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More than 600 employees of mining company Freeport McMoRan lost their jobs today, company officials said.

"We have made a reduction in force in response to the current economic conditions," said Richard Peterson, spokesman for Phoenix-based Freeport.

He said the layoffs were announced and effective today.

Peterson said he was unable to discuss what sort of compensation or severance package the employees received.

The number of layoffs — at four Arizona mines and one in New Mexico — were as follows:

Morenci: 402

Bagdad: 66

Sierrita: 70

Safford: 59

Tyrone, N.M.: 36

Peterson said the positions eliminated were from various departments and that the majority of employees were recently hired in anticipation of expansion projects that have been put on hold.