September 21-26, 2019 - Geological Society of America Annual Meeting will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center at 100 North 3rd Street, Phoenix, Arizona.  To learn more about this event click link.

September 25-27, 2019 - Arizona Hydrological Society will hold its Annual Symposium at Casino del Sol in Tucson on Sept 25-27, 2019.  This annual event will feature a plenary session, over 50 talks, poster sessions,workshops, social events, and more!  To learn more about this event, visit AHS 32nd Annual Symposium web page.

We regret to announce that long-time AGS member Keith Richard Long passed away on March 29  in Tucson from complications related to colon cancer. Keith grew up in Santa Clara, California. He completed his M.S. in Geoscience at University of Michigan (1984), and his Ph.D. in Mineral Economics at The University of Arizona (1988). 

Keith joined the U.S. Geological Survey in Tucson in 1988, to work in the Center for Inter-American Mineral Resource Investigations where he participated in cooperative studies in Central and South America, especially Mexico and Boliva. Keith devoted his career to studying mineral resources and specializing in the economic aspects of mineral resource assessment. Focus of his research in recent years included work on the economics of porphyry copper deposits, economic filters for evaluating mineral deposits, the environmental aspects of historical mine tailings, and characterization of rare earth element deposits and significant metal deposits of the U.S.  He wrote more than 100 publications ranging from country-specific studies of the mineral resources of Bolivia and the United States to work identifying and classifying abandoned mines in California (upcoming). Keith also published an English-Spanish dictionary of mining and geologic terms. He ended his career as a Research Specialist in rare earth minerals. His memorial service was held on April 14.

The Arizona Geological Society's GSA Topical Session, “T45. Porphyry Copper and Related Mineral Deposits of Arizona, the Basin and Range Province, and Beyond,” has been accepted for the GSA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona – 2019.

Important dates:

Abstract Deadline: June 25, 2019

-Abstract Submission Form

Event Duration: September 22-25, 2019

-Additional Event Details

For you history buffs, there is a new book out on the history of ASARCO's Mission Mining Complex.  Authored by Bill M. Williams, a retired mining engineer, who worked at Mission Complex from 1973 until 2000.

It is a complete history of the northern half of the Pima mining district with numerous historic photos and maps.  It also includes a chapter on the district's geology prepared by Bob Cummings with numerous color photos of mineral specimens that have been collected at the site.

This book can be purchased at the ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center located at 1421 West Pima Mine Road in Sahuarita, Arizona for $60.

AZGS' newest hire, economic geologist Carson Richardson and State Geologist, Phil Pearthree discuss the direction of AZGS Economic Geology Program.

Our December dinner meetings have been time that the Arizona Geological Society presents scholarships to outstanding students at the state's three major universities:  University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. 

This year, we had a number outstanding applicants for both the J. Harold Courtright and M. Lee Allison Scholarships, which made our job of selecting the best candidates very difficult. 

Alexandra Wallenberg makes a Short Presentation at the December Meeting

The 2018 Courtright Scholarship was presented to Alexandra L. Wallenberg.  Alexandra received a BS in Geology from Illinois State University in May 2018 and currently attends the University of Arizona, where she is working on a Master's degree in Geosciences.  The title of her proposed research is  "Gregg Canyon intrusive center, Sonoma Range, Nevada:  Magmatism and Porphyry-Style Alteration-Mineralization."

Lorraine Carnes makes at a Short Presentation at the December Meeting

The 2018 M. Lee Allison Scholarship was presented to Lorraine Carnes.  Lorraine received a BS Degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Lehigh University in May  2016, and currently attends the Arizona State University, where she is working for a Ph.D degree in Geological Sciences.   The title of her Ph.D. dissertation is "Dating the Onset of Fluvial Incision into a Basin Fill Deposit in Southeastern Arizona."

To learn more about these two outstanding scholarship recipients visit the J. Harold Courtright Scholarship and M. Lee Allison Scholarship pages on this website.

At 8:46 AM on Saturday, November 10, 2018, Resolution Copper demolished  the historical copper smelter stack at the Magma mine near Superior, Arizona.   Deemed structurally unsound, this 293-foot structure was toppled in a controlled blast as a part of a larger reclamation effort at the West Plant site, which began in 2005 and is scheduled to be completed in 2020.  To date, $40 million has been spent on Resolution Copper's rehabilitation efforts at Superior.  When completed in 2020, the estimated cost of this project will be approximately $80 million.

William Boyce Thompson and George Gunn incorporated the Magma Copper Company in May 1910 to develop recently acquired mining properties in the Superior area.  These holdings became known as the Magma mine, which achieved production during 1911.   During early development of  the site, supplies were brought in by horse or mule drawn wagons from a railhead near Florence, Arizona.  High-grade direct smelting ores were hauled to the railhead on the return trip for trans-shipment to ASARCO's newly commissioned smelter at Hayden, Arizona.

Over the years, additional infrastructure was added to handle increased production from the Magma mine.  A 200-ton/day concentrator was placed on line in April 1914 and a 36-mile narrow gauge rail line, connecting Superior with the Phoenix and Eastern Railroad at Magma Junction near Florence, was completed in May 1915.   Magma Copper's smelter was commissioned in March 1924, eliminating the need to ship ore or copper concentrates to a distant smelter.  This facility operated until July 1971, when it was closed in an effort to reduce costs.  Following its closure, copper concentrates from the Superior operation were treated at Magma Copper's San Manuel smelter. 

After 71 years of production, Magma Copper suspended operations at Superior in August 1982 due to high operating costs and declining copper prices that fell to 73 cents/lb.  With the rise of copper prices during the late 1980s, mining operations resumed in September 1990.  Magma Copper's successor, Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd., suspended all mining and milling operations on June 28, 1996 after depleting its remaining mineable reserves.

Discovered by a deep exploration drilling program in 1995, the Magma porphyry system is currently being readied for production by Resolution Copper Mining LLC, a 55/45 joint venture owned by Rio Tinto and BHP-Billiton.  To date, nearly $1.2 billion has been spent on this project, which is scheduled to commence production in approximately 10 years.  Located at a depth of 4,900 to 7,000 feet, this high-grade deposit is reported to contain a  resource of nearly two billion tons, averaging 1.54% Cu and 0.035% Mo.    It will be capable of producing nearly 25% of the United States' annual copper demand over its projected mine life of 40 years.