{"id":4339,"date":"2026-06-08T23:56:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T23:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/?post_type=issue-article&#038;p=4339"},"modified":"2026-06-15T19:17:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:17:30","slug":"how-freeport-and-the-united-states-grew-together","status":"publish","type":"issue-article","link":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/issue-article\/how-freeport-and-the-united-states-grew-together\/","title":{"rendered":"How Freeport and the United States Grew Together"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f9f9f9&#8243; max_height=&#8221;55px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-20px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||40px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Date Line Summer 2026&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#2e3545&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;|||15px|false|false&#8221; global_module=&#8221;4320&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">VOL. 09 |\u00a0 ISSUE 2\u00a0 |\u00a0 Summer 2026<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;30px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<!-- ============================================================<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     &#8220;How Freeport and the United States Grew Together&#8221; \u2014 TIMELINE<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     SPECIAL MODULE. Print pp.20-23. FULL timeline (1776-2026).<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     [REV] equal-width decades; entries placed horizontally by year;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->           per-decade MANUAL layout map for art-directed placement;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->           proper vertical stacks; NO scrolling. 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}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\/* a placed group = a vertical stack of 1-2 cards at an absolute x.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->   TOP rail: anchored to bottom (grows up off the bar). BOTTOM rail: anchored top. *\/<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-group{ position:absolute; width:var(--card-w); display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:16px; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-col-top .tl-group{ bottom:16px; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-col-bot .tl-group{ top:16px; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->@media (max-width:980px){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  .tl-wrap .tl-stage{ display:none; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  .tl-wrap .tl-vert{ display:block; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  .tl-wrap .tl-title{ font-size:40px !important; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  .tl-wrap .tl-deck{ font-size:17px; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vert{ display:none; max-width:560px; margin:8px auto 0; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vitem{ display:flex; gap:14px; padding:14px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #e3e1dc; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vchip{ flex:0 0 auto; width:14px; height:14px; margin-top:5px; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vchip.us{ background:var(--maroon); }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vchip.fmi{ background:var(--gold); }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vbody{ flex:1; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vdate{ font-family:'Fira Sans Condensed',Arial,sans-serif; font-weight:700; font-size:12px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.03em; margin:0 0 4px; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vitem.us .tl-vdate{ color:var(--maroon); }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vitem.fmi .tl-vdate{ color:#9a7416; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vcopy{ font-size:15px; line-height:1.5em; color:var(--body); margin:0; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap .tl-vph{ width:100%; background:var(--ph); margin:8px 0 0; box-sizing:border-box; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->.tl-wrap img.tl-vph{ background:transparent; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/style>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-wrap\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-head\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<h1 class=\"tl-title\">How Freeport and the United States Grew Together<\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <pee class=\"tl-deck\">From early expansion to modern industry, Freeport&rsquo;s story is closely tied to the nation&rsquo;s development. Explore key milestones that trace both the company&rsquo;s history and the growth of the United States over the past 250 years.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-legend\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      <span><span class=\"chip us\"><\/span>U.S. Events<\/span><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      <span><span class=\"chip fmi\"><\/span>Freeport Events<\/span><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      <span class=\"tl-howto\">Use the <b>&#9664; &#9654;<\/b> arrows to move through time.