Robinson Mine

Robinson Mine
Location
Robinson Mine
Location in Nevada
Location White Pine County
State Nevada
Country United States
Coordinates 39°15′35″N 114°58′36″W / 39.25982°N 114.97676°WCoordinates: 39°15′35″N 114°58′36″W / 39.25982°N 114.97676°W
Production
Products Copper, Gold, Molybdenum
History
Opened 1904
Owner
Company KGHM Polska Miedź
Website Robinson Mine webpage
Year of acquisition 2004

The Robinson Mine is a porphyry copper deposit located in the Robinson Mining District, adjacent to Ruth in White Pine County, Nevada. Large-scale copper mining began in the district in 1907 and, with some hiatuses and several changes of ownership, continues in 2015. Production from 1908 to 1978 was more than 4 billion pounds (1,500,000 tonnes) of copper and 2,700,000 troy ounces (84 t) of gold, and current annual production averages around 120 million pounds of copper and 75,000 ounces of gold. A 1992 feasibility study found a potential 16 year mine life at these production rates;[1] since then, there have been about 9 years of full production. Published ore reserves at Robinson as of January 1, 2008, were 103 million tons containing 0.68% copper and 0.23 gm/t gold.[2]

History and current operations

Robinson Mine from the air, winter 2009.

Around 1868, prospector Thomas Robinson discovered gold and silver, along with widespread, low-grade copper, in what became the Robinson Mining District. From around 1892 to 1907, several gold mines were opened, but none were successful. Around 1907, interest turned towards copper.[3]

The Nevada Consolidated Copper Company (Nevada Con) began mining copper underground around 1904. During World War I and until the Great Depression, Nevada Con employed some 1000 - 1200 men in their underground mines. Underground mining ended around 1949. Future production would come from open-pit mining.[3]

In late 1906, the Guggenheim interests acquired control of Nevada Con, as a part of their rapidly growing copper-mining business.[4] In 1932, Nevada Con became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kennecott Copper, another Guggenheim-controlled company.[5]

In September 1978, Kennecott closed its Nevada mines, and in 1983 the McGill smelter was also closed.[5] Recorded production from 1908 to 1978 was more than 4 billion pounds of copper and 2.7 million ounces of gold.[6]

Malachite and Cuprite in a historic high-grade copper ore specimen from the Robinson Mining District.

Magma Copper bought Robinson in 1991 and began work on reopening the mine in 1994. In 1996, BHP acquired Magma, and operated Robinson from 1996 to 1999. Magma/BHP invested around $US 480 million in the mine and plant. The mine was closed in 1999 due to low copper prices. Quadra Mining bought Robinson in 2004, and reopened the mine late that year. Since 2005, production has averaged about 125 million pounds of copper per year.[6] In 2010, Robinson produced 109 MM lbs copper and 73,000 troy oz gold. [7] In 2012, Quadra was acquired by KGHM Polska Miedz, a large Polish copper producer.[8] As of March, 2012, the Robinson Mine has over 620 employees.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Magma Copper history and profile, circa 1992.
  2. ↑ Robinson Mining District history
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mining in White Pine County, Nevada, by June Shaputis, 1999.
  4. ↑ Guggenheim Mining and Smelting Empire in 1910
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Corporate History of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Properties, by Keith Albrandt
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Robinson Mine at Mining Record, 2009.
  7. ↑ Major Mines of Nevada 2010, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, SPECIAL PUBLICATION P-22
  8. ↑ Quadra FNX sale announced February 20, 2012
  9. ↑ Robinson Mine part of sale, Ely Times, March 2, 2012

External links