Andrea Marcanti / Arizona Silver Belt Vice President of Mining Operations John Low and Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick overlook the open pit mine at ASARCO’s Ray operations on Thursday, Jan. 7.

RAY — Arizona Congresswoman, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-District 1), received a tour of ASARCO’s Ray mine on Thursday morning.

Mine general manager Steve Holmes led the tour, and was joined by ASARCO CEO Manuel Ramos and Vice President of Mining Operations John Low. ASARCO recently completed bankruptcy proceedings; the company was reacquired by Grupo Mexico for $2.5 billion in December.

About 730 people work at the Ray mine, while another 500 or so work at the Hayden operations. ASARCO’s total payroll for 2009 was $65 million, while with benefits included that number grew to $120 million.

“We’re a pretty powerful employer in the middle of nowhere. These are exciting times for us,” Holmes told Kirkpatrick at the outset of the tour. “Copper’s really strong, about $3.40 a pound. We’re positive about the future.”

Holmes was especially proud of the mine’s new $50 million crusher, which grinds down the raw copper ore that is excavated from the open-pit mine, and then forwards it on to the concentrator. Holmes told Kirkpatrick that the copper ore mined at ASARCO is about 0.6-percent pure.





For the complete article see the 01-13-2010 issue.