<\/span><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-stage\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-arrows\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      <button class=\"tl-arrow prev\" aria-label=\"Scroll earlier\">&#9664;<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      <button class=\"tl-arrow next\" aria-label=\"Scroll later\">&#9654;<\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-viewport\">\n<div class=\"tl-track\" id=\"tlTrack\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-vert\" id=\"tlVert\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->(function(){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var TL_EVENTS = [<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e0',  track:'us',  col:1776, date:'July 4, 1776', sort:1776.50, photoFile:'timeline-1776-declaration.jpg', photoAR:'1.50\/1', pos:'above', copy:'The Declaration of Independence is adopted. American colonies unite as the 13 \\u201cUnited States of America\\u201d to declare their independence from Great Britain.', photo:'Declaration of Independence' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e1',  track:'us',  col:1776, date:'October 19, 1781', sort:1781.80, pos:'below', copy:'The British surrender at Yorktown, the last major battle of the Revolution, which officially ends by treaty in 1783.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e2',  track:'us',  col:1776, date:'September 17, 1787', sort:1787.71, pos:'below', copy:'The U.S. Constitution is signed and sent to the states for ratification, which came in 1788.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e3',  track:'us',  col:1776, date:'April 30, 1789', sort:1789.33, pos:'below', copy:'George Washington is inaugurated as the nation\\u2019s first president.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e4',  track:'us',  col:1790, date:'April 2, 1792', sort:1792.26, photoFile:'timeline-1792-copper-cents.jpg', photoAR:'1.64\/1', pos:'above', copy:'U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1792, authorizing copper cents and half-cents, making copper central to America\\u2019s first national currency.', photo:'Copper cents' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e5',  track:'fmi', col:1800, date:'About 1800', sort:1800.10, pos:'below', copy:'Spanish soldiers are shown a large copper deposit by members of the local Apache tribe, leading to a small-scale mining operation in what would eventually grow into the Chino mine in New Mexico.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e6',  track:'us',  col:1800, date:'April 30, 1803', sort:1803.33, pos:'below', copy:'The Louisiana Purchase is completed, doubling the size of the United States.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e7',  track:'us',  col:1810, date:'June 18, 1812', sort:1812.46, photoFile:'timeline-1812-warship.jpg', photoAR:'1.55\/1', pos:'above', copy:'The War of 1812 begins. It lasts more than two years. Copper sheathing used to line the hulls of wooden warships protects the ships from shipworms, barnacles and marine growth, and rot caused by long exposure to seawater.', photo:'Wooden warship' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e8',  track:'fmi', col:1830, date:'1834', sort:1834.50, pos:'below', copy:'Phelps, Dodge & Company is founded by Anson Phelps and his sons-in-law William E. Dodge and Daniel James as a New York City-based mercantile exchange company.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e9',  track:'us',  col:1840, date:'April 25, 1846', sort:1846.31, pos:'above', copy:'The Mexican-American War begins. The war ends two years later with the United States acquiring what would become California, Nevada and Utah, as well as parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e10',  track:'us',  col:1840, date:'1848', sort:1848.50, pos:'above', copy:'Gold is discovered at Sutter\\u2019s Mill, California, triggering the California Gold Rush of 1848 and prompting mass migration westward.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e11',  track:'us',  col:1850, date:'December 30, 1853', sort:1853.99, pos:'above', copy:'The Gadsden Purchase allows the United States to acquire additional land in Arizona and New Mexico, establishing the current borders.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e12',  track:'us',  col:1860, date:'April 12, 1861', sort:1861.28, photoFile:'timeline-1861-civil-war.jpg', photoAR:'1.62\/1', pos:'below', copy:'The Civil War begins. Copper is essential for ammunition, telegraph wire and naval equipment.', photo:'Civil War soldiers' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e13',  track:'us',  col:1860, date:'April 9, 1865', sort:1865.27, pos:'below', copy:'The Confederacy surrenders at Appomattox, Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e14',  track:'fmi', col:1880, date:'1881', sort:1881.50, photoFile:'timeline-william-church.jpg', photoAR:'1.17\/1', pos:'above', copy:'William Church, a founding partner in the Detroit Copper Mining Co., approaches the owners of Phelps Dodge about investing in the Morenci mining venture. Though Phelps Dodge had no history in mining, the company invests in Detroit Copper and in 1897 acquires complete control of the company.', photo:'Morenci early mining' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e15',  track:'fmi', col:1880, date:'1882', sort:1882.50, pos:'above', copy:'Prospectors stake initial claims for gold, silver and lead in the Bagdad area.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e16',  track:'fmi', col:1880, date:'1887', sort:1887.50, pos:'above', width:320, copy:'The American Metal Company is founded. In 1957, it would merge with Climax Molybdenum to form American Metal Climax Inc.