{{Short description|Copper mine in Arizona}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox mine | name = Ray Copper Mine | image = Mesa raymine.jpg | width = | caption = Teapot mesa, above Ray Mine | pushpin_map = Arizona | pushpin_label =Ray copper mine | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Arizona | coordinates = {{coord|33|08|58|N|110|59|14|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | place = Kearny | subdivision_type = County | state/province = Pinal County, Arizona | country = United States | owner = Asarco | stock_exchange = | stock_code = | official website = [http://www.asarco.com/about-us/our-locations/ray-operations/ Ray mine website] | acquisition year = 1999 | products = Copper, sulfuric acid | financial year = 2016 | amount = 62.0 million lbs copper | opening year = 1880 | closing year = }}
The '''Ray mine''' is a large copper mine in Pinal County, Arizona, near the town of Kearny, in the southwestern United States. ASARCO, a subsidiary of Grupo México, currently owns the mine, which it acquired from Kennecott Copper in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ray mining history |url=http://copperarea.com/pages/ray-mining-history |publisher=Copper Area News Publishers |date=2012-09-26 |access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref>
The Ray mine has one of the largest copper reserves in the United States, with proven and probable reserves of {{convert|835.7|e6t|}} of ore grading 1.73% copper, {{as of|2018|12|31|lc=on|df=US}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2016 |url=https://gmexico.com/site/images/documentos/en/anual_report2016.PDF |publisher=Grupo México |location=Mexico City |page=35 |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Company History |url=https://asarco.com/about-us/company-history |publisher=ASARCO |location=Mexico City |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ascarza|first=William |title=Mine Tales: Ray mining district has history of more than a century |url=https://tucson.com/news/local/mine-tales-ray-mining-district-has-history-of-more-than/article_5560fe20-f4c4-559f-8298-1c8be0b75c77.html |newspaper=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |date=November 11, 2013 |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> Copper from the Ray mine goes to the Hayden Smelter.
Mineral Creek, a tributary of the Gila River, flows north to south through the Ray Mine property.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mineral Creek (Mineral Creek-Gila River) COA |url=https://awcs.azgfd.com/conservation-opportunity-areas/aquatic/mineral-creek-mineral-creek-gila-river |website=Arizona Game & Fish |access-date=27 March 2026}}</ref> It is dammed before reaching the mine pit at the north by a double-curvature concrete arch dam, Big Box Canyon Dam,<ref>{{cite web |title=RESTORATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE RELEASES FROM THE HAYDEN SMELTER AND RAY MINE FACILITIES |url=https://www.cerc.usgs.gov/orda_docs/DocHandler.ashx?task=get&ID=1500 |website=Columbia Environmental Research Center |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=27 March 2026}}</ref> which outlets into an underground tunnel that diverts the creek around the mine pit till it emerges into a concrete channel that connects it to the Gila River, immediately south of the Ray Mine complex. This project was privately built and is maintained by the operators of the mine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sutter |first1=Jason |title=Memorandum: Review of Proposed Designated Use Changes to Mineral Creek |url=https://legacy.azdeq.gov/function/laws/download/proposal_mineral_creek.pdf |website=Arizona Department of Environmental Quality |access-date=27 March 2026}}</ref>
[[File:Copper-192630.jpg|thumb|Old specimen of native copper ({{cvt|2.2|×|2.2|×|1.2|cm|in}}) from Ray mine. Large "sail" at left is a spinel twin.]]
==See also== * Ray, Arizona
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commonscat|position=left|Ray Mine}} * {{official|https://www.asarco.com/about-us/ray-operations/}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePlYQGd-SAM Ray mine tour], at YouTube
Category:Copper mines in Arizona Category:Geography of Pinal County, Arizona Category:Open-pit mines
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