Mining Foundation of the Southwest

AMERICAN MINING HALL OF FAME

2001 Inductee from Mining's Past

James Harold Courtright

1908 - 1986

J. Harold Courtright was born outside Yakima, Washington in 1908. His introduction to mining came from working for his father as a mucker and miner in the Cascades. He studied at Sacramento Junior College and Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, though he never earned a degree due to financial constraints.

In 1941, Courtright went to work at Consolidated Coppermines Corporation in Ely, Nevada, where he began his close association with Kenyon Richard, who was already an employee of that company.

Courtright joined ASARCO in 1945. While with ASARCO, and for the succeeding 34 years, Courtright contributed to the discovery, development, or enlargement of many copper porphyry orebodies. These include Silverbell, Mission, San Xavier, Sacaton-Santa Cruz, and Florence (Poston Butte) in the Southwest United States; East Jersey, Canada; Toquepala, Quellaveco, and Michiquillay, Peru; and Santa Tomas, El Arco, and Concepcion del Oro, in Mexico.

Courtright and Richard's refinement of leached capping interpretation and the use of the drill in primary exploration efforts were the main techniques that contributed to their exploration successes. Courtright's approach to exploration geology can best be summarized by quoting a remark he is said to have made to a prospective young geologist, "a geologist has just two tools, boot leather and the drill."

Courtright was appointed Chief Geologist for ASARCO in 1970. He retired in 1974 and passed away in December, 1986 at the age of 78.

Harold Courtright was co-author of a number of geologic publications. He was a member of AIME, the Society of Economic Geologists, the Arizona Geological Society, and the Mining Club of the Southwest.

Mining Foundation of the Southwest
P.O. Box 42317
Tucson, Arizona 85733
Tel: 520-577-7519
Fax: 520-577-7073
E-mail: admin@miningfoundationsw.org