205:
hydrometallurgy. The company, backed by Phelps Dodge, also acquired claims adjacent and above the rich United Verde mine at Jerome. Here too
Ricketts failed to find profitable ore. Similarly, at Globe, efforts to open several claims for the Phelps Dodge proved marginal. In 1893, he returned to Silverton, Colorado invested in a silver mine, built a mill, and went bankrupt. The failure educated him not to build a costly mill before opening an ore reserve large enough to pay the bills, let alone make a profit. By the mid-1890s, Ricketts was rehired by Douglas and sent to northern Sonora, Mexico, with hopes of finding copper properties.
281:(1911-1916). At Ajo, his fortune was made. With help of staffs of chemists this leaching technology was adopted at other works, such as his introduction of the process at Inspiration, and was a direct descendant of his work for Dr. Douglas in 1891. This process is the basis for all modern leaching (or solvent) processes used in copper mines around the world. He later flirted with California oil projects, Chilean copper mines, and Chihuahua, Mexico railroads and silver-lead mines, but his great works had been completed.
41:
258:, rebuilding its metallurgical works. Since 1907, Arizona copper mines have produced over half the nation's copper, much of the first three decades of this copper was processed through mills designed by Ricketts. On November 18, 1915, because of his work in developing the state's mineral resources, the governor of Arizona honored Ricketts with a medal and special ceremony at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, San Francisco, as the "most distinguished citizen of Arizona."
290:
University of
Arizona in 1916, and doctor of engineering from Princeton in 1925. He was elected a Trustee to Princeton, where he maintained a home for his mother and sister (formerly the home of friend, President Woodrow Wilson), and was a donor to and served as trustee of Caltech. In 1940 he was awarded the gold medal, named after his mentor James Douglas, of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers.
321:
225:
deposit by mass methods. As first manager of The
Moctezuma Copper Company, Ricketts planned and constructed a modern mine, concentrator, smelter and townsite, connected by railroad. The plant was innovative in that it was constructed of steel frame, and the works powered by electricity. By 1901, when
204:
His first years were filled with more failures than successes. In 1891, Douglas appointed
Ricketts manager of the Commercial Mining Company (Phelps Dodge owned) to introduce the Southwest's first Hunt-Douglas process leaching plant at Copper Basin, near Prescott. It burned down, a premature test of
289:
In 1916, he was recognized for his contributions by his election as president of the
American Institute of Mining Engineers. Earlier, in 1910, he had been recognized with the gold medal from the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Great Britain. He received the degree of L. L. D. from the
254:(Phelps Dodge controlled), for the Copper Queen (Phelps Dodge) at Douglas and Bisbee, at Miami, at Cananea, and at Clifton, plus a coal washing plant for Phelps Dodge at Dawson, New Mexico. During this period, he also served as president and general manager of the Anaconda interests at
249:
In 1901, he opened office as a consultant and became legendary for his designs of major metallurgical works during the early twentieth century copper boom. Over the next decade and a half, Ricketts designed new smelters and/or concentrators, for example, at Old
Dominion copper mine at
226:
he left the company, the
Pilares mine was a profitable, low-cost copper producer, mining ore with less than 3% copper, a record at the time. Also he had gained maturity as a mine manager and had become a sought after metallurgist.
302:, where he died in 1940. He retained his connection with Arizona, being chairman of the Valley National Bank, Phoenix, and a director of Phelps Dodge at the time of his death.
298:
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
181:, earning both a B.Sc. (1881) and D.Sc. (1883), being a Fellow in Chemistry and a Fellow in Economic Geology. He then went to Colorado and began at the bottom in
261:
Ricketts' most significant metallurgical innovations came in the 1910s. As a consulting engineer for the
Inspiration copper mine and International smelter in
189:, and, finally, as a consultant and expert witness on geology for mine lawsuits in Leadville, Aspen and elsewhere. In 1887-1890 he served as Geologist for
305:
In 1916, Ricketts married Kate Bruce
Greenway, widow of his partner John C Greenway's brother. They had no children. His brother
230:
241:, one of the first substantial banks in Arizona. Ricketts continued to serve as a Valley Bank executive for the rest of his life.
736:
385:
221:
family. Dr. Douglas put him in charge of redeveloping the property, in what became probably the first attempt to mine a
711:
632:
551:
496:
238:
17:
453:
Douglas, James (January 12, 1938). "James S Douglas
Recalls Early Mining History". Prescott Evening Courier.
