[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f9f9f9″ max_height=”55px” custom_margin=”-20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” text_text_color=”#2e3545″ custom_margin=”|||15px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”DATE LINE” global_module=”3868″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n
VOL. 08\u00a0 |\u00a0 ISSUE 4\u00a0 |\u00a0 Winter 2025\/26<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Taviraj MAIN HEADLINE” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Taviraj|300|||||||” header_text_color=”#b2a36f” header_font_size=”90px” header_letter_spacing=”-1px” header_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||35px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”90px” header_font_size_phone=”50px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text content_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Fira Sans Condensed Regular SUBHEAD” module_class=”lighter-fira” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#3d485e” header_2_font_size=”44px” header_2_letter_spacing=”-1px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”-65px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-60px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”44px” header_2_font_size_phone=”30px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A hydraulic arm rises from the dust and swings across the crusher bay, stretching its rock hammer into the thunderous mouth of the crusher and \u2013 with a few well-placed strikes \u2013 shatters stubborn stone to restore the flow of material.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a familiar sight across Freeport\u2019s operations \u2013 but at Morenci, one key difference stands out.<\/p>\n
Here, the nearby control booth sits empty.<\/p>\n
While not the result of automation, those practiced movements offer a glimpse of mining\u2019s future being implemented today.<\/p>\n
This year, Morenci deployed a remote rock hammer at its crusher as part of a broader effort to modernize operations. Capitalizing on capabilities the hammer has had for over a decade, remote operation allows the site to centralize the crew at a single location, improving communication, response time and coordination between mine operations and downstream processing.<\/p>\n
Tim Messick, Crush and Convey Manager-Morenci, called it the site\u2019s internal version of the Integrated Remote Operations Center, or IROC, the new centralized facility being implemented in Phoenix that unites virtual mine site functions to improve efficiency through real-time decision making.<\/p>\n
And if Morenci\u2019s success is any indication, it could have big implications for Freeport.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/feedback.jpg” title_text=”feedback” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f6f5f3″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” background_color_phone=”#f6f5f3″ background_last_edited=”on|tablet” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
When it comes to breaking rocks, Morenci already is breaking records, with its Crush and Convey team logging two of its best quarters since the rock hammer\u2019s implementation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rock hammer is not what made this happen,\u201d Messick said. \u201cBut the rock hammer is a part of it. It\u2019s a part in a much bigger picture showing how Morenci is changing its mindset and embracing a more open-minded, forward-looking approach to mining.\u201d<\/p>\n
But change like that doesn\u2019t happen overnight.<\/p>\n
Early on, Messick encountered reluctance from some team members, who presented numerous obstacles to this new direction. In response, he flipped the script, asking that instead of telling him all the reasons it couldn\u2019t work, they tell him what was needed so it could.<\/p>\n
His operators rose to the challenge.<\/p>\n
Responding to their feedback, Messick said the site made several improvements to help ensure the remote rock hammer was up to the task. A high-speed fiberoptic connection eliminated lag between hammer and screens, additional cameras improved visibility, and microphones and speakers are in development so operators can listen for audible cues at the crusher.<\/p>\n
Other solutions, such as haptic feedback, still are being evaluated.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the changes helped win over operators like Charleen Ochoa, Crusher Operator I-Morenci. A 20-year Freeport employee, Ochoa said the site\u2019s effort to address concerns showed how valuable the change was, convincing her despite initial skepticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely took some getting used to,\u201d Ochoa said. \u201cBut once you get past that and put in the time and effort to learn this new way, that\u2019s when you start to see the vision. That\u2019s when you start to see how much faster things go and how much more you can do.\u201d[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/rennie.jpg” title_text=”rennie” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/rock-hammer.jpg” title_text=”rock-hammer” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
While most improvements may go unseen by anyone but operators, their impacts are felt across Morenci.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a recurring theme at the site, said Rennie Clotworthy, Senior Engineer-Morenci.<\/p>\n
He points to new load-indicating \u201csmart bolts\u201d at the crusher. Previously, the inability to gauge bolt loads led to breaks that posed safety hazards and impacted production, both issues mitigated by digital load readings.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorenci is a large, fast-moving operation with many moving parts, both seen and unseen,\u201d Clotworthy said. \u201cAs a site, we\u2019re determined to work collaboratively to implement changes, no matter how visible, that ensure we can continue delivering on our priority of safe production.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the site is evaluating remote capabilities at another crusher, Messick takes pride in stories like that, showing that no idea is too big or too small to consider. From hammer to screw, every improvement drives progress and fosters a culture of collaboration.<\/p>\n
And success, he insists, comes from recognizing that a rising tide lifts all boats \u2013 even beyond Morenci.<\/p>\n
Or, to put it another way, as goes Morenci, so goes Freeport.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re out here to prove something,\u201d Messick said. \u201cMorenci is the largest producer for our North American operations, and the process improvements we make here can blaze the trail for other sites. That\u2019s not just a point of pride for us \u2013 it\u2019s a responsibility.\u201d[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”PULL QUOTE – JUSTIN CROSS” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|500|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#3d485e” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#a36f58″ header_3_font_size=”30px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#a36f58″ header_4_font_size=”14px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tim-messick.png” title_text=”tim-messick” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/despite.jpg” title_text=”despite” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f6f5f3″ width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/reinvent-mining.jpg” title_text=”reinvent-mining” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f6f5f3″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”3px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_2_font=”–et_global_heading_font||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#3e485e” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Not all Crush and Convey\u2019s recent success started at the crusher. Tim Messick, Crush and Convey Manager-Morenci, said some of the credit goes to Reinvent Mining\u2019s drill and blast team for laying the groundwork \u2013 and then blowing it up.<\/p>\n
Originally tasked with reducing rock size to improve leaching recovery from unprocessed ore, Danny Benavidez, Projects Integration Manager-Morenci, said his team decided to go big or go home. They started by making radical changes \u2013 such as nearly doubling their drill patterns from 380 holes to 600 \u2013 then reverse engineering their blasts to find the \u201csweet spot,\u201d inadvertently delivering the mill some of its smoothest material along the way.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]By challenging the established norms and trading short-term disruptions for long-term gains, the Reinvent Mining team at Morenci was able to find a solution that met the needs and improved outcomes for multiple customers.<\/p>\n
And for Benavidez, that gets to the core of Reinvent Mining.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t always about a revolution,\u201d Benavidez said. \u201cSometimes, it is about a rediscovery. Sometimes, the way forward means going all the way back to the basics and asking if the foundation everything else is built on is even correct.\u201d[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3d485e” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” global_module=”1861″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” prev_text=”Prev Page” next_text=”Next Page” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|700||on|||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[21],"class_list":["post-3771","issue-article","type-issue-article","status-publish","hentry","category-winter-2025"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article\/3771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issue-article"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}