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e17',  track:'fmi', col:1900, date:'1906', sort:1906.50, photoFile:'timeline-miami-copper.jpg', photoAR:'1.33\/1', photo:'1906', pos:'below', copy:'The Miami Copper Co. is created to begin mining in the area west of the established mines in Globe, Arizona.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e18',  track:'fmi', col:1900, date:'1909', sort:1909.40, pos:'below', copy:'The Chino Copper Co. begins open-pit mining at the Chino mine.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e19',  track:'fmi', col:1910, date:'1909', sort:1909.60, pos:'below', copy:'Phelps Dodge consolidates scattered mining claims to form what would become the Tyrone mine in New Mexico, which begins production in 1916.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e20',  track:'fmi', col:1910, date:'1912', sort:1912.50, pos:'above', width:330, copy:'Freeport Sulphur (renamed Freeport Minerals Company in 1971) is founded; establishes the city of Freeport in Texas near its new sulfur mines.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e21',  track:'fmi', col:1910, date:'1915', sort:1915.50, pos:'above', width:280, copy:'International Smelting Co. builds a large-scale copper smelter in Miami, Arizona, one of two still in operation today.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e22',  track:'fmi', col:1910, date:'1916', sort:1916.50, pos:'above', copy:'Climax Molybdenum Co. is founded to mine molybdenum deposit near Leadville, Colorado. Production begins in 1918, with increased demand for molybdenum-steel alloys during World War I.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e23',  track:'us',  col:1910, date:'April 6, 1917', sort:1917.26, pos:'above', copy:'U.S. enters World War I, which ends on Nov. 11, 1918. Brass shell casings (a copper-zinc alloy) are essential for rifle cartridges, machine gun ammunition and artillery shells.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e24',  track:'fmi', col:1920, date:'1921', sort:1921.50, pos:'below', copy:'Phelps Dodge acquires the Arizona Copper Co. and gains complete control of copper mining operations in the Morenci district.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e25',  track:'us',  col:1930, date:'October 29, 1929', sort:1929.83, photoFile:'timeline-stock-market.jpg', photoAR:'1.33\/1', photo:'October 29, 1929', pos:'above', copy:'Stock market crashes. Copper prices drop to about 5 cents per pound from around 18 cents per pound.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e26',  track:'fmi', col:1930, date:'1930', sort:1930.20, pos:'below', copy:'Phelps Dodge opens the El Paso, Texas, copper refinery to produce electrolytic cathode. The rod mill is added in the 1950s.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e27',  track:'fmi', col:1930, date:'1937', sort:1937.50, pos:'below', copy:'Open-pit mining begins in Morenci.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e28',  track:'us',  col:1940, date:'December 7, 1941', sort:1941.94, photoFile:'timeline-pearl-harbor.jpg', photoAR:'1.33\/1', photo:'December 7, 1941', pos:'above', copy:'Pearl Harbor is attacked, prompting United States entry into World War II. Copper would be declared a critical material, as the metal is prioritized for weapons, shell casings, vehicles, communications and ships.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e29',  track:'fmi', col:1950, date:'1957', sort:1957.50, pos:'above', copy:'Open-pit mining begins at Sierrita southwest of Tucson, Ariz. The site previously had only small-scale underground mining activity.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e30',  track:'fmi', col:1960, date:'1969', sort:1969.30, pos:'below', copy:'McMoRan Exploration is formed by Ken McWilliams (\\u201cMc\\u201d), Jim Bob Moffett (\\u201cMo\\u201d) and Mack Rankin (\\u201cRan\\u201d) as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company in South Louisiana.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e31',  track:'fmi', col:1960, date:'1969', sort:1969.40, pos:'below', copy:'Phelps Dodge begins production from a new open-pit mine in Tyrone.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e32',  track:'us',  col:1960, date:'July 20, 1969', sort:1969.55, photoFile:'timeline-apollo-11.jpg', photoAR:'1.33\/1', photo:'July 20, 1969', pos:'above', copy:'Apollo 11 lands on the moon. Copper wiring\\u2019s high conductivity, durability and reliability make it a critical component of the command module.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e33',  track:'fmi', col:1970, date:'1970', sort:1970.20, pos:'above', copy:'Bagdad\\u2019s solvent extraction-electrowinning (SXEW) plant opens, the second in the world and now the oldest continually operated facility of its kind still in operation.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e34',  track:'us',  col:1970, date:'October 17, 1973', sort:1973.80, pos:'above', copy:'OPEC oil embargo forces rethinking of U.S. energy policy. Shifts towards diversification and electrification expand reliance on copper-intensive power infrastructure, such as California\\u2019s Altamont Pass wind farm and Solar One project.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e35',  track:'fmi', col:1970, date:'1976', sort:1976.50, pos:'above', copy:'Climax Molybdenum\\u2019s Henderson mine begins operations.