Article by Mary Alice Murphy; photos by Mary Alice Murphy and Intern Alexis Rico
A field trip, organized by the New Mexico Business Coalition, to the Copper Flat Mine led legislators, interested business people and interested individuals on a visit to the mine, which is in the process of seeking permitting to reopen the mine.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
Holding a piece of a core sample. The shiny bits are copper.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
The first stop was at a the original Quintana Mine pit, which has become a pond, with water for ducks, elk and cattle.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
A photo of the group, organized by the New Mexico Business Coalition, includes several legislators and interested individuals.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
Rep. Andy Nunez looks happy to have the mine start up near his district, which will benefit workers who live in his district.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
From above the foundation of the former concentrator. The foundation is sound and will be reused. -?Photo by Alexis Rico.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
An overall view of the concentrator foundation. Photo by Alexis Rico
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
At the next stop close to the concentrator foundation.
Copper Flat Mine visit 061816
Another close up of the foundation.
The Copper Flat Mine, which operated in the early 1980s for a short time, is now owned by New Mexico Copper Corporation (NMCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of THEMAC Resources Group, a public corporation traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).
NMCC is now seeking permits to reopen the mine, which is expected to operate for 12 years under the current plan, and may be extended as the deposit is developed further. The Company's main metal of interest is copper, along with economic amounts of gold, silver, and molybdenum.
Jeff Smith, the chief operating officer of NMCC, as a mining engineer, worked at the mine for Quintana, the previous owner, while it was being developed and during its short time producing before a downturn in the price of copper.
THEMACG