Sierrita And Morenci Upgrade Their Process Technology

The price of copper has gone into the tank. So has gold. Environmental regulations are more restrictive. Global warming has world leaders and environmental groups seeking international regulations to keep the planet from heating up - mostly by restricting the use of fossil fuels. And the US Secretary of the Interior wants to make it more costly -prohibitively so for smaller companies - to mine hard rock metals in the United States. By rights, miners should be carrying around a pessimistic attitude about their industry. But miners are an optimistic lot, always believing that things will improve. That optimism was in evidence in Tucson, AZ in early December, when about 620 miners met at the Double- tree Hotel for the Annual Meeting of the Arizona Conference, put on by SME. Attendees listened as a United States congressman commented on the recent tax cut bill, mining regulations and the continuing need for the mining industry to improve its image in the eyes of the general public. Session speakers discussed how improved technology has made their processing operations at Sierrita and Morenci more efficient and cost-effective.