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e36',  track:'fmi', col:1970, date:'1977', sort:1977.50, pos:'above', copy:'Fort Madison, Iowa, begins processing molybdenum.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e37',  track:'fmi', col:1980, date:'1981', sort:1981.50, pos:'above', width:290, copy:'McMoRan Oil & Gas (formerly McMoRan Exploration) merges with Freeport Minerals (formerly Freeport Sulphur) to create Freeport-McMoRan Inc. The combined company becomes a major independent oil and gas producer, with interests in agricultural minerals \\u2013 sulfur and phosphoric acid \\u2013 and in gold, copper, silver and uranium.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e38',  track:'fmi', col:1990, date:'1991', sort:1991.50, pos:'below', copy:'Freeport-McMoRan Copper Co. changes its name to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. to reflect significant growth in gold reserves.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e39',  track:'fmi', col:1990, date:'1999', sort:1999.50, pos:'below', copy:'Phelps Dodge acquires Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, including mines in Bagdad, Miami and Sierrita, Arizona; Cerro Verde mine in Peru; El Abra mine in Chile; and Climax Molybdenum in Colorado.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e40',  track:'us',  col:2000, date:'September 11, 2001', sort:2001.70, pos:'above', copy:'Terrorist attacks on the United States kill almost 3,000 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e41',  track:'fmi', col:2000, date:'December 10, 2003', sort:2003.94, pos:'above', copy:'Richard Adkerson becomes CEO.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e42',  track:'fmi', col:2000, date:'2005', sort:2005.50, pos:'above', copy:'Phelps Dodge acquires the Safford mine site in Arizona as part of a land exchange with the federal government. Production begins in 2007.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e43',  track:'fmi', col:2000, date:'2007', sort:2007.30, photoFile:'timeline-freeport-acquires.jpg', photoAR:'1.23\/1', pos:'below', copy:'Freeport acquires Phelps Dodge and becomes the world\\u2019s largest publicly traded producer of copper in what was then the largest mining acquisition in history.', photo:'FMI-Phelps Dodge merger' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e44',  track:'fmi', col:2000, date:'2007', sort:2007.40, pos:'below', copy:'The Safford mine begins production, becoming the first new large copper mine in Arizona in more than 30 years.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e45',  track:'us',  col:2000, date:'January 9, 2007', sort:2007.03, pos:'below', copy:'The modern smartphone era begins. Despite modest copper content in individual devices, the global adoption that follows will rely heavily on the metal.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e46',  track:'us',  col:2010, date:'December 11, 2010', sort:2010.94, pos:'below', width:280, copy:'The first mass-market electric vehicle is delivered to a U.S. customer, opening a new segment for both new and legacy automakers. EVs use significantly more copper than internal combustion vehicles, increasing demand.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e47',  track:'fmi', col:2010, date:'2014', sort:2014.50, pos:'below', width:290, copy:'Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. changes corporate name to Freeport-McMoRan Inc. to simplify the corporate name and better reflect the company\\u2019s expanded portfolio of assets.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e48',  track:'us',  col:2010, date:'December 31, 2019', sort:2019.99, pos:'below', copy:'First cases of COVID-19 are reported in China, the beginning of a global pandemic that would lead to an estimated 15-20 million deaths and trigger a worldwide economic shutdown.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e49',  track:'fmi', col:2020, date:'2023', sort:2021.50, pos:'above', copy:'Leach to the Last Drop work begins at Morenci, leveraging data analytics to drive additional recovery.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e50',  track:'us',  col:2020, date:'November 30, 2022', sort:2022.92, pos:'above', copy:'Generative artificial intelligence becomes widely accessible to the public. The rapid expansion of AI-driven computing and data centers increase demand for copper.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e51',  track:'fmi', col:2020, date:'2023', sort:2023.50, photoFile:'timeline-autonomous-trucks.jpg', photoAR:'1.33\/1', photo:'2023', pos:'above', copy:'Bagdad begins a full conversion of its haul trucks to be fully autonomous. The conversion is completed in 2025.' },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    { id:'e52',  track:'fmi', col:2026, date:'June 11, 2024', sort:2024.44, pos:'above', copy:'Kathleen Quirk becomes CEO.' }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  ];<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var TL_YEARS = [1776,1790,1800,1810,1820,1830,1840,1850,1860,1870,1880,1890,1900,1910,1920,1930,1940,1950,1960,1970,1980,1990,2000,2010,2020,2026];<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/\/ ---- MANUAL placement by event id ----<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/\/ x = left px within the 780 slot. rail (optional) overrides above\/below.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/\/ stack = id of another event to vertically stack with (shares that card's x\/rail).