716:
194:
405:
Louis D. Ricketts, 1859-1940, mining engineer, geologist, banker, industrialist, and builder of Arizona
363:
273:, in developing the innovative copper-leaching technology with electrolytic refining for ore from the
731:
668:
425:
610:
Exploring, Mining, Leaching, and Concentrating Ores as Related to the Development of Ajo, Arizona
213:
In 1897, Dr. Ricketts recommended that Phelps Dodge buy the then-small Pilares mine in northern
270:
357:
726:
721:
299:
229:
In this same time period, Dr. Ricketts designed another modern copper concentrator for the
178:
95:
84:
586:. New York: American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. pp. 255 passim.
8:
488:
481:
186:
419:
306:
138:
597:"Ricketts Honor Climaxes Typically American Life". Arizona Republic. October 20, 1939.
544:
Copper for America, the United States Copper Industry from Colonial Times to the 1990s
628:
547:
492:
274:
218:
190:
326:
234:
174:
65:
266:
255:
222:
146:
686:"Prominent Couple Wed in Warren". Copper Era and Morenci Leader. April 28, 1916.
185:
as mine surveyor and assayer, then foreman of a short-lived mine operation near
334:
262:
251:
705:
278:
198:
142:
483:
Vision & Enterprise, Exploring the History of Phelps Dodge Corporation
40:
208:
269:
plant at a major copper works. Also significant was his work, with
182:
514:
Financing the Frontier, A Fifty Year History of Valley National Bank
201:(PD) and began his long mining career in the Southwest borderlands.
546:. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. pp. 131–147, passim.
338:
158:
214:
162:
154:
150:
424:. San Francsico: Mining & Scientific Press. pp.
407:. New York: Newcomen Society of England, American Branch.
265:(1912–1915), owned by Anaconda, he introduced the first
390:
Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers
694:"Dr. Louis D. Ricketts" in Forrest R. Rickard, 1996,
244:
209:
Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico and Morenci, Arizona with PD
316:
137:(December 19, 1859 – March 4, 1940) was an American
309:was president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
480:
703:
487:. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. pp.
468:. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 131–134.
516:. Phoenix: Arizona Printers. pp. passim.
233:(another Phelps Dodge controlled company) at
359:Press Reference Library Notables of the West
698:(Ajo, Arizona, self-published), LC 96-92729
39:
622:
478:
177:on December 19, 1859. He was educated at
231:Detroit Copper Mining Company of Arizona
607:
581:
526:
511:
463:
452:
417:
14:
704:
627:. Berkeley, California: Howell-North.
402:
666:
541:
386:"Louis Davidson Ricketts, President"
612:. Ajo, Arizona: Forrest R. Rickard.
193:. In 1890 he was recruited by Dr.
24:
245:Preeminent consultant metallurgist
237:, and invested in what became the
25:
748:
669:"James Douglas medal recipients"
421:Interviews with Mining Engineers
319:
696:The Development of Ajo, Arizona
679:
660:
641:
616:
601:
590:
575:
567:"Arizona Honors Dr. Ricketts".
560:
535:
520:
284:
168:
122:
505:
472:
457:
446:
432:
411:
396:
378:
350:
13:
1:
648:"Dr. Louis D. Ricketts '81".
531:. Tucson: Arizona Daily Star.
344:
153:who pioneered development of
7:
737:Princeton University alumni
312:
293:
157:mines in the U.S. state of
10:
753:
656:(27): 1–2. April 18, 1917.
479:Schwantes, Carlos (2000).
392:(110): iv–vii. March 1916.
364:International News Service
712:American mining engineers
608:Rickard, Forrest (1996).
466:A History of Phelps Dodge
374:– via Google Books.
161:and the Mexican state of
109:
101:
91:
73:
47:
38:
31:
512:Hopkins, Ernest (1950).
464:Cleland, Robert (1952).
418:Rickard, Thomas (1922).
650:Princeton Alumni Weekly
623:Joralemon, Ira (1973).
582:Parsons, A. B. (1933).
403:Bimson, Walter (1949).
135:Louis Davidson Ricketts
52:Louis Davidson Ricketts
542:Hyde, Charles (1998).
271:John Campbell Greenway
173:Ricketts was born in
584:The Porphyry Coppers
571:. November 19, 1915.
529:Who's Who in Arizona
527:Conners, Jo (1913).
300:Pasadena, California
239:Valley National Bank
179:Princeton University
96:Princeton University
85:Pasadena, California
717:American geologists
366:. 1915. p. 123
187:Silverton, Colorado
115:Kate Bruce Greenway
307:Palmer C. Ricketts
139:economic geologist
667:Ricketts, Louis.
