San Manuel Mine Closure

Ames was honored with a 2006 AGC Build Arizona Award for the closure of the 50-year-old San Manuel copper mine. The closure was the largest open pit reclamation project of its kind ever undertaken in the state of Arizona.

Through ingenuity and massive earthwork activities, Ames crews met the significant challenge of improving aesthetics while achieving the correct slope posed by the 150-foot-high, 250-acre heap leach facility.

Ames regraded the tailings slopes, removed and replaced sulfide waste rock, processed and placed aggregates and riprap, installed a drainage and channel system, cleaned and repaired existing liner, and installed new liner. Project scope also included regrading and recontouring the entire site and planting for revegetation.