About
40 people attended Oracle Ridge Mining LLC’s (ORM) open house in
Summerhaven Thursday night, according to AZGS Extension Service chief, Mike Conway. The underground Oracle Ridge copper mine is
situated north of Marble Mtn. in the Santa Catalina Mountains. [Right, image shows existing underground mine workings at Oracle Ridge. Photo credit, Mike Conway, AZGS]Plans are to reopen the mine as early as fall 2013. There's an aerial tour on the company website that does a great job of showing the mine in relation to Tucson, San Manuel, Summerhaven, and roads through the Santa Catalinas.
According to the company representatives:
• Bornite is the primary copper mineral; ore grade ~ 2.3%
• Ore is hosted in limestones and marbles
• ~ 140 tons of copper concentrate to be produced daily
• Duration of mining ~ 11 years
• There are ~11 miles of existing underground workings and tunnels
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