View from Discovery Outcrop, 1963 / 2019
HISTORY OF THE MINE
The Cactus Mine (formerly the Sacaton Mine) is located in Arizona at the convergence of three major geologic zones in western Pinal County, just west of Casa Grande. It was discovered in 1961 by American Smelting and Refining Co. (ASARCO) which mined the site from 1972 to 1984. During its previous operation, the mine extracted 38 million tons, with 400 million pounds of copper, 759,000 ounces of silver, and 27,000 ounces of gold from the West open pit orebody.
In 1982, construction began on the production shaft to the depth of 1,800 ft and a headframe to the southwest of the pit to access the higher-grade ore via underground mining methods; however, development was suspended due to market conditions in 1984.
COMMUNITY STORIES
The Cactus Mine project site has been part of the region’s history for decades. In celebration of that history, our team is working on the creation of a living history of the site. In partnership with Kramer Media and Blossom Digital, we interviewed some familiar faces from the community about working at the mine back in the day. Here are their stories: Youtube.com
Did you work at the mine between 1972 and 1984? If so, we would love to hear your story! Please contact our communities team at (520) 858-0600 or community@cactusmine.com.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Our team is dedicated to advancing the property while working with the local community openly and transparently. If you have any questions about activities or would like more information, please reach out to us.
Call us: (520) 858-0600
Email us: community@cactusmine.com