Rosemont Mine Overview
Rosemont project overview
To learn about the Rosemont Ranch and the surrounding area read the Pima County report on preserving the Santa Rita Rosemont ranch. http://www.pima.gov/CMO/SDCP/reports/d29/Rosemont%20Ranch.pdf
To learn about the Rosemont mine project read the following article http://www.augustaresource.com/upload/PowerPoint/Final_Profile.pdf
According to the article Gil Clausen, president and CEO of Augusta Resource noted that although developing Rosemont is the companies primary focus, three other properties in Augusta's land holdings offered opportunities for further exploration. These properties are the Peach-Elgin, Broadtop Butte, and Copper World prospects. The article makes it clear that Augusta has no intentions of stopping with the Rosemont Mine. Rosemont may be where they plan to start but it looks like they intend on pursuing several future mines along the Sonoita-Patagonia Scenic route, and one on the west side on the Santa Rita's which will be visible from Green Valley. Augusta is not making it clear to the public what their future intentions are in the Santa Rita's.
How Big is it? Augusta would lead us to believe that it will hardly be seen from SR83. Lets get the mine into perspective. First it will consume an area of 4,755 acres. A square mile is 640 acres. This mine will consume 7.4 square miles. That's pretty damn big I would say.
from rosemont's MPO "At the rim, the ultimate open pit will be about 6,500 ft across north to south, 6,000 ft across east to west, and will be about 1,800 to 2,900 ft deep. The pit bottom elevation is projected at 3,150 ft above msl. The pit area totals about 700 ac, and an additional 300 ac will be disturbed for access/haul roads, ore stockpiles, the primary crusher and overland conveyor, power lines, water pipelines, truck shop, and storage of fuel and lubricants.". The Lavender pit in Bisbee is less than half the size and 1/3 as deep.
the scenic drive through Box Canyon will surely be spoiled on the east side of the Santa Rita's. I just rode through this exact area on 4/7/2008. I now realize that Gunsight Pass is part of their land. It will be completely cut off. It offers some fantastic views, and is a common goal for hikers, bikers, and 4 wheelers. Here is a better example of the area consumed by the Rosemont mine. (Note, click on the map for a larger view). Note the Canyons that will be cut off from the mountain rainfall from the mine and its tailings. The following images are from Skytruth, the first shows a simulation of the mine, the next shows the footprint superimposed over a satellite view of Tucson (to show the size of the mine in relation to the size of Tucson).
A large majority of people living in our community are opposed to the Rosemont Mine. We are concerned about several issues including:
WATER - The mine will use from 5,000 acre feet to 8,000 acre feet of fresh groundwater in its processes. This is in addition to the water lost from dewatering the pit, the water used in the electrical generation needed for the mine.
SAFETY - Scenic route 83 is already unsafe, what impact will the mine have.
ECONOMIC IMPACT - The Sonoran institute completed an economic study, read about it.
LIGHT POLLUTION - The mine will operate 24/7, what impact will the lighting have in this sensitive area
LOSS OF AN AREA THAT SHOULD BE PRESERVED - look at where the proposed mine will be located and its proximity to the surrounding sensitive preservation areas, the Arizona Trail, Scenic highway 83, Davidson canyon, what a dumb place to propose an open pit mine!
THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF MINES IN THE REGION/AREA:
The Rosemont mine (and future mines Augusta plans on exploring) is not the only concern. There are several proposed mines already in our area. Click on the following map to see:
Portland cement is also putting a mine in Davidson Canyon. Its traffic will also be traveling SR83, what is the cumulative effect of these mines? Click here to read about the Empire Mountains Quarry