Mining in Arizona

The Southwest is the United State’s richest storehouse of metals and industrial minerals, and is likely to remain so for many years.

Arizona traditionally ranks first, or among the top three, in mineral production in the U.S. In 2003, Arizona’s mineral production was valued at US$2.4 billion. Arizona leads the U.S. in copper production, and remains in the top five for silver, gemstones, perlite, zeolites, iron oxide, pumice, sand and gravel. Arizona also produces zinc, lead, beryllium, vanadium, uranium, tungsten, rare earths, manganese, coal, and at least 18 different industrial minerals.

In 2003, Arizona accounted for 67% of U.S. copper production. The copper industry has a $2.7 billion direct and indirect impact on the Arizona economy. Arizona’s three largest copper producers, Asarco, BHP Billiton, and Phelps Dodge, also produce significant amounts of molybdenum, gold, and silver as byproducts in the production of copper. Phelps Dodge’s Morenci mine produced 842 million lbs. of copper in 2003, is home to the world’s largest electrowinning plant, and ranks as the world’s fifth-largest mine.

Exploration companies are reviewing known mining districts in light of current metal prices, and new orebodies are being discovered. Indeed, a recently discovered porphry copper deposit may be the largest such deposit in North America. Resolution Copper, a joint venture between mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, owns the Resolution copper deposit which is said to contain 1 billion tons grading 1.5% copper. Meanwhile, Phelps Dodge’s Safford project is undergoing permitting, and when completed, will produce up to 250 million lbs. copper annually.

Although gold takes a backseat to copper production, Arizona has produced more than 16 million oz. gold. American Bonanza Gold Mining is working underground at its Copperstone deposit where surface drilling has returned promising results. At least five other gold exploration projects have are being examined in response to high gold prices and Arizona’s favourable geology and mining climate.

— The preceding is an excerpt from a report published by the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources in March 2005.

Arizona Mineral Production, 2003

Commodity	Quantity (short tons)2003	Value 2003
Copper	823,426	1,350,000,000
Gemstones	na	1,450,000
Sand and Gravel	63,934,000	319,000,000
Silver (troy oz.)	4,244,000	21,200,000
Stone (crushed)	10,141,000	57,500,000
Other*	na	372,100,000
Coal	13,000,000	315,000,000

* — Includes cement, clay, lime, gypsum, gold, molybdenum, perlite, salt, dimension stone, zeolite, and iron.