This study uses ArcGIS to determine suitable locations for storing tailings from the Resolution Copper Mine near Superior, AZ. It analyzes factors like distance from the mine, land use, slope, and environmental areas to create a weighted suitability map. The map highlights areas within 10 miles of the mine, with the most suitable location being within a mile. While the older Pinto Valley copper mine was considered, it is no longer available due to renewed mining operations. The study identifies 10 potential sites that require further review of land acquisition and visibility before a final site is chosen.

1. Abstract:
One major concern for mining operations is where to put the tailings.
Tailings are the left over material after ore has been extracted. This
material usually has a concerning amount of toxic metals that can be
damaging to the environment; therefore, it is important to find a suitable
place to store them. The state of Arizona just approved for Resolution
Copper Mining to start operations near Superior, AZ. This new mine is
estimated to be the largest copper producer in North America. Currently,
the company's plan of operations does not specify what exactly will be
done with the tailings. They are exploring whether or not to put them in
the older Pinto Valley copper mine. This mine is an open pit mine about 10
miles away from Resolution Copper Mining’s base of operations. This study
will use ArcGIS to determine if the expected amount of tailings will fit into
the Pinto Valley mine, and it will use ArcGIS’s weighted sum tools to
determine if there is a viable location to store the tailings closer to
the mining base of operations. Using the 3-D analyst tools in ArcGIS the
volume of the Pinto Valley mine can be estimated. This volume will then be
compared to the estimated tonnage expected from the Resolution Copper
Mine. Then using the weighted sum tools in ArcGIS a suitability study will
be performed. This study will take into account the following
variables: distance from the base of operations (10 mi), city limits,
endangered species habitat, water ways, land use, slope, and
accessibility. This analysis will produce a map highlighting the areas
suitable for storage of the tailings. It is expected that the tailings will fit
into the Pinto Valley mine, but it is also expected that there is another
location closer to the mining base of operation.
Discussion:
The final suitability map (map 1.1) highlights areas of
interest in green. The majority of the areas are to the
northeast of the base of operations, and to the west near
Superior, AZ. Many of the possible locations are on National
Forest Service land. A deal would need to be worked out
with the Nation Forest Service in order to acquire the land
needed. Private land with potential for storage is located
within a mile of the base of operations, and would be the
ideal location. Other factors to consider for this area would
be who owns the land and if it could be acquired from
them. Private land north, south and west of superior could
also be considered, but may be too close to the city of
Superior..
Conclusion:
There are about ten areas worth considering for tailing storage. The
closest is within a mile of the base of operations. A physical survey
could rule out areas that are not suitable because of reasons not
addressed in this study such as land acquisition. The sights closer to
Superior and the U.S. Highway 60 would need a line of sight study
done in the future. This would determine if They would be visible to
residents and people on the highway. Further analyses of these ten
areas would need to be conducted in order to make a final
decision.
Sources:
http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/#productSearch
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/maps/gis_files.html
https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/tiger-
geodatabases.html
http://resolutioncopper.com/
Point Feature classes created by Blake Rothlisberger
Results:
Resolution Copper Mining Environmental Suitability Study for Tailings Storage: Superior, AZ
By: Blake Rothlisberger, BYU-Idaho Department of Geology
Map 1.2
Methods:
During the analysis the Pinto Valley mine
Started up operations again. Therefore,
Resolution Copper may no longer use it to
store their tailings. The volume of the mine
was not calculated in this study due to the
restart of mining operations in Pinto Valley
and the lack of recent elevation data for the
area.
The proceeding figures will be used to
explain the methods used for the weighted
sum analysis.
Figure 1.2
(Figure 1.2) is a model of the GIS tools used
to create the map of the data to be
analyzed. Each set of data was clipped to
the study area. The study area is a 10 mile
buffer with the Resolution Copper Mine
being the center. Any vector data was
converted to raster data, and then
reclassified. Specifics will be given in figures
1.3-1.7.
Figure 1.3
(Figure 1.3) is the result of a slope analysis.
The Digital Elevation Model was reclassified
into 3 different classes using a natural breaks
classification. The steepest slopes were given
a weight of 1 in each pixal. The intermediate
slopes a weight of 2 and the most level slopes
a weight of 3. With 3 being the most
desirable.
Figure 1.4
(Figure 1.4) is a map of private, Forest
Service, State and BLM land boundaries.
Private land was given a weight of 3. State
and BLM a weight of 1, and the Forest
Service a weight of 2. With 3 being the most
desirable and 1 being the least desirable.
Figure 1.6
(Figure 1.6) is a raster of the line hydrology
and areal hydrology in the area. A 300 ft.
buffer was created around all of the water.
These areas are off limits to store the tailings
and are marked as such on Map 1.2.
Figure 1.7
(Figure 1.7) is a raster of environmental areas
of concern, endangered desert tortoise
habitat and the Arizona Trail with a ¼ mi
buffer around it. These areas are off limits to
store the tailings and are marked as such on
Map 1.1.
Map 1.1
(Map 1.1) is a spatial
display of the suitability
analysis conducted and
takes into consideration
city limits, endangered
species habitat, water
ways, land use, and
slope. The data in figures
1.5- 1.7 were added as
layers and then
symbolized to highlight
areas that are more
suitable to hold the
tailings.
(Map 1.2) is a spatial
representation of locations
Resolution Copper Mine
may store their tailings. The
digital elevation model was
created in 2013. The DEM’s
purpose is to help visualize
the topography of the area.
It is draped over a hillshade
and displayed with 50%
transparency.
A road layer was added to
the map in order to
visualize possible ways to
access these areas and to
help give a spatial
reference to the area.
(Figure 1.1) Copper mine tailings.
Figure 1.1
(Figure 1.5) is the result of the
weighted sum between the slope
analysis (Fig 1.3) and the land
use (Fig 1.4).
Figure 1.5
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