Mining News

Carlota Mine Production Figures, by Ted Lake

The first 2009 quarterly copper production figures for the Carlota Copper Mine West of Miami were released yesterday (Tuesday) . According to Carlota’s Canadian owners, things at the new $240 million open pit copper mine are going quite well with the average price of copper being realized is $1.49 a pound. Vancouver based Quadra Mining Ltd. said copper production during the first three months of this year reached 6.6 million pounds . Company President and CEO Paul Blythe said the local copper mine, which began making copper cathodes in December, is now producing within the mine plan estimates. Ore placement , he said, is on schedule with some 1.7 million tons of ore being placed on the leach pad during the first quarter Carlota’s plant facilities are continuing to ramp up and fine tuning is underway to optimize operations and further build up copper production. Some 220 persons are employed at the Carlota. Quadra mining will release its first quarter financial results on May 12th according to Blythe.

Coal Deposit: Near Old San Carlos, By ted Laken

Most of mining activities over the years in our section of the state involved Silver, Copper, Gold, Uranium, Turquoise, Apache Tears, Peridot, Asbestos ( Salt River Canyon area) and Silicate. But did you know that a Coal deposit, which was apparently never really mined , was discovered during the late 1870's or early 1880's? This was found about 15 miles southeast of the original community of "Old San Carlos." It was around 1974 when a geologist told me about the Coal find of early territorial days, which apparently extended into what had been known in our history as the disputed “San Carlos Mineral Strip.” Some background on the Mineral Strip situation: For example, in 1963, Under-Secretary of the Interior, James K. Carr, issued an Executive Order Restoring the Mineral, Oil and Gas Resources for 232,320 acres of the vast mineral strip to the San Carlos Tribe . The huge "strip" of land was along the South side of the Apache Reservation. Another of one of the many situations involving the mineral strip occurred when President George Bush signed the " San Carlos Mineral Strip Act of 1990" . This bill was to resolve the status of 10,650 surface acres on the "strip," which had long been administered by the Coronado National Forest, but was now being placed in trust for the San Carlos Tribe. In signing the bill, the President indicated he was unhappy the legal description of the land had not been fully described in the bill. As far as the situation involving what has been called the "San Carlos Coal Fields", we did find a story in the early 1880's of interest in the Phoenix Evening Gazette Newspaper ( founded in 1881 ). The the historic article was discussing a measure before Congress proposing to give those prospectors, who discovered the Coal deposits, title to their claims. Speaking of the San Carlos Coal Fields dispute, the Gazette said "There is no measure that has been presented to Congress that can commend itself more strongly to the principles of reason and justice than that of segregating the Coal Fields from the San Carlos Reservation." “They are the discovery of private individuals, hard-working miners and prospectors, who did not believe they were on the Reservation, when located. Under this impression, they developed them ( mining claims ), expending much time and considerable money. Subsequent surveys of the Reservation were made so as to in close the coal lands. The men who had discovered the vein, located in good faith and developed it to a stage that would make it valuable, were thus deprived of the fruits of their labor. Immediately a disgusting wrangle ensued among the agency officials and other political pets as to who should reap the benefits of this steal." The old news report concluded by saying "So Far as our people are concerned, there can be no question in regard to their views in the matter, as it is unanimously in favor of the segregation of the coal fields from the Reservation."

Air Quality Permit Renewal, by Ted Lake

The Arizona Quality Permit issued to Cal-Chem Metals, Inc., by the state is up for renewal. Officials of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality say they have reached a preliminary determination and are proposing to issue Air Quality Control Renewal Permit # 4887 to the local company, which operates a metal processing facility at 2451 Highway 70 in East Globe. ADEQ is taking public comments on its proposed renewal action until May 8. Persons with questions can contact ADEQ’s Trevor Baggiore at 1-800-234-5677. Locally, materials related to the permit, can now be seen at the Globe City Clerk's Office at 150 North Pine Street in Globe

22 New Drill Sites East of Superior, by Ted Lake

Offi cials of Resolution Copper have outlined their future mining exploration plans involving Tonto National Forest Lands, east of the Town of Superior. The company is proposing the following: (a) To initiate fi ve exploration drill sites impacting 1.14 acres and directional drilling operations at these sites. (b) Developing eight drill sites to accommodate a total of three 22 New Drill Sites East of Superior By Ted Lake teddlake@yahoo.com deep and six shallow groundwater testing and monitoring wells, involving some 1.78 acres of Tonto Forest lands. (c) To construct nine drill sites impacting approximately 1.8 acres to accommodate a total of nine geotechnical characterization boreholes. (d) Continuation of exploratory and monitoring activities at previously authorized drill sites involving some 3.02 acres. (e) Complete necessary roadway improvements on approximately 16.97 miles of existing roads impacting 0.55 acres. (f) Building 0.33 mile of new roads impacting 0.55 acres. (g) Resolution Copper says it will continue with ongoing road maintenance to maintain access to drill sites. The above information has been listed in Resolution Copper’s Plan of Operations for Pre- Feasiblity Activities which has now been submitted to the Tonto National Forest Offi ces at 2324 East McDowell Road in Phoenix 85006 ( 602-225-5295 ). Offi cials of the Forest Service are seeking public comments on the Environment Assessment of Resolution’s proposals through April 30.