American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO)

American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) was a major American company involved in the mining, smelting, and refining of metals, primarily copper. Founded in 1899, it played a key role in metal production for industrial use, supplying raw materials for manufacturing and infrastructure. ASARCO operated mines across the U.S. and processed ores in refineries to produce pure metals. In 1999, it was acquired by Grupo Mexico, a large Mexican mining company, and now functions as a subsidiary within its operations, continuing its activities in metal extraction and processing.