TUCSON, Arizona (AP) – A Canada-based mining company said it had found significant copper deposits in the western portion of the Santa Rita Mountains, potentially justifying an open pit near residents south of Tucson.
Hudbay Minerals Inc. announced Wednesday that drilling in the Copper World deposits has found higher grades of copper closer to surface than the adjacent Rosemont mine east of the southern Arizona mountains, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
“Copper World has the potential to host at least four economic deposits,” said Cashel Meagher, the company’s senior vice president.
The four deposits are on private land owned by the company and maintained by the federal government through patented mining claims. As more copper mines are discovered, business leaders and outside investors expect the mines to bring more high-paying jobs to the region.
However, residents near the mountain range in Green Valley, Quail Creek and Sahuarita expressed concerns about the potential project, the visibility of the mining and the already declining water supply.
Andre Lauzon, vice president of the Arizona business unit from Hudbay, told Green Valley News that some portions of the mine and its operations are likely to be visible from Green Valley and Sahuarita.
“What and how much will be visible depends on the future mine plan and the scope of a new project,” said Lauzon.
Environmental engineer Charles Stack, who lives in Quail Creek, said people paid a lot of money to move to upscale suburbs and weren’t happy with the view. He also noted that there is no modern infrastructure in the area to support copper mining.
“Mining the western flank of the Santa Ritas would require significant improvements to regional transportation and utilities, and it is doubtful that enough recoverable copper in these claims could support mining,” said Stack.
Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy congratulated the company on its discovery and said it has supported the Rosemont mine since it was proposed more than a decade ago.
Hudbay must now drill additional drilling and complete a feasibility study before submitting mining proposals to government agencies. The company has not yet announced a schedule.
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