1/7/2024 0 Comments Minig salt flats in utahAlthough gold was the first mineral to be mined in Arizona, the state quickly became known for its copper, and by 1910 it was the top copper-producing state in the nation-a title it still holds today. Metal ores along the state's western side are dominated by gold deposits in 25- to 15-million-year-old volcanic rocks. These deposits were emplaced between 75 and 55 million years ago, predating the development of the Basin and Range's modern structure. Southeastern Arizona is dominated by porphyry copper and associated lead, zinc, gold, and silver deposits in granitic rocks. This quantity exceeds all of the metals ever produced from the famous Comstock Lode, the Klondike, and the California Gold Rush combined. Since extraction began in 1863, the mine has produced over 15.4 billion kilograms (17 million tons) of copper, 715,000 kilograms (23 million troy ounces) of gold, 5.9 million kilograms (190 million troy ounces) of silver, and 317 million kilograms (850 million pounds) of molybdenum. So large that it is visible from space, the mine is about a kilometer (over half a mile) deep and produces 408,000 metric tons (450,000 tons) of material per day.
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