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Owner: Kennecott Minerals Company
Location: McGill, Nevada
Status: Reclaimed Smelter/Concentrator and Tailings Facilities; Leased as
Pasture Land
Tailings area before reclamation |
Pasture after reclamation |
| The Nevada Consolidated Copper Company in McGill, Nevada, is owned by
Kennecott Minerals Company. The site consists of reclaimed smelter,
concentrator and tailings facilities. Operations of Nevada Consolidated
Copper Company began in 1908. Copper ore from the Robinson Mine near
Ruth, Nevada, was transported by rail to McGill for milling,
concentrating and smelting. In 1933 Kennecott became the owner and
operated the concentrator facilities until 1978 and continued smelting
until 1983. During 1989-1993 the facilities were demolished and the site
was reclaimed, including approximately 4,000 acres of tailings surface.
The Nevada Division of Minerals recognized the success of the
reclamation and awarded Kennecott the prestigious |
Cattle grazing on reclaimed tailings surface |
| Governor’s
Excellence in Reclamation Award. The White Pine County Board of
Commissioners also recognized Kennecott’s caring for the community as
a "good friend to the county for many years." The reclaimed
tailings area is now being used as pasture for livestock grazing by a
local rancher and provides habitat for a variety of abundant wildlife. |
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