Mineral Park mine

Mineral Park mine
Location
Mineral Park mine
Mohave County, Arizona
Country United States
Coordinates 35°21′55″N 114°08′33″W / 35.36528°N 114.14250°W / 35.36528; -114.14250Coordinates: 35°21′55″N 114°08′33″W / 35.36528°N 114.14250°W / 35.36528; -114.14250
Production
Products Copper
Mineral Park mine from the air, 2008

The Mineral Park mine is a large open pit copper mine located in the Cerbat Mountains 14 miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. A 2013 report said that Mineral Park represented one of the largest copper reserves in the United States and in the world, having estimated reserves of 389 million tonnes of ore grading 0.14% copper and 31 million oz of silver.[1]

Large scale copper mining began in the old Mineral Park district in 1963 when Duval Corporation began the open pit operation. The mine changed hands owners several times and was acquired by Mercator Mineral Park Holdings of British Columbia in 2003. In December 2014 the mine closed as the company filed for bankruptcy.[2] On January 20, 2015, it was reported that Origin Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Waterton Global Resources who also own Elko Mining Group and Carlin Resources LLC in Nevada, had purchased the property.[3]

Turquoise mining

Turquoise mined at this location is known as "Kingman Turquoise."

This mine was worked for turquoise by Native Americans before European contact. Archaeological evidence includes "Hohokam hammers, dating back to 600 a.d." and the Navajo hammers. "In the late 1880’s to the early 1900’s, Mineral Park was mined by the Aztec Turquoise Co., the Los Angeles Gem Co., Arizona Turquoise Co., Southwest Turquoise Co. and Mineral Park Turquoise Co." Since the 1970s, turquoise has been mined by members of the Colbaugh family.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Mercator’s Arizona reserves, resources decrease, confirms long mine life". miningweekly.com. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  2. ↑ Arizona copper mine laying off hundreds of workers, The Arizona Republic, 12/31/2014
  3. ↑ Judge approves $10 million sale of Mineral Park Mine, Havsunews.com, January 21, 2015
  4. ↑ "Kingman Turquoise Mine Information". Turquoise-Museum.com. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
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