Closing Ray, Chino Indefinitely. March 1982, Front Cover And Pp._____. Ray Has Been Consistent Producer From Underground, Openpit. March 1982, Pp. 6-8 And 10-11.

  • Deposit

    EandMj. Kennecott'S New Sx Plant On Stream, In This Month In Mining. June 1980, Pp. 35 And 39.

  • Deposit

    Skillings' Mining Review. M. M. Sundt Constructing Plant For Kennecott'S Ray Mines. Mar. 31, 1979, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    Sohio. 1982 Annual Report. Pp. 27-28.

  • Deposit

    Arizona Pay Dirt. Kennecott Reopening Ray Mine And Mill, Calling Back Workers. August 1983, Pp. 18a-19a.

  • Deposit

    Asarco Incorporated. Personal Communication With Lee Osmon-Son By Company Representatives During Visit To The Ray Unit In March 1989.

  • Deposit

    Epler, B. Copper Firms Get Concessionary Contracts Without Strikes. Southwestern Pay Dirt, August 1986, Pp. 12a-14a.

  • Deposit

    Parsons, A. B. Ray Consolidated. Ch. In The Porphyry Coppers. The American Institute Of Mining And Metallurgical Engineers, New York, 1st Ed., 1933, Pp. 184-203.

  • Deposit

    U.S. Geological Survey. Hayden Quadrangle (Topographic Map), Arizona. 7.5 Minute Series, 1964, Scale 1:24,000.

  • Deposit

    _____. Mesa Quadrangle (Topographic Map), Arizona. 1 Deg. X 2 Deg. Series, 1978 Rev., Scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    _____. Sonora Quadrangle (Topographic Map), Arizona. 7.5 Minute Series, 1964, Scale 1:24,000.

  • Deposit

    _____. Teapot Mountain Quadrangle (Topographic Map), Arizona--Pinal Co. 7.5 Minute Series, 1964, Scale 1:24,000.

  • Deposit

    _____. Winkelman Quadrangle (Topographic Map), Arizona. 7.5 Minute Series, 1949, Scale 1:24,000.

  • Deposit

    Walenga, K. Kennecott'S Ray Mines Division Is Having A Tough Time. Arizona Pay Dirt, June 1985, P. 3a.

  • Deposit

    _____. Modifying Ray Sx-Ew To Treat Sulphide Leach. South Western Pay Dirt, February 1987, Pp. 4a-6a.

  • Deposit

    O'Neil, Tim, Asarco: Plant Expansions And Modernizations Continue Amidst Company Restructuring, Mining Engineering, 6/89, P.430-434. Continue Amidst Company Restructuring, Mining Engineering, 6/89, P.430-434.

  • Deposit

    Mining Engineering, 5/90, P.414.

  • Deposit

    American Mining Congress Journal, 9/90, P.20.

  • Deposit

    Skillings', 3/7/92, P.7.

  • Deposit

    Mining Record, 3/11/92, P.5.

  • Deposit

    Mining Engineering, 4/92, P.294.

  • Deposit

    Dillard, Gary, Expansion Doubles Production, Lowers Costs, Southwestern Pay Dirt, No. 636, 6/92, P.4a-11a.

  • Deposit

    Metal Bulletin Mounthly, 8/92, P.43.

  • Deposit

    Mining Journal, V 319/ N 8185, 8/7/92, P.104.

  • Deposit

    Dillard, Gary, Ray Greatly Expands Ore Reserves- Without Drilling A Hole, Southwestern Pay Dirt, 9/92, P.3a.

  • Deposit

    Skillings', 8/8/92, P.13.

  • Deposit

    Mining Record, 8/26/92, P.14.

  • Deposit

    Kilburn, John, Ray Expansion Boosts Asarco Copper Output, Northern Miner, 11/23/92, P.1,2.

  • Deposit

    Dillard, Gary, Ray Complex Is Hit Hardest By Rail Link WashOut, Southwestern, Pay Dirt, 2/93, P.4a-10a.

  • Deposit

    Mcghee, S.A., Ray Modernization And Concentrator Expansion Project, Preprint Number 93-36, Sme Annual Meeting February 15-18, 1993, 7pp.

  • Deposit

    Asarco Inc., Asarco Ray Complex- Ray Modernization And Concentrator Expansion Project, Project Description.

  • Deposit

    Coughlin, Patrick J., Commissioning Asarco'S Ray Expansion, Mining Engineering, 7/94, P.637-640.

  • Deposit

    Mining Record, V 105/ N 31, 8/17/94, P.6,7.

  • Deposit

    Southwestern Pay Dirt, 2/95, P.3a.

  • Deposit

    Caney, Derek J., Asarco Overcomes Ray Problems, American Metal Market, V 103/ N 30, 2/14/95, P.2.

  • Deposit

    Caney, Derek J., American Metal Market, 8-9-95, P.2.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Cu-Mo Porphyry Mineralization In An Area 2 Mi X 1.5 Mi X 0.25 Mi Deep. Ore Is Found Mainly In The Supergene-Enriched Pinal Schist.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 19-MAR-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-APR-83 Peterson, Jocelyn A. U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 01-MAR-94 Orris, Greta J. U.S. Geological Survey
Editor 29-SEP-10 Schruben, Paul U.S. Geological Survey Added referenced reserves.

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusActive since 07/20/1988
MSHA mine ID0200150
Mine name (MSHA)RAY MINE
Current operatorAsarco LLC
Current controller (parent)Grupo Mexico S A B de C V
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:

  • Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.) — acquired by Asarco LLC, subsidiary of Grupo México (2009)
    American Smelting and Refining Co. Filed Chapter 11 in 2005; acquired out of bankruptcy by Grupo México in 2009.

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.

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Arizona resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.