<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var MANUAL = {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1800<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e5':{x:40}, 'e6':{x:430},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1860 (Civil War start \/ end)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e12':{x:40}, 'e13':{x:430},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1900 (1906 \/ 1909)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e17':{x:40}, 'e18':{x:430},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 2010 (2010 \/ 2014 \/ 2019 COVID) \u2014 three across<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e46':{x:30}, 'e47':{x:280}, 'e48':{x:530},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1776 founding cluster<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e0':{x:40}, 'e1':{x:40}, 'e2':{x:300}, 'e3':{x:540},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1840<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e9':{x:40}, 'e10':{x:430},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1880  (1882 -> bottom)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e14':{x:40}, 'e16':{x:490}, 'e15':{x:270, rail:'below'},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1910  (1917 -> bottom)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e20':{x:30}, 'e21':{x:270}, 'e22':{x:510}, 'e23':{x:510, rail:'below'}, 'e19':{x:40},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1960  (separate the two 1969)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e32':{x:430}, 'e30':{x:40}, 'e31':{x:440},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 1970  (1976+1977 stacked)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e33':{x:20}, 'e34':{x:300}, 'e35':{x:560}, 'e36':{stack:'e35'},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 2000  (9\/11 + Adkerson stacked & offset; two 2007 split)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e40':{x:40}, 'e41':{x:80, stack:'e40'}, 'e42':{x:450},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e45':{x:40}, 'e43':{x:300}, 'e44':{x:550},<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 2020  (split 2022 \/ two 2023)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    'e50':{x:40}, 'e49':{x:300}, 'e51':{x:550}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  };<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var DECADE_W=780, CARD_W=230, PAD=24;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var track = document.getElementById('tlTrack');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  function cardHTML(ev){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var h = '<\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-ev ' + ev.track + '\">';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    h += '<span class=\"date\">' + ev.date + '<\/span>';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    if(ev.photoFile){ h += '<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"tl-ph\" src=\"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/' + ev.photoFile + '\" alt=\"' + (ev.photo||'') + '\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; aspect-ratio:' + (ev.photoAR||'4\/3') + '; object-fit:contain; display:block; margin:0 0 8px;\">'; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    h += '<pee class=\"copy\">' + ev.copy + '<\/pee><\/div>\n<p>';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    return h;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/\/ default year-based x for events with no manual entry<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  function yearX(sort, decade){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var frac=(sort-decade)\/10; if(frac<0)frac=0; if(frac>1)frac=1;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var usable=DECADE_W-CARD_W-2*PAD;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    return Math.round(PAD + frac*usable);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/\/ Build all columns. We resolve placement per event: effective rail (manual rail<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/\/ override or ev.pos), effective x (manual x or yearX), and stacking (manual stack).<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  function effRail(ev){ var m=MANUAL[ev.id]; return (m&&m.rail)?m.rail:ev.pos; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  function effX(ev, decade){ var m=MANUAL[ev.id]; return (m&&typeof m.x==='number')?m.x:yearX(ev.sort,decade); }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  TL_YEARS.forEach(function(y){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var col=document.createElement('div'); col.className='tl-col';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var topWrap=document.createElement('div'); topWrap.className='tl-col-top';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var bar=document.createElement('div'); bar.className='tl-bar'; bar.innerHTML='<span class=\"tl-year\">'+y+'<\/span>';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var botWrap=document.createElement('div'); botWrap.className='tl-col-bot';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ events in this decade<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var evs = TL_EVENTS.filter(function(e){ return e.col===y; });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ resolve stacking: build groups. A group is led by an event; events that<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ 'stack' onto it are appended. Non-stacking events lead their own group.