Freeport McMoRan CEO Richard Adkerson says the company will grow internally rather than pay a premium for outside assets. Mineweb.com reports that the company will use its "strong cash position to increase exploratory drilling, pay down debt, raise shareholder dividends and restart deferred development projects in 2010."
Lepolt Linkimer at the University of Arizona, posted some of the seismograms from the Chile earthquake recoded at Arizona stations at http://www.geo.arizona.edu/gsat/Chile2010.htm
The magnitude 8.8 earthquake offshore Chile today sent shockwaves across the globe. They were recorded on Arizona's broadband seismic monitors run by AZGS. At left is the is the record from the Snowflake AZ station (X18A). 
Another dramatic picture from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter camera. This terrain model of the wall terraces in the very young and fresh Mojave Crater was generated by stereo images produced by NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
The House Government Committee today approved HB2701 that critics argue will effectively kill renewable energy development in Arizona. The measure would dramatically change the rules for regulatory approval, add the Legislature to the approval process, and define nuclear energy as renewable energy. No new renewable would be needed to meet the state's 15% Renewable Portfolio Standard, since nuclear power already exceeds that amount. While most attention has been on solar energy, it could impact the numerous geothermal companies we've been hearing from in recent months.
The American Geological Institute and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) are offering a free webinar on Future Trends in Mining, March 2nd from 4:00-5:00pm US EST.
This is the first of their GeoConnection series of webinars. Here are details from the AGI announcement:The webinar will bring leaders from different employment sectors to discuss prospects for careers for geoscientists in their field. We encourage you to pass along this email to all of your colleagues and students who are interested in employment in the geosciences. This webinar will focus on future opportunities in the minerals industry, including both traditional and non-traditional roles for geoscientists. Panelists will include: * Leigh Freeman from Downing Teal, a leading recruiter of talent for the global minerals industry, will look at the supply and demand trends for geoscientists in the minerals sector * James Steel from HSBC Securities (USA), who will explore both the metals trading sector and the numerous employment opportunities in the financial sector * Gavin Mudd from Monash University, who will discuss workforce and developments in sustainable mining practices Following the panel presentations, an open discussion period will be held for audience members from around the world to ask questions of the panel and each other. For more information about this webinar, including how to register, visit AGI’s GeoWebinar webpage at http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/webinars.html. If you have questions about the webinar that are unanswered by the website, please contact Leila Gonzales: lmg@agiweb.org
Historical water-quality and water-chemistry data evaluated for 1,014 water samples from 428 sites indicate that about 70 sites have exceeded either the primary or secondary maximum contaminant levels for certain major ions and trace elements, such as arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, radium, sulfate,
and uranium. These data suggest that water recharged from the surface or from perched water-bearing zones may contain dissolved gypsum from overlying rock units or may have been in contact with sulfide-rich ore. A few springs and wells in the region contain concentrations of dissolved uranium greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level of 30 μg/L. These springs and wells are close by or in direct contact with orebodies.
Samples from 15 springs and 5 wells in the region contained dissolved uranium concentrations greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level for drinking water. These springs and wells are close by or in direct contact with mineralized orebodies, and those concentrations are related to natural processes, mining, or to both.
Mining, mineral, and geology groups across the state are asking for more information about Governor Brewer's plans to transfer the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum to the Historical Society to become the Arizona Centennial Museum. In response to questions from stakeholders, the governor's staff shared these responses with me. Plans for the Centennial Museum began many months ago and were born out of the fact that ADMMR was losing ability to deliver on its statutory mission after the series of budget cuts over the last year. The budget cuts necessarily came out of personnel and other non-rent funds, resulting in the loss of significant staff and program capability. It was clear ADMMR needed to find a cheaper facility, which led to the concept of re-purposing the facility into the Centennial Museum. As far as rent, the AHS will receive through a budget transfer the amount of money currently allocated for rent in the ADMMR budget. In future years, the AHS budget will increase by the amount necessary to cover rent. Additionally, the employee position and funds for the curator currently budgeted in ADMMR will be transferred to AHS to assist in managing the new museum. As far as the question of title, that was one of the first questions asked of the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), and we were assured that the new concept would cause no concern. The plans for the future of ADMMR are still ongoing as the original concept of moving them into empty space at the Governor's Offices with a mineral museum on the 1st and 2nd floors was ruled out due to the metal detectors which could not be relocated. The ADOA is examining other State owned office space where rent is currently being paid by some other agency where we can relocate ADMMR. We have some period of time while the Centennial Museum is being designed to find a new location for ADMMR, so the move is not imminent.
Abstract: On July 21, 2009, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar proposed a two-year withdrawal of about 1 million acres of Federal land near the Grand Canyon from future mineral entry. These lands are contained in three parcels: two parcels on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land to the north of the Grand Canyon (North and East Segregation Areas) and one on the Kaibab National Forest south of the Grand Canyon (South Segregation Area). The purpose of the two-year withdrawal is to examine the potential effects of restricting these areas from new mine development for the next 20 years. This proposed withdrawal initiated a period of study during which the effects of the withdrawal must be evaluated. At the direction of the Secretary, the U.S. Geological Survey began a series of short-term studies designed to develop additional information about the possible effects of uranium mining on the natural resources of the region. Dissolved uranium and other major, minor, and trace elements occur naturally in groundwater as the result of precipitation infiltrating from the surface to water-bearing zones and, presumably, to underlying regional aquifers. Discharges from these aquifers occur as seeps and springs throughout the region and provide valuable habitat and water sources for plants and animals. Uranium mining within the watershed may increase the amount of radioactive materials and heavy metals in the surface water and groundwater flowing into Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River, and deep mining activities may increase mobilization of uranium through the rock strata into the aquifers. In addition, waste rock and ore from mined areas may be transported away from the mines by wind and runoff.
