L. D. Ricketts
Encyclopedia
Louis Davidson Ricketts was an American economic geologist, mining engineer and banker who pioneered development of copper
mines in the U.S. state of Arizona
and the Mexican state of Sonora
. Ricketts was educated at Princeton University
, earning both a B.Sc and D.Sc. (1883) in economic geology. He then went to work in the mines of Leadville
and Silverton, Colorado
. In 1887 he was appointed Geologist for Wyoming Territory
, and in 1890 he began a long association with Dr. James Douglas of Phelps Dodge
.
In 1897, Dr. Ricketts recommended that Phelps Dodge buy the then-small Moctezuma (Nacozari) copper mine in northern Sonora
from the Guggenheim
family. Dr. Douglas put him in charge of redeveloping the property, in what became probably the first attempt to mine a porphyry copper deposit by mass methods. Ricketts planned and constructed a modern mine, concentrator, smelter and townsite. By 1902 the Moctezuma mine was a profitable, low-cost copper producer, mining ore with less than 3% copper, a record at the time.
In this same time period, Dr. Ricketts designed a new copper concentrator for the Detroit Copper Company (Phelps Dodge) at Morenci, Arizona
, and invested in what became the Valley National Bank, one of the first substantial banks in Arizona. Ricketts continued to serve as a Valley Bank executive for the rest of his life.
Ricketts went on to modernize the Old Dominion copper mine at Globe, Arizona
, for Phelps Dodge (1904–1907), and redesigned the smelter at Cananea, Sonora, for the Greene Cananea Copper Company (1906–1907), his first major project as an independent consulting engineer.
Ricketts' later projects as a consulting engineer included developing the Inspiration copper mine and International smelter in Miami, Arizona
(1912–1915) and developing (with John Campbell Greenway
) the innovative copper-leaching technology for ore from the New Cornelia mine
at Ajo, Arizona
(1913).
Ricketts suffered a serious illness in 1917. While he did recover, and resumed his consulting practice, he did not undertake any major new projects. He retired to Pasadena, California
, where he died in 1940.
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mines in the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and the Mexican state of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. Ricketts was educated at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, earning both a B.Sc and D.Sc. (1883) in economic geology. He then went to work in the mines of Leadville
Leadville, Colorado
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
and Silverton, Colorado
Silverton, Colorado
The town of Silverton is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, San Juan County, Colorado, United States. Silverton is a former silver mining camp, most or all of which is now included in a federally designated National Historic Landmark District,...
. In 1887 he was appointed Geologist for Wyoming Territory
Wyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
, and in 1890 he began a long association with Dr. James Douglas of Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge
Phelps Dodge Corporation was an American mining company founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William Earle Dodge, Sr.. On March 19, 2007, it was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan and now operates under the name Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.-History:...
.
In 1897, Dr. Ricketts recommended that Phelps Dodge buy the then-small Moctezuma (Nacozari) copper mine in northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
from the Guggenheim
Guggenheim family
The Guggenheim family is an American family, of Swiss Jewish ancestry. Beginning with Meyer Guggenheim, who arrived in America in 1847, the family were known for their global successes in mining and smelting . During the 19th century, the family possessed one of the largest fortunes in the world...
family. Dr. Douglas put him in charge of redeveloping the property, in what became probably the first attempt to mine a porphyry copper deposit by mass methods. Ricketts planned and constructed a modern mine, concentrator, smelter and townsite. By 1902 the Moctezuma mine was a profitable, low-cost copper producer, mining ore with less than 3% copper, a record at the time.
In this same time period, Dr. Ricketts designed a new copper concentrator for the Detroit Copper Company (Phelps Dodge) at Morenci, Arizona
Morenci, Arizona
Morenci is a census-designated place in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,879 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, and invested in what became the Valley National Bank, one of the first substantial banks in Arizona. Ricketts continued to serve as a Valley Bank executive for the rest of his life.
Ricketts went on to modernize the Old Dominion copper mine at Globe, Arizona
Globe, Arizona
Globe has an arid climate, characterized by hot summers and moderate to warm winters. Globe's arid climate is somewhat tempered by its elevation, however, leading to slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more precipitation than Phoenix or Yuma....
, for Phelps Dodge (1904–1907), and redesigned the smelter at Cananea, Sonora, for the Greene Cananea Copper Company (1906–1907), his first major project as an independent consulting engineer.
Ricketts' later projects as a consulting engineer included developing the Inspiration copper mine and International smelter in Miami, Arizona
Miami, Arizona
Miami is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boomtown, though the copper mines are largely dormant now...
(1912–1915) and developing (with John Campbell Greenway
John Campbell Greenway
John Campbell Greenway was an American mining, steel and railroad executive: a man of many trades in many states...
) the innovative copper-leaching technology for ore from the New Cornelia mine
New Cornelia mine
The New Cornelia mine is a currently inactive open-pit copper mine in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It was the only productive mine in the Ajo mining district, and is located just outside the town of Ajo, which was built as a company town to serve the New Cornelia miners...
at Ajo, Arizona
Ajo, Arizona
Ajo is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Ajo is located on State Route 85 just from the Mexican border. It is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument....
(1913).
Ricketts suffered a serious illness in 1917. While he did recover, and resumed his consulting practice, he did not undertake any major new projects. He retired to Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, where he died in 1940.