Copper mining in Arizona, a state of the United States, has been a major industry since the 1800s. In 2006 Arizona was the leading copper-producing state in the US, producing a record five billion dollars worth of copper. Copper mining also produces gold and silver as byproducts. Byproduct molybdenum from copper mining makes Arizona the nation's second-largest producer of that metal. Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... For other uses, see Copper (disambiguation). ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ... General Name, Symbol, Number molybdenum, Mo, 42 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 5, d Appearance gray metallic Standard atomic weight 95. ... The most commonly present source of copper ore is chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), which accounts for about 50% of copper production. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ...

Although copper mineralization was found by the earliest Spanish explorers of Arizona, the territory was remote, and copper could not be profitably mined and shipped. Early Spanish, Mexican, and American prospectors searched for gold and silver (see Silver mining in Arizona), and ignored copper. It was not until the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876 that copper became broadly economic to mine and ship to market. Silver mining in Arizona was a powerful stimulus for exploration and prospecting in early Arizona. ... The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting marks SP) was an American railroad. ...

Underground mining of rich copper veins was used until the early 20th century. After the Bingham Canyon mine in Utah successfully mined a large low-grade copper deposit from a large open pit, the same technique was applied to Arizona’s porphyry copper deposits. Arizona's first open pit copper mined opened at Ajo in 1917. The Bingham Canyon Mine is an open-pit mine extracting a large porphyry copper deposit southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, in the Oquirrh Mountains. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... porphyry copper ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Jerome

Native Americans used copper minerals of the Verde district at modern-day Jerome as pigment to decorate skin and textiles. The first European to visit the area is thought to be Spanish explorer Antonio de Espejo, who found silver at a location in central Arizona in 1583. No mining resulted, and Juan de Oñate led a another expedition searching for Espejo’s silver location in 1598; many claims were staked, but the expeditioners returned to Santa Fe without mining any silver, and the deposits remained unexploited.^[1] The high street of Jerome, Arizona A stream, stained turquoise-blue, emerges from a spoil pile of copper ore Jerome is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. ... Don Juan de Oñate Salazar (1552 – 1626) was a Spanish explorer, colonial governor of the New Spain (present-day Mexico) province of New Mexico, and founder of various settlements in the present day Southwest of the United States. ... Nickname: Location in Santa Fe County, New Mexico Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Fe Founded ca. ...

The United Verde mine exhausted the rich oxidized ores in 1884, and the mine closed. William A. Clark of Montana visited the district in 1888, bought it, and reopened the mine. The smelter at Clarkdale was built in 1915.^[2] William Andrews Clark William Andrews Clark (January 8th, 1839 – 1925), was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. ... Clarkdale is a town located in Yavapai County, Arizona. ...

Ajo

Spaniards mined on a small scale at Ajo as early as 1750. After the Gadsden Purchase brought the southern Arizona into the United States in 1853, Americans reopened the mine in 1855. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Gadsden Purchase (shown with present-day state boundaries and cities) The Gadsden Purchase (known as Venta de La Mesilla in Mexico) is a 45,535 mi² (76,770 km²) region of what is today southern Arizona and New Mexico that was purchased by the United States from Mexico in... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ...

Clifton-Morenci

Prospectors found copper in the Greenlee district at Morenci in 1872, and began producing in 1873. Morenci is a census-designated place located in Greenlee County, Arizona. ...

Bisbee

The Lavender Pit, Bisbee, Arizona

An army scout noted copper mineralization in the Warren district at present-day Bisbee in 1877. Production began in 1880 after a rich discovery of copper carbonate on the Copper Queen claim. The success of the Copper Queen mine convinced Phelps Dodge to buy the adjacent Atlantic claim in 1881. Phelps Dodge later bought control of the Copper Queen and adjacent claims. The company started mining the Lavender Pit in the early 1950s.^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 685 KB) The Lavender Pit, an open pit copper mine, Bisbee, Arizona. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1200x1600, 685 KB) The Lavender Pit, an open pit copper mine, Bisbee, Arizona. ... The Lavender Pit is an open pit copper mine located in Cochise County, Bisbee, Arizona. ... Bisbee is a city located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA, 82 miles (132 km) southeast of Tucson. ... Bisbee is a city located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA, 82 miles (132 km) southeast of Tucson. ... Phelps Dodge Corporation NYSE: PD was founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William E. Dodge. ... Phelps Dodge Corporation NYSE: PD was founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William E. Dodge. ... The Lavender Pit is an open pit copper mine located in Cochise County, Bisbee, Arizona. ...

Globe-Miami

Silver mining started at Globe in 1874. The silver mines shut down in 1877, but the following year copper mining took over.^[4] Globe is a city in Gila County, Arizona, United States. ...

White Mesa district

The White Mesa copper-mining district is in the western part of the Navajo reservation, 112 mile northeast of Flagstaff, in Coconino County. The copper deposits consist of malachite and chrysocolla as grain coatings in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone. They were first mined on a small scale by Mormon settlers in the 1800s, then briefly in 1917, and again 1939-1941. The district produced about 550,000 pounds of copper and a small amount of silver.^[5] Map of the Navajo Nation The Navajo Nation (Dineé in Navajo language) is a Native American sovereignty. ... Nickname: Location in Coconino County the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country United States State Arizona County Coconino County Government  - Mayor Joseph C. Donaldson Area  - City  98. ... Coconino County is located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... This article is about the mineral. ... Chrysocolla from Nevada, USA. Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate) is a mineral, CuSiO3·nH2O. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. ... The Jurassic Period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 199. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ...

Copper mining today

As of 2006, there were 11 producing copper mines in Arizona.

• Cochise County: Bisbee mine;
• Gila County: Pinto Valley mine and Miami mine;
• Greenlee County: Morenci mine;
• Mohave County: Mineral Park mine;
• Pima County: Mission mine, Silver Bell mine, and Sierrita mine;
• Pinal County: Ray mine and Tohono mine;
• Yavapai County: Bagdad mine.

Six of the mines are owned and operated by Phelps Dodge, three by Asarco, and one each by BHP Billiton and Mercator Minerals.^[6] Location in the state of Arizona Formed 1881 Seat Bisbee Area  - Total  - Water 16,107 km² (6,219 mi²) 128 km² (49 mi²) 0. ... Location in the state of Arizona Formed 1881 Seat Globe Area  - Total  - Water 12,421 km² (4,796 mi²) 73 km² (28 mi²) 0. ... Greenlee County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Mohave County is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Pima County is located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Pinal County is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Yavapai County is located in the center of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... Phelps Dodge Corporation NYSE: PD was founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William E. Dodge. ... ASARCO, Inc. ... BHP Billiton is the worlds largest mining company. ...

In addition to its existing mines, Phelps Dodge is preparing its new Safford Mine, eight miles north of the town of Safford in Graham County to begin producing copper in 2008. The Safford mine, in a large porphyry copper deposit, will be the largest new copper mine put on production in Arizona in more than 30 years.^[7] Phelps Dodge Corporation NYSE: PD was founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William E. Dodge. ... Safford is a city in Graham County, Arizona, United States. ... Graham County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. ... porphyry copper ...

External links

• Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources: Arizona's Metallic Resources Trends and Opportunities 2007
• Phelps Dodge Mining Co.
• ASARCO
• Mercator Minerals Ltd.: Mineral Park

References