VOL. 09 | ISSUE 1 | Spring 2026
Miner Notes
Freeport Again Named Best in the Industry
in Annual Just Capital Rankings
The company’s continued focus on employee well-being earned it recognition as one of
America’s Most Just Companies for the fourth consecutive year.
Freeport finished 66th overall and first in the Basic Resources category in annual rankings
by independent research firm Just Capital. This is the seventh year since 2018 that Freeport
has made the annual list of America’s Most Just Companies. The company was singled out
for its performance in the categories of compliance and oversight, data usage, pay equity,
opportunities for local businesses and use of outsourced labor.
“Being recognized by Just Capital as an industry leader underscores our focus on doing right
by our workforce,” said Pam Masson, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.
“At Freeport, we strive to create an environment where employees are valued, paid fairly, and
supported with strong benefits and opportunities for development, so they can thrive and
grow with us over the long term.”
Freeport Engineers Asked to Embrace Innovation and Collaboration
Freeport is well positioned to embrace innovative mining approaches to boost production, improve operational efficiency and maximize the value of existing assets long into the future, top company leaders said at a recent summit of engineering professionals.
“We have to be thinking about thinking big,” said Kathleen Quirk, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Innovation is going to be our competitive edge in this industry. That’s going to be the competition in our industry, and that’s where Freeport is going to win.”
About 125 company engineers from multiple disciplines participated in the conference at the Hub in Phoenix. Session topics included operational readiness, outage planning, training and an update on the Integrated Remote Operating Center being constructed at the Phoenix complex. The summit also included networking events and opportunities for attendees to share best practices from their respective operating sites.
Semi-Autonomous Drilling
Technology Rolled Out at Sierrita
Sierrita has deployed three drills equipped with operator machine assist technology, which helps improve the operator experience and workflow by automating repetitive functions.
“It’s kind of like cruise control in a car,” said Jason Wilkinson, Senior Supervisor of Mine Operations-Sierrita “It also improves hole accuracy, ensures consistent drill patterns and makes tramming from hole to hole a lot faster.”
In preparation for the rollout, drill operators received hours of classroom instruction and field training on the new equipment. While the automated functions can make the job faster and easier, human oversight remains essential. Operators still are responsible for securing the site and ensuring safe, responsible drilling practices, including collision avoidance, refueling, watering and monitoring equipment conditions.
“It also improves hole accuracy,
ensures consistent drill patterns
and makes tramming from hole
to hole a lot faster.”
JASON WILKINSON |SENIOR SUPERVISOR OF MINE OPERATIONS-SIERRITA
Bagdad is Going to the Dogs –
Robotic Ones
Spot, the new four-legged robot roaming the Bagdad production areas, has most of the qualities of a top-notch working dog: hard-working, agile, reliable and efficient.
Cuddly and affectionate? Not quite, but it doesn’t shed and requires no cleanup.
Recently added to the site, the fully autonomous machine follows a pre-determined route using sophisticated sensors to verify equipment condition and detect early warning signs of potential issues.
Equipped with thermal and acoustic sensors, Spot can determine whether any piece of equipment is operating outside of specifications or making unusual noises that may be an early sign of failure. If a potential problem is found, Spot also is equipped with a camera that can rotate 360 degrees and take photographs of areas of concern. All the data collected is later downloaded and used to help build maintenance and repair plans.
Spot recently traveled to Phoenix for Arizona Mining Day, an annual event to showcase the mining industry to state legislators and Arizona elementary and high school students. Attendees were able to take Spot for a walk, not with a leash, but by using a tablet with intuitive controls like a gaming device.
Instrumentation and First Pounds
Placed on ‘Perfect Stockpile’ in
New Mexico
The Chino team recently reached two important milestones in its effort to build the company’s most advanced leach stockpile to date.
In January, headline instrumentation was installed at the North Lampbright Leach Stockpile, marking a critical step forward. Just days later, the new stockpile – known as the “perfect stockpile” – received its first leachable pounds.
North Lampbright brings together years of operational insight into a design focused on stability, creating and maintaining optimal conditions, and providing early visibility into leaching performance.
To support this objective, the newly installed instrumentation includes geomechanical piezo and pressure cells to monitor solution and thermal conditions within the stockpile, along with oxygen and temperature sensors, pregnant leach solution samplers and additional monitoring tools.
The newly installed instrumentation includes
geomechanical piezo and pressure cells to
monitor solution and thermal conditions within
the stockpile, along with oxygen and temperature
sensors, pregnant leach solution samplers and
additional monitoring tools.
New Roles
