Description: Safford is Freeport-McMoRan’s newest open-pit copper mining complex with the first copper production occurring in late 2007. 

Did you know? The Safford mine is a zero-discharge facility and one of the most environmentally advanced copper mines ever built.

Location:  Southeast Arizona, 170 miles east of Phoenix, near Safford, Arizona.

Ores: The Safford mine consists of two copper deposits that have leachable oxide mineralization overlaying primary copper sulfide mineralization. The predominant oxide copper minerals are chrysocolla and copper-bearing iron oxides with the predominant copper sulfide mineral  being Chalcopyrite.

Processes and facilities: The property is a mine-for-leach project and produces copper cathodes. The operation consists of two open pits feeding a crushing facility. The crushed ore is delivered to a single leach pad by a series of overland and portable conveyors. Leach solutions feed an SX/EW facility with a capacity of 240 million pounds of copper per year.

Background: Construction on the Safford mine began in mid-2006. Full production started in 2008. Currently, the Safford mine is producing at approximately 50% of capacity due to market conditions.

Ownership: 100%.

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