Santa Rita in Grant County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Open Pit Mining
Santa Rita Copper Mine
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2014
1. Open Pit Mining Marker
In 1909, a consortium of mining engineers and geologists formed the Chino Copper Company.It was here at the Santa Rita Mine that they introduced new mining technology and techniques including the new concept of "open-pit" mining.
It took steam, coal, and iron to bring success to Santa Rita. When the railroad arrived in 1898, it opened a new era for mining. A successful copper mine needed to move tonnage — lots of tonnage. With the railroad in place, Santa Rita was waiting to be discovered.
In 1905, a young M.I.T. graduate named John M. Sully, determined that many small underground mines here were sitting atop an enormous copper ore body of great potential. His systematic and skillful examination of the ore body was followed by his commitment to find funding to develop this great mine. Sully’s success earned him recognition as one of the great engineers of the period.
Another contributor to the success of this mine was a young engineer named Daniel C. Jackling. His new method of open-pit mining of large, low-grade copper ore, earned him recognition across the globe.
With funding in place and engineering
Courtesy Silver City Museum
2. Marker detail: From Coal to Electricity
As technology advanced, big steam shovels like this one gave way to massive electric shovels — linked with long electric cords to nearby substations.
this page online
Erected by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 32° 48.408′ N, 108° 4.394′ W. Marker is in Santa Rita, New Mexico, in Grant County. Marker is on Scenic State Road 152, 1.1 miles east of State Highway 356, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located at an interpretive exhibit overlooking the open pit mine site to the south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hanover NM 88041, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Early Mining Years (here, next to this marker); The Companies & People (here, next to this marker); Santa Rita Copper Mine (here, next to this marker); The Discovery (here, next to this marker); Modern Mining & Processing (here, next to this marker); Reclaiming the Land
3. Marker detail: John M. Sully
"John M." was the first general manager at Chino, and to date, the manager with the longest tenure. He served from 1909 until 1933. Sully saw the early potential here for a great mine.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Santa Rita Copper Mine
Also see . . .
1. Open Pit Mining: A Breakthrough In Mineral Extraction. In 1909, the Chino Mine becomes the the first site for “open-pit” mining under the Chino Copper Company. The railroad arrives in Santa Rita* in 1898, allowing for massive amounts of copper to be transported. In 1905, John M. Sully determines that the many tunnel mines riddling the region are all accessing a single, massive copper body. (Submitted on October 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Daniel Cowan Jackling. Daniel C. Jackling was a mining and metallurgical engineer who revolutionized the copper mining industry early in the 20th century by pioneering and developing the processing of low-grade porphyry copper ores. (Submitted on October 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
4. Marker detail: Daniel C. Jackling
He overcame doubters and tremendous challenges to develop ways of processing ore from open-pit mines. Santa Rita Mine is one of the so-called "Jackling properties."
Courtesy Silver City Museum
5. Marker detail: Moving Metal
In the early days of copper mining, coal was the only source of energy available to move, crush, and grind ore, and to melt copper in a smelter.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2014
6. Open Pit Mining Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2014
7. Santa Rita Copper Mine
Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on October 15, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4, 5. submitted on October 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on October 15, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on October 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
