Allan Bowman

2009 Inductee from Mining's Past

Allan Bowman was born in Ogden Utah and grew up in the nearby mining town of Ophir. He worked his way through the University of Utah by working as an underground miner, engineer's helper and as an instrument man with the United States Geological Survey doing topographic mapping of Utah and Wyoming. He graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering and joined Banner Mining Company as an engineer at its New Mexico mines. He was promoted to Mine Superintendent in 1939 and to Vice President and General Manager in 1953. In this capacity, he put to practice his theory that many idle mines had mined out a high-grade core but left a large lower grade deposit that could be economically mined with modern technology.

For more than 13 years, Bowman labored to put together some 25 square miles of claims in Pima County, Arizona. This land package consisted of carefully studied areas and involved negotiating more than 50 agreements. The subsequent exploration work directed by Bowman proved three major porphyry copper deposits – the Palo Verde (now part of the Mission pit), Twin Buttes and Helvetia-Rosemont.

During the time that the Arizona mineral properties were being acquired and evaluated, Bowman also managed and developed several mines which helped provide cash for the ongoing exploration. Operations continued at Lordsburg, New Mexico, and in Arizona, the Mineral Hill mine was reopened and a 1,000-ton-day mill built. In addition, the Daisy and the Palo Verde mines were developed and a metallurgical research was completed to recover copper from the skarn ores at Twin Buttes.

The Anaconda Company optioned all Banner’s properties in Pima County and the Twin Buttes property was developed as an open pit mine. It ultimately became necessary to take on AMAX as a partner for the successful development of the property and the two entities became ANAMAX Arizona. Allan Bowman became president of AMAX Arizona until his retirement in 1975. During his tenure as president, Bowman oversaw the conveyance of the San Xavier mine to The University of Arizona for the formation of the unique San Xavier Mining laboratory.

The American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers awarded Bowman its Jackling Award in 1963.

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