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var byId = {}; evs.forEach(function(e){ byId[e.id]=e; });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var groups = {};   \/\/ leadId -> {rail, x, cards:[ev,...]}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ first pass: create groups for non-stacking events<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    evs.forEach(function(e){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      var m=MANUAL[e.id]||{};<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      if(m.stack) return; \/\/ handled in second pass<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      groups[e.id] = { rail:effRail(e), x:effX(e,y), cards:[e] };<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ second pass: attach stacking events to their lead<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    evs.forEach(function(e){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      var m=MANUAL[e.id]||{};<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      if(!m.stack) return;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      var lead = groups[m.stack];<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      if(lead){ lead.cards.push(e); }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      else { groups[e.id] = { rail:effRail(e), x:effX(e,y), cards:[e] }; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ sort cards within a group by sort year (earliest nearest the bar feels natural)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Object.keys(groups).forEach(function(k){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      groups[k].cards.sort(function(a,b){ return a.sort-b.sort; });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \/\/ render groups into their rail<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Object.keys(groups).forEach(function(k){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      var g=groups[k];<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      var el=document.createElement('div'); el.className='tl-group'; el.style.left=g.x+'px';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      el.innerHTML=g.cards.map(cardHTML).join('');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      (g.rail==='below'?botWrap:topWrap).appendChild(el);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    col.appendChild(topWrap); col.appendChild(bar); col.appendChild(botWrap);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    track.appendChild(col);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var vp=document.querySelector('.tl-wrap .tl-viewport');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var prev=document.querySelector('.tl-wrap .tl-arrow.prev');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var next=document.querySelector('.tl-wrap .tl-arrow.next');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var STEP=DECADE_W;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  function updateArrows(){ prev.disabled=vp.scrollLeft<=2; next.disabled=vp.scrollLeft>=(vp.scrollWidth-vp.clientWidth-2); }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  prev.addEventListener('click',function(){ vp.scrollBy({left:-STEP,behavior:'smooth'}); });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  next.addEventListener('click',function(){ vp.scrollBy({left:STEP,behavior:'smooth'}); });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  vp.addEventListener('scroll',updateArrows); window.addEventListener('resize',updateArrows); setTimeout(updateArrows,50);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  var vert=document.getElementById('tlVert');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  TL_EVENTS.slice().sort(function(a,b){return a.sort-b.sort;}).forEach(function(ev){<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var item=document.createElement('div'); item.className='tl-vitem '+ev.track;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    var html='<span class=\"tl-vchip '+ev.track+'\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"tl-vbody\">';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    html+='<pee class=\"tl-vdate\">'+ev.date+'<\/pee><pee class=\"tl-vcopy\">'+ev.copy+'<\/pee>';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    if(ev.photoFile){ html+='<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"tl-vph\" src=\"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/'+ev.photoFile+'\" alt=\"'+(ev.photo||'')+'\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; aspect-ratio:'+(ev.photoAR||'4\/3')+'; object-fit:contain; display:block; margin:8px 0 0;\">'; }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    html+='<\/div>\n<p>'; item.innerHTML=html; vert.appendChild(item);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->})();<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- END TIMELINE --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#3d485e&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false&#8221; global_module=&#8221;1861&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=&#8221;on&#8221; prev_text=&#8221;Prev Page&#8221; next_text=&#8221;Next Page&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|700||on|||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/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":[24],"class_list":["post-4339","issue-article","type-issue-article","status-publish","hentry","category-summer-2026"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article\/4339","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=4339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}