38°52′N 107°02′W / 38.867°N 107.033°W / 38.867; -107.033

Lucky Jack mine
Location
Colorado
CountryUnited States
Production
ProductsMolybdenum

The Lucky Jack mine (formerly known as the Mount Emmons molybdenum property[1]) is one of the largest molybdenum deposits in the United States."Mineral resources in Colorado" (PDF). ulpeis.anl.gov. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-24.</ref> The mine is located West of Crested Butte, Colorado in Gunnison County, Colorado.[1] The Lucky Jack deposit has reserves amounting to 220 million tonnes of molybdenum ore grading 0.366% molybdenum disulfide (0.22% molybdenum) thus resulting 484,000 tonnes of molybdenum.[2]

History

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The unmined deposit was reported to be in the planning stage in 2007 with interests in the project from both U.S. Energy Corporation and Kobex Minerals Inc.[1][3] The deposit was originally discovered in 1970s.[3]

The Denver Post reported grassroots environmental groups, like the High County Citizens' Alliance and the Red Lady Coalition, actively opposing the planned work as of 2007.[4] The groups pointed at expensive and poor cleanup attempts for similar mines in the area, one of which was listed as a Superfund site: Standard Mine.[4]

In February 2016, a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan purchased the claim from U.S. Energy.[5] This news was well received by the town and activist groups, because the new owners were willing to enter a cooperative MOU with both the local town and state and federal environmental regulators on care of the mine.[5]

See also

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References

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