Modern electric locomotives in open-pit mine haulage

Early in 1942 Phelps Dodge Corporation started production of copper from their new open-pit mine and reduction plant at Morenci, Ariz. One of the earliest mining districts of the state, Morenci had produced some 900,000 tons of copper since the beginning of operations in the early 70´s, largely from ores of two to three per cent copper content, mined underground.