Douglas smelter slag

Mexico / Sonora / Agua Prieta /
 copper mine, metallurgy, mining, smelter, tailings
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this is waste from the smelter, a Phelps Dodge creation.......the smelter operated from 1904 to 1987. It was the largest single source of sulfur dioxide in the USA, putting out 950 tons of it on an average day. Phelps Dodge would have had to completely rebuild the obsolete facility to bring it into compliance with air quality standards. So they shut it down, putting 300 workers out..
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Coordinates:   31°20'33"N   109°34'53"W

Comments

  • When Phelps Dodge copper comapany closed and dismantled the smelter located here, I thought the state had mandated the company to dig up and remove all the slag. It's still there and is an eyesore coming into/out of Douglas
This article was last modified 8 years ago