Copper Mining in Arizona

Overview

Copper mining in Arizona has always had a major impact on the state, but has been a big cushion to the economy in recent years generating $6.5 billion dollars a year, providing almost 40,000 jobs, and paying twice the average wage for workers at $100,000. However, not only do the copper mines support the state, they also account for 68% percent of the United States' copper output. The Arizona copper mining industry consists of 27 major mines and countless smaller and abandoned mines. Without these mines and the revenue generated, Arizona's economy would be in a state of crisis with unemployment up 26% and the budget decreasing significantly.

History

Prospectors came to Arizona in the 1800's in search of minerals. Little did they know, that what they ended up finding would turn into one of Arizona's most plentiful natural resources. Pots, pans, and shovels turned into heavy mining equipment as the years went on. Small settlements evolved into full-fledged mining towns like Jerome and Ajo. Soon, the little desert state that no one cared about turned into a critical hotspot for minerals. Copper was crucial to the development of Arizona.

The Process

When mining for copper, machinery is used for drilling holes into the ore where the copper is embedded. Explosives are inserted into the drill holes to blast and expose the embedded copper. The copper is then gathered and distributed for its many uses.

Why it Matters

In summary, copper mining has a huge impact on Arizona's economy, and is often overlooked despite being a leader in money generation for the state. Although many mines are abandoned today, Arizona leads all states in copper production, almost doubling the second-place state behind them.