Mining Foundation of the Southwest

Kenyon E. Richard was born in San Francisco, California in 1915. While attending the University of Nevada, he excelled at track, setting a record for the high jump that stood for 25 years. Richard graduated magna cum laude from Mackay School of Mines in 1937, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.

He joined Consolidated Coppermines Corporation in Ely, Nevada and rose to the position of Chief Geologist before joining ASARCO in Tucson, Arizona in 1945. He soon became Chief Geologist of that station before being elevated to the position of Chief Geologist of ASARCO in New York in 1963, a position from which he managed the company's worldwide activities until his retirement in 1967. Subsequently, he consulted for the UN and a number of major mining companies for a period of 11 years.

It was while in Tucson, Arizona, in association with Harold Courtright, that the two of them perfected exploration techniques appropriate for the identification of buried porphyry copper deposits. Their efforts led to the discovery, development, and/or recognition of the favorable economics of a number of world class deposits. Deposits with which Kenyon is known to have been associated include: Silver Bell, San Xavier, Sacaton-Santa Cruz, Florence (Poston Butte), and Mission in the Southwest United States; East Jersey, Canada; Toquepala, Quellaveco, Michiquillay, Toro Moca, and Morochocha, Peru; Santo Tomas and El Arco, Mexico; and Tayson, Phillipines.

Richard was a member of AIME, the Geological Society of America, the Arizona Geological Society, and he was a Charter Member of the Mining Club of the Southwest. He was author of a number of geologic publications, many in association with Harold Courtright.

Kenyon Richard passed away in Tucson in 1993.

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