Photos: Resolution underground mine in Superior
- Updated
Resolution Copper Mining has sunk a 7000-feet deep shaft mine near Superior that it hopes will produce billions of tons of copper.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The A-shaped headframe holds the the Maryanne, or auxiliary basket, the primary transport into the mine at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. The basket has two decks that hold 12 people each. The height of the head frame also provides ample space to accommodate mine-shaft hoisting equipment. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Andy Bravence, Mine superintendent at Resolution Copper mine descends through the 4000 feet level where lights momentarily shine through the auxiliary cage he rides to the bottom of shaft 10 at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A skid steer excavator, left, remains at the end of the 170 foot tunnel at the base of #10 shaft at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. It was originally used to start the excavation of the tunnel and now serves as an equipment mover and hauler. The walls of the tunnel are lined with shock crete, fiber reinforced concrete to hold the rock back. At right is a six-man refuge chamberPhoto taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Shaft 10 at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. leads to this 170 foot long working level, 6780 feet under ground. Pipes on the wall move water at 580 gallons a minute to pumps that send it to a water treatment facility on the surface. Without forced cooling, the rock at this depth, is typically 180 degrees. The cooling system keeps the mine in the mid 70 degrees with about 100 percent humidity. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A 170-foot lateral tunnel is carved out at the 6,700 ft left at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. On the surface, chillers use glycol-chilled water to drop the water below freezing. The air is then forced down a 72 in vent duct to the bottom of shaft #10.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Pumps push water from the bottom of the #10 shaft to the to water treatment plant on the surface at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Treated water is given to the New Magma Irrigation District to water their alfalfa and cotton crops. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The rock at this depth of more than a mile, without forced cooling, is typically 180 degrees Resolution Mine outside Superior, AZ. A rock bolt protrudes from the wall of the mine where a series of 6-feet long rebar rock bolts are inserted into the rock face and fitted with a plate to support the rock wall which is the covered with shotcrete. The floor is poured concrete on bottom and insulates the heat away from the miners. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Andy Bravence, Mine Superintendent rides through the dark in the auxiliary basket in the number 10 Shaft at Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
One of two refuge chambers, this eight-man and another six-man provide 32 hours of emergency protection in relative comfort at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Pipes on the wall and pumps on the floor keep water moving out of the mine at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. The vents on the ceiling are fresh air ducts. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The east field of the Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Photo by Ron
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Instruments allow stations on the surface to monitor the conditions 6700 feet below ground at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Pipes in the wall of #10 shaft drain water from the bottom of the adjacent #9 shaft to keep it from going into the working shaft at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
The A-shaped headframe holds the the Maryanne, or auxiliary basket, the primary transport into the mine at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. The basket has two decks that hold 12 people each. The height of the head frame also provides ample space to accommodate mine-shaft hoisting equipment. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Andy Bravence, Mine superintendent at Resolution Copper mine descends through the 4000 feet level where lights momentarily shine through the auxiliary cage he rides to the bottom of shaft 10 at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
A skid steer excavator, left, remains at the end of the 170 foot tunnel at the base of #10 shaft at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. It was originally used to start the excavation of the tunnel and now serves as an equipment mover and hauler. The walls of the tunnel are lined with shock crete, fiber reinforced concrete to hold the rock back. At right is a six-man refuge chamberPhoto taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Shaft 10 at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. leads to this 170 foot long working level, 6780 feet under ground. Pipes on the wall move water at 580 gallons a minute to pumps that send it to a water treatment facility on the surface. Without forced cooling, the rock at this depth, is typically 180 degrees. The cooling system keeps the mine in the mid 70 degrees with about 100 percent humidity. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
A 170-foot lateral tunnel is carved out at the 6,700 ft left at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. On the surface, chillers use glycol-chilled water to drop the water below freezing. The air is then forced down a 72 in vent duct to the bottom of shaft #10.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Pumps push water from the bottom of the #10 shaft to the to water treatment plant on the surface at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Treated water is given to the New Magma Irrigation District to water their alfalfa and cotton crops. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
The rock at this depth of more than a mile, without forced cooling, is typically 180 degrees Resolution Mine outside Superior, AZ. A rock bolt protrudes from the wall of the mine where a series of 6-feet long rebar rock bolts are inserted into the rock face and fitted with a plate to support the rock wall which is the covered with shotcrete. The floor is poured concrete on bottom and insulates the heat away from the miners. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
One of two refuge chambers, this eight-man and another six-man provide 32 hours of emergency protection in relative comfort at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Pipes on the wall and pumps on the floor keep water moving out of the mine at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. The vents on the ceiling are fresh air ducts. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
Resolution Copper Mine
- Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Pipes in the wall of #10 shaft drain water from the bottom of the adjacent #9 shaft to keep it from going into the working shaft at The Resolution Copper mine, outside Superior, Ariz. Photo taken Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
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