Phelps Dodge Morenci Has Converted All Copper Production to Mine-for-Leach
Early mine-for-leach was confined to high-grade concentrates of oxidized copper; namely, malachite, azurite and tenorite. Today's mine-for-leach will include both oxide and sulfide ore minerals. The conversion to mine-for-leach maintains the property's annual production rate of approximately 800 million pounds (360,000 mt) of copper per year.