569:Los Angeles Times
275:New Cornelia mine
191:Wyoming Territory
132:
131:
105:Scientist, banker
62:December 19, 1859
16:(Redirected from
744:
732:American bankers
688:
687:
683:
677:
676:
664:
658:
657:
645:
639:
638:
620:
614:
613:
605:
599:
598:
594:
588:
587:
579:
573:
572:
564:
558:
557:
539:
533:
532:
524:
518:
517:
509:
503:
502:
486:
476:
470:
469:
461:
455:
454:
450:
444:
443:
436:
430:
429:
415:
409:
408:
400:
394:
393:
382:
376:
375:
373:
371:
362:. Vol. II.
354:
329:
327:Biography portal
324:
323:
322:
235:Morenci, Arizona
175:Elkton, Maryland
126:
124:
80:
61:
59:
43:
29:
28:
21:
752:
751:
747:
746:
745:
743:
742:
741:
702:
701:
691:
685:
684:
680:
665:
661:
647:
646:
642:
635:
621:
617:
606:
602:
596:
595:
591:
580:
576:
566:
565:
561:
554:
540:
536:
525:
521:
510:
506:
499:
477:
473:
462:
458:
451:
447:
438:
437:
433:
416:
412:
401:
397:
384:
383:
379:
369:
367:
356:
355:
351:
347:
325:
320:
318:
315:
296:
287:
267:froth flotation
256:Cananea, Sonora
247:
223:porphyry copper
211:
171:
147:mining engineer
128:
125: 1916)
120:
116:
87:
82:
78:
69:
63:
57:
55:
54:
53:
34:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
750:
740:
739:
734:
729:
724:
719:
714:
700:
699:
690:
689:
678:
659:
640:
633:
615:
600:
589:
574:
559:
552:
534:
519:
504:
497:
471:
456:
445:
431:
410:
395:
377:
348:
346:
343:
342:
341:
335:Ricketts House
331:
330:
314:
311:
295:
292:
286:
283:
263:Miami, Arizona
252:Globe, Arizona
246:
243:
210:
207:
170:
167:
130:
129:
118:
114:
113:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
93:
89:
88:
83:
81:(aged 80)
75:
71:
70:
64:
51:
49:
45:
44:
36:
35:
33:L. D. Ricketts
32:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
749:
738:
735:
733:
730:
728:
725:
723:
720:
718:
715:
713:
710:
709:
707:
697:
693:
692:
682:
674:
670:
663:
655:
651:
644:
636:
634:0-8310-7103-6
630:
626:
619:
611:
604:
593:
585:
578:
570:
563:
555:
553:0-8165-1817-3
549:
545:
538:
530:
523:
515:
508:
500:
498:0-8165-1943-9
494:
490:
485:
484:
475:
467:
460:
449:
441:
435:
427:
423:
422:
414:
406:
399:
391:
387:
381:
365:
361:
360:
353:
349:
340:
336:
333:
332:
328:
317:
310:
308:
303:
301:
291:
282:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
259:
257:
253:
242:
240:
236:
232:
227:
224:
220:
216:
206:
202:
200:
196:
195:James Douglas
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
166:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
112:
108:
104:
102:Occupation(s)
100:
97:
94:
90:
86:
77:March 4, 1940
76:
72:
67:
50:
46:
42:
37:
30:
27:
19:
18:L.D. Ricketts
695:
681:
672:
662:
653:
649:
643:
624:
618:
609:
603:
592:
583:
577:
568:
562:
543:
537:
528:
522:
513:
507:
482:
474:
465:
459:
448:
439:
434:
420:
413:
404:
398:
389:
380:
368:. Retrieved
358:
352:
304:
297:
288:
285:Recognitions
279:Ajo, Arizona
260:
248:
228:
212:
203:
199:Phelps Dodge
172:
169:Early career
143:metallurgist
134:
133:
79:(1940-03-04)
26:
727:1940 deaths
722:1859 births
706:Categories
489:93, passim
345:References
219:Guggenheim
68:, Maryland
58:1859-12-19
217:from the
183:Leadville
92:Education
370:July 25,
313:See also
294:Personal
339:Caltech
159:Arizona
127:
119:
631:
625:Copper
550:
495:
215:Sonora
163:Sonora
155:copper
151:banker
110:Spouse
66:Elkton
428:–456.
121:(
117:
673:AIME
629:ISBN
548:ISBN
493:ISBN
440:Ibid
372:2020
149:and
74:Died
48:Born
426:431
337:at
277:at
197:of
708::
671:.
654:17
652:.
491:.
388:.
165:.
145:,
141:,
123:m.
675:.
637:.
556:.
501:.
442:.
60:)
56:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