Ref: SIR 2010-5025:Hydrological, Geological, and Biological Site Characterization of Breccia Pipe Uranium Deposits in Northern Arizona
"The Carnegie Mineralogical Award honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation, and education that match ideals advanced in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's Hillman Hall of Minerals & Gems. Established in 1987 through the generosity of The Hillman Foundation Inc., the award consists of a bronze medallion, a certificate of recognition and a $2500 cash prize. It is presented each February during the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show."Congratulations Peter! Very well deserved!
The Engineering News Record (ENR.com) reports that the "U.S. Dept. of Energy is withdrawing its Nuclear Regulatory Commission application for a waste-storage facility in southern Nevada’s Yucca Mountain." [right, Yucca Mountain site. Credit DOE]ADMMR has also posted the full 27-page brochure from Gallagher & Associates, outlining their vision for the museum [right].It is unclear at this time where the Department of Mines and Mineral Resources would move or when. The museum was told by the design firm Gallagher & Associates, that no
minerals in the collection will be released, but since the collection already occupies the available space in the museum, it is difficult to see how the mineral displays will not be affected in sharing equal space with the other ‘c’s.’ It is also unclear where the museum’s
outdoor mining exhibits, consisting of one of the few operating five stamp mills, head
frame, steam locomotive, haul truck tire and large shovel bucket will be relocated.
The Arizona Chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists held their annual business meeting in Tucson yesterday, hosted here at the AZGS. The meeting also continued their tradition of reviewing aspects of the geoscience community in Arizona, this year hearing updates from state and federal agencies.
Former State Geologist Larry Fellows received a special award for his contributions to the AIPG chapter and the geologic community. Outgoing chapter secretary Dave Palmer was also recognized by president Erick Weiland for many years dedicated service to the group. [right, ADWR Assistant Director Frank Corkhill offers a briefing on water programs]
Three different prominent mineral collectors told me to make sure I saw the tanzanite exhibit on the main floor of the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show yesterday. My amateur snapshots don't do it justice.
The New York Times reported last week about a proposal made last Fall to use carbon dioxide produced from a geologic reservoir in the St. John's area of eastern Arizona as the driving fluid in a geothermal power plant. Enhanced Oil Resources which is developing the CO2 and helium in the St. John's area, partnered with GreenFire Energy out of Utah, to propose a test of new technology.
The well-known "Y-crack" earth fissure near Queen Creek, south of Phoenix, re-opened last month following heavy rainstorms. The area at the corner of Happy Rd and 195th is in unincorporated Maricopa County but the Town of Queen Creek's Utilities Department is responsible for the water delivery system in the area. The hole opened around four residential water valves. It is approximately 20 feet deep according to city's public works staff.
Over at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show this morning a colleague told me he spoke with ADMMR Director Madan Singh last night about HB2617 reportedly being amended to carry the language transferring the mineral museum [right] to the State Historical Society.
Open Pit Mines, Southern Arizona
Copper is a good conductor of electricity and heat, and it is a vital element of virtually all modern electronic devices. Arizona is the United States’ largest source of copper, primarily mined from a type of ore body known as porphyry copper deposits. The most common approach to extracting metal-bearing ore from a porphyry copper deposit is by open-pit mining, although such mines also typically include some underground activities.
This astronaut photograph illustrates three open-pit mines located west-northwest of the town of Green Valley, Arizona. While the mines appear to be close to each other, each exploits a separate porphyry copper deposit. A porphyry copper deposit forms when crystal-rich magma moves upwards through pre-existing rock layers. As the magma cools and crystallizes, it forms an igneous rock with large crystals embedded in a fine-grained matrix, known as porphyry. Hot fluids circulate through the magma and surrounding rocks via fractures, depositing copper-bearing and other minerals in characteristic spatial patterns that signal the nature of the ore body to a geologist.
The mine pits are recognizable by the concentric lines of benches cut into the pit sides. The benches allow equipment and personnel access to the fresh ore (gray) exposed at the bottom of the excavation. Water may also pool at the bottom of inactive pits, such as in the Twin Buttes Mine at image upper right (black areas). The open pit areas are surrounded by an array of sculpted tailings ponds and mine dump areas; these receive mine waste rock for storage and later leaching for further recovery of metals. The green color of the water in the tailings pond at image right is likely due to the presence of leached metals.
The Asarco-Mission complex (image left) is an active producer of copper and molybdenum (important in making steel and other metal alloys), processing approximately 53,700 tons of ore per day (as of 2008). The Twin Buttes Mine (image top right), also a producer of copper and molybdenum, was closed in 1994 but was recently purchased by a new owner (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold) and may reopen. The Sierrita Mine at image lower right (also owned by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold) produces copper, molybdenum, and the rare metal rhenium. Rhenium is used to make high-temperature alloys for jet engine parts and in high-octane, lead-free gasoline. This mine can process over 115,000 tons of ore per day (as of 2007).
Gov. Jan Brewer announced this morning the the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum will become the Arizona Centennial Museum for the State's 2012 celebration. The museum will be transferred from the Arizona Dept of Mines and Mineral Resources to the Centennial Commission then subsequently to the Arizona Historical Society.
