Andes (THE PORPHYRY COPPERS)

ASIDE from being the youngest of the Porphyries-from a producing, not a geologic standpoint-Andes probably presents the most finished piece of engineering, considering the enterprise as a whole: The various units of the mining and reduction works are well designed and efficiently operated, but that is true also at most of the other properties. Some mills or smelters may be superior to those at Andes; but as a complete mechanism for the exploitation of a big copper orebody, the Andes plant stands in a class by itself in many respects. Chuquicamata and Braden, as well as the properties in the United States, grew piecemeal. Capacities were increased and new plants were built as expansion progressed. Andes, on the other hand, existed on paper essentially as it is today before a start was made on actual construction of the reduction plant. More than $35,000,000 had been spent in developing and equipping the mine, and in building the concentrator and smelter, before the first ton of blister copper was produced on January 14, 1927. And another $12,500,000 was spent during the next two years in building the leaching plant and completing other construction. The orebody had been fairly well developed and tentative plans for the erection of reduction works had been made when the post-war depression descended on the copper industry and dictated deferment of the construction of a plant. This delay, however, gave the engineers opportunity to study the problems thoroughly in preparation for the design of the reduction works. The task was performed at Anaconda, Montana, under the direction of Frederick Laist, metallurgical manager, and Wilbur Jurden, chief designing engineer, of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's staff. More than $1,150,000 was spent on