Santa Rita Mine A History A History Santa Rita Mine
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A History
A Histor
of the
Mule trains carried the copper south along the Copper Trail.
Photo credit: US Forest Service
Grant County’s igneous volcanic geology
Warm Springs Apache, whose leaders included
has fostered a rich mining heritage and
Mangas Coloradas and Victorio.
economy for the area since pre-historic times.
Mining of the copper veins began shortly after
Mineral resources have ranged from placer
1799 when Lieutenant Colonel Jose Manuel
gold in the streams near Pinos Altos (1860)
Carrasco, a Spanish soldier stationed in Janos,
to silver outcroppings in Silver City (1870).
Chihuahua, Mexico, was shown a copper deposit
The east-to-west conquest of the country,
by a friendly Apache Indian. This was the
California Gold Rush of 1849, and Civil War
beginning of Santa Rita del Cobre (Santa Rita),
y
Santa Rita
superceded the documentation of the Santa
and it has been mined almost continuously since.
Rita Mine as a treasure of American history.
In 1804 the first land-title transfer occurred,
Santa Rita
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Mine
But the Santa Rita Mine has a colorful
when Carrasco sold a portion of the property to
story…and is the longest continuous mining
Don Francisco Manuel Elguea, a merchant who
Mine
claim in the western United States.
directed mule trains loaded with the copper south
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The Mimbreno Indians (1100–1300)
to Mexico. The Spanish soon established a military
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NM 88061
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collected low-grade turquoise and chrysocolla.
presidio and used convict labor in the
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The Apaches, who migrated into the area later,
underground mines.
hamb
Grant County
collected the copper from the surface for
Santa Rita was under Mexican rule for twenty-
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ceremonial and trade purposes. The area was
five years following the War of Independence from
New Mexico
also a seasonal camp in the homeland of the
Spain in 1821. Mule trains carried the copper
Facts:
But the Santa Rita Mine
established a military presidio
• The Santa Rita Observation Point is
has a colorful story…and
and used convict labor in the
located on the east side of NM Highway
is the longest continuous
underground mines.
152 just south of milepost 6.
mining claim in the
Rita was under Mexican rule
western United States.
for twenty-five years following
• The Phelps Dodge Santa Rita Chino
The Mimbreno
the War of Independence from
Mine pit is almost 1,500 feet deep and
Indians (1100–1300)
Spain in 1821. Mule trains
1-1/2 miles across.
collected low-grade
carried the copper south along
turquoise and
the “Copper Trail” through
• The 360-ton haul trucks are
chrysocolla. The Apaches,
The community of Santa Rita grew from a frontier
Janos and Chihuahua to
approximately 3 stories tall.
who migrated into the
settlement into a self-contained company town.
Mexico City. It is said that,
area later, collected the
Photo credit: New Mexico State University Archives
because of the clean quality
• The ore is crushed and concentrated
copper from the surface for ceremonial and trade
and malleability of the Santa Rita ore, the metal in
before being transported for smelting
purposes. The area was also a seasonal camp in
most all Mexican copper coins minted between 1800
through the solvent extraction, electro-
the homeland of the Warm Springs Apache, whose
to 1840 originated here.
winning (SXEW) technology, utilizing
leaders included Mangas Coloradas and Victorio.
Misunderstandings between Mexicans and the
chemical reactions and electric current
Mining of the copper veins began shortly
Apaches eventually led to violence
to capture copper from low-grade ore to
after 1799 when Lieutenant Colonel Jose Manuel
on both sides, and providing security for the miners
form into plates of 99.9% copper.
The head frame was used in shaft
Carrasco, a Spanish soldier stationed in Janos,
and mule trains became increasingly difficult. By the
or underground mining.
Chihuahua, Mexico, was shown a copper deposit
1850’s the political and financial instability of the
• Phelps Dodge Mining Company is the
G
by a friendly Apache Indian. This was the
Mexican government, and the Apache threat, forced
second-largest producer of copper in the
rant County’s igneous volcanic geology
beginning of Santa Rita del Cobre (Santa Rita),
the abandonment of the mines. In 1850 the mines
world. The Company produces about
has fostered a rich mining heritage and
and it has been mined almost continuously since.
were reopened; however, the citizens of Santa Rita
8% of the copper, 20% of the
economy for the area since pre-historic times.
In 1804 the first land-title transfer occurred,
faced constant danger from Apache raids until the
molybdenum and 13% of the carbon
Mineral resources have ranged from placer
when Carrasco sold a
1880’s.
black used globally each year.
gold in the streams near Pinos Altos (1860) to
portion of the property to
In 1873 the mine was
silver outcroppings in Silver City (1870).
Don Francisco Manuel
purchased from the original
• Phelps Dodge is the largest employer
The east-to-west conquest of the country,
Elguea, a merchant who
Spanish owners by a
and supporter of the tax base in Grant
California Gold Rush of 1849, and Civil War
directed mule trains loaded
Colorado silver miner, who
County. A valuable community partner,
superceded the documentation of the Santa
with the copper south to
eventually sold it to a
the Company provides in-kind donations
Rita Mine as a treasure of American history.
Mexico. The Spanish soon
Bostonian banker, who built
and financial contributions throughout
a railroad spur up from
the County.
Deming in 1883 to provide
Currently the tailing piles are
a transportation connection
under extensive reclamation.
with the intercontinental
For Additional Information:
railroad. Underground
1-800-548-9378
www.silvercity.org
12/04
