Amarillo Copper Refinery, Texas

The only active refinery operated by Asarco, which was once known as the American Smelting and Refining Company. The plant opened in 1922 to make zinc, and converted to copper in 1975. Around 340 people work at this plant, using an electrical and chemical process. Material comes to the plant from the company’s mines in Arizona, after being processed into anodes at a smelter in Hayden, Arizona. The anodes are shipped here to be refined into pure copper and other metals. Asarco is now owned by a Mexican conglomerate.